Go to Windows 7 Insider GuideHP iPaq Pocket PC hx4700
Manufacturer: HP Part number: FA282A#ABA
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- The hx4700 offers powerful features and solid performance for on-the-go professionals--just be prepared to pay a hefty price.
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Where to buy
| store | customer rating | inventory | tax & shipping | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon.com Marketplace |  | In stock | Enter zip code to get total price: Price +Tax +Shipping =Total price | as of 12/08/2009 |
CNET editors' review
HP iPaq Pocket PC hx4700 price range: $599.99
- Reviewed by: Bonnie Cha
- Edited by: James Kim
- Reviewed on: 09/01/2004
- Released on: 07/26/2004
The good: Zippy 624MHz processor; 4-inch VGA screen; runs Windows Mobile 2003 SE; integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth; user-replaceable battery.
The bad: Bulky; touchpad is unintuitive and isn't always responsive; subpar video performance.
The bottom line: The hx4700 offers powerful features and solid performance for on-the-go professionals--just be prepared to pay a hefty price.
User reviews
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You get what you pay for; excellence has a price
by drugreplv on March 15, 2005
Pros: Everything I need to function in the field and much more
Cons: I can't convince my company to retire my laptop entirely
Summary: Not to go into a personal bio but I have had a long line of PDA's going back to the beginning. No matter what I paid I had to ...
Summary: Not to go into a personal bio but I have had a long line of PDA's going back to the beginning. No matter what I paid I had to accept some limitation, no this offered no that available. That FINALLY ended with the Hx. I see that it was called bulky and that the video performance was likewise questioned by Cnet. I'm watching "Butterfly Effect" in my spare time and it looks great to me, even in daylight. Bulky? It fits in my coat pocket and does everything my laptop can. In fact, I leave the laptop at home and access it from the Hx if needed. I also read a review that complained about needing a third-party PIM. There hasn't been a PDA made that didn't need a third-party PIM. I had them with my Palm's/Clie's and I have them with my Hx. And expansion? I have 6 gb of expansion; CF and SD, it's wonderful. I could list all the attributes but all you have to do is read the specs. Now to the issue of cost, cost, cost. It's not cost, it is the VALUE I receive vs. the money I spend. This product has VALUE. You want to know why the T5 just lowered it's price, AGAIN, because it has less VALUE. They could give the things away,it doesn't matter, the T5 doesn't have the functions I need so it has no value. Giving a 10 seems to have given the Cnet review component a fit so I have been warned about the seriousness of this rating. Let me put it simply then, dollar for dollar there is no better PDA on the market. Prove me wrong.
45 out of 48 users found this user opinion helpful.
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This is the best of the best!!! (as of 7/1/2005)
by steve25sds on August 1, 2005
Pros: Excellent display, excellent speed, plenty of memory,
Cons: (ouch!) expensive, touch pad takes some getting used too, as with all PDAs BATTERY LIFE!
Summary: This is what all PDAs dream of being one day. I've had more than 6 different PDAs in the past and they were mostly for keeping schedules and some ...
Summary: This is what all PDAs dream of being one day. I've had more than 6 different PDAs in the past and they were mostly for keeping schedules and some note taking, ect.
This one is basically a mini computer and it pretty much does everything a mid ranged laptop would do and its just as fast. To say this is a treat to own is like saying ice cream is good on a hot day. Yea, it's true but you really don't get how true it is.
WIRELESS
The wireless and bluetooth are both easy to use and set up (and it's a good thing because the manual basically thanks you for your purchase and tells you how to turn it on and off and that's all).
If you hear something when you turn the wireless its the giant sucking sound that wireless is using to drain your battery.
DISPLAY
The display is beautiful. It's by far the best display I've seen on one of these little things.
I have downloaded a few photos and watched a movie and it's just as good as any tv or monitor (not including Plasma, HDTV, ect) but its good.
SPEED
Because of the super sized processor this thing moves faster than a taxi in a bad neighborhood. It just flies threw programs.
