Hewlett Packard Jornada 540 Color Pocket PC

Windows PDAs have long fought an uphill battle. Users have flocked to the highly functional Palm Connected Organizers and tended to ignore the more powerful, more expensive, and bigger Windows PDAs. The release of the new HP Jornada 540, among the first of the new Pocket PC devices to hit the market, may finally turn this around. The Jornada is still a bit bigger, about 5 ounces heavier, and a little more expensive than the Palm Vx. But it is sleek, robust, highly functional, and the color screen is beautifully sharp. The "wow" factor is definitely there.

The Pocket PC OS is also responsive and well thought out--a big improvement over WinCE. In addition to the suite of powerful pocket applications (Word, Excel, Internet Explorer, PIM, and Scheduler), the Jornada can also serve as a digital voice recorder (to capture those spur-of-the-moment thoughts), an MP3 player, audible content player, and even an e-books reader.

The standard 16 MB memory is expandable using standard CompactFlash cards. The product ships with a synchronization cradle (which supports USB or conventional serial interfaces), a serial sync cable, and an AC power adapter. A microphone and a small speaker are built in. For MP3 use, we recommend expanding your RAM to 64 MB with a CompactFlash card to provide an hour of near CD-quality music.

Most Windows users should be able to run through the setup wizard and start using the Jornada and its applications without cracking the manual. Learning to use handwriting recognition, which is integrated into all the applications, requires mastering a few special stylus strokes, but you should be writing smoothly within half an hour. In comparison with Palm's Graffiti system, the Pocket PC system is fully on par.

In our tests, setting up a connection to a desktop PC for synchronization was simple. Within 20 minutes, we had installed the ActiveSync software, hooked up the supplied cable to the serial port, plugged in the AC power, and established a connection. An optional USB synchronization cradle is also available. Synchronization is automatic and file transfer is simple using the Windows Explorer-like interface.

The only real caveat is that Pocket PC works best in a Windows-centric world. At launch, it appears that there is no support for synchronizing with non-Microsoft e-mail and scheduling applications. (With an optional modem or network-interface card, you can send and receive Internet POP mail directly via your ISP.)

The choice between Pocket PC and Palm still comes down to tradeoffs. Palms are still lighter, smaller, and cheaper, and they do the basics beautifully. The Jornada 540 is slightly bigger, 5 ounces heavier, a little more expensive, but vastly more powerful and flexible. The choice all depends on what you expect your PDA to do. --Thomas Mace

Pros:

• Handsome, compact design
• Superb color screen
• Large application suite
• Easy setup and intuitive interface

Cons:

• No support for synchronization of non-Microsoft e-mail and scheduling applications
• 5 ounces heavier than Palm V

If you are looking for a high-powered Pocket PC that contains everything you need to organize your life and entertain you in your free time, the HP Jornada 540 Color Pocket PC is the machine to have. You can check your e-mail, review Word and Excel documents, surf the Web, read electronic books, and listen to digital music. It is slim enough to fit in your pocket or carry in your hand. The HP Jornada 540 also comes with many software titles from Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, and more.

If you ride the bus or train home from work or school you can listen to popular MP3 and WMA music and compile your own digital music playlists. You can also listen to or read your favorite books and articles from leading newspapers and magazines. You can even create a digital photo album to share with friends. With the stereo-quality audio system and vertically aligned pixel color screen, you can listen, read, and relax wherever you may be.

The HP Jornada 540 allows you to synchronize data with your desktop PC easily and quickly. Then carry and access your contacts, tasks, calendars, memos, and e-mail anywhere. You can even view e-mail attachment files or review Microsoft Excel and Word documents. Download digital music, images, and other multimedia files from your desktop PC, and capture your thoughts with the built-in voice recorder. As far as connectivity is concerned, the HP Jornada 540 is fully capable. You can review and act on your e-mail, surf the Web, send instant messages, and stay up-to-date with the latest news, sports scores, and stock information.

Designed to fit the way you live, the slim and sturdy HP Jornada 540 features a rubber protection strip to make it easy to grip and carry anywhere. Its elegant alloy casing projects style and professionalism in any environment, while its sleek metal cover provides durability and protects the screen from scratches. You can also personalize it to fit your needs with a variety of accessories. Stay in touch, get online, do more in less time, and do it all in style with the HP Jornada 540 Color Pocket PC.

What's in the box

• Jornada 540
• Stylus
• Hardcover
• Serial cable
• AC adapter
• Quick Start Guide
• Jornada CD-ROM
• HP documentation pack
• HP Jornada Accessory Guide
• Microsoft ActiveSync CD-ROM and Getting Started with Microsoft ActiveSync booklet