HP iPAQ 1945 Pocket PC Reviews

• The iPAQ 1945 - A Pocket PC Approaching Perfection

  
  By AD00EXGYN9OQ9 on 2003-07-26
  The iPAQ 1945, also sold as the iPAQ 1940, is the first in a line of planned successors to the iPAQ 1910. HP has addressed many of the concerns that 1910 users had, namely that the 1910 was too slow and lacked hardware expansion options. The 1945 is powered by a new 266MHz processor from Samsung which rivals, and sometimes surpasses, the usable speed of many XScale chips from Intel. Other features of the iPAQ 1945 include 64MB of RAM (56MB of which are user accessible), a crisp, bright transflective color screen, onboard Bluetooth wireless, and a Secure Digital slot which can use SD flash memory cards and SDIO peripherals such as 802.11b WLAN cards.

  Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC replaced Pocket PC 2002 as the most current Pocket PC OS in June 2003 and comes installed on the 1945. While the version of Windows Mobile 2003 pre-installed on the iPAQ lacks a few minor applications (such as Microsoft Reader), each can be downloaded for free. Because HP left the choice to the end-user, the iPAQ File Store - unused space on the ROM - has over 13MB free for software, files, etc.

  As I mentioned before, the Samsung processor keeps the 1945 moving along very well. Having recently used an iPAQ 5450 (400Mhz PXA250 XScale), a Toshiba e755 (400MHz PXA255 XScale) and a Toshiba e355 (300MHz PXA255 XScale), I can say that, from a casual use point-of-view, the iPAQ 1945 surpasses the speed of the iPAQ 5450 and Toshiba e355 and feels basically on level with the Toshiba e755. One of the touted benefits of the Samsung processor is long battery life, and while I didn't get the eight hours that HP suggested I might, I got almost seven hours use out of the 1945 with the backlight on its lowest setting before I had to recharge; a very good result.

  There is only one real drawback to the iPAQ 1945, as I see it, and it's relatively minor and completely fixable: the 1945 ships with only a USB Sync cable, not a cradle. While some might actually prefer this, I miss not having a cradle to rest the iPAQ in while it's not in use. The good news here is that there is a cradle available (the same cradle that works with the iPAQ 1910), and you can purchase if you want it.

  All-in-all, the iPAQ 1945 is an amazing addition to the Pocket PC family. If you like small, light PDAs with oomph, the 1945 might be right up your alley.
  
  

• The best PocketPC to come along in a long time

  
  By on 2003-08-17
  First off, I feel the criticisms of the 2-star review posted July 25th need to be addressed, because some of them are in error (why do people write reviews for things they don't own?)...

  1). The ARM9 core Samsung S3C2410 CPU in the 1945 is actually quite fast. Don't be fooled by a 266MHz clock speed compared to 400MHz XScale devices - this device runs multimedia apps and games faster than most other PocketPC models. I've done the benchmarks and framerate tests myself - it's impressive. Why? because despite the XScale hype, almost no apps or games are optimized for this Intel CPU, so ARM based processors can actually perform faster. The Samsung CPU also handles many functions internally, while the XScales still rely on a 100MHz external bus (the new PXA-255 processors use a 200MHz internal bus). Also, the 1945 isn't any 'hotter' than other PocketPC models I have owned. In fact, it stays quite cool.

  2). The 1945 has 56.66MB of available system RAM out of 64 - NOT 46. It also has approx. 13MB of additional flash file storage that can be used for anything - so the device really comes with approx. 70MB of available RAM!

  3). Bluetooth is essential. I use it to surf the web wirelessly at home and sync. It works great, and is quite fast. Be sure to select a Belkin or other Class 1 long-range USB dongle and read Brighthand or other PocketPC forums for tips on how to properly set it all up. It's also great if you have a BT cell phone.

  4). The 30 minute battery "guess" for WiFi SD use is wrong. I get 2.5+ hours playing hardcore games with brightness and sound on full blast, 4 hours playing MP3 with the light on (6-7 hours with it off). And yes, a 256MB flash/WiFi combo so you can have both expansion RAM and wireless.

  5). Note the use of the word "bloatware" -- this is an old slam that users of Palm devices use to bash the PocketPC. Draw your own conclusions from a guy that wrote a large and scathing review based on, in his own words, "A test drive" at a local store. He comments on the "cheaper" Zire 71 as having more features, but in reality it's the exact same price for less RAM and a much less sophisticated OS. You do get a very low resolution camera, but it doesn't do video and multimedia is still better on PocketPC.

  Now that the comments from the guy who doesn't know what he's talking about are out of the way, here are my PRO and CON comments on the 1945 (which I've had now for almost a month):

  PRO:
  * Size and style are the best of any PocketPC. Great power in the tiniest form imaginable. Think Palm V! It's amazing.

  * Removeable battery - spares are cheap ($... shipped) and the optional cradle can charge the 1945 plus one extra battery!

  * Stylus included has a metal shaft and reset tool (unlike the Zire 71).

  * VERY fast - comparable to the fastest PPC models available. Great for games and video!

  * Voice/Memo Recorder button & mic (lacking on the HP 2215 and Palm Zire 71).

  * Fast USB transfer. Large files copied from the desktop go very quickly.

  * SDIO slow allows IO accessories like WiFi, and the upcoming tiny HP video cam that will take movies and 1.3MP images!

  * Screen has a slight yellow tint when viewed at certian angles, but is still very rich and vibrant with great color, like the 1910.

  * Price - Unbeatable at $... list, and Amazon has them right now for even less.

  CON:
  * Battery life is OK but not as good as models such as the 2215.

  * Slipcover & cradle are optional.

  * Earphone jack is non-standard (adapter is included)

  * No CF slot or available expansion sleeves.

  * Uses Windows Mobile 2003 'Professional' which lacks MS Reader and ClearType Tuner. Reader can be installed, however.

  CONCLUSION:

  The iPAQ 1945 marks a milestone, as did its predecessor, the 1910. It carries forward the 1900 series tradition of groundbreaking (for PocketPC) size & price while adding to it the super-fast Samsing ARM based CPU, an expandable SD slot, integrated bluetooth connectivity and a new version of the OS. It's not perfect, but for less than $... it's by far the most powerful & versatile PDA available capable of superb performance.
  
