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HP iPAQ 4355 Pocket PC

HP iPAQ 4355 Pocket PC

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Ranked Top 2 in 2003
Review: (note, 4350 is almost the same one as 4355 despite two minor softwares.)
I ordered one 4350 yesterday after doing some investigation on various PDAs. Here is PDA Evaluation 2003 which ranked H4350 top 2.
http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/4502-3127_16-0.html?tag=srch&qt=&orderby=-16eRating
http://reviews.cnet.com/4521-6522_7-5021304-2.html?tag=txt

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Best discovery I have made
Review: Before I continue on with my review, I must correct a mistake by the previous reviewer-the device does have wi-fi built in along with bluetooth. This device is simply a delight to use-being a student, its important to keep my information mobile. Applications run fast without any trouble but be cautious-do not try to overdo it or it will get moody with you. I believe the best thing about this device would have to be the built in keyboard. Now if you can deal without the keyboard, then I suggest purchasing the hp 4150 for its basically this device minus the keyboard. As for the features and apps loaded on the device, I don't need to go through them because it has already been covered by several reviewers. On that note, I highly recommend this device-especially for students. If you have any other questions about the device then email me at: abradora@hotmail.com and I will gladly answer any questions or comments. Thank you for your time in reading this review.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: HP Support Lacking
Review: I bought a 4355 and the hardware seems OK, but the software, alhtough functional has some rough edges. HP support seems to end 90 days after it is shipped from HP, therefore, HP claims my software warranty ran out two weeks after I bought the 4355. They insist that it will cost $34.95 per incident of software support. A really sterling service plan, first they outsource all of their tech support to India to save money, then they charge $34.95 per incident to support the software.

Chances are, I will return the device and take HP off my wish list.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: DO NOT BUY THIS PIECE OF JUNK!!!!
Review: I bought this three days ago and have had nothing but problems. It is going back tomorrow and I will never buy another iPAQ. I had an older model iPAQ (3800 series) that I had gotten used in December. I had started having major problems with it crashing on me about two months ago. I debated over getting a new iPAQ after those problems and the bad reviews on Amazon for HP's in general. I had decided to go with Dell but my husband took me shopping for our anniversary and all we could find was this HP. It was so pretty and cool that I forgot my plans and bought it because I just had to have it NOW! What a mistake.

The machine itself works great, it was when I started trying to install the software that the problems started. Active Sync would not install properly and ended up crashing the first computer I tried installing it on. (Putting the computer in permanent Safe mode.)I thought at first that it was a problem with my computer so I tried loading it on my other, newer one. Same problems with Active Sync only this time I was getting a message saying that the software was not compatable with Windows XP and might mess up my computer if I continued to try syncing it. This was strange since on the box it says it IS compatable.

I contacted HP today and yes, their customer service IS as bad as I've heard. They of course denied that it could possibly be a problem with their machine or software - BOTH of my computers must have messed up at the same time, coincidentally when I got the PPC! They were basically no help at all.

My husband spent 5-6 hours after work getting the first computer fixed, quite a job since he's not a computer expert. He finally got it done and I started over. Well, guess what - I got the software loaded, well only Active Sync - Outlook wouldn't load so I stuck with the version I already have on there. But of course when I tried to sync the computer could not detect the PDA, just like yesterday before my PC crashed. I tried it over and over, even using a cord from my old PDA. Then tried it all on the other computer. NO, it does not work at all and yes, I did get a message AGAIN about incompatible device drivers for XP like I got yesterday. (And the HP support people swore this is impossible.) There is supposed to be a Logo on the product box that says XP compatible, which there is not.

So I have this very expensive calendar/phone book/calculator/To DO list and that's about it. I can't download e-mails or add programs or anything if I can't connect to my computer. It basically useless. I'm so didgusted I want to throw it as hard as I can. Now I have to drive one hour each way and waste all that gas money and time to return this stupid thing. I have six children - I don't have time for this garbage! I just want to cry and HP could care less. I told them all of this and they just said, "See your vendor." Who's going to repay my husband and me for our wasted time and money dealing with the problems this machine has created???

I am taking this back. I might get a Dell but honestly I'm so disgusted that I may just forget PDA's entirely and stick with old-fashioned pen and paper. It's not fancy and may not be as easy to carry around but at least it's reliable and if it does get lost or messed up it's not that expensive to replace.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: HP Support SUCKS!!!!!!
Review: I had difficulty with the wLAN aspect of the product so I called HP Support for help. Being a brand new IPAQ, I thought this would be easy. The support tech at first refused me service as they claimed that my warranty expired! As I had received the product that day, I was outraged. After complaining, they finally figured they had the wrong record.

Once I got suppport, it was absolutely terrible! The automatic network indicator feature was not working properly. They had me hard reboot to connect. In addition, they suggested I do this every time I go to new hot spot. Hard reboot, erases all data and resets the iPAQ. Could not believe they even suggested this as a solution.

I returned my PDA!!! Looking for a better product and service.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Fabulous piece, slightly expensive, no Windows Mobile SE 200
Review: I have been using my 4355 for over 2 weeks now and it has been a faithfull little PDA, juggling my Notes, Appointments, maps and directions from Mapquest - AvantGo.

eMails are fun with the small keyboard attached, I'm a network freak, and even have PocketPutty installed, I have SSH and so with the Wifi network, I really dont need my Notebook at all!

