I'm searching for a good Handheld PC solution with these requisites:

1) I can use it as a full-featured cellphone in the italian GSM
network;
2) It can connect in GPRS to Internet;
3) The whole size (hpc + eventual accessory) must be approximately
that of a Nokia 9210 communicator so that it can fit in a pocket;
4) It must have a full "qwerty" keyboard;
5) It must have good audio recording and playback capabilities;
6) It must have Windows CE 2+ operating system;
7) It must have a flash memory (CF,SM,MMC,SD) expansion slot;
8) It must be on the market today and I can buy it online from Italy
at $1000 or less (total cost).

If you know or find a device that can't satisfy all requisites please
answer AS COMMENT only.


Thanks all for your help!

Diego Sala

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Clarification of Question by diegosala-ga on 01 Jul 2002 04:56 PDT

about the 4th point:
> 4) It must have a full "qwerty" keyboard; 

it must have a PHYSICAL full "qwerty" keyboard because:
- I tried the PPC software keyboard and you can't type on it at the
speed of a physical keyboard.
- The size of a PPC with an added physical keyboard and an added GSM
module exceed that of a Nokia 9210 and that of a normal pocket.

Diego Sala

---

Clarification of Question by diegosala-ga on 02 Jul 2002 03:09 PDT

Thanks donq again for your help.
I already put my eyes on the HP Jornada 720  but it wasn't the price
to keeping me from buy it. The real bad side of the 720 is its size
and dimensions. Infact:

while a Nokia 9210 Communicator is:
dimensions: 158 x 56 x 27 mm
weight: 244 g 

the HP Jornada 720 is:
dimensions: 18.9 × 9.5 × 3.4 cm  (7.44 " × 3.74 " × 1.34 ")
weight: 510 g  (1.1 lbs)

unfortunately the Nokia 9210 Communicator is not GPRS (it has another
unsupported hi-speed protocol named HSCSD) and it's not Windows CE.

Diego Sala

Hello diegosala,

I believe that the Sagem WA 3050 meets all of your requirements.
See http://www.sagem.com/en/produits-en/telephonie-mobile-en/gsm-wa3050-en.htm
As to requirement number 1, the Sagem WA 3050 is described as
dual-band GSM 900/1800.  See
http://www.sagem.com/en/produits-en/telephonie-mobile-en/gsm-wa3050-spec-en.htm
As to requirement number 2, the Sagem WA 3050 is described as GPRS
upgradable.  See http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=SAG-WA3050&curr=USD&usdcrt=true
As to requirement number 3, the Sagem WA 3050 is described as
measuring 130.6x80.6x16.5mm.  See
http://www.sagem.com/en/produits-en/telephonie-mobile-en/gsm-wa3050-spec-en.htm
As to requirement number 4, if one plays with the animated
demonstration in this link
(http://www.sagem.com/en/produits-en/telephonie-mobile-en/gsm-wa3050-en.htm#).
 Clicking the e-mail button in the page that comes up shows the Sagem
WA 3050 as having a software 'qwerty' keyboard.  Also, page 47 of the
Owner's manual states that an option for entering information is
'[using] the soft keyboard or Character Recognizer to enter typed text
in the input panel.'  See
http://www.sagem.com/en/produits-en/telephonie-mobile-en/pda-lu-en1.pdf
As to requirement number 5 and the requirement of playback capability,
the Sagem WA 3050 is described as including Windows Media Player.  See
http://www.sagem.com/en/produits-en/telephonie-mobile-en/gsm-wa3050-spec-en.htm.
 As to the requirement of recording capability, page 2 of the Sagem WA
350 Owner's guide shows the Sagem WA 350 as having a record button
(labeled number 4).  Also, page 47 of the Owner's guide states that
one can '[s]peak into the microphone to record a message.'  See
http://www.sagem.com/en/produits-en/telephonie-mobile-en/pda-lu-en1.pdf
As to requirement number 6, the Sagem WA 350 runs Windows CE 3.0
according to this link
http://www.un-wired.co.uk/acatalog/usl_ce_devices_sagem_3050.html
As to requirement number 7, the Sagem WA 350 has a Type 1 CF Memory
Card Expansion Slot available for $56.42.  See
http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=23813201-3
As to requirement number 8, the Sagem WA 350 is available for $381.99.
 See http://www.expansys.com/product.asp?code=SAG-WA3050&curr=USD&usdcrt=true

In the alternative, you could try an iPAQ 3870 ($549) 
http://www.compaq.com/products/handhelds/pocketpc/H3850.html
with a GSM/GPRS Sleeve ($399.00 -- Part Number 219926-B21)
http://www.compaq.com/products/handhelds/pocketpc/options/expansion_packs.html
with or without a Micro Keyboard ($50.00 -- Part Number 250111-001)
http://www.compaq.com/products/handhelds/pocketpc/options/keyboards.html

Hello again Diego,

Given your clarification, I have another suggestion.  It involves a HP
Jornada 720 (http://products.hp-at-home.com/products/detail.php?high_level_category_id=1&category_id=9&sub_category_id=27&prodnum=F1816A)
and a GSM/GPRS pcmcia card (like the GlobeTrotter shown at
http://eshop.option.com/scripts/product.asp?departement=158&index=1
and http://www.cellman.it/globetrotter.htm).  The Jornada has a PCMCIA
type II slot,
Compact Flash type I slot, Smart Card slot, a Stereo headphone jack,
and a Voice Recorder according to this link
http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/hp720-review.html
 This suggestion however bumps into your price requirement.  For
example, the jornada 720 is listed here
(http://shopper.cnet.com/shopping/resellers/0-205442-311-4839131.html?tag=st.sh.sr.pl.pr4839131)
for $659.99-$999.88.  In addition, the GlobeTrotter is listed for
359.01 at the eshop.option.com link.