  

• More drawbacks than advantages

  
  By A5JLAU2ARJ0BO on 2003-07-25
  The iPaq 1945, with "Mobile Windows 2003," is an updated version of the landmark 1910 model. The 1910 model was significant in the history of Pocket PCs because it was small and stylish, a first in the PPC world. Unfortunately, the cool factor of the 1910 wore off pretty quickly; I initially loved my 1910 and gave it 5 stars. After two weeks I started getting frequent crashes, and the unit was very slippery and quite uncomfortable to hold, and HP didn't even both to include a case!
  The 1945 introduced some new additions, but has one big huge drawback: it uses a Korean-made Sumsung CPU, which implements the ARM architecture at a low speed and also a low cost (to HP, that is). The CPU is reported to generate more heat than Intel offerings, and personally I don't trust a company that makes DVD players that don't last more than 6 months. Anyway, the 1945 is not even that cheap. A faster and better built Zire 71 with more features is cheaper, and since Palm can do videos and music these days, the incentive to get such a half-baked product like the 1945 is pretty small.

  Also, even though 64MB of RAM is included, you can still only access about 46MB of it. In my 1910 experience this is actually adequate, unless you want to install Microsoft Reader, Pocket Streets, Money, and other software. PPC software titles tend to be huge (think "bloatware"), so I think going forward if you are buying a PPC, be sure to get at least 64MB of *useable* RAM. Check out Toshiba's e750/e755 offering, which as 96MB of RAM, 32 of which is non-versatile, meaning the content stays on even when the battery completely dies. (The e75x also has wi-fi.)

  In terms of additions, the 1945 offers Bluetooth -- but nobody I know uses BT so most of you potential buyers would be paying for something you'll never use (kinda like the mic feature on all the PPCs I've owned...) -- and also SDIO compatibility, something sorely missing in the 1910. A few manufacturers including Toshiba, Sandisk, Lexar, etc. are coming out with SD wi-fi cards (finally), so at least the 1945 can potentially use them. BUT... wi-fi is a battery killer, and the 1945 uses a small-capacity battery. My prediction is on a full charge and at level 2 brightness (out of 5), if you have the wi-fi on, the 1945 won't last for more than 30 minutes. Also note that you cannot use a wi-fi card and SD memory expansion at the same time as the 1945 only has one slot. So a few extra bucks, you'd be much, much better off with a Toshiba e75x model, which has both SD and CompactFlash expansion slots (and built-in 802.11b wi-fi).

  While the 1945 is still stylish and kind of "cool," you must keep in mind that its slippery metal surface makes it hard to hold or take out of the case. The application buttons are also stiff. I test-drove a 1945 in a local computer store and was totally unimpressed since none of the complaints I had was addressed at all, including the small and awkward stylus.

  Even though I still use my 1910 as my primary PDA, I'm looking to replace it completely (maybe with a Palm, after all these years?), both as a result of disatisfaction with the hardware and some frustrations over the software (no "tap-and-write" calendar appointments, all-too-frequent problems with ActiveSync, constant soft resets, etc, etc.). So my finally thought is, get a Palm if you want something simple and reliable, and if you want a PPC, stay away from this underpowered, ergonomically incorrect 1945 and get a Toshiba e755 instead.
  
  

• Great PDA. Love It!!!

  
  By on 2003-12-21
  I currently own a Pallm V and decided I wanted to benefit from the richer functionality and interface of the Pocket PC. I did a lot of research and settled on the 1945.

  Pluses
  -Great form factor. Smaller and lighter than my Pallm V.
  -Great screen, i.e. brightness, contrast, color, sharpness, etc. I don't really notice the yellowish tint that other reviews (here and on other sites) have mentioned.
  -Great price. I purchased one that was refurbished by HP from a company called Pallmking, which is one of the vendors listed under 'buy new/used'. I paid $218+$8 for expedited shipping. I ordered it on a Friday and received on the following Wednesday.
  -Very fast. Many of the reviews I read stated this as well and attribute it to the 266mhz processor.

  Cons
  -No screen protector. The ones I found in the store are twice as much as compared to other PDA's (i.e. $20 for 12 as compared to $10 for most other PDA's)
  -Documentation is terrible and is basically useless.
  -Blue tooth difficult to setup.
  -Only one expansion slot and it is SD. There seems to be fewer devices for SD and they seem more expensive as compared to CF.
  -Very limited selection of 801.11b wireless cards for SD. Only could find two (Socket Comm and ScanDisk) and they were $100+ and did not get very good reviews.

  I also looked hard at the HP 1935, but it was slower (203mhz) and didn't have Bluetooth.

  Bluetooth was a bear to get working, but now that I have it has been really cool. I use for it wireless web browsing, activesync, and file transfers. Some sights to help you with this are:

  http://www.pc-counselor.com/How_to/bluetooth_network.htm - For setting up the wireless web browsing (this was very painful to setup)

  http://www.bluetoothnews.com/features/ActiveSync.htm - For setting up activesync.

  http://www.bluetooth.com/ - Official bluetooth site

  I purchased a Hawking USB bluetooth device for $31 from Amazon and it has worked great (just make sure you download the most current driver). I get a good wireless connection through-out my house.

  Some good general PocketPC sites are:

  http://www.brighthand.com/
  http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/resources/downloads/pocketpc/default.mspx - Has several good downloads.

  Overall I am extremely happy and satisfied with the 1945!!
  
  

• So far I am very pleased

  
  By AEQ5O09E7ERTB on 2003-09-18
  Bought my 1940/1945 a month ago, and so far I have been extremely happy.

  Pluses:

  Small size. Wow, it is small, very small when compared with other Pocket Pc's. Love it. It actually fits in my pocket, even in the leather case I bought for it. Finally a pocket pc that is actually pocket sized.

  Speed and Power: for the price it is exceptional. The benchmarking on the 266 Samsung processor have it beating or equaliing 400 Mhz intel x-scale processors in many areas.

  SDIO: Being able to add an SD GPS unit, or an SD WiFi unit in the future will be really valuable.

  Built in Bluetooth. Works like a charm, no need for an additional card taking up space.

  Screen: Clean, clear and looks great.

  Minuses:

  The 4 way button on the front is a little stiff. Small headphone jack, but that is easily fixed with the included adapter. I bought two more adapters for $3 each at radio shack to keep in various locations.

  Summary: I love it. I use it as an MP3 player (sounds great), video player (plays divx and mpeg tv shows and movies great!), eBook reader, organizor, game player, calender, etc etc. Wonderful piece of equipment.
  
