Hewlett-Packard's new Jornada 560 series Pocket PC 2002s retain the look and feel of previous HP Pocket PCs, but improve upon them in almost every particular. The new silver and sleek Jornada 565 and 568 resemble the original 540 series, but the new models are thinner and lighter, have a vastly improved screen, and a lot more power under the hood.

Faster, brighter, more colors, more memory... and flash ROM

As with all other new Pocket PC 2002s, the devices in HP's Jornada 560 series are powered by a 206 MHz StrongARM processor, making them noticeably faster than their predecessors. The screen on all the 560 series devices is a 16-bit color reflective display that is clearly viewable outside as well as inside. This is a big improvement over previous Jornadas, which were very difficult to view outside. The 3.5-inch screen displays 65,000 colors and the standard Pocket PC resolution of 240 x 320 pixels.

The Jornada 568 comes with a substantial 64 Mb of RAM memory, plenty for running programs and file storage. The less expensive Jornada 565 comes with 32 Mb of RAM.

The Jornada 560 series devices also come with 32 Mb of flash ROM. This type of memory is "non-volatile," which means that you don't lose the files stored on it if you run completely out of power. This is an important improvement for a number of reasons.

The Pocket PC 2002 operating system and built-in applications are stored in flash ROM. But since they only take up about 24 Mb, 8 Mb of flash ROM is available to the user for file and software storage. HP calls this memory "HP Safe Store" and allows users to interact with it in the same way they interact with RAM or a CompactFlash card. The HP Safe Store appears as a folder in File Manager. You can save files to it, or access files stored in it, just like you would any other folder (see Screen 1). And because it's non-volatile memory, you know that it won't be lost. The other big advantage of flash ROM is that as Microsoft updates its operating system and built-in applications, you'll be able to easily upgrade the Jornada by installing them in the flash ROM. Your unit won't become obsolete as quickly.

Screen 1: HP Safe Store appears as a folder in File Manager. You can save files to it or access files stored in it, just like you would any other folder.

More than one way to expand

The new HP Jornadas have a built-in Type 1-expandable CF slot, allowing you to add file storage or input/output capabilities. Much of the data you create and the third-party programs you install can fit in the 32 or 64 Mb of internal RAM. But if you start installing a lot of applications, or saving pictures and MP3s on your Jornada, you'll quickly find that you'll need the extra storage. Fortunately, prices on CF storage cards have fallen dramatically, with 128 Mb cards priced at below $50 by late summer, 2001.

The new Type 1-expandable CF card slot has a removable panel, allowing you to insert larger Type 1 CF peripherals, like modems and LAN cards. In addition, the new Jornadas have a removable battery slot, which lets you swap batteries and more. HP will be offering an optional extended battery pack that also adds a Secure Digital card slot. This gives you more battery power and two functional card slots. So, for example, you could use the CF slot for a modem and the SD slot to add storage memory. Some users may be disappointed that the CF slot is not the slightly-thicker Type II variety. But it seems likely that soon most cards will be available in the Type-1 expandable format and Type II won't be necessary.

Longer battery life

The removable battery pack gives you the opportunity to carry an extra battery pack or two, so you don't run out of power on long trips. The units ship with a lithium-polymer battery that is rated to last as long as 14 hours, if you use your unit with the backlight off. Actual battery life depends on how you use your device, and usually is less than manufacturer estimates.

You can also buy an optional battery pack that's not much larger than the original but has twice the battery life. The Jornadas also have a coin-cell backup battery that maintains power to the device when you're changing battery packs, and protects against RAM data loss for several days if the main battery runs dry.

An interesting new feature on the Jornada 560 series is an ambient light sensor, which detects how much light is available in your environment and adjusts the backlight accordingly, thus preserving battery life. You can enable or disable this feature in the same settings panel in which you adjust the backlight.

Cover and buttons—old and new

Like the previous models, the Jornada 560 series has a removable cover that protects the screen, adds to the sleek appearance, and makes the unit sturdier and less susceptible to damage should you drop it. The cover now can be opened 180 degrees rather than the limited range of the earlier models.

This cover and the overall shape of the device make it seem similar to the previous models. But take a closer look and you'll see that a number of elements have changed. Gone is the scrolling wheel on the side of the unit, replaced with a rocker button that lets you move up and down. The record button for the built-in voice recorder is still in its familiar location (and just below the up/down button), but it's now aligned with the surface of the unit in a way that makes it less likely that you'll record by accident.

The biggest change may be the new navigation pad, front and center below the screen, with a select button right below it. The setup is reminiscent of a laptop computer, with the navigation pad letting you move the cursor and the select button letting you click.

The four quick-launch buttons are somewhat smaller and arranged around the navigation pad. The power button is located on the bottom left corner. The stylus, which itself has a sleeker design, is no longer stored in the removable cover but slides into the top on the corner opposite the sound output jack.

