Customer Reviews

Hewlett Packard Jornada 680 Handheld PC

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

If you shlep a heavy laptop on trips just to get your email, do a little bit of web browsing or write some notes, this is for you. You just put the Jornada in your pocket or briefcase and attach the phone cable to its handy built in modem. The battery lasts so long (sometimes 8 hours) that you can travel for several days without even taking the power adapter. The whole system weighs only about 1 lb. The keyboard is OK but might be problematic if you have fat fingers.

Although you can download Word or PowerPoint documents from your desktop and carry them around, the graphics are not good enough for technical presentations. However if you use mainly plain text and your PowerPoint presentations are mainly big pie charts and so on, this is another great feature. I found out that HP sells a VGA adapter card for the Jornada. This little plug in card lets you download your MS PowerPoint presentation into the little travel computer and then output it to a VGA monitor or projector with graphics up to 768x1024. So not only can I carry the Jornada on trips to get my email, but I can also download my presentation (up to about 16 MB) and output it to the client's projector or monitor. Since the presentation comes from the computer's memory, it is very fast. Great!

I was looking for a "micro notebook" like machine. Pda utilities were important. being a "unix" programmer, some type of terminal was also quite important. I have used a few of the "palm size" machines and found them undesirable. (im always poping up the little tap on keyboard, AND,when entering numbers, 99% accuracy (hand writing recognition) doesn't quit cut it). I also was not going to spend over $500, and not get some kind of word processor. Using Hpvx, i have a beautiful, portable, always ready,telnet machine, that does wp, excel, email, and internet... and the color is Great. The battery last. Really last. better then 8 hours, even when using the modem.... Am i Satisfied ??? Im thrilled!. it not tiny, but its always with me, and i have become quite dependent on it.

I have been using my HP Jordana 680 for over a month and I have say I'm delighted with it. It is by far and away the best Windows CE device yet. It beats other types of palmtops and hand-helds, hands down!

The price might seem fairly steep compared to other PDA's, but you do get an awful lot of for your money, in a very little package. I considered buying a Psion 5, but by the time you had added the PCIMA adapter and the modem the total cost was the same as the HP 680!

I have also found HP's customer service to be excellent, their website is top-notch, their software updates are easy to apply and their telephone staff are superb.

There are several other features I would like to see in Windows CE, but as the operating system can be upgraded there is no reason why they cannot be added at a later date. Some of these are:

* Conversion of files to pocket format on the device itself (this would be handy for email attachments)
* The ability to create graphs in Excel
* Embed objects within word files
* Any chance of a copy of NetMeeting for CE?

So come on Microsoft how about these enhancements?

I have owned my Jornada 680 since last May. It's lightweight enough to fit in my purse. I have typed full reports on airplanes (small enough to fit on the tray with papers). The screen is great. On the road I have no problem connecting to the internet and checking e-mail. I am thoroughly satisfied with this machine. If you are a good typist, this is ten times better than a palm pilot. I gave my palm to my husband!

If you're looking for something portible to be functional with, this is it. Aside from a dead-on integration into Outlook, you can surf the web and have full email and fax capabilties. While you might be able to do this on some other CE devices, we found this was the only one that offered a pocket version of Office. Yea, its not full of much of the advanced formating features in Word, and Excel doesn't do charts, but, hey, it sure beats lugging full sized notebook around, and accomplishes about 85% of what non-notebook owners need. I am very happy my wife introduced me to this when I was about to buy a E105 (which doesn't come with a modem). Although the keyboard is small, it beats a stylus. Ths really is a handheld pc. (And note, there is a download form HP that takes it up to 65K color from the 256 quoted.)

I like the hand-held "PC's"... but not this one. They are terrific for certain functions... basic word processing, email... carrying contacts out on the road... but the HP 680 just doesn't hold up. The hinges broke after only a month of use on the road. HP would not cover the repair under warrenty... because "pry marks voided the warrenty".... OK, but try to change the battery without leaving pry marks. I've since moved to the NEC MobilePro 780... It's much better constructed, holding up to wear-and-tear much more robustly. It's also lighter and gets better battery life... a much better alternative to the Jornada.

A friend of mine had it sitting on his desk with a wirelessInternet card in the PCMCIA slot. The small size, SUPER bright COLORscreen and nice keyboard had me in the store within an hour! It's VERY functional (and I have a pretty small laptop). It's great in meetings. Navigating through CE is fast and intuitive. The keyboard has a solid feel and it's packed with 'Windows like' productivity software. I've only had low-end Sharp units, so for me the 680 is fabulous! I sync with Outlook 2000, get on the Net, send/receive faxes and keep myself busy while my son is "whoop-N'-it-up" at 'Chucky Cheese". It's not small but I usually carry my shoulder bag during business. The color is kind of wild (purple) but it's an OK trade-off for all this unit can do.

... well, just about. But I've tried the Palm, the palm-sized CE devices and handhelds, in brands ranging from LG to Casiopeia. Nothing beats the HP 680. I particularly like the pocket Excel and Word, as well as the power features that pocket Outlook provides. The Palm minimalists can have their glorified daybook. I'll choose a true computer like the 680 anyday. Buy this product!

I travel overseas quite a bit including looong airplane rides. My Jornada 680 has been invaluable for getting my paperwork done on my way back so I can spend the rest of my time in the office vouchering my expenses. Ha, I get great battery length and really appreciate the fact that the charger is multi voltage. It is my constant travel companion. Great product.

Having sworn that I have lugged my heavy notebook with all the fixins' along on a trip for the last time I was delighted with my new HP Jornada 680. Coupled with Expensable 98 and some game software I had all the tools that I needed to keep in touch via e-mail, write notes and memos, keep track of my expenses and a do just about everything for which I used the notebook. My hands are rather large yet with a little practice I have just about mastered the tiny keyboard. I don't presently need to use battery-consuming flash cards so the standard battery worked just fine for me. Probably one of the smartest purchases that I have made in several years!