  

• Great PDA. Love It!!!
  By on 2003-12-22
  I currently own a Pallm V and decided I wanted to benefit from the richer functionality and interface of the Pocket PC. I did a lot of research and settled on the 1945.

  Pluses
  -Great form factor. Smaller and lighter than my Pallm V.
  -Great screen, i.e. brightness, contrast, color, sharpness, etc. I don't really notice the yellowish tint that other reviews (here and on other sites) have mentioned.
  -Great price. I purchased one refurbished by HP from a company called Pallmking, which is one of the vendors listed under 'buy new/used'. I paid $218+$8 for expedited shipping. I ordered it on a Friday and received on the following Wednesday.
  -Very fast. Many of the reviews said this as well and attribute it to the 266mhz processor.

  Cons
  -No screen protector. The ones I found in the store are twice as much as compared to other PDA's (i.e. $20 for 12 as compared to $10 for most other PDA's)
  -Documentation is terrible and is basically useless.
  -Blue tooth difficult to setup.
  -Only one expansion slot and it is SD. There seems to be fewer devices for SD and they seem more expensive as compared to CF.
  -Very limited selection of 801.11b wireless cards. Only could find two (Socket Comm and ScanDisk) and they were $100+ and did not get very good reviews.

  I also looked hard at the HP 1935, but it was slower (203mhz) and didn't have Bluetooth.

  Bluetooth was a bear to get working, but now that I have it has been really cool. I use for wireless web browsing, activesync, and file transfers. Some sights to help you with this are:

  http://www.pc-counselor.com/How_to/bluetooth_network.htm - For setting up the wireless web browsing (this was very painful to setup)

  http://www.bluetoothnews.com/features/ActiveSync.htm - For setting up activesync.

  http://www.bluetooth.com/ - Official bluetooth site

  I purchased a Hawking USB bluetooth device for $31 from Amazon and it has worked great (just make sure you download the most current driver)

  Some good general PocketPC sites are:

  http://www.brighthand.com/
  http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/resources/downloads/pocketpc/default.mspx - Has several good downloads.

  Overall I am extremely happy and satisfied with the 1945!!
  
  

• $300 paperweight
  By A2RMC0RUCBEX23 on 2004-08-05
  Owned my 1945 for about 6 months. After taking it out of my briefcase and my ipaq's protective case, the screen would not respond except for a white splash across the screen. A call to HP customer support was fruitless except for the suggestion to send it in under the one year warranty. Here is their response:
  
  Subject: Regarding case #.....
  
  Dear Mr. .....,
  
  
  
  I am in receipt of a case escalation regarding your Ipaq which is on hold at our repair facility for a cracked screen. The repair facility is the facilitator of your unit's service warranty. They handle Ipaq units on a daily basis and make the determination of what is covered under warranty and what it is not.
  
  The damage to your unit has been determined to be a non-warranty event.
  
  A display in an iPAQ Pocket PC is made up of two basic components - the LCD, which is enclosed in a metal/plastic frame, and a Touch Panel (TP), which is attached on top of the LCD frame, providing a gap between the LCD and the TP. The stylus makes contact with the TP only. The gap between prevents incidental contact with the LCD.
  
  Both the LCD and the Touch Panel are each made up of several layers of glass and other thin films of materials, which all together provide the best user experience per our product specifications. The specifications for the display when enclosed in the iPAQ Pocket PC case include operating environment requirements which cover impact, shock and vibration, temperature and pressure. When the iPAQ Pocket PC is stored or used within these limits, it will provide reliable operation as designed. Operating Environment specifications are documented in the Hardware Specification section of the reference guide.
  
  Display breakage typically occurs in two forms, one for each of the basic components - the glass that provides the backing to the touch panel cracks, or the front or rear glass that surrounds the liquid crystal material of the LCD cracks. A crack in the touch panel is easy to see and identify. The glass fragments can even separate and move around but remain trapped behind the top layer of the touch panel. A crack in the LCD is not as easy to see, but is identified by the 'dark ink' that can be seen. This dark ink appearance is caused by air disturbing the orientation of the liquid crystal material. One or both may have occurred as the result of some incident.
  
  Within the operating environment, display breakage occurs because of mechanical stress. This stress can be from bending and torsion forces, an impact to the surface and shocks from any axis especially to the corners. Where the breakage started can often be determined by the crack radiating outward from the start. It may not be possible to identify what caused the mechanical stress which resulted in display breakage. As an example, impact and/or shock from dropping the iPAQ Pocket PC to concrete will typically show signs of case damage. Bending or torsion forces due to sitting down with an iPAQ Pocket PC in a rear pants pocket will typically show no signs of case damage.
  
  In summary, iPAQ Pocket PCs go through rigorous environmental testing and are designed to withstand an operating environment. Display breakage within this operating environment will occur due to external mechanical stress of some form. The origination of the mechanical stress may be unknown to the iPAQ owner, but did occur.
  
  
  
  This repair will not be covered under warranty. The reason why this repair may not be covered under warranty is because this is not a manufacturing failure. This is an external caused damage. You may refer to the warranty statement that states that warranty is not extended to accident, miuse, abuse or other external causes.
  
  
  
  If you would like my repair facility to proceed with repairs, you may contact them to authorize billing, or you may opt to have the unit returned to you with no services performed. You can reach them at (888) 886-3292 opt#3. Anyone answering the phone will be able to assist you. Please make sure to mention the above case number. If you have any questions regarding the above information, please refer to your warranty statement. Thank you.
  
  
  Kattia Porras Lara
  Phone: 1-888-943-8476 Ext.: 3012
  TSG Americas
  TCE & Q
  Mission Control
  
  For a mere $200 HP will repair my paperweight..
  
  
• Good, but never great; the fatally flawed Clinton of PDA's
  By A5B0UU05F34SD on 2004-11-11
  The HP1945 is a very good idea, with some serious problems. I've just ordered my third one. The first one lasted a month, the screen cracked, and after arm-twisting, HP replaced it. The second one lasted 14 months. This one is out of warranty, so I didn't bother with HP. It appears that the power supply went and fried the circuit board. (At least the blazingly hot spot on the casing and the near-instantaneous power drain of the lithium cell makes me suspect that.)
  
