Customer Reviews

Compaq Aero 1550 Pocket PC

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

I bought the Compaq Aero 1550 because I wanted a palm-sized organizer, but I didn't want to spend the extra money for a color model. I already used Microsoft Office and Outlook for my e-mail. So I was looking for a solution that would integrate well with that, and I liked the extra built-in features of the Compaq Aero Pocket PC: Web browser, Internet dialup networking, ability to view MS Word and Excel documents either synchronized from the desktop or received as e-mail attachments, book reader, media player (MP3 and WMA files), multiple alert sounds, industry-standard Compact Flash slot for extra storage or peripherals (modem, network card).

The unit is about the same size as a Palm III (but thinner) and a little larger than the Palm V. It is very thin and light compared with all the other palm-sized Windows CE models. It is very easy to carry around during the day, for example, to meetings. It comes with a nice black leather-like slipcase with a stiff front to protect the screen.

The screen is exceptionally clear; even the smallest typefaces are very readable. However, the screen is best viewed in either bright light or in near darkness because of the inadequacy of the backlighting. The backlight is the same type as found on the Palm V. It produces a reverse video effect that is very good in near total darkness (as in a presentation where the room is darkened), but which doesn't work well in other low light conditions. On the other hand, the screen is very useable outside in direct sunlight. So, if you will be using it mostly at work, at home with good light or outside, the Aero is great.

The Aero 1550 is based on the earlier Aero 1500 models and has only mono sound. However, the quality is good, especially with headphones. The voice recorder is adequate, and it's nice that the audio Notes synchronize with desktop Outlook Notes. The stylus is weighted and very nice to handle. It fits in a slot on the top of the unit. The action button on the left side of the unit is very convenient for scrolling through text or listings.

The battery compartment door is quite fragile. I broke one of teeth off the door after opening the compartment only twice. I also dropped the Aero within a week of getting it. It bounced off furniture on the way down and landed on its corner. Afterwards, its screen was not working at all. Fortunately, I had purchased the unit with an American Express card so I was covered under their Purchase Protection Plan. Comforted by that knowledge, I sent the Aero to Compaq even though I would have to pay for a non-warranty repair because I dropped it. I also asked them to fix the battery compartment. To my pleased amazement, they returned my Aero to me in three days (! ) with the battery compartment fixed and the screen working, at no charge! (And yes, it was the same unit--I checked the serial number before and after.)

The Pocket PC software is very easy to use. Microsoft has given this, version 3 of the Windows CE operating system, a more Palm-like interface. The "start" button is at the top left of the screen a la Palm, and the Programs folder shows large icon representation of the available applications, also like the Palm. However, the software is much more functional than the Palm's in many ways. Contacts offers many more fields than the Palm, so you can see both work, home and other addresses for a contact, along with their work, work2, fax, mobile, pager, home, home2 and several other telephone numbers and numerous other information such as spouse name and birthday. The Inbox e-mail application supports both synchronization with the desktop Outlook's inbox folder, and multiple POP3 or IMAP mail accounts. For example, I have set up the Aero for Outlook synchronization when docked, and for reading e-mail from my corporate and personal POP mail accounts when I am dialed up or connected via the LAN. The Pocket Word and Pocket Excel applications allow you to view MS Word and Excel documents. You can do simple editing, but advanced formatting and other features will be lost on conversion from the Pocket format back to the desktop format. Pocket Internet Explorer is slow, but it does a very decent job of rendering most Web pages. It does support Javascript, but not Java applets. The popular third party application AvantGo is embedded (included in the ROM) software in the Pocket PC. With AvantGo, you download your favorite Web sites, which allows you to view them when you are not connected. (AvantGo is available for the Palm also, so this is not a Pocket PC-specific feature.)

My three main quibbles with the software are a) the opening Today screen lists only number of tasks, not the tasks themselves (this can be remedied with third party software such as Tasks Today from Developer One), b) I always have to enter the system password when the unit powers on because the password utility (itself a vital feature!) does not offer a timing function, and c) the Pocket Word and Pocket Excel applications do not support password-protected files as they used to in Windows CE 2.11 (again, a very important feature).

Synchronization is mostly straightforward with the supplied ActiveSync 3.1. It is very convenient to be able to synchronize over the LAN by using a CF network card.

