HP Jornada 525

The Jornada 525 is the lowest-priced Pocket PC currently available. This puts it in direct competition with devices like the Palm m125 in the consumer market, and it might also appeal to budget-conscious IT managers looking for a PDA solution. With this in mind, the lack of CompactFlash Type II support and serial rather than USB connection are likely to be forgivable.

The 133MHz Hitachi processor is showing its age even on the original Pocket PC operating system, with our panel of testers finding the 525 slower than any other device in general use. The 256-colour CSTN screen isn't the clearest either, but it doesn't deteriorate too much when used outdoors. General build quality is adequate, although the hinge on the CompactFlash card slot cover is flimsy and jammed frequently.

Compared with other Pocket PC devices, the 16Mb of memory for storing programs and data seems paltry. While it won't restrict the Jornada in general use, as soon as you add feature-rich data such as AvantGo channels or MP3 files that space will quickly disappear.

Battery life was shorter than most other devices, which will be an issue for anyone who can't back up and recharge the device every day in a cradle - travellers beware. None of our testers liked the flat stylus, and it's frustrating that it can't be attached directly to the 525 for storage. However, for those looking for a budget colour PDA using the Pocket PC OS, the Jornada 525 is the best - and only - choice out there.