  So why am I ordering a third one. a) I'm an idiot, b) I'm an optimist, or c) The 1945 just happens to do exactly what you need a PDA to do, perfectly, with no extra baggage?
  
  [sigh] I'm afraid it's all three. This liitle machine is compact, versatile, efficient, and does exactly what I need it to do. Then it breaks far to soon, and really ticks me off.
  
  
• Couldn't be happier
  By A34D0MZMFB4L7M on 2003-09-28
  After doing a little homework, I replaced a Palm m105 with a new iPaq 1945. I couldn't be happier. I use the iPaq for backing up household Quicken finances, mapping, storage of pictures, and contacts, etc. I added eWallet for all the information it stores and encrypts. I added MS Reader and use it to read when I'm shopping with my wife. I added a dictionary for those words I'm not familiar with. Sync'ing data with my laptop is super easy. I haven't experienced any shortage of battery power even though I set the screen backlighting on high. I carry some spreadsheet data on the pocket edition of Excel. I carry more information on the pocket edition of Word. Even though the manufacturer recommends against keeping storage cards inserted in the iPaq due to power issues, I haven't experienced any undue power usage with a storage card kept in the iPaq. I'm happy.
  
  
• Good, but not perfect
  By on 2003-10-26
  HP has a lot going with this PDA. The first thing anyone will probably notice is how small this Pocket PC is. It's actually slightly thicker than the Toshiba e330 series, but it's so much smaller otherwise that you'd never notice.

  When using this PDA, you'll notice that the transflective screen is amazing; it's bright, uniform, and very clear; it's significantly better than any other manufacturer's Pocket PC screens.

  Performance gets a boost, too. The combination of the Samsung 266 MHz processor and Windows Mobile 2003 means that there are no longer any performance issues, as there were with Pocket PC 2002. Videos play smoothly, games run well, and there is no longer any sluggishness evident.

  The now SDIO-compliant slot and the built-in Bluetooth give decent expandability options. I wish HP had gone with built-in WiFi instead, but Bluetooth is better than nothing. Plus, you can always add an SD WiFi card later, if you want; that wasn't an option with older iPaqs.

  Considering how small the battery is, the 1945 lasts a pretty long time. I haven't done any formal tests, but 2.5-3 hours of reading and playing games, with the screen set to full brightness, brought the battery down to 30%. A huge bonus is the built-in backup battery and the fact that the main battery is also replaceable.

  Despite all the good stuff, the 1945 isn't without a few problems. The biggest one, which HP doesn't make immediately clear, is that they bundle Windows Mobile 2003 Professional edition, as opposed to the Premium edition. This means the loss of some features and programs, most notably Microsoft Reader. Fortunately, you can download and install this for free.

  Another pretty annoying problem, for anyone who wants to use headphones, is that the 1945 has a 2.5 mm jack, as opposed to the standard 3.5. They do include an adapter, but who wants to carry that around?

  The rest is really just nitpicking. HP includes 13 MB of non-volatile storage, which is really cool, but of the 64 MB of RAM that they advertise, only 56 is really available. I also didn't like the fact that they didn't include either a cradle or a protective cover. Lastly, the plastice battery cover feels a bit flimsy. It mounts on just fine, but when you take it off it feels really cheap and fragile.
  
  

• Great, with a couple of limitations
  By A321UWX6A3K66B on 2003-09-13
  This is definitly a great handheld. I got it to replace my two-year old 3000 series Compaq PDA. It's about half the size, with a much better screen, and expandability. Every application I've tried works well (no problems with PocketPC 2003). I'm waiting on my bluetooth adapter to see how well it's going to work. The battery life is good, and can be improved by turning off the bluetooth and infrared connections.

  My only minor complaints are 1) Non-standard headphone jack, 2) no slip case included, and 3) SD card plug . The jack has a ring of plastic around it, about two millimeters thick. I cannot figure out why HP's engineers couldn't figure out how to put in a real headphone jack, but if you're looking to use this as a multimedia device (it works well) the non-standard jack is a pain. Sound quality is really good through headphones, though. My other complaint is that they didn't include even the most basic protective cover with it. Since the nice case I've ordered won't be here for a couple of weeks, I had to run down to my local gargantuan electronics store and get a big clunky universal slip case to protect it for now, a waste of about ten bucks. Oh well.

  My final very tiny complaint is that rather than a hinged door, they supply a plastic filler piece for the SD card slot. I've already managed to lose mine, so now if I don't have the card in there's a gaping hole in the top of the PDA.

  Overall, these minor complaints don't touch the fact that this device costs less, weighs a lot less, and can run rings around my circa- 2001 ipaq. Definitly worth the money.
  
  

• Good PDA, but syncing doesn't work
  By A24CTHSCLJCA1E on 2003-09-14
  I am a high school student entering my senior year, and I bought an HP iPAQ 1945 PocketPC to help me stay organized. I wanted to use it to keep track of my appointments, activities, and especially for homework - as well as for taking notes in class.

  After about two weeks of use, I have found the iPAQ 1945 a very solid and dependable machine. It is not much use for taking notes, since data entry with either the virtual keyboard or graffiti still isn't as fast or accurate as good old-fashioned paper and pencil. However, I've found it an invaluable aid in keeping appointments and tasks (homework). It is much less bulky, and quicker to access, than a day planner. There is also a voice recording feature, which can be used to record lectures or class discussions at a reasonable level of quality. Such recordings are memory hogs, so if you want to do serious voice recording, you might want to buy a memory expansion card.

  Ergonomically, the device is small and light, easily fitting into your coat pocket. You don't need to bother with a case as long as you're careful not to damage or touch the screen, since the iPAQ doesn't have a flip-up cover. Entering data with the virtual keyboard was tedious at first, but gets easier with practice. I haven't tried using graffiti very much, but I expect it's the same way.

  The only problem I've experienced with the iPAQ 1945 is the software for syncing it with a desktop. It is bundled with Microsoft Outlook 2002 and Microsoft ActiveSync. Outlook appears to be broken, however. It gives several error messages on startup, and when I start ActiveSync, it claims that Outlook is not installed and therefore it cannot sync my contacts, tasks, appointments, etc. I've tried reinstalling the software twice, but nothing changes. This only an annoyance for me, not a showstopper, since I don't have a compelling need to sync with my desktop - but if you do, you might want to consider getting a different handheld.
  
