HP Plain everything

HP definitely needs to design better-looking devices than the iPaq Data Messenger

Most Windows Mobile devices that I've tested recently are small. Only ones with sliding keyboards can be described as big, relatively. Still, they are definitely smaller than last year's models. More importantly, all of them are sleek and stylish.

HP iPaq Data Messenger: The latest Windows Mobile device from HP.

Apparently, their makers know they can't go wrong making PDA handsets fashionable and desirable. After all, looks can be a great market differentiation when most products share pretty much the same features.

In my fond memory, HP's calculators are the best. If money is no problem, people would gladly trade Texas Instrument/Casio's sleek bodies with HP's tough looking ones. Those were the days when HP built their handheld devices to last, but hardly for their looks.

Today it's a different story. Many PDA manufacturers have proved that toughness and elegance can go hand in hand, a fact HP doesn't seem to realise. Or so I thought when I first saw the company's latest Windows Mobile device, HP iPaq Data Messenger, the subject of today's discussion.

To be blunt, this bulky (and heavy) HP handset has a face only a mother could love. It looks out of place compared to other current WM devices, not to mention Apple's iPhone. This is a pity considering that the product comes from the same company who gave you Vivienne Tam's design netbook.

While it's understandable for the unit to be thick - featuring a full sliding QWERTY keyboard and all - its outdated design leaves a lot to be desired.

The unit's front panel components include a 2.81" transmissive TFT screen (with standard resolutions of 320x240), Send Key, End Key, Windows Key, OK Key, and a 5-way Optical Navigator. Ringer switch, placed on the top, is designed to turn on and off the sounds from incoming calls quickly.

The stylus slot is located at the bottom left, a very uncomfortable corner, in my opinion. The stylus itself is extendable when extracted from and retractable when inserted back into the slot. Cool.

Key Guard button, Volume Key, and Messaging Button are located on the left side. (The Key Guard is quite useful for preventing the protruding Send and End keys to accidentally activate.) On the right side, lie Micro-USB connector (NOT a mini-USB one that we are familiar with), Stereo Head Phone Jack (2.5mm.) and Camera Key.

Obviously, this device is not designed with minimalist in mind. But featuring real buttons may actually be a good thing. Many people, myself included, still prefer real buttons to virtual ones on-screen. The unit's touch sensitive navigator works OK once you get used to it. It doesn't use circular motions like that of an iPod. But it works.

A full QWERTY keyboard is the device's major differentiation. The quality is good and on par with what you would expect from HP. The keys, laid flat on the surface with no spacing in between, are a bit tough to press, unfortunately.

To add insult to injury, the rest of the features offered are plain and uninspiring. Plain screen resolutions (320x240), plain CPU speed, plain WM user interface, plain camera quality, plain everything.

Despite all these cheerless comments, I feel obliged to commend the unit's great sound quality, which is crisp and clear both for ring tones and conversations.

Years ago, iPaq was the first to create market for Windows Mobile devices. I truly hope that HP/iPaq keeps going with their PDA production line. But they definitely need to design better-looking devices than this one, especially if there is nothing else to differentiate.