Eye-catching as well as highly functional, Compaq's iPAQ 3765 Pocket PC features a powerful new operating system, CompactFlash expandability, and a fast Intel processor. Its 64 MB SDRAM and 32 MB ROM provide enough memory to hold a robust package of applications while leaving you a lot of room for your own applications.
The enhancements and improvements in Microsoft's Pocket PC 2002 operating system make the iPAQ 3765 even more powerful and easier to use. You'll get improved handwriting recognition, more reliable synchronization, increased security, and the ability to chat via MSN Messenger. It also features new Pocket versions of Outlook, Word, Excel, and Internet Explorer.
Work hard, but play hard, too. The iPAQ 3765 can play digital audio files (both MP3 and WMA) using the Windows Media Player software. It's also compatible with audible.com files, for listening to audiobooks, radio broadcasts, and more. You also get the Microsoft Reader e-book software.
The color TFT screen produces 4,086 colors, and you can view the screen from many angles and in a variety of lighting. Using the optional expansion jacket, you can add memory and modules--such as modems and cameras--using CompactFlash cards.
Other highlights of the Compaq iPAQ include a microphone and a speaker, as well as an audio-in jack. It features an infrared port for wireless data transfer. The Compaq iPAQ uses five buttons plus a five-way joystick. The iPAQ connects to either USB or serial ports. The iPAQ allows you to input data in your own handwriting, by soft keyboard, or by voice recorder. Both audible and visual alarms alert you to a scheduled event.
At 5.11-by-3.3-by-0.62 inches and weighing 6.3 ounces, the iPAQ 3765 is sporty and small, fitting in your hand or sliding into your pocket with ease. Compaq has also built in utilities so that frequent actions--such as switching between tasks, adjusting volume, and changing backlighting--are only a click away.
The iPAQ 3765 has a built-in lithium rechargeable battery that gives up to 12 hours of battery life. It also comes with a docking cradle, AC adapter for battery charging, and a USB connection cable. Compaq offers a one-year warranty on parts and labor.
What's in the box
- iPaQ 3765
- AC adapter
- 950 mAh lithium-polymer battery
- USB cradle
- USB connection cable
- Two styli
- Vinyl slipcase
- User manual
1 Amazing
The Compaq iPAQ 3765 is an amazing PDA. Well, it's not really a PDA, it's an actual Pocket PC. You have to see it to believe it. It's got Pocket PC 2002, and it's awesome. It's got Microsoft Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, and basically Pocket outlook just spread into mini programs. If you don't want to sit at your computer and read your emails cause your in a rush, just sync your computer with your pocket pc and your ENTIRE inbox will be synced to your iPAQ. I basically created my iPAQ into a super iPAQ. I got the keyboard(which is fantastic), the dual slot flash card expansion pack, a 256 meg flash card, and a MGM flash card reader. A Palm pilot is NOTHING compared to what this thing can do. THey have so many application for this pocket pc. You can play your MP3's on windows media player, watch movies or clips on PocketTV(Download the software), Play games such as the Famous Age of Empires(INCREDIBLE) Rayman, Packman and many more. Print with it, play multiplayer games, make cartoons on PocketFlipbook(Download) surf the net(Need wireless), and more. Plus they now have mad an espansion card so you can get PHONE SERVICE on it. This is one of the greatest Technological creations ever.
2 awsome
i paid $120 on other sites the same thing was going $499
3 A high school junior
It helped me tremendously when doing my school work, This is because I could type notes on it (with an ipaq compatible keyboard, not included) without using a BULKY and indiscreet laptop, and easily EDIT my notes (sooo awesome and better than using the old fashioned wire-bound paper notebooks) when I transfer the notes to my computer. Highly recommended for students. BUT, the aspects of it that helped me in school are ones that you could find in almost any PDA retailing about $150 and up (due to "DocumentsToGo" and "4.0 student" software. Both are very necessary for students). You see, I had a Sony Clie SJ20 before I upgraded to this, and I realized that both did the same in terms of school work.
The main thing I don't like about it is the seemingly false advertising from compaq, saying you could get internet access. Not that you can't, you CAN, but only after purchasing
1) an expansion pack: WHEN YOU ADD THE EXPANSION PACK, FORGET THE TERM "POCKET PC" BECAUSE IT WILL NOT FIT WELL IN YOUR POCKET. It also makes it heavy. I hate the expansion pack because it's so bulky, and you can't find any cases on the market to fit the ipaq and the expansion pack, except for the case made by the manufacturer. I actually considered making my own case for it (because I'm into arts and crafts) just so I didn't have to spend more money on a case. Due to the expansion pack, I wanted to upgrade to one of the newer and smaller models of the ipaq because the unit is so indiscreet with the expansion pack.
2) A compatible Sierra Wireless Aircard: a lot of places don't even sell them
3) And setting up the internet service you will get (your new account) through a phone company. Hard for me, some places don't do internet access through pocket PCs.
Not to mention that the expansion pack is another $70-100 added onto the original price of the ipaq, and there's the price of the aircard and internet service (so monthly payments mean more money added onto the unit). So, when the company says, "internet access", be very wary of what you're getting into because a lot of leg work and money is involved. In total, the things previously mentioned are four extra things that would have made me not buy the ipaq if had known about them before.
The other thing I wasn't satisfied with is the windows media player, on which you can play MP3s. You can only play about seven of them, unless you install more memory (and getting more memory means getting a memory card, which means getting a dual slot expansion pack, which means more BULK...uggghh). I haven't tried a movie or any visual on it yet.
The battery power dies out quickly as well. So be prepared to see the "main battery low" sign appear on the screen every couple days or so (with regular usage).
Overall, if you want true satisfaction with this product, be willing to spend an extra $200-300, in addition to monthly internet service payments, and go through a lot of leg work.
MY SUGGESTION: buy a more expensive PDA that has built in internet access (well, if you want internet access at all...and if you don't, it's not really a pocket computer/PC), or simply save lots of money and don't buy a PDA with internet access. It seems that there are lots of great PDAs on the market that have all the same features that the ipaq 3765, minus the internet. Overall, the whole internet illusion that is set forth by pocket PC manufacturers isn't as easy to obtain as it seems with any pocket PC out right now (because even with the ones that claim they have built in internet, you still have to buy a specific and very expensive internet card, in addition to monthly service payments. Hope this helps!!
