hp iPAQ h2210

The iPAQ h2210 fits nicely between the small and light h1937 and the function packed h5450 in terms of price - 39,800 yen, weight 144g, and functionality - CF and SD slots and in-built Bluetooth. It's good to see HP hitting the Japanese market with the new models as the US. With HP's (former Compaq's) good reputation for high screen quality and competitive features such as removable batteries and Consumer IR (in the 5450) they are going to be a strong competitor for Toshiba. All they need to complete their current line up is a Pocket PC version of or upgrade for the 5450.


Windows CE Fan

NEC Business Pocket PCs

NEC Infrontia has a couple of interesting PDAs targeted at business users. The PG7000, the latest in the Pocket Gear range, is an OEM version of the Casio E3000, although with the slim, dark grey body at first glance it would be easy to mistake it for a Sony Clie. It only comes with Pocket PC 2002 but NEC Infrontia's real focus is on the associated business applications. Whether we will see a consumer model after the failure of the PG5000 to take a big hold remains to be seen.

The Pocket@i is not a Pocket PC, but is a business targeted web terminal using Windows®CE.NET 4.1. There is a Bluetooth headset option, in-built laser scanner and both wireless LAN and wireless modem models. I wouldn't expect to see a consumer version of this one.

Japanese links:
PG7000 at NEC Infrontia
Pocket@i at NEC Infrontia
WindowsCE FAN

Mitac Pocket PCs Announced

Mitac Japan have announced two Pocket PCs for the Japanese market, the Mio 339 and Mio 558. Key good features are:

Mio 339
- 120g - lighter than the hp iPAQ h1937!
- Inbuilt camera
- 39,800

Mio 558
- Inbuilt Bluetooth and 802.11b wireless LAN
- Intel(R) XScale PXA263 400Mhz processor (Newest available!)
- 59,800 yen

Both:
- Pocket PC 2003
- 64 MB RAM
- Jog wheel
- SDIO compatible SD slot

Could be better specs are:
- Only 3.5" screen

Overall nice spec devices at a prices similar to other makers. The 558 will be a desirable device for anyone wanting in-built WLAN and bluetooth and the 339 nice for someone who wants a smaller Pocket PC. For more info. in Japanese:

Mitac Japan Homepage
Wince Fan

Free Pocket PC 2003 Upgrades for Toshiba e550 series

Good news for Toshiba e550 series owners (at least for the Japanese OS), the Toshiba representative at the PDA Solution Fair said yesterday that free Pocket PC 2003 upgrades will be available from the Genio website late this month or early next month.

He also said that they have no plans (or no plans he could tell me about) for new additions to the e550 series. As they are still heavily pushing the e550D and C I assume there won't be any over the new few months at least.