Tools Of The Trade: The iPaq hx2410 handheld

The current generation of handheld computers is approaching the processing power that desktop PCs had only a few years ago. HP's iPaq hx2410 comes equipped with a 520Mhz processor and 128MB memory, as well as Bluetooth, infra-red and WiFi connections.

The current generation of handheld computers is approaching the processing power that desktop PCs had only a few years ago. HP's iPaq hx2410 comes equipped with a 520Mhz processor and 128MB memory, as well as Bluetooth, infra-red and WiFi connections.

What the machine does not have is a built-in phone or GPRS data connection. The trend is for manufacturers to add phone functions to handhelds, such as HP's own iPaq 6340 or PalmOne's Treo 650.

But building in support for a mobile GPRS connection does make a number of extra demands on the design of a device. Battery life is shorter, the handheld will be bulkier and heavier, and the phone functions are rarely as good as on a standalone mobile.

Phone-based personal digital assistants (PDAs) are also costlier than more basic counterparts, with the difference in price often more than the cost of a decent GPRS or even 3G phone. One reason is that mobiles are subsidised, to a greater or lesser extent, by the network operator.

Buying two separate devices is one way of playing the economics of the mobile industry to your advantage. It also offers more flexibility: moving from GPRS to 3G, say, is just a question of changing the phone, not the whole handheld.

The hx2410 works well connected to a GPRS phone via its Bluetooth connection, and there is every reason to expect it to work just as well with a 3G handset. And there are other pluses. The hx2410 is slim and compact, and has a good battery life - using either Bluetooth or WiFi connections for reasonable periods still allowed the hx2410 to run for a couple of days without a recharge. This is a real bonus for anyone who is constantly on the move.

HP also scores for the software that manages the wireless connections. On some handhelds, going online can be a black art; on the hx2410 the process is quite simple, and setting up a connection takes no more than a few button presses. The machine also comes with a "site survey" utility that quickly lists all available WiFi access points.

Beyond that, the hx2410 offers the standard set of Microsoft Windows Mobile software: a version of Explorer, Outlook, a calendar and pocket versions of Word and Excel, as well as a version of Windows Media Player. This is as much as most people will ever need from a handheld computer, but the hx2410 has two memory slots to accommodate new applications.

The hx2410 is worthy of serious consideration for anyone who needs a handheld, wants to use Windows Mobile and either has no urgent need for phone functions or wants the flexibility to buy a phone separately.

THE VERDICT

Pros: compact, reasonable battery life.

Cons: you pay a small premium for the HP brand.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

Price: £285 + VAT.

Contact: www.hp.co.uk