HP's iPaq hw6920 / hw6925 finally hitting Cingular next week
By Evan Blass 
posted October 25th 2006 11:48AM
posted October 25th 2006 11:48AM
It's been almost a full year since we first spotted the Swiss Army Phone better known as the iPaq hw6900, and after endless teasing and false starts, Cingular will finally start selling this highly-anticipated jack-of-all-trades starting on October 31st. We have to admit that we're not quite as excited about the hw6920 / hw6925 (with / without camera) as we were, like, nine months ago, but its release is still notable due to the fact that it'll be one of the first mass-market US smartphones to include integrated GPS hardware and software (in the form of TeleNav's GPS Navigator). As you're probably well aware from both the official and leaked spec sheets we've covered, this 416MHz, Windows Mobile 5.0 AKU2-powered handset also features Bluetooth with A2DP, 802.11g, a 1.3 megapixel camera, miniSD slot, reportedly-loud keyboard, and frustrating 240 x 240 pixel screen. The only other major downside here is the lack of a 3G radio, although the GPRS / EDGE capabilities should offer decent connectivity while you search for the nearest hotspot. Obviously having your cake and (almost) eating it too doesn't come cheap, as the hw6920 will start at $360 with a two-year contract and continue to climb skyward.[Via Mobility Site, thanks Ronald D.]
If the 6515 was any indication of what this phone has to offer (minus WIFI, I admit) than steer clear from it.
The battery life is dreadful, the software sucks (both Windows mobile and the HP software).
The keyboard is the worst ever for a device this size (I've tried treos, Blackberries and Nokia E61).
Not shown on this picture is the flimsy tilt plastic screen cover. It's really crap.
Do yourself a favor and get a Nokia E61 (not the baby E62), and if you really need windows Mobile (can't see why but that's you), go with one of the new Treos (700 or 750).
Features aside, am I the only one that thinks HP's phones look like a camels bum? EeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeW. I wouldnt want to hump it. =O
$120 a year for the added convenince of knowing where you are going. Sometimes a dedicated device is better.
You can't really base your opinion of a new device on a previously released version, especially when HP has been selling this phone for almost a month now and people have actually used it.
In my experience, battery life is decent. The 8125 can run longer but much slower, so I think the HP has the upper hand. Windows Mobile runs fine on it and the screen really didn't bother me as much as I would have though. The screen flip cover can easily be removed if you don't like it.
The Treo 700/750 is not available for Cingular and other GSM carriers yet.
I was determined to buy this mode when it was announced, but now it is disappointing in so many ways. Features like USB host mode / charging, screen resolution, camera (useful for whiteboard captures and increasingly uses such as bar codes/business card scanning), slower wifi (which will slow down access points) are all missing or sub par compared to competitors. And it really is a huge device. I take it HP has problems working with their device manufacturers, and it shows.
As a Windows Mobile 5.0 user, I have to say that it's a terrible OS. On my JasJar(520MHz) it runs terribly slow and I miss a lot of calls because of this. You still have to reset it periodically just to keep things working. This one, being 416MHz, would run even slower, I'd think.
I wish that HP would just "man-up" and run embedded Linux already... or maybe even PalmOS. WM5 lacks the responsiveness needed to make the experience gratifying. This looks like just another "half-baked" device limited by the OS.
I own an XDA Exec and recently bought the 6940. From the posts before me, I can tell you, the new HP models are snappy...much more so than the higher freq clocked XDA. For those worried about that...it's not the software platform per se...windows mobile is just fine. it's the hardware device...as my XDA needs regular resets and is memory intensive to the point where I have to clear out stuff after just minutes. My HP...however, can run and run...with no resets yet! The battery lasts very well...and if you are worried, just buy the extended battery. I haven't had a problem running mine for days...but I don't use my phone often...maybe once or twice daily. I do use the GPS though..and it works great as well. I hope this helps some of you out there. I've also found a lot of information in reviews out there...just google for them instead of posting uninformed crap first k?
There will never be enough features in a phone to make me want to go back to Cingular.
DO NOT BUY this POS. I was really waiting for this device and finally bought it. The worst buy ever. It so slow - it is not even funny. Major major major issues like hangups and keyboard not responsive. Please do yourself a favor and do not buy this. Please.
Does anyone out ther know if the HP iPaq rw6815 will be coming here to the U.S?
An an actual owner of the 6965 (the Australian Variety with camera) I support those who have used it and had NO problem with it.
I went from my Siemens SX1(oldschool) to the new Hw6965, and havent looked back,
Battery life is fantastic, granted i only make a few calls per day,
Wifi is Great have yet to find anyting wrong with it
A2DP works fine in the headphones ive used. The only issue ive ever had is connecting to the hbh gv435 headset from sony, but the headset alone is only stated to work with se products,
Yes the GPS was a gimmick when it first came out but I use it anyway, its a nice feature to have, but like all GPS system battery life is affected by its use.
The Keypad got some getting use to but after trying TREOS, and the e61, (I work at Vodafone so i get to test/play every phone we get), I perfer it of over the treo and E61.
You cant compare it to the 6500 series, as its would be comparing two pc's with the same case.
The screen is fine, Yes there is scrolling when looking at webpages, but it is understandable.
ohh and those worried about the size of the machine, I actually found that is is quite small. I keep it in my front left pocket. Yes not as small as say the KJAM or JAMMin, but it is actually thinner ( believe it or not) then the V3x of my brothers.
ohh and i was a loud vocal protester of how great symbian series 1,2,and 3 were, but until they bring out a decent touch screen system to match wm5, (uiq and s90 not included) I will remain a happy wm5 users.
All in all the 6965 is a fantastic machine, and for those who cry how late it was, blame cingular, this puppy has been in AUSTRALIA for months, and we are still waiting on the JASJAR via legit trade routes.
Yea I don't understand how someone who doesn't own the phone can call it crap. I owned a Treo 650 for over a year before picking up an Ipaq 6545 at expansys and now I would never go back. For starters I loved that Treo. (like the unnatural kind :)) I used it everyday as a phone, pda and gps (with a navsat bluetooth gps). When the Ipaq first arrived my immediate issues with the phone vs the Treo were the wider body and the way the keys felt, but it only took a week for me not to notice anymore. Although wider than the Ipaq, its noticeably thinner which makes the profile when worn on a belt almost unnoticeable. The keyboard is not as loud as people are saying, I can easily sit in a quiet room and type away without worrying that I am bothering anyone.
On top of this, everything else this phone is reported to do, it can. The wifi is amazing, connection to a known network takes about 3 - 4 seconds and when using Opera I have no problems loading full graphic webpages. I currently have my Ipaq syncing with an exchange server (over wifi) and it's done it flawlessly every time. After carrying around an external gps receiver with the Treo the built in GPS is incredible. With recent satellite files (which the ipaq gets once a week from syncing) acquisition time is under 5 seconds and with the bundled HP navigation software it couldn't be any more useful. The screen is quite a bit larger than the Treo making it easier to read even if the resolution is lower. Addressing some of the issues pointed out, in the month and a half that I have had the phone I have never missed or had a call dropped due to the OS. (In fact I havent had one dropped at all) The plastic cover is a great idea IMO, avoids hang ups due to your face touching the screen and yes it recharges with just the USB connected to the computer. Fast, functional and reliable, thats what I look for in a phone and thats what I got.
Any questions Id be happy to respond!