4 I'm Not Surprized...It's a Compaq Right!
I like the features of the unit. The PC compatibility, the ease of the async software and the display. However, like many many others, I am very disappointed with the longevity of the battery life. To put it bluntly, It SUCKS! Maybe 4-6 hours in the standby mode while not in use and at best 1-2 hours when on. It must stay in the charger to be any good at all. Also, with no backup battery to hold data, a long day or trip is out of the question unless you can charge in route. My advise...look at another option to purchase if you need to use this other then on your desk and in the charger cradle.
5 Poor battery life. Large size. No integrated media slot.
The battery life is pretty bad. Battery looses it's charge after a few days even if you don't use it. Had to buy an extra charger for the office. Device is never ready when I need it.
Device is large and troublesome to carry around. Grip is a little slippery. Newer models have integrated CF or SM slots. Wish I had spent the extra money for that.
Otherwise it's nice. Bright display.
6 Extremly valuable tool for business or pleasure
First off i must say that i actually own the 3760 model, but did not see it so i did my review on this one. What a great product. Does a majority of the functions of a regulare computer (calculator, date and time, email,ect)it even has a tape recorder. One of my favorite things is that i use an excel spreadsheet to track my expenses for budgeting purposes and this makes it so easy. I just put what i spend into it and have the spread sheet calculated to tell me how far over or under ( most of the time) my budget that i am. I also can downloan all my email into it and reply to them while i am at work and them sync it to my computer when i get home and have them all delievered. It also has reminders and you can set audible alerts to let you know to look at it. It fits very easily into the shirt pocket of your standard dress shirt or the back pocket of a pair of blue jeans
The only drawbacks to this product are obviously the price of compaq handhelds in general. I do reccomend you try to get it either used or reconditioned if possible due to the price. There is no way i would spend [a high price] on one of these things, eventhough i am not sure how i would function without it as busy as my shedule can be. Be warned also that this is one of the hardest models to get a wireless modem for it. I was at a store and told it would cost me [less]. I have heard that there are cheaper ways... by using a compatable cellphone and cable, but have not tried this. Another warning is that if you have windows me you may rund into problems trying to sync this. I had several until I upgraded to windows 2000.
7 Cool
This is now the defacto affordable Pocket PC. The expandability and number of accessories available make this the choice for me for the next few years.
8 From Home to Work
From home to work, from the gym to the movies, you can take it anywhere you want. Just surf the internet from home, or wireless. I don't have anything bad to write about it, except HP-Compaq do not ship the iPaq 3765 with the Pocket PC 2002 Operating System OEM CD, if you do something wrong with it or screw the system with some unsupported path, you basically have to take it to a HP-Compaq customer services shop.
The iPaq 3765 is a excellence investment for those starting with an Pocket PC Computing Life.
9 Rebate Debacle -HP/Compaq Customer Service Pulls Through!!!
"Please be advised that if your original upc code from the box is lost in the mail you have no recourse and will not be able to fulfull your rebate!"
These are the words that 'should have' been listed with the rebate requirements for the ipaq. I sent in my rebate, 8 weeks later no rebate, checked on it, it apparently got lost in the mail, and the rebate department informed me that there was nothing they could do, even the photocopies I made of ALL the rebate material wasn't good enough!!!
I contacted HP / Compaq customer service through the website and was contacted within one day. They were VERY helpful. They had me fax them the copies I made of my rebate form, upc codes, etc. They worked to get all the ends pulled together and a few weeks later, I recieved my rebate check.
It's nice to see that a company as big as HP / Compaq still has the insight to pay attention to their individual customers!!!
10 More Than Meets the Eye
I have held quite a number of PDAs in my hand and found them wanting. Most of them like the Palms, look very seedy. They are very bulky with all the add-ons and peripherals so that when bundled together, looks as if you're carrying around a notebook when in fact you aren't and the product is actually way below the calibre of a true pocket pc at that. Purchasers will be scrambling to get rid of their overrated palms and replace them with IPAQs. I have the IPAQ 3765 and love it. Its display, ability to sychronise with my desktop and the options of whether to type or write in script are just a few of features that come with a TRUE pocket pc! one fault is the letter recognizer... it doesn't convert my handwriting to standard computer fonts too well. it's pricey... but you understand why... quality!
11 A POCKET PC.................NOT
I bought my Ipaq 3765 in March 2002 and since day one have had problems with it. I could never get the unit to hold a Battery charge. Finally after numerous Emails to Compaq and Phone calls, they sent me a Box for pickup so they could replace the Batery, they claimed it was bad.
I got the unit back promtly but.......After charging it up to 100% for 36 hours, I turned it on and in 5 minuts had less then 70% power available. I contacted Compaq again and raised CAIN, and was told that you have to leave the unit on the charger when ever you are not using it, and that the battery should last 8 hours but when not in use, it discharges itself so it remembers your data. This is BOGUS. why not put a tiny watch battery in it to remember your name.
So, if I am on a plane to Austrailia from California and it takes 16 hours to fly there, by the time I arrive for a very inportant business meeting all my data is gone and I dont know who Im suppsoed to meet????????
Compaq asked me to try to charge it again and if tomorrow is discharges it self they will replace it for free but Im out 500 dollars because I know the units do not hold a charge long.
I am going to accept their free item and then file a Class Action Law Suit for a refund.
DO NOT BUY THIS ITEM.
12 Better than I thought
I have had my Ipaq for 4 months. I love it. No problems with downloads. Very easy to use. The "slick" case is an issue, I have dropped it twice. Once on the cement driveway, which dented the corner of the case. However, it did not affect the computer. I bought the Targus keyboard and case as well. Great for meetings and taking notes. Battery life is a bit short, 2 - 3 hours max with full use. I have added several aftermarket programs, like pocket map which is a memory hog, and a database viewer, I still have over half of the memory available. The Ipaq gives you the ability of a laptop, with the size of a pda. Awesome!
