Reviews November 11, 2006

The HP iPAQ rx5915 Review Isn’t Happening

Updated 11/13 – You know how internet rumors get started and then spread like wildfire? Well, there is one going around that the device I returned was a pre-production unit; let me assure you that it was not. I purchased it directly from HP, paid $650 (including tax / free shipping) and was sent the retail version, iPAQ rx5915. Just so we are 100% clear: The issues I had were with the retail version, not a pre-production unit. Okay? Okay.

*****

I’m sending the iPAQ rx5915 back on Monday without posting a review – Sorry folks!

It’s not often that I will just give up on a device, but the iPAQ has managed to evoke that reaction from me. Let’s just say that this is a huge difference from the days when I would try an iPAQ and quickly become enamored, and I am feeling the let-down.

So for those that were wondering…

Here’s what I don’t like:

- Limited memory: It has 2GB but only about 1/4 of it is available. Yes, it will accept an SD card, but for $600 I guess I just expected more.

- No soft keys, unintuitive to use and forget one-handed operation – it’s not happening.

- Suffered from several crashes

- Cheap shiny case that grabs fingerprints, is prone to scratches, and is nearly impossible to photograph. grrr.

- Squishy and unresponsive screen that feels like it is being gouged every time I take the stylus to it. I don’t know how HP gets by with calling the finish anti-glare – trust me it glares!

- GPS software seemed to be “off” quite a bit. It had my location as a full block over from my actual location more than once.

- The 9-way directional pad is all one piece, and therefore it’s easy to unintentionally push the wrong direction – especially when trying to “center-select”.

- Overpriced when compared to similar PDAs or similar GPS devices. It’s price is about what I would expect for a GPS enabled mobile phone, but this does not have mobile phone capabilities.

Here’s what I liked about it:

- 3.5? screen (even if only QVGA). It’s nice that it at least had a decent-sized screen.

- Compact size (it’s not a thick hulking box like some GPS units)

- Built-in WiFi & Bluetooth

- Lots of included accessories for vehicle usage

Tags: GPS, Microsoft Windows Phone Devices, Mobile Phones, Navigation Devices

A Tale of Two Treos

Introducing BlackJack

About Judie Lipsett Stanford

View all posts by Judie Lipsett Stanford

I have had a fascination with all types of gadgets and gizmos since I was a child, beginning with the toy robot that my grandmother gave my brother - which I promptly "relieved him of" in 1973. I have long been captivated by devices that did anything interesting or served a unique purpose - however silly. I can't tell you how everything works – but I am known world-wide for using a product until I have a full understanding of what it does, what its limitations are, and if it excels in any given area...or not.

mcsouth

Thanks for the update, Judie. I will admit that I was “kinda” eying one of these units as a possible GPS for traveling, as well as entertainment device. Based on your comments above, I am very glad that I did not spring for one when they first came available.

Convergence in concept is a neat idea, but it is interesting to note that the dedicated devices definitely provide a much better experience, and when you plan on living with a unit for some time, sometimes the better experience is worth the minor hassle of juggling multiple units.

After thinking about it long and hard, I finally realized that the biggest issue I have with multiple units is…….the power cords, dongles, what-have-you that you need to carry to keep them all running. A week long trip to anywhere, especially by plane, reminds me that I hate trying to keep track of the cell phone charger, my pda sync/charger cable, my camera and its battery charger, my laptop power adapter, …………….which brings me back to the convergence unit….

I had hopes this iPaq unit would turn out better – I guess I will stick with my 4150 for a while yet.
MitchellO

Yes I was considering getting my dad to buy one. He is looking for a GPS and this one looked pretty good. Guess not!
http://pocketnow.com ChrisSpera

wow. disappointed, but not surprised. This one didn’t seem like it had it together.
http://www.geardiary.com Judie

If anyone can find a good reason to purchase and keep a device, it’s usually me…and I really couldn’t in this case. Steve eyed this iPAQ as a combination GPS device, PDA, and eBook reader when it first came in, even going so far as to say that he might want to keep it when I was done with the review. After fiddling with it some himself, he told me to send it back. This was after I had told him I didn’t want it personally, but that if he wanted it I was totally cool with him keeping it.

