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250 of 258 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
More functional than Palm, smaller than most Pocket PCs, July 2, 2000
By A Customer
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.
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