HP Unveils New iPAQ Pocket PCs

After not introducing a new Pocket PC since last fall, HP is taking the wraps off no less than six new iPAQs at once.

These cover just about the whole range of possible handhelds, from the "no-frills" rz1715 to the "everything-but-the-kitchen-sink" hx4705, which is HP's first model with a VGA screen.

Also being announced are three models in the rx3000 series, which are strongly multimedia oriented, and the iPAQ h6315, which is the first iPAQ to offer built-in GSM/GPRS, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth.

There are numerous innovations in these models besides the ones already mentioned. For example, the rx3000 series models will have software that allows them to easily play music and videos streamed from a Windows PC over Wi-Fi. In addition, the iPAQ hx4705 will have a built-in trackpad rather than a D-pad.

These models are aimed at a variety of target markets. The rz1715 was designed for first-time handheld buyers, while the rx3000 series is for so-called "pro-sumers," handheld experts who are looking for a lot of features. Both the h6315 and the hx4705 are targeted at corporate users.

Only the rz1715 is available today. The Enterprise models are expected at the end of next month, while the rx3000 series won't bbe available until this fall.

None of the new iPAQs have the curvy form factor HP introduced with the h1900 series and then used on almost all of the handhelds it released in 2003. Instead, they have a squarer shape and the dark plastic strip above the screen that was a hallmark of earlier iPAQ models.

Read Descriptions of these Pocket PCs:

• iPAQ rz1715
• iPAQ rx3000 Series
• iPAQ h6315
• iPAQ hx4705