  

• HP Supports Communist Holiday - I returned my iPAQ 1945
  By on 2003-10-01
  I have just return my iPAQ 1945 due to Hewlett Packard's apparent celebration of communist China's most significant holiday that honors the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949. I discovered this while looking for information on a new HP iPAQ 1945 Pocket PC that I just purchased when I gave my son my old handheld to use in high school.

  To say the very least, I was absolutely appalled to receive a popup message on my computer, while visiting HP's web site, that stated:

  "Dear Customer,

  There will be Chinese National Holiday from October 1st to October 3rd. During this period, our iPAQ Parts Store staff will be out of office.

  You are welcome to place order and email us for any inquiry as usual. We will respond to you immediately after we return.

  Thank you !

  iPAQ Services"

  When I asked about this on an HP forum, my posts were immediately removed with a form letter to me stating that they had done so. My posts were neither offensive nor inappropriate - except, of course, to communists. Why is an American company endorsing such a despicable event? Why are Americans being censored by HP for asking questions about their practices?

  As a direct result of this incident, I returned my iPAQ to the store this evening and had no problems doing so - the store's employees were equally appalled when I showed them the screen captures I made of the above. I will never purchase another HP product again and ask that all Americans consider a boycott against them.

  While I connected to the official iPAQ parts site (where the message appears) directly from HP's regular site, you may also go directly to the parts site at:

  http://www.services.foxconn.com/
  
  

• IPAQ-GREAT PRODUCT!!!!!
  By A1GAKPDUOT486W on 2004-01-02
  I bought the IPAQ h1945 a few days ago and it has been great! No problems except for a program froze up, and it was the program's fault and not the IPAQ's. As far as the yellow tint issue, it is so suttle unless you try to see it or unless you have it on a 45 degree amgle. If you are really worried about the color/tint, go to Bestbuy or similar and actually give it a try. I almost bought a Dell Axim X5 but they were not avail at any store for a test drive, a big downside, buying blind online. I am so happy with the IPAQ's small design, it is great. Its awesome for music. It cam play MP3 and WMA and can be upgraded free to play MPEG movies by installing free pocket tv for pocket pc. This thing has a better speaker than my dad's laptop! Also. people who gripe about the headphone adapter probably haven't bought this thing, its only lile 3 inches long, so unless you have wireless headphones (cool) you shouldn't be worried. Battery life is great! No worries! Great file storage space. Also, you can get tons of free games for it at windowsmobile.com and download.com. Great investment! Cool!
  
  
• Great PDA....when it's not crashing.
  By on 2004-03-03
  Eager to use windows (I'm not a Palm OS fan) & buy a unit I could "grow" into I bought my first iPAQ 1945 in Sept 2003. Worked great & I loved it! Until it died (completely unresponsive) Jan 2004. Thankfully I bought an extended warranty from Best Buy, so I was able to walk in & exchange it because HP sent my mail-in box to the wrong state... Now, four weeks later, it hard reset. I gave it benefit of the doubt, and 2 days later, it wouldn't stop hard resetting.

  I took care of pocket pc (esp having already exchanged it once!), kept it in a hard case, & by no means overused it (I never used it's full capacity in fact). Having read the other consumer reviews, & exchanged the product twice, I suspect there is a fatal desing/structural flaw with this unit. I hope to exchange mine for a different product. Be forewarned - if you are going to gamble on this model, make sure you buy a nice extended warranty to go with it!!
  
  

• Poor Service from HP/IPAQ
  By on 2004-02-13
  PLEASE read this before you buy an HP IPAQ product so you know how you will be treated if you should have a problem. I own about 6 HP products between IPAQ's, printers and scanners, and I always chose an HP before any other product, until NOW.
  I purchased 3 IPAQ's within 2 months. One for myself, my husband, and my father to the tune of $1350! There are days I don't even use my IPAQ, so it isn't abused. My IPAQ froze up on Thanksgiving day of 2003. It would not do anything, so on Monday, I called HP service, they said they wouldn't do anything because the 1 year warranty had expired. I purchased two of the three on Oct. 4, 2002 and this was November! I thought, oh, this product is only good for 1 year of use?
  So I talked to a few "higher up's" in the service area and got told that I am on my own. Then I had my husband call up there and they agreed to send us a box with shipping paid so we could send the unit back for them to diagnose the problem. Fair enough. They call within a week and left us a message telling us that the mother board is shot and it will cost $217 to fix. I just got done paying $450 for the product just over a year ago!! You have to be kidding!! This unit was obviously DEFECTIVE from the beginning. And because of a few days of warranty lapse, HP won't step up to the plate and help at all.
  So my husband calls back up there and talks to another "higher up" again (because obviously he got further than I did the first time), and her verdict was that HP will not stand behind their product at all. We have to pay the entire bill. Well I will tell you what, I will not fix this HP product, nor will I EVER buy an HP product again. And furthermore, I am in one of the hugest business markets in the world and talk to customers all day long, and I will be sure to tell them of how HP treats their customers. They should stand behind their product, Period!
  If they haven't figured it out, PEOPLE make a business and HP's people and policies are ludicrous! If I have a customer that has a problem and is 2 months out of warranty, I will make our manufacturer stand behind their product and fight for my customer's rights!! It is obvious that HP doesn't care about their customers at all. Good to know!! Beware of big business.
  
  
• Best GeoCaching PDA
  By AHI652VUCSJVF on 2003-09-21
  I bought this PDA mostly for GeoCaching and I must say that I'm very impressed by this little machine. The first thing that struck me about it was the clarity of the screen, even in full sunlight. Since I use it mostly outdoors, it's a major plus for me. The unit is well built and has a solid feel to it. The 'joystick' is a bit stiff, but since I never use it, I don't really care. The stylus coming with the PDA is very good: it's mostly made of metal and is not too light and fits securely in my hand.

  Bluetooth works like a charm, although I can't get ActiveSynch to work with it (it worked once, then stopped working for no good reason. I believe that switching between USB and BT confused AS in some way). No biggy since synch'ing with USB works fine.

  I've been very pleased with the stability of PPC 2003. In fact, it's directly related to the software that you install on the machine. For instance, Adobe's Acrobat Reader is horrible and will cause soft resets regularly while other well behaved apps will just hum along.

  I also appreciate PPC 2K3 as a developper. eVC++ 4.0 (free d/l from the MSFT site) is rather nice especially with the addition of STL. It's a pleasure to write code targeting this PDA (as opposed to PPC 2K2).