13 Useless. not worth the money.
I lost all the data previously entered three times already. I got it for Christmas and I am very disappointed. When the battery dies so does your data. You loose everything when the battery dies and when it is left on the charger for a long period of time.
I contacted compact regarding getting my money back two a month and a half later. I was told that they have a 30 day return policy but they would attempt to help me by filing a report, I was to hear from someone at compaq. NO CALLS. They have mysteriously lost all of the information regarding my calls.
Customer service was not very helpful. The battery power doesn't last long. It must be charged daily. I only used it for looking peoples phone numbers and address and every once in a while for noting apointments. For so very little use, the power should hold up, IT DOESN'T. I hate it. I haven't used it since 2 months ago. it is a waste of time. It supposed to keep you organize but if your loosing your data so often, it rather keeps me scrambling.
14 Big Smile
Couldn't be happier with this unit. The vendor even contacted me the same week to make sure I got it and it was working fine. I thought that kind of service was a lost art. I'm very happy and have already recommended this vendor to others at work and at home.
15 Good job for Compaq
It' s very useful for daily life, I'm graduated student. I always use this thing for my lecture. You can use Word, Excel, Powerpoint in this machine. The best thing I will say is it's very easy to use because one of my friend use sony clie 760, and he told me to teach him uninstall the program for his machine, but I couldn't do it, because it's very difficult to do, but for iPaq you can use it easily like your desktop because of Window OS.
I like this iPaq because:
1. Easy to use.
2. Good design.
3. Big screen.
4. Good color display.
5. A lot of accessories.
6. A lot of good utilities programs.
7. Pocket PC 2002.
8. Easy to synchonize.
Its drawbacks:
1. Short battery life just couple hours.
2. No cover.
3. No compactflash slot.
4. I sometimes miss my appointments because I didn't hear reminder sound.
5. It'll be very too big to carry with compactflash jacket .
I absolutely recommend this product . I use it to manage my time schedule, banking account, dictionary, MP3, game, and Internet as well as MSN messenger. This product is much better than Palm pilot.
16 Excellent piece of technology - iPAQ 3765 is wonderful.
About two months back I purchased this after lot of research and today I am very happy with my iPAQ3765.
Before this , I had iPAQ 3635 and it had only 32MB of RAM so I was not able to store much of data on it.
iPAQ3765 has 64 MB of RAM and 32 MB of ROM and that is more than sufficient for my data.I have stored lot of manuals,e-books, dictionaries,songs,maps etc and still lot of space is available.I even record the programs from discovery science channel(almost 1 hour of length!).I also play games,reads the daily news etc.This piece is very handy and very useful.PocketPC 2002 is much better than other windows OSs.It has improved handwriting recognition,Microsoft Reader,Windows Media Player etc.Even sound quality is very high.This model is very sleek and quite attractive.
17 great product not many cons
I did a lot of reading, shopping, and research before buying the ipaq 3765. I wanted something small, with alot of memory, and user friendly. I got all of that and more, but what I didn't look into was the battery life. The battery life of my ipaq is about 3 hours, which is not enough for my needs. I'm also having problems with my old document files, which I can not delete until the unit is syncronized to my PC. The color screen is fabulous, and the e-book software is great. Overall, is a fine machine.
18 Speaking as a vi**in...
I have forever and always seen people play with Palm thing-a-ma-jiggers and wondered what they were all about. I never looked into them because I thought they were a "very fancy" electronic phonebook, calendar, etc... I happened to see an ad for a local office products company and noticed another product similar to Compaq's IPAQ. While the price was high, I thought I would check things out. Much to my surprise, things have changed quite a bit. I never knew I could carry my "alternative laptop" in my purse with me. While it can't replace my desktop and "real" laptop, this pocket pc is...cool.
I already have a Compaq desktop so I decided to look at their pocket pcs. There were two (3765 & 3835). One had no rebate and cost more than the one with the rebate. Being new at this, I decided to buy the cheaper 3765 (at this moment, I must interrupt myself...yesterday I went with a friend to a local department store and found the 3765 on clearance and am still eligible for the $50 rebate..I would tell you my final price but I know Amazon will "bleep" it out). I played with it and debated as to whether or not to return it and upgrade to the 3835 (obviously I won't now since I got the 3765 at a dirt cheap price..please don't edit that part out Amazon! ;-) )
What I like about 3765:
-the letter/handwriting recognition, in my opinion, is fantastic; it's better than what I use to sign at the local computer/office retail store when I use my credit card to purchase something(my signature never looks quite right)
-the ability to create/edit/import/export documents with Word, Excel and a "makeshift" Powerpoint (within reason) is beneficial and saves me time
-I already feel more organized..and that's only been within the last two weeks
-Compaq gives LIFETIME support (let's just hope HP lives up to that when it takes over)..too bad they don't do that for some of their other products
-games..need I say more (what they give you is limited and there isn't much out there to buy..everything seems to be for OS..but I think things are changing)
-voice recorder...no more need to leave messages for myself on my answering maching at home or on my voice mail at work
-it makes me look very professional..something all teachers need (laugh please)
-the "intrinsic" memory and speed are good for a little computer
Now for the bad news...
-so far, I've been able to keep it charged and haven't experienced "damage," but I hear the battery charge isn't the greatest..invest in a car adapter...
-if you can find one..I finally found one (unfortunately it isn't Compaq's, however, it is a dual charger-one for the car and one for a powered USB); I wanted to kiss the feet of the salesperson when he told me he had one..he was my sixth attempt to find one
-color---quite honestly, I don't see the big deal unless you really, really want more colors (which the 3835 offers)
-synchronization can be a pain..you must know which PC to synchronize with first (the one you will retrieve your email from); this leads me into another bad lemon
-the ability to only synchronize with 2 computers..I actively use 3 AND Compaq told me you can only put Outlook 2002 on one PC (rather stupid if you ask me..why would you have the "ability" to synchronize with 2 computers but only be able to put Outlook 2002 on one; however, this is a Microsoft issue..not Compaq's)
-Compaq's attempt at a user guide..when I called customer service to get the synchronization problem handled (I called twice and it didn't take forever to get help-a plus for Compaq), I told them their guide su**ed. The first techie said many people say that and agreed with me..the second techie ignored my comment....I'm sure he has heard it several times too
-the need for an adaptor to add external memory..something I'm not too worried about but you might be
-a real version of Power Point would be realllyy great..I use it alot in my classroom and the files are rather large..they don't fit on a floppy..I haven't tried using the makeshift version of a presentation program so I can't give it a complete thumbs down
Before you buy...