PROGRAMS
Depends on what you want to do but after having these PDAs for years the programs are getting better but you really have to look hard to find the good ones.
OVERALL
So at $500+ a pop this isn't really an impulse buy (unless your last name happens to be Trump) so you will really have to jusify why you need one of these more than your wife needs to pay her car note, or why you need it more than the kids need braces, or why you need it more than well you get the point.
But if you happen to do well on poker night and you have a few hundreds just burning a hole in your pocket waiting to just jump out and make a purchase then you could not do any better than one of these. It is absolutely worth every penny!
MY ONLY WISH
My only wish is that they had a really good camera on this unit but I guess they had to hold something back for next year.
That's my summary and I'm sticking to it!18 out of 18 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Good features but not so well designed
Pros: Excellent colour screen. Good sound recording and playback. High quality construction. Freely available visual C++ programming environment is very useful for programmers wanting to develop for this device.
Cons: Windows CE is not as good as PalmOS ... it seems slow and clumsy, and I've had key applications (like the 'Today' screen) crash. It's like having a desktop computer in you hand (which is actually a bad thing.) The touch pad is awful ... hard to activate
14 out of 17 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Good hardware let down by the operating system software
by warwick on June 16, 2005
Pros: Works well as a 'pocket-sized notebook computer'. Nice screen. Fast processor. Wireless.
Cons: Slow, unresponsive, buggy software that crashes often - ie what you'd expect from your desktop computer, but not good enough for a handheld.
Summary: Whether you rate this iPAQ at 2/10 or 8/10 really depends on what you want to do with it. As a replacement for your Windows notebook computer it'...
Summary: Whether you rate this iPAQ at 2/10 or 8/10 really depends on what you want to do with it. As a replacement for your Windows notebook computer it's probably quite good - the interface is familiar and you can run lots of Microsoft Office software. It really falls down as a digital diary / shopping list / notepad / portable reference guide. It's just not responsive enough to work in the situations you need it.
Pull it out in a shopping centre to quickly check your to-do list and you'll have to wait while the 'Tasks' application loads - only to find that task list consists of just bullet points with the text missing - this happens every few times I start the application. Then you'll have to reboot the computer. Then start 'tasks' again. This sort of procedure is almost second nature with a desktop or notebook computer ... we expect unresponsive, bloated software. But I think of a pocket PC as a computer for when you're at the 'sharp end' of life: on the road, at a business meeting, with a client, etc ... and the iPAQ 4700 doesn't cut it.
I've used the 4700 for 6 months. I've also used Palm computers for several years. I've got one that has one sixth the processing power of the 4700 but actually runs at least 10 times as fast. The thought of having to reboot one of my Palm computers is almost unthinkable.
Just this evening my iPAQ crashed and required a *hard* reset - losing all data on it. The little computer regularly switches itself on for no apparent reason and remains on, so that when I go to pick it up to take out the door with me, the battery is completely dead.
The wireless works well, and is a feature lacking from many Palm PC's. I've used the iPAQ quite nicely as a platform for browsing the web. I've also found having both a CF card slot and SD card slot to be very handy. The computer has worked well for previewing and culling photos from a digital camera.
The built-in Windows Media Player is a bit clumsy to use and doesn't play back MPEG-1 movies ... a really bad omission. Video performance is 'ok' at best. The audio sounds good though, and the iPAQ makes a nice (if expensive) MP3 player.
The iPAQ hx4700 may well make a good platform for Linux - apparently an appropriate version of this is under development.Updated
Some things I forgot to mention...
The iPAQ 4700 seems to be of very high quality construction. I took one to Antarctica and back and it survived all the conditions. It's quite heavy though - not so easily 'pocketable'.
The touch pad is particularly useless for games, and appears almost useless for any purpose. It?s a complete waste of space. If HP had just put a few good old fashioned 'buttons' along the bottom then that would've been great.