  I don't really have any CONs regarding this machine. Sure, it would be nice to get a cradle and a case with the gizmo when you buy it. However there are many cases available for it at a good price (just about anything that fits a Palm will do).

  After using it as a multi-purpose system (GeoCaching using GPXSonar, MP3 player, organizer and general digital wallet) for a couple of months, I give it 2 thumbs up. I had initially considered a Zire 71 against the iPAQ 1910, but when the iPAQ 1945 came out, there was no contest. Another reviewer said that this is a 'Palm Killer' and guess what...he's right!
  
  

• Beware serious hard reset problems!!!
  By A5JLAU2ARJ0BO on 2004-01-12
  I didn't want this iPaq 1945 due to previous negative experiences with iPaq's (including the very first one that developed the infamous dust-under-screen problem within a week and and became unusable after a month), but my manager who used to work HP likes HP so he forced us to buy this model. Not a single person in my 10-person group likes it, because of sluggish performance, frequent need to soft-reset, and tons of problems syncing with Outlook 2000 and XP under Windows XP and 2000.

  Anyway, what's really ticking me off right now is a mysterious, random hard-reset problem. It started around Thanksgiving, when one day I was on the subway and needed to check the address of my client, so I whipped out the 1945 and to my great horror, it performed a hard reset on its own, giving me the middle-finger salute with the ugly HP welcome screen that you only see after a hard reset. I had just recharged the battery, and the unit wasn't even 3 months old, so I was totally horrified.

  That was just the beginning of my problems. Ever since then the unit would turn itself off without warning, and occasionally (to be fair, not all the time) it would just hard-reset on its own. I don't think this kind of behavior is acceptable at all in a PDA. You buy a PDA to store information and retrieve it whenever you need it, not to stare at a blank screen at your most critical moment.

  Other people in my group also have various problems with the 1945, from broke backlight on one unit to frequent syncing problems on another to inaccurate digitizer on yet another. BTW I've always had syncing problems with IPAQs in the past, and still do these days: when I hook up my iPaq to my Win XP machine, it would take almost 5 minutes for the sync to start. Every day, using the iPaq 1945 is a very frustrating experience, and sluggish performance (even in Calendar and Contacts) is only the least of it.

  Stay away from these poor products. It's your money and you deserve better. For Pocket PC's, Toshiba seems to be putting its act together and has come out with some very good models, including the VGA-resolution (640x480) e800/e805.
  
  

• Buyer beware
  By A359AM6V0O4EXD on 2004-10-19
  
  When I purchased my Ipaq 1945 in January 2004 I was amazed by what it could do. Some of the highlights are fast speed , multi tasking , upgradeability, and the amazing color display. But after 4 months the Screen internally cracked after a hot sync. This unit was not dropped or impacted in anyway so I sent it back to Hp for a warranty repair. When the technician who received the unit first called me back , He said that the warranty would not cover the screen and that it would cost $280 (almost what it costs new) to fix it. After fighting with them they brought the repair price down to $130.00 , and after I threatened to file a complaint with the attorney generals office for not honoring their warranty they repaired it for $60.00. Three months after that the sound stopped working and it was sent back and they replaced the motherboard at no charge. Two days ago I just got it back and today while I was removing the unit (which is inside of a protective case) from my pocket the screen cracked again and hp again wants $200 to repair it. Now I'm stuck with pocket pc that I invested $360.00 into that is a peace of junk. I am now going to have to look into the consumer laws to see if there is any recourse I can take to get a refund or a warranty covered repair.
  This unit should not break during normal use or handling
  and if you go online to a search engine like google.com and type in Ipaq 1945 cracked screen you will find many other people who have the same problem and it occurs under the warranty period.
  I advise every one to stay away from this product because of the cheap construction of the unit and the Bad customer Service from HP.
  
  
  
  
• Mighty Mite - HP does it right!
  By on 2003-08-20
  Looking for a Pocket PC(PPC) with the power to handle your most graphic intensive tasks, but the form factor you loved in your Palm V? HP has finally built it - the Ipaq 1945!

  I must say that I didn't set out to buy the 1945. I had my eyes on the Ipaq 2215. I was looking for a PPC that would double as a gameboy using PocketSNES. Although PPC's released as little as 3 months ago couldn't run PocketSNES fast enough to be playable, I was promised that the new Intel processor in the 2215 would. So I took a trip to my local retailer to check it out. Long story short, the 2215 performed as promised, but my eye was caught by the 1945. With a 'what the heck' I popped my memory card into the slot and fired it up, thinking that the 266mhz Samsung processor couldn't possibly compete with the 400mhz Intel. Boy was I surprised when the [money amount]performed just as well as the 2215. This thing had some power! I then tried a video that had been choppy on my previous (300mhz Intel) PPC. It ran smooth as butter. I was sold.

  I've now used the 1945 for about a month and I couldn't be happier. This thing has handled every task I could throw at it. It's onboard memory is as large as any other currently available PPC, but it is faster than almost all of them (do a web search to see what the benchmark numbers say). The screen is bright, clear, and well saturated, if a little on the yellow side. I thought Bluetooth would be pretty useless until I connected for the first time. I can now sync the Ipaq without a cable or cradle, and wirelessly surf the internet from my couch. Very Cool. With the [money amount]I saved by choosing this model over the 2215, I was able to purchase an extra snc-n-charge cable, an aluminum case, and a Bluetooth Dongle for wireless connection to my PC.

  I highly recommend this PPC to...I was going to say budget conscious buyers, but since this outperforms PPC's costing hundreds more...everyone looking for a powerful handheld that will fit comfortably in your pocket.
  
  

• Finally, a Pocket PC that fits in your pocket!
  By A3H34L7B0XVBEX on 2003-08-31
  I have been a dedicated Palm user, having started with the Palm III, and moved on to the Palm V and Palm 505. I would sometimes eye my boss's IPAQ with envy, except that his PDA was so large and expensive that he rarely made use of it except as a toy. On the other hand, I used my Palm for everything: meeting notes, Avantgo, GPS, Chinese-English dictionary, Quicken... I could see the limitations of the Palm system, however, and was waiting for improvements to the Pocket PC to make the switch more palatable.

  The Palm-killer is here in the HP 1940. While it's admittedly more buggy and complicated to operate than the Palm OS (can Microsoft ever make a stable OS??), it's infinitely more versatile.