There are lots of great PDAs out there, and lots of great GPS devices. This one…none of the above, I am afraid.

So back it goes, and once the credit on my Amex clears I’ll have freed up gadget money for something else. Not that there’s anything wrong with that!

mcsouth – you might want to check out the Gomadic cables I recently reviewed. They have really cut down on my travel device cable clutter; I highly recommend them.
MitchellO

Ah, gotta love Amex
mobilejenneth

Bummer it wasn’t worth a full review! I think HP had a lot of potential with the new rx4000 and rx5000 series Pocket PCs – great concepts, but each with various shortcomings.

I reviewed the iPAQ rx4540, and I think they have the same casing. It’s interesting that we have different opinions on it, though. I found it nice to hold because of the laminated finish. I didn’t find it prone to displaying fingerprints – certainly not when compared to the back of an iPod!

The type of screen on the rx4540 is probably different to the rx5915, as it’s of the smaller 2.8in variety. I found this to be a nice, responsive screen, with a hard coating (so not squishy).

Do you think one-handed operation is as important on a non-phone device? Just a thought, but to me, full-sized PDAs (as opposed to Pocket PC phones) have always been more about two-handed use.

Very odd that the rx5915 has 2GB of memory but only a quarter of it is available! This means that the rx4540 actually has more memory on-board, with 965MB usable and an extra usable 80MB between RAM and ROM.

Question: has HP made use of the built-in Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to enhance the GPS capabilities at all? What I’m thinking about are things like traffic updates that can be done over the air. This would’ve made HP’s offering a bit more unique, but I’d be surprised if they had done this.
alese

Judie, are you sure that at least some of the problems are not related to your particullar unit?

In any case if all the problems are common to the series, than I guess this is probably the last non converged iPaq from HP. With everybody moving to converged devices, this iPaqs would have to sell very well fo HP to continue the developemen and production, but given the above problems I guess that’s the end of the line…
Pingback: » HP iPAQ rx5915: sein Geld nicht wert? » insidePDA News
http://www.geardiary.com Judie

@Jenneth – “The type of screen on the rx4540 is probably different to the rx5915, as it�s of the smaller 2.8in variety. I found this to be a nice, responsive screen, with a hard coating (so not squishy).”

Does the rx4540 have the anti-glare coating on the screen? I am wondering if this was a second layer on the touchscreen that made it feel so squishy. There was an entirely slow-to-respond (I don’t want to say “dead”, as it wasn’t) area on the bottom left of the screen where I felt like I had to press very hard to get any response. Any time I tried to write anything on the screen with the stylus, it felt like it was going to gouge the coating – it made me very nervous.

“Do you think one-handed operation is as important on a non-phone device? Just a thought, but to me, full-sized PDAs (as opposed to Pocket PC phones) have always been more about two-handed use.”

I agree with you on two handed operation of traditional PDAs, but I think one handed operation of this device is important because it is marketed to drivers and to their passengers (when they have one). And even though you are not “supposed” to interact with a GPS unit while driving…ummm, yah. People do.

“Very odd that the rx5915 has 2GB of memory but only a quarter of it is available!”

Not odd – just cheap of HP. They market it as a 2GB device – but in truth they have the navigational maps stored in that memory so that all that’s available is a quarter of the total number! I suppose I could have started deleting maps, as I did find their storage folder. But should I have to do that?�:-P

“Question: has HP made use of the built-in Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to enhance the GPS capabilities at all? What I�m thinking about are things like traffic updates that can be done over the air. This would�ve made HP�s offering a bit more unique, but I�d be surprised if they had done this.”

This was something that had me greatly perplexed. There is a feature of Tom Tom that the user is supposed to be able to acess on the rx5915 which allows on the fly updates, presumably by pairing with a mobile phone via BT or by connection over WiFi if you purchase a subscription. This should also work over active sync, but I was never able to connect with ANY of the methods. After a while I lost interest.

