Buy Compaq Aero 1550 Pocket PCCompaq Aero 1550 Pocket PC Product Description:
- Uses Microsoft Pocket PC operating system--pocket versions of Word, Excel, Internet Explorer
- 16 MB RAM holds years of appointments, thousands of addresses, and many applications
- Semitransmissive STN LCD display with 240 x 320 resolution and 16-shade gray scale
- Offers handwriting recognition, soft keyboard, voice recorder, Audible.com compatibility, and "inking" inputs
- What's in the box: Aero 1550, Stylus, Docking Cradle, Serial cable, Vinyl slip case, AC Adapter, User Manual, Microsoft ActiveSync CD and booklet
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
250 of 258 people found the following review helpful.
More functional than Palm, smaller than most Pocket PCs
By A Customer
I bought the Compaq Aero 1550 because I wanted a palm-sized organizer, but I didn't want to spend the extra money for a color model. I already used Microsoft Office and Outlook for my e-mail. So I was looking for a solution that would integrate well with that, and I liked the extra built-in features of the Compaq Aero Pocket PC: Web browser, Internet dialup networking, ability to view MS Word and Excel documents either synchronized from the desktop or received as e-mail attachments, book reader, media player (MP3 and WMA files), multiple alert sounds, industry-standard Compact Flash slot for extra storage or peripherals (modem, network card).
The unit is about the same size as a Palm III (but thinner) and a little larger than the Palm V. It is very thin and light compared with all the other palm-sized Windows CE models. It is very easy to carry around during the day, for example, to meetings. It comes with a nice black leather-like slipcase with a stiff front to protect the screen.
The screen is exceptionally clear; even the smallest typefaces are very readable. However, the screen is best viewed in either bright light or in near darkness because of the inadequacy of the backlighting. The backlight is the same type as found on the Palm V. It produces a reverse video effect that is very good in near total darkness (as in a presentation where the room is darkened), but which doesn't work well in other low light conditions. On the other hand, the screen is very useable outside in direct sunlight. So, if you will be using it mostly at work, at home with good light or outside, the Aero is great.
The Aero 1550 is based on the earlier Aero 1500 models and has only mono sound. However, the quality is good, especially with headphones. The voice recorder is adequate, and it's nice that the audio Notes synchronize with desktop Outlook Notes. The stylus is weighted and very nice to handle. It fits in a slot on the top of the unit. The action button on the left side of the unit is very convenient for scrolling through text or listings.
The battery compartment door is quite fragile. I broke one of teeth off the door after opening the compartment only twice. I also dropped the Aero within a week of getting it. It bounced off furniture on the way down and landed on its corner. Afterwards, its screen was not working at all. Fortunately, I had purchased the unit with an American Express card so I was covered under their Purchase Protection Plan. Comforted by that knowledge, I sent the Aero to Compaq even though I would have to pay for a non-warranty repair because I dropped it. I also asked them to fix the battery compartment. To my pleased amazement, they returned my Aero to me in three days (! ) with the battery compartment fixed and the screen working, at no charge! (And yes, it was the same unit--I checked the serial number before and after.)
The Pocket PC software is very easy to use. Microsoft has given this, version 3 of the Windows CE operating system, a more Palm-like interface. The "start" button is at the top left of the screen a la Palm, and the Programs folder shows large icon representation of the available applications, also like the Palm. However, the software is much more functional than the Palm's in many ways. Contacts offers many more fields than the Palm, so you can see both work, home and other addresses for a contact, along with their work, work2, fax, mobile, pager, home, home2 and several other telephone numbers and numerous other information such as spouse name and birthday. The Inbox e-mail application supports both synchronization with the desktop Outlook's inbox folder, and multiple POP3 or IMAP mail accounts. For example, I have set up the Aero for Outlook synchronization when docked, and for reading e-mail from my corporate and personal POP mail accounts when I am dialed up or connected via the LAN. The Pocket Word and Pocket Excel applications allow you to view MS Word and Excel documents. You can do simple editing, but advanced formatting and other features will be lost on conversion from the Pocket format back to the desktop format. Pocket Internet Explorer is slow, but it does a very decent job of rendering most Web pages. It does support Javascript, but not Java applets. The popular third party application AvantGo is embedded (included in the ROM) software in the Pocket PC. With AvantGo, you download your favorite Web sites, which allows you to view them when you are not connected. (AvantGo is available for the Palm also, so this is not a Pocket PC-specific feature.)