  Advantages:
  1) Price. I bought the HP 1940 from Amazon last month , which included a promotional Amazon gift certificate. The comparable price-point Palm model -- the new Zire 71 -- is not nearly as capable as the HP 1940.
  2) Versatility. I can surf the actual web pages with Internet Explorer, listen to MP3's, watch movies, and record voice memos.
  3) Bluetooth. I bought a USB bluetooth adapter for my laptop, and now I can sync and surf wirelessly with my PDA. I can even chat on MSN Messenger at the same time! Definitely a good deal, considering the Palm bluetooth SD card alone is $100. I also have a Siemens S56 Cingular cell phone with built-in bluetooth, letting me use my cell phone as a wireless modem! No bulky, weird hybrid PDA phones -- my PDA can be a PDA, and my phone a phone, but now they can connect seamlessly and invisibly.
  4) Size. The 1940 is small enough to fit in my old Palm 505 case, but still has a larger screen.

  Disadvantages:
  1) Windows OS. I have all the same frustrations with the Pocket PC as I do with Windows 2000, 98, etc. I'm a pretty sophisticated user, so I muddle through, but I would recommend users less comfortable with computers to stick to the simplicity of a Palm.
  2) Battery life. Not much more than 3 hours, continuous use. I tend to leave it on at work, so I plug it in.
  3) Limited accessories. I never really liked those bulky sleeve and compact flash accessories for the sister IPAQ models, because they make them too large to carry in your pocket. Still, for now, there is precious little made for the 1940's petite design. I ended up using my old Palm case because there were so few to choose from for the 1940.
  4) Yellow-tinted screen. To be honest, I probably wouldn't have noticed it if other reviewers hadn't pointed it out.

  It was surprisingly easy to ditch my Palm for this gem. I definietly think you get your money's worth for this model. The comments about the lack of a cradle and cheap stylus are superfluous. I rarely prefer the inconvenience of cradles, and I typically bought more comfortable styli for my Palm anyway.
  
  

• An outstanding Pocket PC!
  By AMUM002MXEXV4 on 2003-09-18
  This is truly a great Pocket PC. Due to it's size it is truly the first PDA that I can carry in my front pocket and not feel like a geek.

  PLUSES:
  - the 266MHz Samsung CPU makes it one of the fastest PDAs on the market, faster than most 400MHz X-Scale models. Most discussion boards on the web rave about the speed of this PDA, putting it as #1 or #2 PDA out there.

  - The screen is gorgeous: very bright, excellent contrast, rich colors. SEE MINUES.

  - The SD slot is SDIO, so that you can add many devices besides the memory cards, like a WiFi adapter, etc.

  - Built-in Bluetooth. Great if you have a Bluetooth-enabled cell phone, or you can buy a Bluetooth USB dongle for the PC and share the internet connection around the house for cheap.

  - Part of the ROM available for back-up (up to 14Mb) so even if the battery runs out you can preserve your data.

  MINUES:
  - the screen has one issue: If viewed off center (from the top or bottom) there is some yellowing of the screen. The severity varies from unit to unit, and some people aren't bothered by it at all, while some can't stand it. I personally don't see it as a problem at all.

  - No cradle or case. While at this price I can understand that the cradle hasn't been included (just a Sync cable), there should be at least a simple slip-on case. Or better yet, the screen should have a cover, like the old and sorely-missed HP Jornada 560 series.

  Overall this is the first Pocket PC device that has all I need at the right price, and most importantly, the right size.
  
  

• HP Has No Heart
  By A2PTMZFEYNLO2E on 2004-02-24
  When my iPaq 1910 would freeze up every couple of months and require a hard reset (losing all my data) I just accepted it until the one time when it could not be hard reset. Then I called HP (1 year, 1 week after purchase) and was told my warranty expired that day but they would send me a shipping box and "honor the warranty". Well, when the iPaq got there and they diagnosed it with a "bad motherboard" the story changed. Now they wanted almost $200 to fix it. This rep told me my warranty had expired on 2/16/04. I said that's when I called HP. He said, well it's expired now, how do you want to pay for this. He ignored all my entreaties. I told him to just send it back. My advice is to NOT BUY AN HP PDA.
  
  
• Small, usefull, and fun!!!
  By on 2003-11-22
  I decided to buy my first PDA only a couple of months ago and after doing some pretty extensive research I ended up with an iPAQ 1945.
  My initial parameters were completely modified by the following 2 concepts:
  1) If your PDA is too bulky, you will end up not carrying it along all the time and therefore it's usefullness will decrease despite all the extras that might fit in a larger unit.
  2) Your PDA is not a notebook, and will never perform like one. If you want a fully functional computer then shop somewhere else.
  With these 2 *new* concepts (at least they were new to me), my decision to buy a iPAQ 1945 proved to be right.
  The unit is really small and fits nicely in my shirt pocket even with the added bulk of a leather protective case. (Covertec makes a very nice one that fits like a glove)
  I do a lot of field work and short traveling and my PPC proved to be the perfect extension of my notebook. I carry all my important spreadsheets and text with me all the time and the addition of an SDIO WiFi card made it really easy to get connected either at work, airport, or at my local shopping mall while my wife gets in and out of every single shop.
  Note that I don't make huge presentation, spreadsheets, or text documents on my PPC. That would be painfull with a small screen keyboard. I still make them on my notebook, but I'm always carrying that information in my pocket now and I can always edit the files on the road and later update them on my computer.
  There is a huge selection on both freeware and shareware programs available with a little research on the web.
  Overall, I'm a very satisfied customer!!
  
  
• The good, the bad, the ugly
  By on 2003-11-06
  The good:
  Really snappy speed compared to my Jornada 540. Very light weight. Nice bright display.

  The bad:
  The manual is terrible, awful, and really bad. It reads like the tech writer had never used a PocketPC before they wrote it. For instance "The Pocket PC has a small internal backup battery that allows you to change the main battery without losing RAM data(user-installed programs and data) as long as it is replaced immediately." OK. So how long does this battery last? How is it charged? Does it even charge or do you replace it at some point? The manual has nothing but 'statements of fact' and is virtually useless if you run into problems. The amazing thing is that the manual is 127 pages long.