For those that haven’t seen it -�read Jenneth’s rx4540 review here. While this is a different device altogether, it has many similar features to the rx5915.

@ alese – “Judie, are you sure that at least some of the problems are not related to your particullar unit?”

Sure! Anything is possible. �I just did a quick Google to see if there were other reviews on the rx5915 out yet, and the only one I found was at Brighthand. Even though his was a pre-production unit, I think I may have still found some of the same issues in my retail version.

“In any case if all the problems are common to the series, than I guess this is probably the last non converged iPaq from HP. With everybody moving to converged devices, this iPaqs would have to sell very well fo HP to continue the developemen and production, but given the above problems I guess that�s the end of the line� ”

This isn’t really a non-converged PDA, though – it’s just a non-mobile phone PDA. So if HP uses that rationale, I would personally like to shake them. I think there is still room in the market for a WiFi & BT enabled PDA with a nice screen and a fair amount of memory, and no other built-in radio. We’ll see what happens, though…
MitchellO

Yeah I am sure there are people out their looking for and update to the hx4700. Whack some of those 2GB flash chips inside, maybe shrink the size just a little, and release it as a new model, like was done with the h1910-h1940. Maybe they could even throw in GPS for a true VGA navigator.
http://www.geardiary.com Judie

Mitchell, If they were to release an updated 4700 with Crossbow, 2GB and a true D-pad, I would buy one. Add a jog-wheel on the left upper corner and I would be thrilled!
Lex

Let’s see whether HP falls all over themselves from Judie sending back the piece- o’crappola or whether they’re silent. We hope to hear, “Yes Ms. Hughes. Whatever you say Ms. Hughes. Here’s a better unit Ms. Hughes…”
http://www.geardiary.com Judie

Lex, I highly doubt that my dislike of the rx6915 – or my desire for an updated 4700 for that matter – will be a blip on HP’s radar.
http://www.pocketables.net Jenn

Thanks for the honest and thoughtful review, Judie. You’ve saved me from making a regrettable purchase, as I was immediately intrigued when I first saw the device. I’m a fool for loads of included accessories, so I may have been able to overlook some of the units flaws, but your list of cons so far ouweighs your pros that it definitely made me reconsider. Thanks again!
http://www.geardiary.com Judie

Jenn, I am a sucker for accessories, too. Thanks for commenting.
acesfull

Interesting review, I was just about to purchase one. I’m wondering what your thoughts are about the AIRIS T620, which has similar hardware specs and sells for about $350.
http://www.geardiary.com Judie

acesfull, I have not been able to try a AIRIS, but it certainly looks interesting. The price alone makes it look like a contender. If I am able to get my hands on one, I will certainly post about it.
s0s0

Having bought the 5915 for $500 and recognized some of the weaknesses from the start (9 Position button instead of toggle, Button placement), I am actually happy. I was wanting something to replace my IPAQ 2215. By using the SD memory I already have in hand, adding MS Reader, Mobipocket and Coreplayer, I was able to abandon the need for my IRiver PMP, Magellan GPS, and the 2215. The only complaints I have is the 64 Mb instead of 128 for operating memory. I have been using it for over a month and only had to warm boot it twice. but of course ymmv. If you are looking for consolidation mobile media device with GPS, WiFi and Bluetooth, This may fit.
BTW: Skype works on it as well.
http://www.geardiary.com Judie

sOsO, thanks for the info. The “YMMV” comment is exactly correct…what works for one person may not work for another and vice versa. I really appreciate you coming in a writing about your experience; comments like this help the site stay balanced.
TheDon

I picked up the 5900 a week ago and I have to say that I am pleased for the most part with it. I do agree with some of Judie’s findings as far as the stylus location and the directional pad being. However, after a week of use I have gotten used to them. The Dpad thou should be redone on future models as I still make mistakes when navigating.
The Tom Tom GPS software was a great addition. I was able to update the traffic information for my route to work in the mornings. I first connected to my home internet network via the built in wireless and updated the traffic info once my route was set in Tom Tom.
I loved my 4705 but I had to reset it at least 1 time a day. So far I have not had to reset the 5900 once in a week of use.