My three main quibbles with the software are a) the opening Today screen lists only number of tasks, not the tasks themselves (this can be remedied with third party software such as Tasks Today from Developer One), b) I always have to enter the system password when the unit powers on because the password utility (itself a vital feature!) does not offer a timing function, and c) the Pocket Word and Pocket Excel applications do not support password-protected files as they used to in Windows CE 2.11 (again, a very important feature).
Synchronization is mostly straightforward with the supplied ActiveSync 3.1. It is very convenient to be able to synchronize over the LAN by using a CF network card.
The Compaq Aero 1550 does what I need an organizer to do, and then some. It is capable enough that I can use it in place of a large, bulky laptop to check on my e-mail and browse the Web when traveling.
If you do not need a color screen or stereo sound, and you're interested in doing more than the simple contacts, calendar and task list that are the Palm's forte, then the Compaq Aero 1550 is a great choice.
66 of 67 people found the following review helpful.
Great for the price, but has usual MS bugs
By Mr. Serpent
O.K., I will include a few things that everyone else has forgotten to include in their reviews. First, not only does the pocket pc OS (which is Windows CE version 3.0) allow you to convert and view word and excel files, you can create and change them on your ppc as well. Pocket Excel allows you use most (perhaps all) of the formulas you are used to using with the pc version of Excel, but graphs don't show up on conversion and you can't create them. Merge cell also doesn't work in Excel and doesn't translate. Word translates pretty well. I'm impressed, but if you use the draw function (tool bar), or graphs, in a pc windows doc, it wont show up in the ppc. The Aero 1550 comes with 16M of ram, but it splits this up (and adjusts it automatically) between the programs and applications, and you need three or four meg of memory for each to run most applications, so, buy a flash memory card for it (I'm planning on buying the 64M). The battery lasts a long time, but it will last longer if you close out all the programs before turning it off because the programs you open will stay open until you close them (the Qmenu is a good way). I've read reviews that insinuated that pocket pc's are complicated, PLEASE! If you have any experience working with a pc and especially MS-office, then, unless you're a gibbering idiot, you wont need any help at all. It is totally user-friendly. I wasn't even aware that it had a manual on the program cd that comes with it until two weeks after it arrived. You will receive a program cd and a Autosync cd. The Autosync is the program that allows you to convert files from pc version to pocket version and vise versa. It also comes with a directory (file) with tons of books in it. You can get other free books online, but MS still needs to come up with a secure version of READER so you can buy commercial books online. You may be aggravated that it doesn't have pocket streets on the ppc, but it is in the EXTRA's directory on the program disk. The picture viewer works pretty well, although the LCD screen doesn't show pictures clearly ( I use scanned jpg files of electrical schematics on mine, for that application, it works great.) I didn't think the MSreader program would hold much appeal for me, but it's great to carry a few novels in your pocket. You always have a large assortment of interesting books to read at your fingertips. One last note, If you're disappointed that you can't carry this calculator sized pc in your shirt pocket without the risk of it falling out, please, get a life. I rated four stars instead of five because in the four weeks I have had it, it has locked up on me three times and crashed twice (confetti on the screen). The answer, as always with Bills product, is reboot. (I gotta have a talk with that boy.) PPS, Pocket Windows doesn't have spell checker-GET OUT!
53 of 55 people found the following review helpful.
Best Palm V Alternative Update
By Marcel T. Hoffman
Here is an update to my 5 stars review of the older Areo 1530. I just installed the Pocket PC upgrade ROM to my 1530. I ordered the upgrade direct from compaq which makes it equivalent to the 1550. It is a flawless upgrade and information was saved to my desktop first. With more memory, sound recorder with rewind and fast forward dial, palm V can't come close to its versitility. Recent additions include a 40mb compact flash memory card, pocket pc version of Calligrapher handwriting recognition, JOT is good but Calligrapher is better. I have also added the modem. Pocket PC is a blast to use, much more user friendly than the older Win CE, and more internet friendly, downloading and reading email is a breeze. Above all, it's a more efficient operating system and less hassle to get from one place to another. The Areo's screen has more resolution than the palm V's and it can be adjusted for lighting conditions. Four shades of grey mode is best for indoor low lighting, 16 shades for moderate to bright indoor lighting and outdoors. It also has reversibility in its LCD image for better viewing with the backlight. Its best feature however is it's size, about as thin as the palm V and weighs about the same too. I would like to give it 6 stars, an extra one for the new Palm PC OS!
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