Should I upgrade to the 2215??

[zach-2]

Hi:

I have a 3955 and just took a look at the 2215. I like the idea of both the SD and CF card slots. Although, the screen on the 2215 is smaller than what I have now.

It seems like, basically, the same unit with just those differences. Do you think I should upgrade and never have to worry about expansion packs or am I better off with what I have now.

Thanks for the help.

[christak]

I just did... and my wife loves the 3950 now...

The 2210 is awesome!! Size is perfect for me, 2 slots, considerably faster, and battery life similar to the 3950....

Go for it!!
:cool:

[zach-2]

Originally posted by christak
I just did... and my wife loves the 3950 now...

The 2210 is awesome!! Size is perfect for me, 2 slots, considerably faster, and battery life similar to the 3950....

Go for it!!
:cool: Thanks. After reading everything, I think I will sacrifice the screen size (minimal) and get one. The SD AND CF slots are what makes it appealing.

[II_V_I]

Yes, definitely upgrade to h2215 if you can afford it.

I've had mine almost two weeks and it seems to be a solid investment. Be warned: according to HP, the SD slot is limited to 256MB capacity, but there is apparently no limit on capacity for the CF slot. With prices coming down all the time for flash memory, and with the CF slot being microdrive friendly, too, having both an SD and CF IO slot seems a good way to go.

Having a nearly complete backup on my CF card has already saved me once. I downloaded some nasty freeware that trashed my iPAQ. I had to do a hard reset to get rid of it. When I did, ActiveSync would not let me sync again as my previous machine name because that machine name was already taken! There I was unable to get to the full backup on my PC!

After doing a restore from the CF Card, I was able to get back my programs and previous machine name, then was able to resyncat the PC to recover more recent files.

One downside for gamers are the recessed buttons. They seem designed more for executives who do not want them bumped on purpose, than for people who use them a lot for game playing.

Another small complaint could be tacked on the 9 way control (8 directions + "Enter" It sometimes scrolls erratically and makes some very weird jumps. Otherwise, a great machine.

[christak]

...Be warned: according to HP, the SD slot is limited to 256MB capacity...

I have thoroughly read the manual from my 2210 and see no SD limitation... Please provide the reference for this claim. It makes no sense that there would be such a limit...

[II_V_I]

My reference for the claim is a tech support specialist at Compaq/HP named Robin, who looked it up somewhere in their references. I called on 2003.07.14 with two questions for them on the h2215/2210: Those questions (and the answers Robin gave) were:

Q1: Are there limitations to the size of either CF or SD storage cards which can be used in the 2215?
A1: SD slot is limited to 256MB. No limitation for CF is listed in the specs.

Q2: Is it possible to use IBM microdrives in the CF slot?
A2: Yes.

I called and asked before purchasing another card because CF is currently cheaper (and faster) than SD, and I wanted to know if there was a good reason to structure my file system and backups preferring one over the other.

If you doubt the accuracy of Robin's reply, perhaps you'd like to call yourself: 1-800-652-6672, (option 3, then other options for iPAQ handhelds). I'm sorry; I didn't write down his last name, but you are not likely to get the same rep I had anyway.

[II_V_I]

A further thought on the SD Card limitation:

(By the way, I agree with you that it seems like a rather frivolous limitation)

Sometimes, when manufacturers quote limitations such as the one above, the underlying implication is something like the following:

"This is the largest capactity card we have tested the unit with. It may also work with larger capacity cards, but we cannot assure you that it will. We can assure you that if you buy a 256MB SD card that the unit will function properly. If you buy a larger capacity card we will not be held responsible for the results."

I don't know what HP/Compaq is trying to say in this instance. I can only relay what the "official" word was to me from them.

Hope this helps.

[christak]

Thanks for the info... I really find it difficult to believe that there is a limit of 256MB. I don't doubt that is what you were told!
I'll check into this further when the prices come down a bit on the larger SD cards (I currently have a 256MB SD and a 256MB CF in my 2210... They work fine.)
:cool:

[II_V_I]

Glad to hear that 256 cards work OK.

Say, since I am new to this forum, do you know if there have been any recent threads on bluetooth. I don't want to start one if there has been one recently, but I need some help.

I have purchased a couple of bluetooth USB adapters and have not been successful getting either of them to work well. A Belkin worked as far as establishing a connection, even an Internet connnection, but I was unwilling to put up with the software fall out it created (it kept editing my Normal.dot and prompting for a change every time I logged on, even if I didn't use BT. I had the most recent drivers, so there wasn't a fix available.

So, I treturned it, and got a 3Com. They tell me theirs doesn't even offer all the services I want (as a host).

I've had having trouble getting a connection back to my PC via BT null modem. Since choice is never available when setting up a modem connection, I'm not sure how I got it to work originally.

I can get a serial connection from my 2215 established back to my notebook via the 3Com USB adapter, but then cannot get ActiveSync to use it to connect or to get onto the Internet via the dial-up connection already live on my notebook.

Duuuuuuhhh!:confused:

[zach-2]

Well I just purchased my 2215 and it is a very nice unit. The screen is a bit smaller than the 3955 but not such a great loss.

The speed appears to be slightly faster too. Maybe it's my imgaination.

But upgrading was easy. I installed the new active sync (3.7) and then reinstalled all of my previous programs that all work fine on PPC 2003.

Next...set up the wireless network in my house!

[II_V_I]

If you're using BT and get it to work right, let me know.

I tried an SMC 802.11b CF card paried to their own SMC PC Card in my notebook and couldn't get them talking. After nearly 2 hours on the phone with two of their techs, they couldn't get them talking either.

I took them both back and got a Belkin USB BT adapter. I figured that since the 2215 had BT built-in (even though it is way slower than 802.11b) that it might be easier to set up. WRONG! Although it did sort of "work" eventually, one of their drivers continually caused my Normal.dot file to see changes and everytime I cranked up my computer -- even if I didn't use BT -- it kept modifying my Normal template. It was their latest driver and still such a mess.

So I took it back and bought a 3Com USB BT adapter from an on-line concern, but their device doesn't advertise any of its services except Serial Cable to the 2215, (at least their tech and I couldn't get it to) so I cannot create shortcuts on my iPAQ to the services I need: file transfers (which the tech said their product doesn't support (?), networking, internet sharing, etc.

At this point I'm pretty frustrated trying to get my computers networked with my 2215 via either popular wireless approach.

I sure hope you have better luck.

:mad:

[zach-2]

I think I was going to wait for the SD 802.11b card to hit the market and see how that works. I wanted more range than the BT offers.

I'll let ya know.