Hewlett-Packard's new iPAQ h4150 brings high-end specifications and connectivity to a low-end form factor; Jørgen Sundgot whips out his looking glass.
When Hewlett-Packard first introduced its iPAQ h1900 series, many were amazed by the amount of functionality the manufacturer had managed to squeeze into such a small form factor. Then, HP took the concept one step further and introduced not only Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC, but also integrated Bluetooth and SDIO support. Now, the third rendition of this form factor is here - and with it, HP delivers a jam-packed handheld offering a slew of advanced features in an ultra-slim form factor.
 | Despite its deceivingly small and sleek looks, the iPAQ h4150 is a veritable powerhouse
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Design
Still featuring the sleek design of the h1900 series, the h4150/h4155 has received a slight makeover resulting in a more coherent look. Its five-way navigational pad is comfortable to use, being of a squarer design than that of the h1900 series, and its hardware shortcut buttons - including the voice record button placed far up on the left side - are more distinct so that erroneous key presses occur less often.
The display of the h4150 thankfully appears to be an improved version of that found in the iPAQ h1940 series, which received numerous complaints from users due to a bothersome yellow tint. This has been corrected in the h4150, and the 16-bit screen is not only pleasantly bright but also deliver excellent clarity and ClearType quality. In addition, the included stylus works well with the short-travel touch screen to deliver a rather superior impression.
Another bonus of the makover the h4150 has received is the alteration of the combo power on/off and LED button utilized in the h1900 series. Now, the h4150 features two separate LEDs that offer a range of notifications, including non-intrusive Bluetooth and Wi-Fi activated alerts, as well as a power on/off button with excellent tactile feedback.
Other positive traits of the h4150 include more than adequate audio recording and playback quality, as well as a new matté finish which has been applied to the back of the unit, significantly improving the grip. Overall, it remains a small and ultra-portable unit
Connectivity
In the connectivity department, the h4150 truly shines. Not only is the unit equipped with an IrDA compatible infrared port, it also harbours integrated Bluetooth with a good selection of profiles and an SDIO capable SD/MMC Card expansion slot. As if this wasn't enough, the unit also offers integrated Wi-Fi (802.11b) connectivity with support for the latest novelties such as 802.1x and LEAP.
Additionally, users can choose whether to apply a special power-saving mode automatically or manually, and the h4150 also comes with a medium-quality USB cradle with a spare battery charging slot. Oddly, however, the infrared port of the unit has been placed in a rather strange location: the hind side of the lower curvature on the left side of the handheld when viewed from the front. This would appear to make the handheld incompatible with several 3rd party Infrared keyboard offerings on the market, however as a mitigating factor the h4150 is compatible with HP's own foldable keyboard accessory.
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