Let's look at a few practical aspects of the Compaq iPAQ Pocket PC and see how it fares. I prefer to view PDAs from four perspectives: portability, connectability, usability and expandability.

	iPAQ with case

This is where the Compaq iPAQ Pocket PC excels. And this is where Palm has really beaten the pants off of other devices. No longer. Bottom line, the iPAQ Pocket PC is the smallest color handheld device around. And it's the first Windows CE device since the original Everex Freestyle that I don't mind toting around all day in my jacket pocket.

With that said, there is one issue related to portability. That issue comes when you want expandability, like CompactFlash, PC Cards, or wireless. With the iPAQ you're obliged to bring along an expansion pack, which adds bulk and some say puts you right back where you would be with one of the other Pocket PCs. For those who use CompactFlash cards all of the time this may be somewhat of an annoyance. And what if you want to be wireless and also use a CompactFlash memory card at the same time? But this issue is no different than what Palm faces with its line of PDAs.

Still I find the iPAQ's expansion system to be an incredibly logical design. When you're at the office all day, maybe running to a few meetings, you just need the base unit, which will slip easily into your shirt pocket. But if you run out for a long lunch and are expecting an email, you can simply slip on the wireless sleeve and still be in touch. For "Road Warriors" you'll toss a couple of your favorite expansion packs in your briefcase before a trip.

Let's face it, Microsoft touts these as desktop companions. So how does the iPAQ fare when connecting to the desktop? Outstanding, that's how. For those of you who have waited patiently for your device to sync or have waited -- maybe a bit less patiently -- for an MP3 file or an audio book to download, you'll be very pleased to hear that this is now infinitely faster. A 1.5 megabyte music file took me less than a minute to transfer to the iPAQ. And syncing is now a joy, rather than an occasional endless horror.

Plus there are still the infrared and RS-232 serial connections that are widely supported.

And of course, there are a number of connectivity improvements within the Pocket PC operating system, including easier e-mail setup, Pocket Internet Explorer and its fit-to-screen technology, ActiveSync 3.1, and AOL support.

OK, this is the meat-and-potatoes you may have been waiting for. Here's where we really engage the senses.

Let's talk speed first. This PDA is fast. The 206-megahertz Intel StrongARM processor, coupled with the improved operating system, makes this device as usable for the basic contacts and calendar functions as any Palm organizer. Everything seems instantaneous. It seems strange at first not to have to wait on Windows CE.

The next important usability factor is the screen. Sure, it appears milkier than the clear, crisp Cassiopeia E-115 (see picture below), but certainly nothing to be concerned about (neither is the 12-bit rather than 16-bit color).

But take the E-115 and the iPAQ outside and you'll see what the fuss is all about (see picture below). The iPAQ is simply outstanding outdoors.

Is there an LCD that looks like the E-115's both inside and outside? No. There are compromises that needed to be made, and Compaq made them nearly perfectly. It's a sidelit rather than a backlit screen so that it can also work as a reflective screen. This allows ambient light, like outdoor sunlight, to pass through the LCD and bounce back off the reflective material in back of the display. It's like using natural light as a backlight. And it's fantastic.

Sound is another key usability factor, at least to some people. And the iPAQ does not disappoint. Portable amplifying devices like the Boosteroo that are required with Windows CE Palm-size PCs are not needed with the iPAQ. In fact, I can only turn the volume up about 3/4 of the scale in Windows Media Player using a set of Sony MDR-G52 headphones. And the sound quality is excellent. I haven't tried it with Audible content yet but I plan to do a complete Audible review in the near future and will cover it then.

As mentioned earlier, the iPAQ has its own unique Expansion Pack system. It's borrowed somewhat from the philosophy of the Springboard technology but the implementation makes it slightly bulkier, and you still have to worry about device drivers. Still it opens up a world of possibilities for the future. However, for peripheral manufacturers its yet another proprietary connection system that they must deal with. If the iPAQ grabs marketshare, they'll develop for it; if not, Compaq's strategy will backfire. That's the double-edged sword of "standarizing vs. differentiating."

Overall, we highly recommend the Compaq iPAQ Pocket PC. It's an innovative PDA from a company founded on reverse engineering rather than innovation. Bravo, Compaq!

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