Compaq iPAQ Pocket PC H3970

01 February 2004 () by Kendon Glass

Compaq iPAQ Pocket PC H3970

Technical Specifications

Processor: 400 MHz Intel PXA250 Application Processor
Memory: 64-MB SDRAM, 48- or 32-MB Flash ROM Memory
Input Method: Handwriting recognition, soft keyboard, character recognition, voice recorder
Dimensions: (H x W x D) 5.3 x 3.3 x 0.6 in/134 x 84 x 15.9 mm
System Unit Weight: 6.5 oz/184 g, including battery
Operating Temperature: 32° to 104°F/0° to 40°C
Operating Humidity: 10% to 90%
RAM: 64 MB
ROM: (Flash) 48 or 32 MB (Flash ROM)
Rechargeable Battery Life: 64MB up to 14 hrs, 1400 mAh Lithium Polymer rechargeable battery
AC Adapter Dimensions: (H x W x D) 3 x 1.9 x 1.8 in/76 x 48 x 44 mm (including prongs)
Cord Length: (approximate) 6 ft/1.83 m
Power Supply Ratings: Voltage Range 100 to 240 V Switching
Interfaces: Wireless Bluetooth, IrDA (115 Kb per second), Side Panel Voice recorder button, Communications Port USB/serial connectivity for connecting to cradle or directly to PC via cable

Performance

At the moment I am not utilising this Pocket PC to its full extent. For example I don’t have a TV, stereo or washing machine to marvel at its remote control capabilities. Its functionality is extensive however, and there are many valuable applications relevant to life on the road, including a GPS should you purchase the required component separately.

In a feat of technology that still amazes me the iPAQ Pocket PC is fully powered bythe sun using a 10-Watt solar panel. With the expansion pack battery charged it provides 12 hours of data entry that allows me to write up the expeditions journals at will. Since our snazzy foldable keyboard quit functioning due to a delicate connection I have been forced to master the hand writing recognition software, which as it turns out, is far more efficient than two finger typing. I am a little dubious of the voice recognition software that is bundled with it and am yet to give it a whirl.

The iPAQ Pocket PC ‘s dual expansion pack houses a 5 Gigabyte PCMIA hot swappable hard drive with flux capacitor & a 256 MB Flash Card that allows digital photos to be easily transferred from the Fuji FinePix Z602 Digital Camera to the iPAQ.

N.b. both the 5 Gb hard drive & the 256 Mb Flash Card are purchased separately.

+ Recording the journey: The Ipaq Pocket PC has played a crucial roll in cataloguing photos & documenting our journey. For that alone it has become a priceless piece of technology weighing in at only 184 grams.

+ Serving as a Dictaphone the IPAQ allows us to make audio diaries of our experiences & observations from the saddle.

+ The contacts section has allowed us to enter every detail about the hundreds of people we have met along our route.

+ Music: 2 x Cambridge Soundworks speakers (2.5" x 2.5") turns the IPAQ into a duke box of tunes and I am often joined around the campfire by John Williamson who knows how to make a wandering Aussie homesick by singing Galleries of Pink Galahs.

+ Excellent screen quality. The H3970 uses a trans-flective screen. It both reflects ambient light to illuminate the screen (for better outdoor viewing and power savings) and has backlighting.

+ Extension pack makes PC Cards with data and images easily swappable

+ Battery life is exceptional

- No user replaceable battery

Thank you

This is a huge thankyou to both A.I.Scientific and the Redcliffe Rotary Club for their support and enthusiasm.

Their donation of a Compaq IPAQ pocket PC H3900 will enable the Brink Expedition to be shared with schools from around the globe.

Return to Expedition Journal list...