Compaq iPAQ PA-2 64 MB Digital Audio Player (MP3/WMA)

by Compaq

Product Details

• Item Weight: 3 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000630TG
• Item model number: 168795-004
• Batteries: 2 AAA batteries required. (included)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #203,161 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Light and compact, the iPAQ PA-2 digital audio player is about the size of a pager and weighs only 3 ounces with battery. It includes one 64 MB MultiMediaCard (MMC) memory card for over two hours of digital audio. Insert another optional MMC card into the second memory card slot for even more music.

The iPAQ PA-2 supports both MP3 and WMA audio files, and it can be upgraded online to support future formats. You'll get over an hour of MP3 audio (encoded at 128 Kbps) or two hours of WMA audio (encoded at 64 Kbps) with the MMC at full capacity.

Player functions include shuffle, repeat, and an equalizer with rock, jazz, and classical presets. The iPAQ PA-2 features an LCD screen with backlighting. With an extended battery life of up to 14 hours, you can go anywhere without missing a beat.

You'll get both Windows Media Player and MusicMatch Jukebox software for easy management of your digital audio on your PC. The iPAQ PA-2 downloads at top speed from your desktop PC via a USB connection.

Included with the iPAQ PA-2 is a USB cable, two AAA batteries, earphones, software on CD-ROM, and a belt clip. It is covered by a one-year warranty.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great SMALL player!, November 27, 2002

By 

"gcampbell35" (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Compaq iPAQ PA-2 64 MB Digital Audio Player (MP3/WMA) (Electronics)

I have had the PA-1 for about a year now and have only had one problem. The LCD went out on me about 1 month into ownership. It was handled superbly by Compaq though. I sent it in and it came back within 4 days, and has worked seamlessly ever since.

I use it everyday when training. While running the unit shows its strengths best. It is so small and weights next to nothing that you don't even notice it clipped onto your running shorts. I have run for 3-1/2 hours continuously with it and didn't even notice it. And the battery life is good enough with the 2AAA batteries for over 9 hours of continuous use. I do notice that cheap batteries do not last as long. I switched to high quality NiMh rechargables and get over 10 hours per charge!

There is one thing that you need to do to get more play out of the memory cards. I use 2x64MMC cards and only download from Windows Media Player in XP using the .wma format. I can get over 4 hours of music at 64bits on the 128megs of card this way; it is the same quality (or better) as using 128bit mp3's.

So just scrap the included software and use the Windows Media Player in Windows XP and you will get 2 hours of music per 64MB MMC card. When the 128MB cards come down in price you will be able to get over 8hours of music on this little device --- that is awesome considering the hard drive portables cost 3 times this amount and they are not solid state devices (you CANNOT run with them, or even walk briskly wihtout skipping problems).

I highly recommend this little device for those who want an exercise companion for music. This excels in that catagory!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I miss it..., June 20, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Compaq iPAQ PA-2 64 MB Digital Audio Player (MP3/WMA) (Electronics)

This MP3 player served me well for two years until (because of my clumsiness) I broke it. It worked beautifully, able to play both MP3 and WMA files with ease. Loading files onto the player was a breeze, as was initial setup of the software. The headphones that it comes with are comfortable and have a good amount of volume capability. A great MP3 player, I'm now trying to find a replacement but am finding it difficult to find another that measures up. I miss you, my iPAQ.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Works OK - with a few gripes..., January 16, 2003

By 

William J. Willard (Kingsville, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Compaq iPAQ PA-2 64 MB Digital Audio Player (MP3/WMA) (Electronics)

Got this one after a very bad experience with a Rio 600 with the rechargeable power pack which died. Once you get the software going and the cards formatted (the directions didn't specify HOW you format the cards), it works OK. The NOT OK part was: not loud enough (I can't hear soft songs while I'm riding my lawn tractor), the MusicMatch software will not recognize the unit (after numerous emails from Compaq and software patches I can still only load WMA's with Windows Media Player), the earphones are passable, and the transfer is a little slow. It seems to be too easy to inadvertently hit the play/pause button. The belt clip is plastic and not altogether sturdy, as well.