The Microsoft ActiveSync software for synchronising with your desktop computer is a bit annoying. It tries to synchronise continuously while connected - compared to the Palm software which synchronises only when you press a ?HotSync? button. Trying to get ActiveSync to realise it's connected to the iPAQ is often quite tricky though. The procedure is first to turn on the computer then insert it in the cradle. If the computer turns off to save power then you'll have to remove it from the cradle, turn it on, and then replace it in the cradle. Sometimes this doesn't work and you'll have to repeat once or twice until the software realises it's connected. The HotSync button used on Palm devices is actually more reliable.
The on/off button of the iPAQ is quite hard to press (at least you won?t do it by accident I guess). Every once in a while pressing the button to turn the device off doesn?t turn it off but just reduces the screen brightness to zero while the computer is actually on. You then have to find the brightness control on screen (while not being able to see the screen ? just remember where the little slider is and keep guessing until you get it).
The device doesn?t really have much memory, and what it has is 'segmented' so that you easily find yourself running out. Even after a hard reset (no extra software loaded) and 1.5 gigabytes of memory cards in the computer I can try to load a 4 megabyte image file and be informed that there's "insufficient memory". The iPAQ's main memory is 64 megabytes, divided into storage and program memory. You might well end up with 15-20 megabytes of available program memory which quickly reduces as you run multiple programs, until there are only a few megabytes free. You need to be careful when installing software not to put it in the default location (main memory), but in the "iPAQ file store". Be prepared to spend a significant amount of time worrying about the available memory in this device and reshuffling data around to free up space.
And a final observation ... if you?re interested in programming the Pocket Windows computers then Microsoft supply a really good, free, C++ development environment for you to use (check their web site). With the nice screen and fast processor of the iPAQ 4700 you could write some really good games...5 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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State-of-the-art
by spaceweasel on July 19, 2005
Pros: VGA!, Speed!, TouchPad, 4" Screen, Wireless, Bluetooth, Magnesium Case, Intel XScale 624MHz processor, Flip cover for screen
Cons: Price, lack of VGA acceleration, 64MB RAM instead of 128MB
Summary: The hx4700 is HP's best yet. You can load this thing up with 15 or 20 programs, either on storage memory card, or FileStore Memory, and do more than ...
Summary: The hx4700 is HP's best yet. You can load this thing up with 15 or 20 programs, either on storage memory card, or FileStore Memory, and do more than any handheld on the market. I've heard some gripes about the TouchPad,but after getting used to it, it works quite well, especially in landscape mode, which, by the way, rivals most of the dedicated video multimedia players. Nothing is cooler than having a mouse cursor on your handheld. Except, for the fact, the new 4" VGA screen could use better acceleration, and the RAM could use an additional 64MBs (I'm going to do this from a third party), this unit would be a 10. I'm sure HP has more of this up their sleeves
4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Tell me again about HP's stellar customer support
by lupyne on October 15, 2005
Pros: Big VGA screen, touchpad,
Cons: Slow and Choppy video, Atrocious customer support
Summary: Myself working with the public and making every realistic effort to keep the customer satisfied, I'm beyond nonplussed by HP's support of their products. I've for the ...
Summary: Myself working with the public and making every realistic effort to keep the customer satisfied, I'm beyond nonplussed by HP's support of their products. I've for the most part calmed down enough to write this review and get off a letter with documentation to HP about how they are going to honor the 3 year warranty that I paid for extra and replace this silly thing. It was great for the first six months or so and now when the battey is changed, it does a hard reset. Calling HP tech support requires knowledge of many foriegn languagesin order just to communicate the most basic information. On top of that, the so-called techies tell you that there is no such repair warranty in HP's system. Amazingly, they can tell you that in almost perfect English. Now I'll see what the English speaking (I hope) heads of customer service have to say.
4 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Perfect Device
by vincentvampire on April 16, 2005
Pros: Large memory, Large, Crystal Clear Display, Good Software
Cons: Price tag is a bit high
Summary: I believe this is one of the best, overall handheld/PDA's out on the market today. First, the screen resolution is absolutely amazing. The screen allows you to see ...