-make sure you really want it for more than a phonebook, calendar and other "pencil/paper" needs; it is an investment and there is alot of potential
-go to your local bookstore, grab a few "how to" books about Pocket PC's (not Palms) and see if the information grabs your attention; trust me, if you buy a Pocket PC, you'll need the "how to" books..one kudo for Amazon...even with my 20% educator discount at two bookstores, Amazon seems to beat their prices..plus I pay no taxes (hint: accumulate your order to get free shipping)
Happy Shopping!
19 A great machine, Beginning to get attatched to it!
I purchased my Compaq Ipaq just about 3 weeks ago, after 2 weeks of searching customer reviews, unit comparisons.. etc etc. Its a great machine and I take it everywhere I go, I don't see how I can go anywhere without it now, and the downloads are becoming extensive on the internet. I have a couple of complaints, though minor, may be of some concern to some, the pros and cons are as follows;
Cons: A little wide for my small hands
Slick smooth design, Hold on tight!
Backlight seems to dim occasionally, despite the-brightness setting.
No CF slot.
Speakers made "popping" noise, was cleared up with a download from ipaq however.
Pros: Never a freeze up, runs smoothly and effiencetly.
Bright, colorfull display, easy to see both indoors and out.
Pocket PC 2002 = great os
Friendly customer support
screen responds nicely to stylus
I gave this product 4 stars because the overall functionality of the product was suitable to my needs, nothing stands out as a large problem and the pros certainly out-weigh the cons. I would recommend this product to anyone....
20 Frank
Excellent product, this blows the palm away. It has an excellent color screen and a huge amount of memory. Highly recommended. Just get yourself a good case to protect it.
21 I thought it was a good deal....but
I purchased the iPAQ 3765 to replace a Casio E-115.
On the plus side:
- The screen is more visible in daylight.
- It is slimmer & weighs less
- Comes with updatable ROM
The minuses:
- It locks up all the time, even when just sitting in the cradle.
- To use any expansion items, including a memory card, need to buy an adapter which makes it bulkier & weigh more than the Casio ever did.
- Adapter for cards uses more power, so need to ensure keep recharged more often.
- No backup battery. This is really a stupid design flaw.
- Problems with trying to synchronize with multiple computers using different types of cradles (USB vs. serial). When going from one to the other, more often than not doesn't recognize the device. Which means I have to do a soft reset to get it to work.
- Trying to get Compaq to respond is like pulling teeth, painful and leaves you with a loss.
Overall, if I had to do it over again, I'd buy the new Casio which is what I plan on doing in a few months anyway.
22 COMPAQ IPAQ 3765
I did a lot of market research before buying a replacement for my gray-scale PDA. Each manufacturer and each product I looked at had its own merits and demerits.
I chose the COMPAQ IPAQ 3765 for a number of reasons:
- The ability to use a variety of "sleeves" around the basic unit that allow you to dramatically expand memory, utilize Bluetooth technology, etc.
- The clarity and visibility of the screen
- Pocket PC 2002
- The availability of a refurbished unit.
Things I Would Improve:
- The body is brushed aluminum. It is very slippery. I would add some rubber dots (similar to those used on electric shavers) or some kind of non-skid material on the sides to avoid dropping the unit.
- The brightness control on my machine occasionally changes to a lower setting (making it dimmer).
- Compaq's web site is difficult to navigate. I couldn't locate how to register my product.
- Using Compaq's technical assistance phone system can be a trial.
- Lack of a flip-up protective cover is a major problem.
- The carrying case that is provided does not have a flap at the top. This makes it likely that the unit could fall out once the case has stretched over time. Also, the protective case cannot accommodate the IPAQ if the unit is inside a slip-on sleeve.
- I received a non-working copy of the start-up disk. Compaq is aware that a number of units were shipped with bad disks. The work-around was to download Active-Synch software from Microsoft's web page. The COMPAQ tech rep promised a new CD within four days.
- The cord on the recharger stand is far too short unless you plan on putting the IPAQ directly on top of your computer box or on the floor. The cable should be at least twice as long so it can be dropped down the back of a desk and snaked to the back of a PC.
- I would redesign the charger stand so that it is easier to keep the data cable and power cable separate. I would also design the charger stand so the cables cannot be mounted underneath the support foot of the charger.
Things That Were Good:
- The unit is very attractive.
- The screen display is very clear and vibrant.
- You do not have to disassemble the basic unit and a slip-on sleeve in order to charge the unit. Both fit in the recharger stand.
- Unlike other reviewers, my experience with the technical reps was generally pleasant.
- Pocket PC 2002 is intuitive to use. Anyone familiar with the Windows environment will find it easy to learn.
- I was told that shipping might take two weeks...my unit arrived in two days.
- People who are hesitant to migrate from a Palm to a Pocket PC 2002 environment need not worry. There are software packages on the market that convert data and contact information from one PDA operating system to another. I had no problem with my bulk data transfer, but am discovering occasional odd characters that require correction.
23 Life Saver
I was so fustrated with having to input things on my computer, then my address book, then my phone. This device combined my pc and address book into one. It reminds me of appointments, birthdays, and makes my life so organized. Every now and then it might act tweaky, but I do a soft reset and everything goes back to normal. Wouldn't give it up for anything. Now if only I could get my phone to link up to it my life would be complete!
24 Nice
I purchased the iPAQ 3765 2 1/2 months ago and have been very satisfied with it. I sync with my desktop everyday without any problems, the screen quality is great and the color is vibrant. The contact, appointment, task features are cool too. If you like to stay organized for a decent price then this is PPC is for you!