My music sounds okay, volume is loud enough and so is a decent mp3 player for the money, and I have discovered this box to be a great way to show off pictures that I take from the places that I visit.

On the down side, the keyboard is a tad smaller than what is comfy, and I have found this PDA to be slightly heavy too. The lack of Windows Mobile SE 2003, means no landscape mode ;-(.

Other than this, no gripes (as yet), I am buying a hard-case for this baby looking at others experiences with the LCD screen.

All in all, a great PDA, extremely reliable.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Extremely bad screen durability
Review: I have had my 4355 for about 10 months now, and in that time the screen has cracked twice. The first time, I grudgingly paid the $175 fee to replace it and figured I must have done something wrong. Two months later, it cracks again. This time I am positive there was no extreme pressure, it was never dropped.

It is simply poorly designed and extremely fragile.

I will say that the way I use my PDA's has not changed in a decade. This is the only one (Palm Pilot, etc) that cannot take simple every day wear and tear.

HP, if this your idea of product quality and design, you should be ashamed of yourself. When people have problems with your flawed products, fix them for free.

I have spent thousands over the past 2 years on HP cameras, computers, etc and this has left such a bad taste in my mouth I will never by another HP product again.




Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I love this thing!!
Review: I have had my 4355 for approximately a month now, and I am blown away by it's set of features.It literally has everything one could want from a handheld. The built in WiFi effortlessly recognized our home network, I bought a BT GPS receiver on ebay, which gives me wireless GPS navigation, while leaving the SD slot free for my memory cards.
I, personally love the keyboard. I have never been a fan of handwriting recognition, and I have larger than average hands, so the size is actually perfect for me. While it's a bit longer because of the keyboard (1 inch longer than the 4150), the device itself is very thin. My girlfriend bought the 4150, which aside from the keyboard, and a slightly smaller battery has the same features.
Battery life is better than average, although like every other device, heavy WiFi use drains it pretty quickly. Simply buying an additional battery for emergencies would suffice for just about anyone's usage.
The keyboard is a good size, making thumb typing very easy. If it has a drawback, it's that there aren't stand alone number keys, so typing alot of numbers is a bit of a hassle at times. But that's really nitpicking. Overall, I can't really find anything not to like about this handheld. Except the terrible case that HP gives you with it. I'm still waiting for others to hit the stores so I can replace it.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: iPaq with all the goodies already built in
Review: I have owned almost every iPaq made to date plus a few other brands and without a doubt, the 4355 is the best by far. Yes it is a bit bigger then most of the other iPaq's, but I do not have a problem with that as it fits so well into my hand and just "feels right" A 1560 mAh battery comes standard with the unit which is about 500 mAh more then most PDA's resulting in a good 3-4 days usage before recharging. I spent once over two hours on WiFi at a local Starbucks and the battery was still going stronge. The WiFi setup could not be simpler, just turn on the unit, select WiFi ON and it has a "snooper" built in and will find the Wifi, add all the correct addressing information and you just connect right away. Takes no more then 10 seconds to handle this. The BlueTooth works perfectly on my HP printer at up to about 30 ft and the other nice thing I found is that the Logitech Bluetooth Keyboard has a universal Bluetooth transmitter/receiver and and I could hook into this with ease for ActiveSync. Along with that, I purchased a 512 MB SD card, a beautiful leather case by the company Piel (www.ipaqcases.com) and with those options I am all set. I find I actually use the keyboard alot and its very neat as its got a "Timex Indaglo" color blue backlight for the keyboard which is very handy.
I use the unit for alot of large JPG pictures and they look stunning on the display and also maps created by MapPoint 2004 for Pocket Streets and its amazing ow fast this unit will open even a very large map (17 MB) The screen can be read outside in bright sunlite (well as bright as it gets here in Seattle) which I cannot say for many other PDA's. The programs just "snap open" (e no waiting and rare to see the hourglass symbol) This PDA does of course run the latest PPC software which is called Pocket PC 2003 Premium. Only bad thing, but this is the custom tese days with PDA's is no manual (partial one on the CD) So if you are new to Pocket PC's I would get something "Everything you have always wanted to go with your iPaq" by Frank McPherson. Also its neat as the battery charger unit with the built in USB 2.0 Interface (will run USB 1 also) has a second slot for an extra battery if you want. This kind of option it usually not available or if it is, sells for a rather high price. IF you do not think you will use the keyboard that is built in, there always is basically the same model without the keyboard and that is the iPaq 4155. But this unit does come with a smaller battery (1000 maH I beleive) and I really like the long life of the one that comes with the 4355. Usually I can also find a good number of things I don't like, but not in this model ! A clear winner in the PDA world !
Tedd Riggs
Redmond,WA
T_Riggs@msn.com

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Truly is a pocket computer
Review: I just can't say enough about this handheld. The keyboard is awesome. Wi-fi and bluetooth, I am completely unwired. This thing truly allows me to take my work/email on the road not have to lug around a laptop to do it. I can't or wouldn't go anywhere without it. Hands down the best pda you can buy.


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