1. Introduction

The well-known and much praised design of the iPAQ 3-series has had its day. The world's most successful Pocket PC family, according to Dataquest Gartner, now has a new family member - the 22xx series. HP has just launched the first model in this new product line - the iPAQ H2210/2215.

The fact that the models H2210 and H2215 are basically the same product is bound to lead to some customer confusion. The H2215 is being distributed through retail channels, while the H2210 is targeted at business customers.

On the left, the "old" iPAQ H3800 alongside the H2210/H2215

Externally, the new generation differs from its predecessors by virtue of its more compact dimensions and lower weight. The new ones are 8mm (0.3") narrower, 8.6mm (0.8") shorter, and around twenty percent lighter (5.1oz /144g). This substantial weight reduction is due mainly to the smaller battery (H2210 900mAh, H3900 1400mAh), which is now also removable. HP has also reduced the size of the screen on the 2210, from 57 x 76 to 54 x 72mm, which is an effective reduction in screen area of ten percent.

The new iPAQ is powered by Intel's PXA255 PCA processor (PCA = Personal Internet Client Architecture). Like its predecessor, the PXA250 , its core is based on XScale technology, although the manufacturer claims lower power consumption (more effective power management) and increased performance (twice the bus frequency, 200MHz).

HP's latest PDA has a surprise in store on the operating system front, too - Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC. The new operating system has finally been optimized for XScale processors - unlike its predecessor, Pocket PC 2002. Programs that take advantage of the features of the operating system run considerably faster on the newer PDAs.