25 Great Handheld
I purchased the iPAQ 3765 2 1/2 months ago and have been very satisfied with it. I sync with my desktop everyday without any problems, the screen quality is great and the color is vibrant. The contact, appointment, task features are cool too. If you like to stay organized for a decent price then this is PPC is for you!
26 Great gadget, but CAUTION: VERY FRAGILE!!!
I'm a grad student so I bought the iPAQ with the optional keyboard mainly to take class or reading notes - and it worked like a charm. But BEWARE. This is probably the most fragile and sensitive piece of electronics you will ever own!!!!!
HANDLE YOUR IPAQ AS THOUGH IT WERE MADE OF SPUN GLASS OR YOU'LL FIND YOURSELF MISSING YOUR IPAQ AND LAMENTING ALL THE MONEY YOU PAID FOR IT!!!! The screen will crack if you press the stylus too hard, and if it freezes (which it does often) you lose anything you were working on -- Mine froze up when someone bumped into my backpack. If it locks up completely you must turn the battery off then back on, which wipes out the memory completely, and YOU LOSE EVERYTHING THAT WAS ON YOUR IPAQ!!! Mine STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY after it slid off my desk and fell a mere 2 feet onto a carpeted floor.
SO BACK UP Y0UR DATA OFTEN, AND BE PREPARED TO ARGUE WITH COMPAQ TO GET YOUR IPAQ FIXED IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG. They are not all that great about providing prompt or courteous service, and often you'll have to defend agaist their claims that you caused the malfunction yourself.
27 Bad customer service
I got the iPAQ 3765 around Christmas 2000 and immediately preferred it over my old Palm. Easy to use and very fast. I do wish that you didn't need the additional sleeve for the expansion memory and the battery loses power rather fast.
The biggest con of having an iPAQ? The customer service. They apparently lost my rebate information and refuse to discuss the matter. This isn't first time that I've heard of thtis happening. Based on my recent experience I would suggest looking elsewhere considering the cost of this PDA.
What a headache this has been. Yes, bad enough to warrant one star for this review.
28 An excellent pocket PC.
I bought the Casio Cassiopeia EM500 which is very good, but this one, Compaq ipaq3765 is even a quality one, because it has wireless, and also good software, 64Mb of memory, so it is higher in price. I recommend it.
29 iPAQ 3765 - A fantastic handheld
Purchased this handheld about a two weeks ago and extremely pleased with functionality of unit. It is very solid; some might say its heavy. I use it to keep my contacts and appointments in order. Just beginning to realize all the other graet features it has. Does a great job as an MP3 player(will need to use a expansion pact if you want more than 5-6 songs on it) I've heard horror stories about individuals calling compaq tech support. I've called them twice. I have never gotten such good service. Better than my Dell service. The tech. didnot want to get off the phone with me. He answerd all questions in a way it was easy to understand. Hand writting recognition works very well; I'm elated. several things could be done better-finnish is great but can be slipery. No cover. Sronly advise to get a screen protector. If you get this unit you must call compaq to register and have them explain in full the sinc. proceedure so communication between the Comp. and the PDA can occure properly. Documentation does not explain it well.
30 I should have said this as the best but... for one reason...
When I decided to buy compaq iPaq 3765, I based all my judgements on the customer and editorial reviews on this site and it proved to be correct and worthy suggestions.
Its really the best I could efford for the money by features by value ratio. Nothing gainst it. Its all fun for kids and perfect assitant and reference for busy professionals.
I should have said that the Pocket PC is the best, but, just for one reason, There is no real protective cover comming with the device for such neat best visible screen. Compaq should have considered putting one hard slide cover.
But still I suggest you purchase this PPC. iPaq 3835 does not seem to have given more options to invest more. So, you get the point...
31 actually usefull--really usefull!!
I really got mine more because it was a gadget than under the serious belief that I would use it very regularly, but I have to say, this is probably the most usefull things I own next to my stereo system. My primary reason for saying so is that it really works perfectly as an e-book. I actually prefer it to regular books now because it is so light and you can easily turn it to suit whatever position your head wants to be in. The screen is bright and clear, and in some conditions easier to read than ink on a page. It would have been nice to put a little nubby wheel high up on the side for flipping pages, since the "joystick" thing isn't quite where your hand wants it to be for one-handed reading.
I have a nice dimage7 digital camera that I use to take snaps of book pages, run them through the uncannily reliable omnipage pro 11, publish them with mobipocket publisher, and in about 40 minutes I have yet another 300+ page book that goes with me anywhere (which is mostly to traffic court for another speeding ticket.) I also use it to schedule my traffic court appearances.
The "voice" recorder is good (it can go up to 44khz stereo and you can plug in a mike, thus the quotation marks--you could record just about anything). There is a hotbutton on the side that activates the voive memo program, but unfortunately does not actually start the recording, so you still have to push the record button on the screen. To my way of thinking, this kind of defeats the idea of the button, but who am I to nit-pick that rare product that actually works.
Syncing works fine, but I haven't been able to get it to sync properly through the ir port on my dell notebook yet.
A friend got me a targus stowaway keyboard and it is darn swell too--nice quality feel and works without a hitch. I also puchased a 3rd party car/usb adapter that can either charge in the car or you can take the small detachable cable with you to charge and sync from any usb cpu, which means you're always charged and you don't have to drag around the cradle.
My advice is buy it, especially if you like to read-- you'll use it.
32 Would be great it if worked
I've had intermittent problems with the touch screen. No matter how many times I align, after a while it gets messed up. I think it might be nice little machine, but in it's current state is unusable. And having ordered it from Amazon means that it's not easy exchanging it for one that works.
33 Nice Features but.....
I purchased this IPAQ about a month ago to use at home, work, and college. The main feature I like is being able to consolodate all phone numbers, contacts, and Microsoft Office documents into one little device. I've eliminated reems of paperwork with my IPAQ and I'm very glad I purchased it.
