The Jornada 545 uses a 133-MHz, 32-bit Hitachi SH-3 processor and includes 16MB of RAM. The new Jornada 545 sets the standard for sleekness for the new platform, with a hard, flip-down cover and only two buttons on the side: a voice-record stop/start button and a roller/action button. The power button and four programmable launch buttons are under the case.
The Jornada 545 weighs 255 grams with its included lithium ion battery and measures 13 x 7.6 x 2 cms (HWD), making the device only slightly smaller than the Cassiopeia E-115, though the Jornada 545's design makes it appear slimmer. The Jornada 545 trims some bulk by using a Type I CompactFlash card slot rather than the slightly thicker Type II style. (The only notable accessories for Pocket PCs that you can't use with a Type I card slot are the IBM 170MB and 340MB microdrives.) The Jornada 545 ships with a USB docking cradle, serial synchronisation cable, AC adaptor/travel charger, and stereo earphones.
The Jornada 545 uses a backlit, 64,000 colour, 320 x 240 resolution CSTN display. This type of display lets the HP unit achieve a better-rated battery life of eight hours, compared with that of six hours for the Cassiopeia E-115. But the HP Jornada 545's screen isn't as easily viewable at horizontal and vertical angles. Otherwise we noticed little difference in quality. The Jornada 545's display is also a bit smaller than that of the Casio unit, at 7.4 x 5.8 cms (HW).
Inside the Jornada 545's cover you'll find a new, flat stylus, which was our least-favourite feature. The new stylus looks like a dark grey ice cream stick and is the best excuse we've seen for buying a fancy combination ballpoint pen/stylus. The design of the unit's new control button configuration is, however, our favourite so far of all Windows CE/Pocket PC models.
In addition to the standard Microsoft applications, the HP Jornada 545 includes LandWare OmniSolve, Socket Communications Ethernet Drivers, Conduit Technologies' PeaceMaker 1.0, HP Settings, HP Back-up, HP Home Menu, HP Task Switcher, HP Game Buttons, and HP Security applications burned in ROM. The HP supplementary CD includes AOL Mail Client, AudiblePlayer 2.0 for Windows for Pocket PC, Sierra Imaging's Image Expert CE 2.0, and Yahoo! Messenger. Sample songs from eMusic, PhatWare HPC Notes 3.3 Lite Edition, HP JetSend for Windows for Pocket PC 2.0, a demo version of ZIO Interactive's ZIO Golf 1.2. MusicMatch Jukebox 4.4, and AudibleManager 2.5 desktop applications are also included on the CD.
Though the HP Jornada 545 is still significantly larger than the Palm V and the Vx, the unit is best positioned to challenge these highly popular organisers for a share of the executive and road warrior market with its streamlined, elegant design.
HP Jornada 545
Company: Hewlett Packard
Ph: 13 13 47; Fax: 03 9898 1968
Price:AU$979.
Rating: 5 Star
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