It’s Monday, July 26th, and I just opened the box for my new iPAQ rz1715. I have refused to read the stories, the hype, the rumors, and the talk that might give me a pre-disposition on the unit. I wanted to look, explore, test and enjoy this new device on my terms. So the following are my first impressions….

Decent packaging, nicely done but boy do I hate opening up those hard plastic wrappings. Generally you have to be a gorilla to tear it open or have a very sharp Exacto knife. I was lucky…it opened easily! Inside the box there was an AC charger, a USB cable for syncing and a shrink-wrapped getting started guide with the companion CD.

As I took the unit out of the packaging, I couldn’t help but notice that the roundness that was a characteristic of previous models had been replaced with a rectangular design. The shape makes sense because if you are operating your device in either landscape or portrait mode, you get the sense that was the mode it was made for. It has a comfortable feeling about it…step one in achieving a perfect design!

The navigation pad and buttons are now black rather than the “chrome” look of previous models. If the whole unit was a black anodized type metal that would have been a better fit. At the top of the unit is the HP logo and just below the screen, the iPAQ name shows. The look is different but the feel of this new iPAQ is very good.

Of course, like many of you, I never read the directions first. I had to turn it on and see how it looked. Inserting the USB cable with the AC Power cord attached into the bottom of the unit, it started as if it was doing a reset then opened with the same initialization screen we have been used to in previous models. After going through the “cut & paste”, time zone setting and the screen alignment; the opening screen appeared. The Today screen had a different and what I think is a cool look! Four icons centered in the screen showing Music, Contacts, Schedule and Photos in a diamond shape. The Start button was in the upper left corner of the screen and the time, sound and connectivity in the upper right.

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I can't really understand hp.
Yes the unit is decent. But it replaces the 19xx series; at a higher pricepoint with less features. I like the new 37xx, the 63xx (ordered one) and the 47xx series. But in the case of 17xx, what on earth are they thinking? 25MB RAM! Sell it at a $170 price point to match the model series, and then you might have an audience. With great respect to all the great pdas hp has produced the last four yars, this one is out of place. There I said it...

Posted by vagelis, Saturday, Aug. 7th, 2004

I refuse to believe we can't get at least a 2-3 Mega pix out of the camera portion.

Posted by Guss, Thursday, Jul. 29th, 2004

I can't disagree with your thoughts. What I can say is that so far my testing of the unit has shown that it works well with what I have installed. I do, however, make sure that there is little(if anything) running in the background.

Posted by Jack, Thursday, Jul. 29th, 2004

And it seems they see these new first time users coming. I don't think it's the specs that are the problem, just the ridiculous price they are asking for it ie $279! The new Dell Axims were a bargain before this, now this makes it look like they are giving them away! This device should be $199 not $279. For this price they should have at least increased the memory to 64MB since 32MB is not a lot for a Pocket PC even if you are a light user.

Posted by , Thursday, Jul. 29th, 2004

Thanks Ed, I appreciate the nice comment. I really believe that HP made this product for the "first time" user. The person that just wants basic functionality. Just wait...the best is yet to come!

Posted by Jack, Thursday, Jul. 29th, 2004

Well stated review, but I'm disappointed with HP's lack of evolution with this product. Smaller memory, slower cpu. Regress instead of progress. Why would one bother?

Posted by edved, Thursday, Jul. 29th, 2004

Great review! I appreciate seeing your comments about how it operated in landscape mode, and the fact your tried out some apps on it. Memory....hmmmm...always an issue.

Posted by JackieD, Thursday, Jul. 29th, 2004

Since when has hp said mid range? Are there cameras all mid-high, not at all..

Posted by David Ciccone, Thursday, Jul. 29th, 2004

definately this is starter pack compare the whole of others in pda but the HP is not the starter range. it is mid range. just ridiculous.

Posted by kmchong, Wednesday, Jul. 28th, 2004