BUT the support from Compaq is terrible. I'm a Social Worker, NOT a computer programmer. Yet my IPAQ comes with a small owner's manual and very little useful online advice that is actually written in plain English. Navigating their web site is tricky. The PocketPC software (Microsoft) is mostly straightforward and easy to use (ingenious really), but there's no simple way to schedule an appointment with your contacts--why not? Isn't that why you buy a handheld computer?
Word of advice: If you're going to be using your IPAQ more than 4 hours a day, then you might want to upgrade to the IPAQ H3850 simply because the 3850 has a much longer battery life. My battery dies within about 2-4 hours on LOW power. The problem is you have to keep the unit charged to about 40% so it doesn't permanently lose all the data. Either upgrade to the 3850 or buy several AC adapters to charge the thing.
Even with all the complaints, I love the fact that my IPAQ has made me a much more productive student and employee.
34 iPaq 3765 Is it 1 of the top PDA's?
First let me say I am not a "techie" but I can follow directions fairly well. Instructions come in a small book and are very basic, but allow you to get the set up completed with little problems, anything more than that and you will have to call Compaq Tech Support, which is an act in futility.
After owning a Handspring Visor Prism, and an HP Jornada 568, the Compaq 3765 would have to rate #2 out of the 3. The metal case on the 3765 is very appealing until you pick it up and realize how smooth it is, so make sure you hold on. I had to reinstall the active sync numerous times as it would not recognize my USB connection?
Color is excellent on the 3765, and once I got everything going it worked great, and I had no problem loading in my contact list from my cardscan files.
I rate the 3765 a 4 because I had no problems with the Visor Prism, or the HP Jornada, and they worked first time out of the box, and both provided much better Customer Service and support.
35 I LOVE this little machine
I just bought my iPAQ 3765 in order to take notes in school (I bought it along with the foldable keyboard), and I swear I do not know HOW I got along without it. Being a college student, I am always taking 6-8 pages worth of notes per lecture, 4 classes a day, 3 days a week - my hand was dying. I use it instead of a laptop, which for me would be way too much to carry because of all the stuff I already carry for my classes. Also, a laptop has many more features than I would ever need while in class - I have my desktop for more complex tasks.
Pocket Word doesn't have all the features of Word, such as keyboard short-cuts, but when you synch up the iPAQ with your computer, it changes pocket word files to Word format, so editting is a breeze. Putting in reminders and addresses is simple when done in Outlook, and I like the functionality I get when using services such as Avantgo, or downloading maps off Mapquest.
The sound system on this little machine is great - get a good set of headphones, such as the Sony MDR-G52 which I use, and you are ready to jam to MP3's. The speakers themselves sound a little can-ish, but using headphones, it's great. I'm waiting for my Compact Flash expansion pack and CF card to arrive in order to pile in the MP3's.
Despite how much fun I'm having with this little machine, I admit there are some things that could have been better, such as the screen - 4k colors makes for grainy pictures, and websites look a little strange. Another problem is quality control at Compaq - the first unit I bought had to be returned because the backlight would not work, not an uncommon problem with these PDAs if you read the Compaq forums. Another thing: it comes with a lot of preinstalled software, such as Microsoft Messenger, Excel, etc., which is great - however, I don't use them, and have yet to figure out how to uninstall them from my PDA (I would really like to take out Media Player and install an MP3 player of my choice). I am beginning to believe I CAN'T remove them. That really irks me.
Bottom Line: if you're going to use it as a substitute for a laptop, and your primary needs are basic word processing (without printing), keeping contact lists, keeping a to-do list, appointments, email, silly web browsing, and MP3 listening, this is the machine for you. At 499.00, it's much cheaper than a laptop - however, it's pretty steep for a PDA, so if you're not in a big hurry, wait a few months for prices to drop as competition picks up. I wouldn't suggest going for the more pricier models (if your needs are similiar to what I described above) just for the extra colors and other do-dads - believe me, 4k colors is enough. If your needs are a little more complex, maybe a laptop is the better way to go.
36 Read the fine print!
If you want to use this Pocket PC at work, don't count on it! Unless you want to send an extra $25.00 to Compaq so that you can sync it with your NT desktop. My old HP Jornada didn't have any problem with NT. I wonder why Compaq doesn't support business software?
37 Terrible IPAQ design without cover
I switched my palm to IPAQ and very unhappy with the design. Its round edge is so easy to fall from hand and break. Why they do not make it easy to hold and a cover on it. All Palm comes with cover sometimes with metal cover to protect the glass or simply privacy. How it is to have your note book open all the times. If you use the cover that comes with IPAQ you can not put in your pocket, so it was better with my PALM I am going back. Regarding those features like word excell. you better get a note book folks you can't type a business plan with this IPAQ because without a physical key board it does not work well. Ya microsoft says SOFTWARE MATTER yes it is true but hardwares matter more. What will help you to have a handheld device it does not fit in your hand? or could not carry in pocket?
I like the software but I hate the hardware made by Compaq simply it is bulky, ugly and not practical to use like handheld.
It would be nice to have a sony type slim (cleio)design handheld with microsoft program that comes with cover and handy size to carry.
38 Hardware is Fair, Software is Riddled with Bugs
I am not a computer guru, I admit. But I do have a decent grip on modern technology. I purchased this IPAQ in the hopes that it could replace my paper calendar and my appointment book at home, while also allowing me to type term papers on it at school and keep good notes. But instead, all it does is keep track of my appointments at work. It freezes up often while using it and the battery lasts only a couple of hours on low power. It's absolutely rediculous. When you add in all the software bugs, like not being able to easily synchronize with more than one computer, and the machine becomes a time and money waste.
This is not a handheld computer at all. I should have waited for better technology.
39 Rock solid PDA with room to improve.
I used an iPaq 3600 series, and was able to get it upgraded to an 3700. I have always been a fan of the iPaq series from Compaq, not only the most attractive, but the most powerful PocketPCs on the market.
However, now that all of the PocketPCs will be running on the StrongARM processors that gave iPaq's their edge, it's hard to say without a doubt the iPaq is the best buy - it still is the best looking handheld by far.
It's 12-bit screen, can seem washed out when compared to the 16-bit models of the other models (which, by the way, are at least $... more), but is readable even in direct sunlight.
