Customer Reviews

Hewlett Packard Jornada 565

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Let me say this about the HP Jornada 565, "HP's Pocket PC's still need refining"
The good about this Pocket PC
-Fast OS and easy useability when first powered up
-Improved design of the flashcard slot versus its predecessors. No more flimsy hinge cover.
-From the industrial designer's perspective, very good button layout, spacious for easy navigating, except still confused on the functioning of the button below the four-way scroll keypad
-Nice side rubber molding for improved grip

-Excellent screen resolution

The bad about this Pocket PC
-Lots of bugs
-If you set up your Activesync to your desktop and connect your handheld then your device name will be "Pocket_PC". If you change the device name, your Activesync won't recognize it and connect only as "Guest". Only way to fix it is to re-install Activesync.
-Activesync. After installing on my Windows 2000 and upgrading the Outlook to 2002, the settings for the Inbox syncing only showed up occasionally when clicked on.
-Avantgo server setup. After changing the device name, had to redo the whole setup procedure of establing servers on my network computer and the avantgo.com server just to get the device to sync up again with the website.
-Windows Media. When I changed the Audio & Video settings to play large dimensions in Audio and Video, it screwed up the application and now it comes up garbled every time I try to open it even after soft resetting.

-The volume control key button on the side doesn't adjust volume automatically. You have to open the volume control window first
-When using earphones, the volume is still very loud even at the lowest setting.

Overall, the HP 565 is a very good product. If HP can fix those software bugs, then it would get a higher rating. I haven't dropped my HP yet but looking at the thin front cover it has, it doesn't look like it'll survive the drop test and there is no warranty coverage for dropped HPs.
Good luck!

I thought for a second that I was going to have to reconfigure all of avantgo's server stuff, too, but all you have to do is click on avantgo in the active sync list, select properties, and enter your avantgo name and password. It will take off from there. Also, I didn't have to reinstall active sync to name it something besides pocket_pc. Maybe I got a later version.

Anyway, I like this jornada. I have had a hand spring visor and phillips velo and a rex in the past, this is the best by far. The built in apps are great, and it is also great for add in programs and games. The stylus is a bit whimpy. Overall I've been very happy.

I purchased a Handspring 1 1/2 years ago (OS) and decided to make the switch to a CE system. I am very pleased with the switch. I started with a Casio BE-300 but was disapointed in the programs available (programs need to be written especially for the BE-300) and the features that came with the unit. I went ahead and swallowed hard and spent the extra couple hundred to get what I really wanted and am very satisfied. More programs, Pocket Word, Pocket Outlook, etc. I had a hard time getting it to connect everytime but then went to the web site to get help and found that you needed to make sure that the unit was not in the cradle when you restarted windows on your descktop PC. Since I have gotten used to taking hte Jornada out of the cradle I have not had a problem.

Ever since I bought my 565 I have loved it. It has been my trusted companion. It also makes a supperior MP3 Player, as it syncs well with Windows Media Player on my PC. It also is the perfect medium to write letters (Pocket Word), Manage your money and investment (MS Money for PPC), The best universal remote(TV Remote), and a better note taker that a giant Tablet PC. And it has a wonderfull hard cover to protect the screen. Despite loving it so much, It is impossable to find parts for it in Canada. Since it is discontinued you can not get a replacement stylus, or assesories. And I've had to get the screen replaced once, and the second time is comming soon. And the dust is impossable to get out.

A few days ago I asked HP the upgrade to Pocket Windows 2003 for my Jornada 565, bought at Amazon on May 30, 2002. They answered they are not planning to give any upgrade to Jornadas because Compaq IPacs are now the mainstream line of pocket PCs from HP. A year after the purchase I have an obsolete tool and I think this is very unfair for HP customers.

Hewlett-Packard support have just tell me that they will not upgrade any Jornada to Pocket PC 2003 operating system, and they will only support Compaq I-Pac as HP I-Pac mainstream Pocket PCs. I bought in Amazon a Jornada 565 in May 2002, and now I have an obsolete tool. I think this is very unfair. I have invested ... in the Jornada 565 and Hewlett-Packard forgets his customers to only give upgrades to Compaq customers. If you are thinking about buying an HP product, think twice: maybe they are thinking to merge with anybody else and live you without support.