HP Jornada 720 206MHz 32 MB Handheld Pocket PC

Hewlett-Packard decided to make a "do-anything" handheld device when they designed the Jornada 720, and on most counts they have succeeded. One of the nice things about Windows CE devices is that manufacturers don't have to stick to a specific design. They can make large screens or small screens, add keyboards or rely solely on the touch screen for input, and basically do whatever they want. The Jornada 720 sports a keyboard just large enough for comfortable touch typing and a large 640x240 screen that makes Web browsing and document editing much easier than is the case with a smaller device. This useful combination means that most people will be able to use the Jornada 720 as a notebook computer replacement. However, if you're looking for the ultimate in portable handheld computing, you'll have to look elsewhere.

The 720 is about as loaded as a Windows CE device can get; it comes with an integrated 56 Kbps V.90 modem, docking station for easy connection to a PC, AC adapter, and rechargeable battery. It's outfitted with 32 MB of RAM and a 206 MHz StrongARM processor that really makes applications fly. On the multimedia side you get an integrated speaker and stereo headphone jack for audio playback, and one of the most beautiful TFT active matrix displays we've seen. It can mix and match more than 65,000 colours at once, renders very crisp text, and never had trouble keeping up with our input like inferior passive matrix screens do.

The very thing that makes the Jornada 720 so useful--its relatively large size--is also its biggest drawback. Its weight can make it unwieldy, and there's no good way to get a grip on it when there isn't a flat surface to use it with. We ended up accidentally pressing keys far too often when holding the unit with one hand, though with a little practice juggling becomes much easier.

If you are graduating to the Jornada from a smaller handheld (such as a Palm) instead of slimming down from a notebook, prepare to be underwhelmed by its portability. Expect to be impressed, however, by its zippy performance, generous display, and expansion possibilities. --T. Byrl Baker