The iPaq also lacks built in expansion options (the 3800 series includes a SD digital slot). I have a CompactFlash sleeve I use for my CompactFlash Wi-Fi card and memory cards, but it adds bulk to the otherwise sleek design. Other companies are releasing their products with BOTH CompactFlash and SD digital integrated.
The iPaq does have its strong points though. These expansion packs allow for a great deal of expandability. Don't want CompactFlash? Pick up a PC card sleeve. Or maybe the DUEL PC card sleeve. Or the CompactFlash sleeve with a bluetooth receiever. Compaq is releasing other expansion sleeves with cell phones integrated - this gives the iPaq the ability to expand to a great level more than that of the competition.
When it all comes down to it, the iPaq 3700 series is the cheapest, BEST looking PocketPC on the market. The 3800, atleast in my opinion, is ugly in comparision (and also feels heavier in your hand). It would be nice to see an integrated CompactFlash slot, though.
40 Cool product
Upsides:
- great for synchronizing between home and office.
- handwriting recognition is awesome
- doubles up as a portable audio device! it can play windows media files
- has VPN support (haven't tested that yet)
- Amazing graphics (64k colors is a lot)
Downsides - practically zero documentation.
- windows xp gives no logo testing warning : checked out the compaq site, found nothing, decided to ignore warning : working great, so far.
- handhelds still have a long way to go before they can replace laptops... go in for a laptop if you can spend the extra money.
41 iPAQ stomps the competition
Christmas 2001 turned out to be the defining moment for pocket electronics in our household. 3 family members each received a different brand and so far the iPAQ has come out ahead for ease of use, speed, and the popular "cool factor". Pitted against the Casio color BE-300 and the Handspring Visor (and the now retired Palms), the iPAQ has been the "lemme play with it" gift of the season. Great graphics, clear sound, easy interface,and it's speed have made it a winner. Downloads for games and utilities are abundant on the internet and simple to load into the iPAQ.
Don't miss the opportunity to own this gem of electronic genius.
42 Nearly perfect...
I recieved the 3765 for Christmas, and for the most part, since I was expecting a Handspring Visor Prism instead, (suprise!) this is an awesome little gadget. My major complaint is that the input methods are annoying and I usually revert to the little keyboard at the bottom of the screen. Speaking of which, the screen gets scratched VERY easily- would recommend screen protectors, except that nobody seems to like those. I like the design, and it goes nicely with the updated Pocket PC 2002- the MS Windows feel is very easy to get used to. Display is crisp, memory is plentiful, and the sound quality is sweet, considering how small the speaker is- the voice recording is also a major plus. All in all, if it wasn't for the flimsy screen and the high price, I'd give this 5 stars.
43 Would not turn on
I recieved a defective Ipaq 3765 and was thouroughly disappointed. The switch in the on/off box was not there so I could not even turn it on. Looked nice but may have to go back
to franklin planner. I agree with earlier reviews, It is a fragile thing and wondered aloud as to why there was no protective cover??
44 An awsome Pocket PC
This pocket PC is extremely usefull, letter recognizing is very acurate and easy to use. So far no complains, can't find any problem on it!!
45 Palm Step Aside!!!
Wow!! I had a Palm III and all I can say is that I never thought that a PDA would be able to do all this. I sync with Outlook and I have all my contacts ,appointments and Notes!! When I am driving I just speak into it and record onto it anything I want to jot down. I can email any notes w/ my voice as an attachment. Also the Media Player is great I keep some songs in there to make time go by quicker when Im inline somewhere. The ability to create documents and spreadsheets is great but I dont use it much. The sync time is about 1/8 of what it was w/ Palm. I am still able to exchange info via infrared w/ Palm users. Spend the extra bucks and get it I promise you wont regret it!
46 Great hand held
I have had mine for six months. It sinks perfectly with out look, with windows 98 and XP home edition. It has worked like a charm. If I have any complaint its the battery life. I get a days use out of batterys, but that has not been a problem for me. When on the road I charge it at night, when in the office its charging in its cradle. I am not an easy guy to satisfy, I recomend this item highly.
47 [Not happy]
While the unit has many nice features, there are some glaring design flaws and dealing with compaq's "customer support" is a joke.
The biggest flaw is that in order to make it "streamlined" they have offloaded any expansion into bulky expansion "packs" that make it actually bulkier and heavier than its HP counterpart. I don't know what their so-called engineers were thinking, but, after living with one, I am NOT amused.
Another major design flaw is the extreme fragility of the unit. While many pocket pc's come with a flip top cover or the equivalent, the ipaqs come with a simple, and inadequate, leather case that won't fit around the unit when you add the aforementioned expansion pack. When my display broke (which they inevitably do), Compaq said "oh, those aren't designed to actually be carried in a POCKET!" The display, in case you are unaware, appears to be the most expensive part of the unit and is NOT covered under their so-called warranty. Net result, I've bought my unit 1.5 times so far...so far.
48 Awsome!
Before I lost it... it kept on surprising me with all the new features I would discover... handwriting recognition, word completion etc. What an awsome tool! Totally functional, way better than any palm wished it could be. It makes use of the whole screen instead of keeping a third cut off to write on.. what if your not writing? It has the best color screen in different lighting of all the handhelds (I checked them all) and the processor speed (compared to the hp) is way faster. Audio sound is excellent through headphones, but don't expect it to replace your car stereo without them. I'm getting another as soon as possible.
49 School
I didnt buy the Palm pilot off of the internt. instead my class at Dupont Maunual high School in the first period business class a ll recieved one. It has been very useful to wite down notes and email your friends and students. We also have the other eqipmet such as the cradle, keyboard, charger and sleeve so that makes it more effiecent. It reminds me to study each night and has become a part of my daily life. Everyone at school envies my class for getting one and know i know why.
50 Has more to offer than expected!
Not only is it windows compatible but you can hook up a wireless air card to do all sorts of things ranging from receiving and sending email to using a digital camera to upload pictures. Customized forms can be added for business uses. Lots and lots of fun!