Judie, I think you may have received a defective unit and maybe you can see it fit to take a second look at this unit. While the new design may not be everyone’s cup of tea, as an owner of several ipaqs going back to the 3600, I can say that the 5900 is a very good unit.

Cons:
My previous device was the 4705 so I missed that wonderful VGA screen.
The location of the stylus.
Directional pad

Pros:
Built in GPS
Tom Tom GPS software
Built in Bluetooth and wireless G (not B)
Shortcut buttons for Media player and for closing applications
Large built in memory (2 gigs but only 400 + MB available)
lacrima

Hi
I find it really unfair to publicize a commercial tool “unusable” just because someone is unable to use it correctly and efficiently(e.g. freeing up the memory for the usage of other applications)

I hope the author can see her prejudice and unfairness about the device after reading the comments of the users who happily use the product.

Besides all, the reasons, which are given and which supposedly led the author to send back the device are really ridiculous.
-> Suffered from several crashes ???????? (May I ask what were you doing when the device suffered from the crashes ? Did you think of any operational fault on your side ??????? )
-> One handed operation not possible ????
WHO EXPECTS ONE-HANDED OPERATION FROM THE DEVICE EXCEPT YOU ? I am sorry I havent heard such a stupid argument to declare a device useless.
-> Cheap shiny case ?
So what ? Is this enough to declare the device useless ?

This is the only site reporting negative in Internet regarding HP rx5915 (among them are a lot of simple users who reviewed the device on non-profit basis)

I am sorry Judie. Your review is biased and you were having your PMS maybe when you got the device. I cant explain the stupid review here in any other mean.

Regards,

Lacrima
http://www.geardiary.com Judie

Hello Lacrima,

Since this is your first post at Gear Diary, I’d like to welcome you and thank you for taking the time to put your thoughts in such a long response. So without further ado, here are my answers:

I find it really unfair to publicize a commercial tool �unusable� just because someone is unable to use it correctly and efficiently(e.g. freeing up the memory for the usage of other applications)

Show me where I said “unusable”. You are putting words in my mouth. In fact, until my reply, your usage of the word “unusable” was the only on this page. As far as “freeing up the memory for the usage of other applications,” the only way to use any more than the approximately 500MB left free of the 2GB on the device, was to possibly delete maps. I wasn’t going to do it. I had no problem with not having memory for other applications, my problem was being told it was a 2GB device, but only being allowed access to 1/4 of them.

I hope the author can see her prejudice and unfairness about the device after reading the comments of the users who happily use the product.

No, what I have seen is that some other people have had a better user experience than I did, and some haven’t. It’s like that with every released product, and that is part of what makes us individuals – we have different opinions about many things.

Besides all, the reasons, which are given and which supposedly led the author to send back the device are really ridiculous.
-> Suffered from several crashes ???????? (May I ask what were you doing when the device suffered from the crashes ? Did you think of any operational fault on your side ??????? )

I was using it as both a PDA and a navigational device. PDAs crash, and I accept that it happens, but this one did it more than I found acceptable. Perhaps you are not aware of how many PDAs I have used, owned, and reviewed over the years. I have my own definition of what is acceptable, and it is probably more liberal than most people’s would be.

-> One handed operation not possible ????
WHO EXPECTS ONE-HANDED OPERATION FROM THE DEVICE EXCEPT YOU ? I am sorry I havent heard such a stupid argument to declare a device useless.

Wow, we’ve gotta break you of that word, “useless”. I still have never said the 5915 was useless. Let me put it into perspective for you. This device is supposed to be used in a car, as a navigational device, most likely while the person using it is driving. One handed usage seems pretty important to me in this situation, but perhaps not to everyone.

-> Cheap shiny case ?
So what ? Is this enough to declare the device useless ?