The Compaq Aero 1550 does what I need an organizer to do, and then some. It is capable enough that I can use it in place of a large, bulky laptop to check on my e-mail and browse the Web when traveling.

If you do not need a color screen or stereo sound, and you're interested in doing more than the simple contacts, calendar and task list that are the Palm's forte, then the Compaq Aero 1550 is a great choice.

O.K., I will include a few things that everyone else has forgotten to include in their reviews. First, not only does the pocket pc OS (which is Windows CE version 3.0) allow you to convert and view word and excel files, you can create and change them on your ppc as well. Pocket Excel allows you use most (perhaps all) of the formulas you are used to using with the pc version of Excel, but graphs don't show up on conversion and you can't create them. Merge cell also doesn't work in Excel and doesn't translate. Word translates pretty well. I'm impressed, but if you use the draw function (tool bar), or graphs, in a pc windows doc, it wont show up in the ppc. The Aero 1550 comes with 16M of ram, but it splits this up (and adjusts it automatically) between the programs and applications, and you need three or four meg of memory for each to run most applications, so, buy a flash memory card for it (I'm planning on buying the 64M). The battery lasts a long time, but it will last longer if you close out all the programs before turning it off because the programs you open will stay open until you close them (the Qmenu is a good way). I've read reviews that insinuated that pocket pc's are complicated, PLEASE! If you have any experience working with a pc and especially MS-office, then, unless you're a gibbering idiot, you wont need any help at all. It is totally user-friendly. I wasn't even aware that it had a manual on the program cd that comes with it until two weeks after it arrived. You will receive a program cd and a Autosync cd. The Autosync is the program that allows you to convert files from pc version to pocket version and vise versa. It also comes with a directory (file) with tons of books in it. You can get other free books online, but MS still needs to come up with a secure version of READER so you can buy commercial books online. You may be aggravated that it doesn't have pocket streets on the ppc, but it is in the EXTRA's directory on the program disk. The picture viewer works pretty well, although the LCD screen doesn't show pictures clearly ( I use scanned jpg files of electrical schematics on mine, for that application, it works great.) I didn't think the MSreader program would hold much appeal for me, but it's great to carry a few novels in your pocket. You always have a large assortment of interesting books to read at your fingertips. One last note, If you're disappointed that you can't carry this calculator sized pc in your shirt pocket without the risk of it falling out, please, get a life. I rated four stars instead of five because in the four weeks I have had it, it has locked up on me three times and crashed twice (confetti on the screen). The answer, as always with Bills product, is reboot. (I gotta have a talk with that boy.) PPS, Pocket Windows doesn't have spell checker-GET OUT!

Here is an update to my 5 stars review of the older Areo 1530. I just installed the Pocket PC upgrade ROM to my 1530. I ordered the upgrade direct from compaq which makes it equivalent to the 1550. It is a flawless upgrade and information was saved to my desktop first. With more memory, sound recorder with rewind and fast forward dial, palm V can't come close to its versitility. Recent additions include a 40mb compact flash memory card, pocket pc version of Calligrapher handwriting recognition, JOT is good but Calligrapher is better. I have also added the modem. Pocket PC is a blast to use, much more user friendly than the older Win CE, and more internet friendly, downloading and reading email is a breeze. Above all, it's a more efficient operating system and less hassle to get from one place to another. The Areo's screen has more resolution than the palm V's and it can be adjusted for lighting conditions. Four shades of grey mode is best for indoor low lighting, 16 shades for moderate to bright indoor lighting and outdoors. It also has reversibility in its LCD image for better viewing with the backlight. Its best feature however is it's size, about as thin as the palm V and weighs about the same too. I would like to give it 6 stars, an extra one for the new Palm PC OS!

The Aero is about the same size and price as a Palm V, but it does so much more. PalmOS is still a bit easier to use than Pocket PC, but I'd take 8x the RAM and all the extra capabilities in a second.

I did have one disappointment, though. I had hoped to replace my portable MP3 player with the Aero, but the audio output quality is quite poor in comparison to what you would get from a Rio or a Nomad. I'm not sure if this is a problem with the media player or with the Aero's audio out jack (I suspect the latter) - but then again, the Palm V doesn't even have a headphone jack.