51 Buy This PC!!!
Hello, I'm a 15 year old student from St.Louis Mo. I would like to state all the great things this item can do! First the screen is wonderful! All 4,000 colours are very vibrant. First comparison, look at a Palm IIIc or a color Handspring Visor, there colors and pixels are so larger it looks like a first graders handwriting and also they only have 8 megs of memory. Second thing, 64 megs of RAM, wait a second, I thought this was a palm-size computer, not my mothers IBM! HP eat your heart out, I saw your newest Joradoa or whatever and it (...)! Tooo plasticy, and the screen looked just as bad as a 548 version. I mostly use this item for games, my agenda and stuff. Why didn't you just save your money and buy a cheaper one you say. Heres why;64 megs of RAM, 32 Megs of ROM, Mp3 player, 48k of color, windows 2002, and finally word, MSN messanger and excel. I also have just seen the new Compaq IPaq. Don't waste your money, all it it is the same thing with 64k of color and Voice Recondition, thats it for a price of a hundred dollars more, sure I would take the uglyer less optional accesorized thing for the same price but I doubt you'll ever find that. I have always been a supporter of Compaq, even though they were bought out by HP, I hope they will still make there higher quality products.Sure in a couple years they'll come out with windows CE 2004 and a 128k pixle thing with 256 Mags of RAM that weights an ounce and can be on for 2 years without a recharge, but 'till that day This Ones The Best!
52 Compaq iPaq 3765 beats Palm into the ground
Besides all the obvious ways in which the Compaq iPaq 3765 is a more robust electronic organizer than any version of the Palm, there are two features or characteristics of the iPaq 3765 that deserve special mention. The first is the fact that the iPaq 3765 is a full-featured eBook, running Microsoft Reader with ClearType display technology. Now, perhaps that doesn't make you trip over your keyboard as you scramble to order one, but consider: You now have a full dictionary in your PDA. You also have an English to Spanish dictionary in your PDA. Or French to English. Or whatever you need. You also have Jack Welch's new best seller to peruse on your next flight, or while you're waiting at the doctor's office. You have the full operations manual for your iPaq right there on the iPaq itself! How many times have you actually had the manual for a device readily available at the moment you actually needed the damn thing? The fact that the iPaq 3765 is an easy-to-read eBook (with adjustable font sizes, book marking and other features) is a remarkable increase in usefulness over the conventional Palm OS PDA.
But the real advantage of the Compaq iPaq 3765 is the fact that its screen is a marvel of both clarity (hence an actually readable eBook) and touch-sensitivity. One of the most annoying characteristics of Palm PDAs is the insensitivity of the touch screen. You often have to tap the screen multiple times before it responds. And using it for graffiti writing is an enormous pain in the neck for even the relatively adept graffiti user. Your strokes are continuously misinterpreted. All the back spacing to re-stroke letters has caused many a Palm owner to give up on using graffiti as their most common mode of data entry. But with the iPaq 3765 each stroke is recogized instantly, with almost no re-stroking required. No kidding. As long as you're even close to matching the model graffiti stroke, the iPaq accurately recognizes the stroke! You can actually write with the damn thing! And when you tap the screen to select an entry in your contacts list, or choose one tab or the other, or highlight a bit of text, voila... the screen responds instantly and accurately. There are virtually no re-taps, no re-strokes, no mistakes. It's a touch screen made to be touched.
After years of using a Palm, including a color screen Palm IIIC, I feel like I have died and gone to heaven. The Copmpaq iPaq 3765 is head and shoulders better than the Palm OS offerings because it is a far more robust PDA, with marvelous eBook capabilities and an order of magnitude better screen in terms of clarity and the all important touch sensitivity.
53 Sliced Bread?
This is by far the greatest PDA available on the market for under (dollar amount). With one of the largest displays and 64mb Ram the 3765 makes all aplications enjoyable. Pocket PC 2002 puts all palm os systems to shame, only complaint is the lack of compact flash slot, but one can be purchased for (dollar amount) and is not to bad on the eye.
54 Best in Show(almost)
I was despretly in need of a handheld to keep track of my busy scedule so I went to see my good friends at (store) and asked that what they recomended. They told me that what I was looking for could only be found in two diffrent handhelds, the Compaq iPAQ 3765 or the new Sony Clie. I checked both out, compared prices, read reviews and it turned out that both were pretty much the same, so I choes Compaq because of its good looks and bright screen. It's farly easy too use, with good picture, and lots of memory. I also like the portible media player. The only reason I didn't give this a 5 was that the Clie also has some better points, and I've heard that a new handheld that can show movie slips will be comming on the market soon. All in all I'm very comtent with what I have.
55 Really cool
Well the iPAQ is the best in its class.
It gives you all you can get from a handheld.
The only problem is that if u want to use the PC card jacket the whole thing gets a bit too bulky does not actually fit in a pocket.
It might be cool that u can get wireless with the PC card jacket, but it looses its portability.
Apart fom this, the device is cool and beats the other handhelds 'hands down' with it built in features.
Ah, yes one more aspect about the iPAQ. It gets sort of power hungry with all its add-ons.
If we look at the Sony for a comparison we can get a clear picture. The sony has special memory system not supported by others, and uses other proprietary stuff. On the other hand if you look at the specs of the iPAQ you will notice that it is compatible with a lot of other products e.g. the IBM microdrive for unlimited storage space.
The bottom line is that the you as a buyer can't more from a hand held than the iPAQ.
If you are the kind of person who is still reluctant to buy the iPAQ be cause of the 1 or 2 small set-backs then you will have to wait till the Handheld market matures, all the wireless technology shrinks and power storage technolgy advances.
So if you are thinking about buying a color handheld then you have no choice other than the Compaq iPAQ.
56 Great unit compared to the competition
I was a little peeved to find out that while I paid 500 bucks for the 32/16 (Ram/Rom) ipaq with PocketPC 3.0, this new one has 2002 and is 64/32 for same price. (A bargain to you a pain to me) but anyway its amazing. Only reason I gave it a four as opposed to a 5 is i recommend spending a little more for the futuristic iPaq not yet out but it will have 16Bit display ( a must for videos )
