Product Reviews

We were undeniably impressed by the HP iPAQ hw6515 when we reviewed it last year, with its headline features being the integration of GPS, a quad-band and GPRS phone, Pocket PC 2003 and a QWERTY keyboard. This was a device that allowed you to not only quickly reply to emails, but also amend and return Word, Excel and PowerPoint files on the move.

So we were pleased to get an early chance to look at the hw6915: HP is keen to point out that our sample was pre-production, and based on the US rather than UK version, but the unit feels very much like a finished model; we'll bring you an updated review when a production unit becomes available.

The hw6915 goes three big steps further than its predecessor by including a faster processor, Windows Mobile 5 and 802.11b Wi-Fi. All three add an extra layer of flexibility. Wi-Fi means you aren't reliant on the slow data rates (and high costs) of GPRS to link back to the office whenever you're near a hotspot. Windows Mobile 5 provides the ability - albeit assuming you have Exchange Server 2003 with Service Pack 2 - to push email and calendar updates to the Mobile Messenger. And the faster processor just gives it that extra kick to make video and other demanding tasks a little bit more pleasant.

The screen remains at 240 x 240 resolution; no doubt HP would have liked to squeeze in more pixels, but Windows Mobile 2005 doesn't support 320 x 320, and it would lead to even greater incompatibility with existing Windows Mobile applications. It's a nice, vibrant screen too, especially when you've got the backlight pushed up to full. Even in sunlight it's fairly readable.

The only notable change to the keyboard is that the keys are now backlit. However, we still feel that the keyboard could be improved. Too often we pressed a key and the character didn't appear; you have to make sure you press down firmly. Nevertheless, the QWERTY layout is far superior to a typical mobile phone.

Another physical change is the removal of the SD card slot; instead, there's now just a mini-SD card slot. With a 512MB card currently costing around £15, this isn't a huge problem, but note that we did find storage memory quickly being used up in practice - for instance, take a few photos and the 20-odd megabytes of space dedicated to storage disappears.

Some people have criticised the translucent plastic cover that flips down to protect the screen, but it has one huge advantage: it keeps the dimensions of the hw6915 down to very reasonable proportions. With other devices, you often have to invest in carrying pouches to offer similar levels of protection. Note the lack of a protruding aerial too. You can slip the Mobile Messenger into a jacket

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or trouser pocket without worrying about bulk: at 19mm thick even with the cover in place, and weighing 182g, it won't be a hindrance.

As with any all-in-one device, the real question is how well it performs in all the key areas. As a PDA, it's far superior to the likes of RIM's BlackBerry series, and that's almost entirely due to the use of Windows Mobile rather than RIM's proprietary operating system. It's compatible with a huge number of third-party programs, with the only problems stemming from the 240 x 240 screen (some apps assume you'll have a 240 x 320 resolution) and that older programs were designed for Pocket PC 2003 rather than Windows Mobile 5.

As a phone, we have some reservations. Making a phone call sounds simple - press the green phone button then type in the number using the keypad or touching the on-screen numbers - but you have to concentrate to ensure you're actually hitting the right numbers whichever system you use. The call quality is good, as is the aerial's sensitivity, but in noisy environments we found it difficult to hear the caller. You may have to resort to the bundled hands-free kit to overcome this problem.

In terms of connectivity, the hw6915 supports quad-band GSM, GPRS and EDGE. This makes it suitable for use all over the world, but the lack of 3G support is notable: we'd have loved to see this in what is otherwise a very forward-thinking device.

One improvement over the hw6515 is the use of SIM-assist to help find GPS signals faster, and we still like the hw6915 as an occasional GPS device - that said, if GPS is your prime reason for choosing a PDA then take a look at the Fujitsu Siemens Pocket LOOX N520 (see issue 142, p113). There's no car kit included with the Mobile Messenger, and only one area map is bundled, but TomTom's software remains a great system and you can buy full UK maps for a discount.

The use of GPS isn't tied to driving either. As we reveal in this month's issue of PC Pro (see issue 142, p120), you can also buy Fugawi's UK Digital Maps. Four discs cover the whole of the UK and cost £33 each (from www.globalpositionsystems.co.uk), and as they're based on Ordnance Survey Landranger maps they're perfect for walkers and cyclists.

Another extra feature courtesy of GPS is the ability to stamp photos with your location. Don't expect supreme image quality from the tiny lens though - there's a lot of noise in pictures taken inside, colours are far from accurate, and despite its 1.3-megapixel resolution we found photos lacked detail. It's a long way from a dedicated compact camera, but is still useful to have - after all, any photo is better than nothing.

Our final comment is about battery life. If you use the hw6915 as a phone or GPS system away from the office, you'll certainly need to take the travel charger with you for weekends: the 1,200mAh battery simply isn't big enough for intensive use. However, under sporadic, light use it kept going for several days.

So we have our reservations about the hw6915 Mobile Messenger. If you're just looking for push email, the BlackBerry 8700g remains superior; others beat it as a GPS device; and mobile phones remain both quicker to use and offer better call experiences. But nothing we've yet seen can match it as all-in-one device, especially if you'll take advantage of GPS.