And more nice words on iPaq:
“Mini-monolith” runs Windows 2000
Compaq's iPaq:
a low-cost
computer for
businesses and
homes
An up-to-date computer in
space age clothing. Power
switch on top, two USB ports
on the bottom (more on the
back), and "MultiBay" just to
the left of the silver slab.
By Gary Krakow
MSNBC
Feb. 18 — OK. I have to admit it straight away. I
really like Compaq's new business box, the iPaq.
It's made to do one thing and do it well — and
that thing is compute. So far, I'm impressed with
the hardware and with the new system operating
software.
Compaq's iPaq Home Page
Windows 2000 Home Page
When you
consider what a
full version of
Windows 2000
Professional is
selling for, and
what customers
might have to
spend to upgrade
their older
hardware to run it,
the iPaq borders
on a bargain.
FIRST THING YOU MUST KNOW, this is not your
standard computer. It was designed from the bottom up to
be an “Internet device” (whatever that means) to be
deployed in business situations. It's a computer, and a good
one too! It's as easy as an iMac (without the built-in
monitor) to plug in and get up and running. Compaq made
iPaq as a “solution” for businesses to easily upgrade
hardware and software at the same time. But don't worry.
If you'd like, you can buy one for yourself (home or office)
on the Compaq Web site.
In its most “modern” of configurations, there are no
serial or parallel ports. Just USB. Compaq calls that version
“Legacy-Free.” There are also iPaq versions where you can
get those nearly obsolete items. The one I'm writing this on
is pure USB and Ethernet.
It's made to run Windows 2000 Professional and it
excels at it (more about that a little later). But, if you must
go retro, you can get Windows 98 installed. You can have a
500MHz processor, Celeron or Pentium III. You have a
choice of 64MB, 128MB or 256MB of memory. 4.3GB or
8.4GB hard drives.
The “fully-programmable Internet” keyboard and the
two-button scrolling mouse are USB. Intel audio, video and
Ethernet (10/100Base-T) controllers are all built in. There
are audio in and out jacks and another for a microphone.
That's about it. The built-in speaker is amazingly good. So
good, you might not need separate speakers.
Forget floppies. There's a “MultiBay” slot. For a few
extra bucks you can slide in a 24x CD-ROM ($75), or a 4x
DVD ($175), or a LS-120 SuperDisk/Floppy Disk ($99),
or another hard drive (6GB for $219). You can hot-swap
them in and out (not the second hard drive, though) to your
heart's content. Some Compaq laptops accept the same
“MultiBay” items.
The iPaq's enclosure is very cool. Actually, when
pressed, I had trouble describing it any better than “space
age” or “modernistic monolith.” It is silver and black, 6.4 by
10.5 by 14.6 inches. It weighs 10.65 pounds. If you go
back a few years, the iPaq is smaller (and lighter) than
Compaq's first portable computer! Just to give you an idea
of what I'm talking about, I was able to carry the iPaq and
accessories in the shipping box under my arm. Try that with
your normal mini-tower!
Don't look for expansion slots. There aren't any.
Businesses like to set up and install machines once, then
leave them alone and have them work. And this machine is
made for businesses. Compaq got rid of the items that
aren't used that much anymore, and just put in what
modern-day companies need to compete… Ethernet, and
fast access to company servers and the Web.
Windows 2000 Professional,
the rightful aire to the
Windows NT throne. I'm
showing you the box
because you're familiar with
the graphical interface.
This is the first
machine I've tested that
runs Windows 2000
Professional. I will
admit, up front, that I
have not tried every
feature in every nook
and cranny of the new
OS, but what I have tried is smooth and rock-solid.
Windows 2000 looks and feels smoother than Microsoft's
previous operating systems. (Microsoft is a partner in
MSNBC). They've literally rounded the edges on the icons,
and seemingly everything else compared to Windows
NT4.0 (which it visually resembles).
I had tried a late-model Windows 2000 beta on
another (slightly older) machine. It ran pretty well, except
that all the audio drivers hadn't been perfected at that point.
I've actually had the same kind of audio problems with
some Linux distributions. This final version recognizes
everything inside the iPaq (and vice versa) and it runs like a
top. It's next to a machine running Win98SE (with 128MB
of memory and a 550MHz Pentium III) and the iPaq is
noticeably faster while downloading the same files. W2K is
much, much faster drawing Web pages on the browsers (I
tried IE5, Netscape 4.08, Opera 3.62, Hot Java 3.0 and
Mozilla, Build 13.)
I downloaded about a dozen programs to see if I could
find any that wouldn't run on W2K. Had absolutely no
problems. I tried installing two programs at the same time.
Even tried what some people describe as the “nightmarish”
AOL 5. That runs like a top too. Same for AbiWord, Star
Office, SetiAtHome, Free Agent and Winamp. I could go
on, but you get the idea.
I did find a few small problems. I installed Office 2000
Professional. It went very
quickly, but it was the first
time the software didn't
ask me to restart the
computer. A quick reboot
solved any problem I had.
Ethernet set-up was a
breeze (although it took a
phone call to figure out
how to get PPTP
connections to work in a
Windows NT
environment). And
Handspring promises to
have a new USB driver
for W2K available by the
end of the month. So far, Windows 2000 seems to be doing
just fine for me. I'll have “bug” updates if and when they
arise.
The legacy-free iPaqs, with Celeron processors, 4.3
MB hard drives and 64MB of RAM start at $499.
(Monitors are extra.) Add another $50 for the serial,
parallel and PS/2 legacy ports. MultiBay devices, more
memory, bigger hard drive and Pentium III processor will
up the price. But at $499, the basic iPaq is a very good
deal. I've found that Celeron processors are nearly as
good/fast as Pentiums for most people/application
combinations, and 64MB of memory should be sufficient to
run W2K.
There's also a large amount of interesting software
bundled with the iPaq. Programs like Altris eXpress and PC
Transplant Pro are among the manageability tools (and
other items) provided to make IT professionals and iPaq
owners happy.
Compaq offers other items for the iPaq. Like a USB
modem ($79) for those without access to networks. But, if
you're like me, and you have a fast connection to the
Internet, and modern USB peripherals, the iPaq could be
just what you're looking for. It's not for everyone, but just
might be right for you.
When you consider what a full version of Windows
2000 Professional is selling for, and what customers might
have to spend to upgrade their older hardware to run it, the
iPaq borders on a bargain. Simple, sleek, and speedy,
Compaq's iPaq is recommended. |