I did some research before buying my first PDA and concluded the Aero was the way to go - I haven't been disappointed. The screen resolution is much better than a Palm, and you don't have 25%of it wasted all the time like a Palm of Visor for the character recognition. It's so much more versatile than a Palm - The ability to read and write in Word on the device has been awesome - I've written reports waiting in line at the grocery store (I know, get a life)and downloaded reports from others to use. I've heard complaints of short battery life but with normal use you can go many days between charges. I was a little worried about cross-talking with Palms, but with Peacemaker software..., it's almost seamless. Don't forget about the expansion capability. You can pop in C-Flash cards (up to 128mb now!) and tote around music, books, whatever. Great value!

Normally, I do not write reviews. However, when a product is as outstanding as this one is -- I will make an exception. Having owned and used the Everex Freestyle Associate model A-10 for the past two years, I can speak with some certainty and confidence about the Compaq Aero model 1550 Pocket PC that I recently purchased from Amazon.com.

The Aero 1550 is an exceptional product. In fact, Compaq and Microsoft have made so many improvements to the pocket PC in the last two years that I hardly know where to begin. I guess I'll start by talking about some of the pitfalls and problems that I experienced with my Everex Freestyle.

When I first bought my Freestyle, I thought it was awesome. There were only a few minor drawbacks that I felt needed improving. Every time I turned the unit on it seemed to take forever to boot up. Finally, after the unit booted up there just did not seem to be very many applications from which to choose. I must have spent around $500 purchasing additional applications like: CoolCalc, Bsquare Spreadsheet, Bsquare Utilities, Grundle Palm Explorer, PowerTime, and many others. Another expense was the cost of a CompactFlash card to expand the Freestyle's memory; it only came with 4 MB, and after loading all those applications not much memory remained for contacts, calendar items, and to do lists, etc.

The Freestyle had two other quirks that needed improving. One, its screen was so dark that it was only barely usable even in good light. And, two, its battery life was pathetic -- absolutely pathetic. After an all-night charge, the batteries would only last approximately two hours the next day. I put up with this for two years. Eventually, the battery life began to drop off, and finally they would not hold charge for even two minutes. The icing on the cake was trying to get replacement batteries for it. Everex had stopped manufacturing the Freestyle, and apparently they had stopped supporting it as well. I was unsuccessful at finding any batteries that would work in the Everex. And that, of course, is what led me to purchase the Compaq Aero 1550.

Compaq Computer Corp. has done an exceptional job with the Aero 1550. They have addressed every single concern that I ever had with my first Palm PC. First of all, when you turn the unit on it comes on immediately -- there's no waiting for the unit to boot up. And, when you do turn it on, there are a lot more built-in applications to choose from. For example, Microsoft pocket Excel is included, which eliminates the need for Bsquare Spreadsheet. Compaq also includes their own version of file Explorer, which eliminates the need for Grundle Palm Explorer. I won't be needing PowerTime anymore either; my new Aero includes a convenient power management utility. In fact, the only application that I have added to my Aero is CoolCalc -- absolutely the best add-on calculator utility on the market.

The Compaq comes with a standard memory installation of 16 MB of ROM as well as 16 MB of RAM. Compaq had the foresight to put all of these essential applications in ROM, thus preserving 16 MB of RAM for user applications, contacts, calendar items, and task lists, etc. Also, with all of these applications in ROM there is no chance of any of them ever becoming corrupted and having to be reinstalled, etc. Furthermore, I don't know about you, but 16 MB of RAM is quite adequate for my needs. That's enough memory to hold thousands, and thousands of contacts, years, and years of appointments, and a "honey-do-list" that would reach from here to the moon and back. The only reason that I can think of to add additional memory to the Aero, is if you're into downloading lots of information, or music files off the Web. That's right, I said music files. The Compaq Aero includes a Microsoft multimedia player, which allows you to download your favorite tunes into your pocket PC and play them back through stereo headphones with near CD-like quality. Compaq even includes in the documentation package information on a web site that offers tens of thousands of audio books, etc. that you can download.

Some of the other fine features of the Compaq that have just tickled me pink are: (1) its screen is brighter and sharper than any other monochrome PDA I've ever seen, (2) at only one-half inch thick, the Aero is almost exactly the same size as the ever popular TI-55-III calculator, and it's about the same weight too, (3) the Aero sports a brushed aluminum finish like the TI which is just too cool to look at, (4) it fits nicely in a shirt pocket, and it's comfortable to carry around, (5) Compaq has included a state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery pack, which charges in only three hours, yet provides approximately 14 hours of use, (6) and, last but not least, there's no extra charge for the docking cradle -- Compaq thoughtfully includes one with every unit.

