HP iPAQ hx2750 Pocket PC

A no-nonsense, business-oriented Pocket PC with an integrated fingerprint reader, the HP iPAQ hx2750 is one of our favorite PDAs. It's a powerful, capable machine with a price aimed at corporate wallets—which is a pity, because we think consumers would love it if it were only a little cheaper.

The hx2750 is a medium-size (4.71 by 3.01 by 0.65 inches, HWD), solid (5.8 ounces) Pocket PC with a rounded case and pleasantly grippy sides. A removable clear screen protector flips up (and stays up) when you're using the device. We find the gunmetal-gray hx2750 more attractive and easier to hold than HP's consumer-oriented handhelds.

Just below the screen, a narrow rectangular bar marks the fingerprint reader. HP's Credant security software protects PIM and data files with Blowfish, Triple DES, or AES encryption, and lets you enroll up to 10 fingers. Recognition is quick and accurate, once you get the hang of it. The security kicks in on any startup or reset.

The hx2750 is powerful. It blew through our benchmarks, scoring second only to the Dell Axim X30 and outmatching all others on our Pocket Word and Pocket Internet Explorer tests. The impressive 192MB of usable memory (135MB as flash) is a great bonus. The hx2750 also uses the attractive new Today screen design from the h4705, which shows battery life (our unit delivered 4 hours 36 minutes on a charge) and available memory on the home screen.

The only black spot here is the price: At $549, it's $200 more than the just-as-powerful Dell Axim X30. The X30 is also lighter than the hx2750, but it only has half as much memory (and no fingerprint reader). The hx2750 is the top end of a trio of new business iPAQs, and it's the only one with a fingerprint reader. The hx2410 ($449) has a slower 520-MHz processor and half the 2750's memory; the hx2110 ($379) has a 312-MHz processor and loses the Wi-Fi.

The hx2750 is leading edge, not bleeding edge like the VGA graphics-accelerated Dell Axim X50v or the VGA touchpad–sporting iPAQ h4705. For most people and most corporations, we think that will be just fine.

Benchmarks:
SPB Benchmark: 2054
CPU: 2417
File system: 1461
Graphics: 4633
Applications: 1568
Battery life (maximum backlight, average use): 4 hours 36 minutes

SPEC DATA :

• Type: Pocket PC
• Screen Size: 3.5 inches
• Operating System: Windows Mobile 2003 SE
• Flash Memory Type: CompactFlash
• Bluetooth: Yes