Powering the HP iPaq hx2790 is a top-speed 624MHz Intel XScale processor along with 256MB of memory, of which there's 192MB of ROM and 64MB of SDRAM. The device has 144MB available in the fail-safe iPaq File Store. Again, this isn't anything groundbreaking or new in comparison with the HP iPaq hx2750, but that's not to say it's a bad thing, since these components are adequate in getting the job done.
The biggest improvement comes with the inclusion of Microsoft Windows Mobile 5, an evolutionary update to the Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition that was used on the hx2750 model. In addition to enhancements to mobile versions of Word, Excel, Internet Explorer and Outlook, the machine has a handy PowerPoint viewer. This can turn the handheld into a one-on-one presentation machine after the screen orientation is set to landscape to mimic a monitor. Additionally, HP's exclusive Image Zone program not only displays pictures but also adds a color histogram and a slide-show feature.
Like many other handhelds, the HP iPaq hx2790 comes with both Wi-Fi (802.11b only) and Bluetooth radios for maximum data flexibility. While the separation of the setup screens into Manager and Settings sections makes for some confusion, the software can help you get connected to a hot spot whether you're at home, at the office, or at the local coffee shop. The software for linking to a Bluetooth phone is excellent and easy to follow. Synchronising data with a host PC works well with the included USB cradle, but the host fails to recognise the hx2790 when connected to a USB hub. Windows Mobile 5 brings an updated ActiveSync 4, which promises easier and faster PC synchronisation, but there have been widely reported connectivity problems with version 4. Fortunately, Microsoft has since released ActiveSync 4.1 to fix the issue -- you can download the update from Microsoft's Web site.
Performance
Battery life and performance were solid. In our tests, where we looped a video clip with all wireless radios off and backlight set to midlevel, the HP iPaq hx2790's 1,440mAh lithium-ion battery lasted for 5 hours 22 minutes of constant use, about an hour more than the hx2750 and the Dell Axim X51v and 5 minutes short of its iPaq hx4700 cousin. It should be just enough for a full day of stop-and-go computing. A double-capacity battery pack should make it possible to leave the AC charger behind for two-day trips, but it adds another 30g to the hx2790's already ponderous weight. Although there's an occasional delay in reacting to commands, the hx2790 generally worked well in a variety of uses, from email machine to iPod replacement to video viewer.
CNET Labs project leader Dong Van Ngo contributed to the performance analysis.
Edited by Bonnie Cha
Additional editing by Nick Hide
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