The short version: it's awesome, it's extreme, it's near `bout perfect! Take my word for it, or do your own research. Either way, I believe you will come to the same conclusion. The Compaq Aero 1550 is an exceptional unit that offers unmatched value for its price.

I've had the Aero 1550 for over a month and it's been wonderful! It's my first PDA and I wasn't sure what to expect. I received everything I needed for start-up: A serial cradle, MS Outlook 2000 (plus various other programs like Pocket Streets and Pocket Money),a carrying case, and a battery with a charge in it for quick start-up.

Set-up was very easy. Truly a no-brainer.

The OS is phenomenal. There are many functions it's quicker to do on my Pocket PC than on my desktop PC! It's like Microsoft says, having this is like carrying my PC in my pocket. My computer-illiterate wife even uses it w/o needing help.

The B&W screen is very easy to read. The backlight function is easy to turn on and makes the screen very readable in the dark.

The couple times I got confused and called Compaq customer support they were very helpful and even gave great tips on other functions I hadn't discovered.

In summation, I am exceedingly happy that I purchased this instead of a Palm device.

I am very please with my purchase of this product. It has the convienince of a Palm 5x, with twice the ram, a bigger screen, real world applications Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, MS Money, Internet Explorer, (which auto-convert seamlessly when documents go back and forth from the Aero 1550 to my PC), and its actually cheaper. The handwriting recognition tool "Character Recognizer" is reasonable, it reads plain English, (no special 'Graffiti' type characters. I have downloaded other handwriting programs I like better, however. The one frustration I have is that the Win for Pocket PC operating system makes it very easy to sync to Microsoft e-mail products, but next to impossible to sync to Lotus Notes, which the IT types where I work have mandated. There are third party tools to make it work with Notes, but I haven't tried them.

I started teaching high school chemistry this year and wanted a 'palm' device primairly as an ogranizer. I was not happy with the 150 dollar price tag of the low-end palms and decided to do a bit of research. The Handspring deluxe came foward as an acceptable choice but I was drawn to having a Windows CE OS.

So I looked into those and the Aero 1550 stood out as the most reasonable compromise between features and price. I have both a desktop and laptop and while better sound and color were big draws toward its more exspensive breathern I decided on the Aero.

I have been using it for over a month now and it has exceeded my expectations. The synchrionization is easy and stright forward. There are many convinces for ease of use built into the Aero as well, such as a power check, most recently used utilities buttons, etc. It was obviously a well thought out design.

Perhaps the most pleasent surprises was the growing on-line community of pocket pc users. I have downloaded excellent freeware versions of chess and tetris as well as a number of titles from the University of Virginia ebook library. The games installed perfectly automatically and the .lit files (for the installed ebook reader) simply need to be moved to the file that synch looks at for files and they download right into the correct spot.

I find I use my Aero in many ways everyday whereas my laptop can go a week or two without use. I should not forget about AvantGo. This allows user selected web content to be downloaded into your pocket pc web browser everytime you synchronize with an active web connection on your host computer. I enjoy having actual New York Times articles, as an example, available to me in a convient format when I have time for them during the day. The text is very readiable but the small screen takes getting use to.

The only reason I did not give 5 stars is because it is monocrome and realitvely weak audio. I knew this was a tradeoff going in, though, and I am still happy I bought it. I see no reason at all to even consider Palms and Handsprings with this avialable frankly for what it costs, but maybe that is just me. For what it costs, it is top of the class right now.

I had an iPaq for about 4 months and sure it lived up to the hype. But I ended up selling it to someone who wanted it much more than I did and I eventually went back to the Aero. Sure it is not as speedy -- but it is a workhorse! It can do everything the more expensive Pocket PCs can do at less than half the cost -- and IT'S SMALL. This guy rivals the size of the Palm V. There is no sense in spending over $400 on a Pocket PC you aren't going to want to carry around in your pocket. The added feature of having the Compact Flash port was essential since Compact Flash is so cheap nowadays. Even if you bought this just for your scheduling, or just for MP3s, or just to use a portable ebook reader you would have make a great decision, but the beauty is it does it all!