IPaq

Review: Handheld computers continue to morph from simple personal digital assistants into more versatile, “converged” gizmos that emphasize communications and multimedia functions over calendars and contacts.

It’s certainly one way to justify the lofty prices attached to the two iPaqs I’ve been testing. The iPaq h6315, a joint offering from H-P and T-Mobile, is a voice and data-capable Pocket PC able to exploit both Wi-Fi and cellular. Its cousin, the iPaq rx3715, can stream music, video and pictures from a PC onto the handheld or use it to control digital media or other devices around the house. Both iPaqs are expected to reach stores next month.

At first glance, the sturdy deck-of-cards-sized, 5.6-ounce 3715 resembles an ordinary PDA. Four programmable launch buttons, two on each side flanking a navigational touch pad, sit below a bright 3.5-inch color display. In lieu of the traditional “today” screen (showing tasks, appointments, etc.) found when you turn on most Pocket PCs, the 3715’s starter page displays touch-screen shortcuts to various media functions. These include a built-in 1.2 megapixel digital camera, universal remote control, digital photo album and an area to stream music and images from the computer.

The 3715 has both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (the slower 802.11 “b” variety) wireless capabilities. Without any setup hassles and notwithstanding the smaller screen, I was able to surf the Net untethered via my home network.

Snapping pictures is a bit awkward, and the digital camera has an unfortunate lag.

While the 3715 appeals to a home user, the h6315 Pocket PC targets the mobile professional.

It has a decent 3.5-inch display, SD memory card slot and built-in camera; the pictures are of lower quality, however. It also comes with a cradle (with room to charge a spare battery), 64 megabytes of storage memory, integrated mike and programmable buttons on the side of the navigation control. The usual Pocket PC software is on board too.

What distinguishes this iPaq is its communications capabilities. For starters, it’s also a world phone, compatible with variations of the GSM networks popular around the globe. At 6.7 ounces, it’s about 20 percent heavier than the 3715 and slightly larger. The 6315 felt fine next to my ear. But while I appreciate the device’s wireless versatility, it’s too big to be my preferred mobile phone.