Thinner, lighter, and more connectivity options

The new unit weighs in at 6.1 oz. including the standard battery pack (but not the cover). It's 5.2 inches tall, almost identical to the old model. But it's narrower, at 3 inches, and thinner, being just .68 inches thick. The newly designed AC adapter is also smaller and lighter (3.4 oz.).

As before, there are USB and serial connection options, and a USB cradle comes as standard equipment. As before, there is also an IrDA infrared port so that you can sync via infrared with your laptop without using any connector at all.

HP will also be shipping some notable accessories, including a mini-QWERTY keyboard that is generating a lot of interest. Many people never quite adjust to input via a stylus, despite the range of character-recognition options. The new mini-QWERTY keyboard will be conveniently incorporated as a cover accessory.

HP includes software bundle

As mentioned, the new Jornadas ship with the Pocket PC 2002 operating system and software built-in. You can read more about that in Chris De Herrera's article on page 14. In addition, HP includes a nice set of add-on software, both its own applications and a number of commercial applications.

HP includes in ROM a number of its own excellent utilities, such as HP Jornada backup, emergency backup, MicroChai, home menu, settings, task switcher, and image viewer. Also built into ROM are LandWare's Omnisolve business calculator, Developer One's CodeWallet Pro for secure information storage, and Access Panel Platinum for quick data entry. HP provides a number of user-installable programs on CD, including PhatWare's HPC Notes 4.0, as well as drivers for a number of storage and I/O cards.

How the Jornada stacks up against the competition

So how does the new Jornada compare with other Pocket PC 2002s? The screen is 0.3 inches smaller than the iPAQ, and the backlight isn't as powerful. But in exchange you get a longer battery life, which is rated by HP at 14 hours. However, that's with the backlight off. In practice your battery life will probably be less. But even so, with the new double-life battery, which is rated by HP at 28 hours, I would guess that you could easily get some 16 hours of usage even with the backlight on. Battery life and the ability to exchange batteries seem to be a real plus for the new model.

The expansion capabilities of the new Jornada is also a plus. You get potentially two types of expansion built into a single lightweight unit (if you add the battery pack option that includes an SD card slot). Many people prefer this to having to add a bulky sleeve in order to expand their device.

Another excellent feature is the Jornada's ability to use the extra flash ROM for file storage and program installation. But there are some qualifications. While the total space on the U.S. English units available for you to use is 8 Mb, part of that is already occupied by some of the applications HP included with the device. That leaves you with only slightly more than 6 Mb actually available. You can uninstall some of the installed apps to make more room, and reinstall them later from backups on the CD that comes with the Jornada.

Note also that the 6 Mb of extra space is also used when you use the emergency backup feature. Of course, the size of your backup file depends on what you choose to backup (Contacts only, Calendar only, a combination of Tasks and Calendar, etc.) and the size of your data (depending on how many contacts and calendar entries you have). But even with these encroachments on the flash ROM, it's still a nice feature to have.

I want one now!

To summarize my impression of the new Jornada, I can only say this: I want one. Now! I was astounded by the difference in speed between the Jornada 565 and the original 548. It's similar to those occasions when you move up a generation with your desktop machine and everything just works better and faster. Everything I did seemed instantaneous, allowing me to quickly and painlessly experiment with its features.

Perhaps the most graphic difference in speed was when using the Encarta Dictionary in MS Reader. On my old unit, it took at least 17 seconds just to open the table of contents. On the new one, it took less than 3 seconds. Selecting an item in the table of contents took over 30 seconds on my 548 and about 6 seconds on the 565. In fact, the dictionary was so unwieldy on my old unit that it was useless for certain things. But it works just fine on the speedier new model.

I am also impressed with how much more pocketable the new Jornada is. My old unit feels a bit like a brick in my pocket, and I haven't carried it with me as much as I'd like. The evaluation unit I'm using is just enough slimmer and lighter that I take it with me everywhere. The first time I went out with it in my pocket, I actually checked a number of times to see that it was still there because it was such a contrast to my old Jornada.

Another striking difference is the display. The dining room where I often eat has large, south-facing windows, and seeing the display on my old Jornada is impossible. Sometimes I have wanted to read an eBook while I was eating, and at other times I've needed to check an appointment. But if the sun is out, forget it. So for the ultimate test, I took the new model and sat next to the window, with direct sunlight pouring in. The display was clearly visible, and I immediately got hooked on an eBook. Plus, the new navigation pad very conveniently let me turn the pages as the Jornada lay on the table beside me while I ate. Since it's not unusual to be in a well-lit environment (an automobile, for example), it's really handy to have a Pocket PC that can be read anywhere. It's fortunate that HP has remedied this limitation of the earlier models.

And finally, I like the overall design of the Jornada, with its flip cover. It feels sturdy. I can toss it in my pocket and not worry about it bouncing around in there. If this is to truly be a "Pocket" PC, you ought to be comfortable jamming it into your pocket. And the Jornada lends itself to that.

I think HP's new Pocket PC will be very competitive with other models. It retains the form and many features of the old models, but everything is improved, making it both evolutionary and revolutionary.