HP iPAQ rx3700

Last month HP announced four new iPAQ PocketPC’s in which address four different audiences beginners (rz1700), phone users (h6300), power users (hx4700) and now the mobile media user (rx3700)! Who would ever think mobile media? We always associated our pda’s as devices that just handle our contacts, appointments and minimal media options. Well with the announcement of the rx3700 HP has filled in the gap with a broad range of multimedia options.

Hardware (top-side)

The rx3700 is exactly the same height and width as the rz1700 but added and eighth of an inch in thickness which is smaller than its competitor Dell X30. You will notice on the left side of the unit HP has only one button which is used for two features voice record and to activate the shutter for the camera. On the top of the unit you have the IRDA port, stylus silo, SD/MMC slot and the exact same power button on the rz1700 beginner’s model. Holding the unit in your hands feels extremely secure compared to the previous h1900-h2200 series iPAQ.

As we move over to the front of the device HP has made some interesting positive changes especially in the functionality of the bottom navigational area. From clockwise you will see (1) SDIO Expansion slot (2) Brilliant QVGA screen 3.5” (89mm) Transflective TFT color, Portrait and Landscape modes, 64K colors (3) I-Task shortcut, if you hold down this button for 3 seconds you will notice the unit will display in landscape hit it again and you are back to portrait. I really liked this feature since I don’t like going into the screen properties and switching since it was more pain than it was worth, nice add! (4) Universal Remote shortcut which brings up Nevo Home control, hold this button for three seconds and it brings you to your email. (5) 5-Way Navigation Controller Touchpad you will also notice HP has placed the speaker right behind this navigation controller which broadcasts the sound perfectly. (6) Universal Connector. (7) HP Image Zone shortcut, again hold this button down for three seconds and it brings up your contacts. (8) Soft reset button. (9) iPAQ Mobile Media button (in which we will go into full detail about later in the review). (10) HP Photosmart Camera Shortcut / Image Capture Button (11) Wireless LED indicator (12) Charge / Notification LED indicator (13) Headphone Jack. Overall HP has done a fabulous and innovative job to make the lower navigational area serve multiple options something no other Pocket PC vendor has thought of.