Summary: I believe this is one of the best, overall handheld/PDA's out on the market today. First, the screen resolution is absolutely amazing. The screen allows you to see photos with an exceptional amount of detail and clarity.
The little touchpad on this device is neat and helps a lot with navigation through this device.
The wireless capabilities of this device is the best out of all. Just one click of a button and your using your WI-FI capabilities; one click of another and you are using the blue tooth. It's just the best.
The weight and size of this HP PDA are great. Feels very, very solid and well built.
This PDA comes with a great software package too. It has PDF clearvu to download and view PDF files. You can also use this HP PDA to use and make Excel files and do presentations.
The only downfall to this device is that it cost a bit over 600 dollars. However, you get what you pay for, i.e. High quality and durability.3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Using it in aviation with XM Weather
Pros: Great resolution and speed when combined with a high speed CF card. I use it with a blue tooth GPS as well and no problems when using wireless networking
Cons: Cost and only 64k RAM
3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Very good iPAQ
by bmwvan on June 8, 2005
Pros: Best screen I've seen
Cons: Price is a little high
Summary: I upgraded from a h2215 and had no problems getting all my programs and data up and running within minutes. The wireless system found my home network immediately and I ...
Summary: I upgraded from a h2215 and had no problems getting all my programs and data up and running within minutes. The wireless system found my home network immediately and I was reading e-mail and surfing the net within a half hour of charging the battery. Some reviews made this unit seem too large and heavy, but I haven't noticed an onerous burden lugging the thing around in my pocket. Hopefully, this one won't get dropped into lemonade......
A very good PDA that seems to do a great job.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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A great unit
by rizon72 on March 29, 2005
Pros: Great screen and wonderful unit
Cons: Needs a bit more than 64 MB of memory
Summary: Probably the best PDA I've had so far, (and I've had 4 others). Thought that the unit would seem big and bulky but after using it realized it ...
Summary: Probably the best PDA I've had so far, (and I've had 4 others). Thought that the unit would seem big and bulky but after using it realized it really was no bigger than my ipaq 3800 (yes I've compared the size). The large screen makes the unit seem smaller when you are looking at it. The VGA screen is much crisper compared to other units and you'll notice the difference right away.
I've had no problems with syncing my unit to my computer, which I do almost daily. I transfer several word documents daily between the two. I also use daily the HP foldable keyboard which works with no problem at all.
Use the Wi-Fi daily and have had no battery issues or connectivity issues with it at all. In fact I even was able to help out a neighbor because my ipaq picked up his wireless network and helped him secure it. BAttery life seems to be a bit better than my last unit, of course I don't have my backlight on high either, don't need the brightness up that high anyways I figure.
Have not had any problems with transcriber, which I also use daily and have had no crashes on the unit which I did not cause. (A lot of crashes are user error, though people don't like to be told that).
This is the first unit which has a good amount of storage memory, that is if your unit does have a hard reset you will not lose that info so I keep almost nothing in the normal 64 MB of memory. The memory is one of two things that I would change with this unit. include 128 MB of memory and lose bluetooth, never used it in two and a half years yet.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: HP
- Part number: FA282A#ABA
- Description: High-end features and versatile functionality in a sophisticated design. The powerful HP iPAQ hx4700 Pocket PC is a Microsoft Windows Powered Pocket PC designed with a visually stunning VGA color display, a broad range of feature-rich applications, integrated wireless capabilities, enhanced security and dual-slot expansion that make the HP iPAQ hx4700 Pocket PC an essential asset for productivity both in and out of the office. Sleek, powerful, and feature-rich gets more done on the go. Intel PXA270 624MHz processor raises your productivity to a whole new level. Work faster - work smarter.
