PDA’s running Microsoft’s PocketPC operating system were traditionally more expensive than Palm OS powered handhelds - premiums of 25% or more were usual when the Palm TX hit the market. I was very surprised when I saw the hp ipaq rx4240 for sale for just 300€. A few minutes later, my girlfriend and I carried home a small red box…and here are the contents:
HP ships its consumer ipaq in a red box that reminds me of Microsoft’s packages. The box looks pretty cool and contains fairly detailed specs:
Unpacking the ipaq rx4240 reveals HP’s classic advertising slogan. After that, you immediately find the machine and a page of ‘getting started’ instructions for beginners:
The foil on the ipaq’s screen contains instructions - Palm’s foil usually is blank and can thus double as a screen protector.
My rx4240 shipped with a manual and a full license of Outlook XP - according to HP, future handhelds will not ship with Outlook. I consider this a major omission, but Vista’s new PIM tools will probably fix this for most users, saving HP a bit of cash on each machine.
Last but not least, HP really showed a heart for consumers by making their rx4240 charge via mini USB. The handheld ships with an USB cable that can be plugged into a PC or into a charger with an USB port - well done:
The manual mentioned the inclusion of a headset - however, our review sample purchased at a local store didn’t contain one. The ipaq shipped with a funny cover lid which will be covered in detail in a later part of the review.
Overall, the HP ipaq RX4240’s shipment contents are on par with other manufacturer’s offerings. HP’s ‘USB wall wart’ is a strike of genius for someone coming from the Palm side of the river(saves space when traveling). The omission of a headset and an usable screen protector slightly weakens my otherwise good impression…but I am still happy with what I got…
Tune in soon as the HP ipaq rx4240 review moves on to the physical aspects of the machine!