Once again – never used the word; It’s yours. And I didn’t like the case, that’s true. If I am going to spend $600 on a device that I will be looking at everyday, I think it is fair to want satisfaction with the materials used to compose the device’s exterior.

This is the only site reporting negative in Internet regarding HP rx5915 (among them are a lot of simple users who reviewed the device on non-profit basis)

Well, considering that I bought and paid for mine – and then sent it back when it wasn’t what I wanted…you’re saying I should have not said a word about my experience? Sorry. Just because a large number of people like something doesn’t mean that everyone has to like it. I am not going to sing anything’s praises just because a lot of other people do. Maybe after you get to know be better, you’ll understand that. That’s assuming this wasn’t just a drive-by posting.

I am sorry Judie. Your review is biased and you were having your PMS maybe when you got the device. I cant explain the stupid review here in any other mean.

Wow. Just. Wow.

I am really trying to give you the benefit of the doubt here, but I think you just dug yourself a hole that I am not going to even attempt to pull you from.

I hope you feel better now that you have got all that off your chest.
Judie
http://pocketnow.com ChrisSpera

Lacrima,

Your comments are really, REALLY uncalled for and out of line. Judie and I have been at this for years. While I haven’t looked at this device; I’ve heard from many other WM pundits who have had similar experiences. If Judie says its got problems, then she’s probably right. BUT she did say that your experience may be different.

The site is all about posting opinions: her’s, mine, other contributors as well as readers (in the comments section). We all respect your opinion; and you are certainly entitled to post it. In fact, we’re glad you did. It helps round out the entire post, and gives everyone a clear idea of what the device is like; so, thank you for posting your opinion.

However… suggesting that someone is b*tchy and hormonal, and has allowed that mood to cloud their judgement is completely out of line. Judie would never do that. Judie is a member of the Mobius Group, and her opinion is sought after and respected by other WM sites, other industry pundits (like myself) and Microsoft….AND Microsoft. She knows what she is talking about, and how to deliver this kind of message.

Next time, please… PLEASE reconsider how you present your differing opinion. While I, and every contributor here at Gear Diary respect other opinions, including yours, being insulting is unacceptable, and simpley won’t be tollerated. Next time, we’d really appreciate you being more selective with your choice of words.

Thank you for your time and understanding.

Christopher Spera
Sr. Editor, pocketnow.com
Gear Diary Contributor
lacrima

Hi Christopher and Judie,
I am sorry about my word selection in my last post. When I read it now again, I also see that it is rude and inconvenient so accept my apologies regarding that.
But on the other hand I still think that Judie’s review is biased. And this bias is somehow not explainable to me.

Judie,
You mentioned in your post that you have never used the word “useless”.
You are right, you have never used it. Could you please explain me what is your way of behaving actually supposed to mean, when you publicly announce to return a device without making a review because of the reason x, y, z. Cant we interpret this behavior as a conclusion of “uselessness” of the device ? Well I interpreted it that way and I am sure also most of the users of the blog as well. So shortly, you did imply that device is “useless”, although you havent used the exact word. At least be honest afterwards.. and defend your way of acting.

You apparently had a faulty device, as you seem to be the only one who managed to find so many points to dislike on the device.
(Check also amazon.com’s* user reviews for 5915, not one review complains about the same issues and the device has 4 stars overall and ranks 5th on the PDA topseller’s list.) Why didnt you simply return the device and request a non-faulty one and review it ? Why was the rash to announce in your blog that the review of this device never take place, if it was not your bias and mood ?

I am sorry.. I simply can not explain this behavior..

Regards,

Lacrima

*
http://www.amazon.com/HP-iPAQ-rx5915-Travel-Companion/dp/B000JET9EA/sr=8-1/qid=1171371972/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-4803711-8250250?ie=UTF8&s=electronics
Pingback: hp rx5935 - PDA - Technologies Mobiles - FORUM HardWare.fr
Pingback: GpsPasSion Forums - EN TEST - HP rx5720 / rx5935 - MAJ GPS 3.2.2
Pingback: Ipaq Rx5915 - Dogpile Web Search