General
- Product Type Handheld
- Width 3 in
- Built-in Devices Display, Speaker
- Depth 0.6 in
- Height 5.2 in
- Dimensions (W x D x H) 3 in x 0.6 in x 5.2 in
- Color Gray
- Localization English / United States
- Weight 6.6 oz
- Color Gray
- Connectivity Device(s) Docking cradle
- Included Accessories Protective cover
- Localization English:United States
Processor
- Processor Intel Xscale 624 MHz
- Processor Intel 624 MHzXscale
Memory
- ROM 128 MB - Flash
- RAM 64 MB - SDRAM
- Installed RAM 64 MB
- Supported Flash Memory Cards SD Memory Card
- Max supported RAM 64 MB
- Total User Available Memory 135 MB
- RAM technology SDRAM
- Installed ROM 128 MB (128 MB max supported) Flash
Display
- Display Type 4 in TFT active matrix - Transflective
- Display type 4 in TFT active matrix
- Image 16-bit (64K colors)
- Display Resolution 480 x 640
Operating System / Software
- OS Provided Microsoft Windows Mobile for Pocket PC 2003 Second Edition
- Software Clock, Inbox, Notes, Tasks, Memory, AvantGo, Calendar, Contacts, Pictures, Solitaire, WorldMate, ActiveSync, Calculator, Jawbreaker, VPN Client, Pocket Word, iPAQ Backup, Align Screen, Pocket Excel, File Explorer, Voice Recorder, Volume Control, ClearType Tuner, IPAQ Image Zone, ListPro (Trial), Vindigo (Trial), iPAQ File Store, Infrared Beaming, Microsoft Reader, Bluetooth Manager, Adobe Acrobat Reader, Cadenza mNotes (Trial), Microsoft Outlook 2002, Westtek ClearVue Suite, Pocket Internet Explorer, Terminal Services Client, Microsoft ActiveSync 3.7.1, Microsoft Pocket Informant, Margi Presenter-to-Go (Trial), Adobe Acrobat Reader for Pocket PC, Windows Media Player 9.0 for Pocket PC
Input Device
- Input device type Stylus, Touchpad, Touch-screen
- Type Stylus, Touchpad, Touch-screen
Audio
- Supported Digital Audio Formats MP3
- Audio Input Microphone
- Audio input type Microphone
- Audio Output Speaker(s)
- Voice Recording Capability Yes
- Compliant Standards CB, CE, UL, CSA, IEC950, UL 1950, EN 60950, FCC Part 15 C, FCC Class B certified
Telecom
- Modem None
- Data services SMS
- Modem None
Expansion / Connectivity
- Expansion Slots Total (Free) 1 ( 1 ) x CompactFlash Card - Type II, 1 ( 1 ) x SD Memory Card
- Wireless Connectivity IrDA, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11b
- Interfaces 1 x USB - 4 pin USB Type A, 1 x Headphones - Output - Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
- Port / Connector Type:Interface 1USB, 1HeadphonesOutput
- Port(s) Total (Free) / Connector Type:Free Qty 1
- Connector Provided 4 pin USB Type A, Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
- Expansion slot(s) total (free) 1 CompactFlash Card Type II, 1 SD Memory Card
- Total free slots 1
- Cable(s) included 1 x AC adapter, 1 x
Power
- Battery installed (max) 1 Lithium ion
- Max supported batteries 1
- Power Device Power adapter
- Voltage Required AC 120/230 V AC 100/240 V ( 50/60 Hz )
- Power supply device Power adapter - External
- Voltage required AC 100/240 V
- Power device frequency required 50/60 Hz
System Requirements for PC connection
- Peripheral / Interface devices USB port
Miscellaneous
- Cables Included 1 x AC adapter, 1
Environmental Parameters
- Operating temperature 32 °F122 °F
- Min Operating Temperature 32 °F
- Max Operating Temperature 122 °F
GPS
- GPS Navigation None
Battery
- Installed Qty (Max Supported) 1 (installed) / 1 (max)
- Technology / Form Factor Lithium ion
Warranty
- Service & Support 1 year warranty
- Service / Support Details 1 year Limited warranty Parts and labor
Manufacturer Warranty
- Service & Support Details Limited warranty - Parts and labor - 1 year
Manufacturer info
- HP
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse HP products on Shopper.com
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- Website: http://www.hp.com
- Address:
3000 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA 94304-1185