  To be fair, there are a few applications hints. For instance, "To see if your Pocket PC has built-in Bluetooth technology, tap Start > Settings and tap the Asset Viewer icon." Although it's a bit silly to put this in the manual since Bluetooth is an integral feature of the 1945!

  The ugly:
  Getting Activesync running with Bluetooth can be a real nightmare. The problem is that you're dealing with a lot of variables: the Windows operating system, Activesync on your computer, Activesync on the iPAQ, Bluetooth on the computer, and Bluetooth on the iPAQ. Error messages on the iPAQ are very uninformative (not that Windows XP is that much better).

  Here's the best article I found:
  http://www.bluetoothnews.com/features/ActiveSync.htm

  Another ugly is the price of the docking station (cradle) and it doesn't even include an A/C adapter. I didn't buy one and now that I've got Bluetooth running, I probably won't

  The price of a spare battery is also pretty ugly.

  Conclusion:
  Once you get the silly thing setup, it's a big improvement from what you could buy only a couple years ago. Since the documentation is only available on CD, you'd think they'd have done a better job with it. It's one thing if you're trying to save cost by not printing manuals but there's no excuse for a poor manual when it costs absolutely nothing to provide more content on a CD.
  
  

• DONT BUY THIS HUNK OF #$%@
  By A1X8LRW11ARUS7 on 2004-05-05
  I've had my ipaq 1945 for about 3 mounths, the first day i used it, the screen chiped, and today, for the first time, I dropped my ipaq and the screen broke into a million shards of glass. HP now wantes to charge me $200!!!! to fix the sreeen. DONT BUY FROM IPAQ!! Unless you wanna throw $300 down the drain.
  
  
• Product is too fragile for everyday use
  By on 2004-06-16
  Although the product worked as advertised, I knew I shouldn't have bought such a cheap product. After owning mine for just 6 weeks, my screen went bad. After sending it in to repair under waranty, HP told me it would have taken 50 pounds of pressure to cause the internal stress crack they saw. I know they are full of it as it was in my jacket pocket the entire time and there was no way it could have taken such a blow. I wanted to talk to an HP manager about this, but they wouldn't even return my call. Instead I kept getting a different underling and they wasted an additional 3 weeks of my time without fixing it. They wanted to charge me $199 to fix the screen and about $40 to insure the shipping back to me. Seems to me they are just trying to make double the money off the same product rather than provide a repair service.
  
  
• A word of warning
  By A20LANRIZ931L0 on 2004-06-25
  In my opinion and from experience, there is a strong flaw in this series of units - the charging/communications port. This port, though hooded, is left exposed and being a wafer-thin chip (or board, I'm not sure which) can be too easily damaged. I was very careful with my pocket pc (the cost of it was a lot for me) and had even encased it in a metal case to protect it. Two months after purchasing it, it would no longer synch with my computer and so I sent it in to HP. I received a call from them confirming that the port was indeed damaged and that since it was an integral part of the motherboard that the motherboard had to be changed. This apparently was not covered by the warranty and so I would have to pay over $200 for the replacement part. This is about 80 percent of what I had paid for the unit to begin with so I declined their service. I do not know how the port was damaged nor were they able to tell me. In any case I would avoid buying this because of this Achilles heel.
  
  
• $300 paper weight!
  By A10DZEGO0BGNNE on 2004-07-08
  My husband bought this for me for my birthday in January. I am a pharmacy student and it comes in so handy when I work in a pharmacy. I call it my other brain. The other day while I was working at a pharmacy, it fell from the counter to the floor. It hit a rubber matted floor. The LCM (I think that is what it is called)is now broke. It looks as though liquid is oozing from the top corner. Ever store I have taken it to says it is cheaper to replace the whole unit. I called HP they said it will be 199.99 to replace plus shipping a labor. What a joke. I will buying a new one, just not an HP. If one little fall from a counter can cause such damage, it is not worth it. I am very disappointed in this product. Buyer Beware!
  
  
• Met expectations, but lacking in some areas
  By A19TSC6KMNNKWM on 2004-08-31
  I originally set out to purchase an MP3 player. The more I thought about it, I thought it would be a good idea to get a PDA an eliminate the need for the bulky planner I had. I have had this iPaq for about 8 months, and I really find it quite handy. I have invested in two large SD cards (interchangeable w/ my digital camera), and use one card for just music. The PIM functions are great, but I have had a few problems with the ActiveSync software (comes with the unit). Additionally, I upgraded to the latest PocketPC, and lost my information and had some issues with ActiveSync (again). The batteries last pretty well, looking at photos, even watching movies (if you can find the patience to save your movies as MPEG4 files). Writing on it is still tedious, I frequently use the mini keyboard, but the character recognition works pretty well too. The voice recorder is a nice feature. Bluetooth is okay, I did buy an adapter for my PC, and it works to wirelessly update my information.
  
  The problems I have are really the lack of storage capacity (I can now get a 1 GB SD card, but this is measly when compared with the monsterous 40 Gigs on many MP3 players), the headphone jack is only 2.5mm (not the standard 3.5mm) meaning you have to tote around an adapter (that comes with it). The ActiveSync software is a real pain (I know that is really a Microsoft issue, but it needs work), and the character recognition needs a little more work too.
  
  I would recommend the following accessories: a large SD card (particularly if you plan to use this as an MP3 player), a RhinoSkin case - I lost count how many times I've dropped this thing, but it still works, and a bluetooth adapter (if you don't plan to go wireless, just stick with the 1935 - it's cheaper).
  
  

• HP/Compaq CQP101 HP Trifold Case for the iPAQ Pocket PC - Black
• HP/Compaq CQP121 HP Nylon Folio Case - Black (High Density Nylon)
• HP iPAQ Leather Belt Case for 1900 and 4100 series Pocket PC
• Compaq iPAQ 253478-B21 64MB SD Memory for 1900, 3800, 3900, 5400 series
• Compaq iPAQ 253479-B21 128MB SD Memory for 1900, 3800, 3900, 5400 series

• SPECTEC SDIO Wireless LAN Networking Card WLAN 802.11b, Internet Connection for PDAs, Notebooks and PCs
• HP/Compaq CQP101 HP Trifold Case for the iPAQ Pocket PC - Black
• iPAQ for Dummies
• SDIO Wireless LAN Card WLAN 802.11b
• DekCell PDA Battery for HP Compaq iPaq 1910, 1915, 1930, 1935, 1937, 1940, 1945