Ipaq 3955..5455??

gxoboy · 06-07-2003

I have been thinking about adding a pda to my wardriving setup...but just haven't been able to justify the cost...well until now. After 1 1/2 yrs I have decided to go back to school and I am needing a voice recorder for a lecture class. After looking on the net it seems like I will be spending at least $150 on a decent recorder (if not more). Then I started to think... Hmmmmm the IPAQs have the option to record and with a CF card I should be able to record the 2 hr lecture no problem for (only $200 more than the voice recorder plus it has other options I love). Until I tested the voice record option on the 3955.. Its just not made for far distances (6 - 10 feet). After searching through different forums I was able to find that the 5455 has the option for an external mic. My question to you all is have any of you used the ipaq as a personal recorder in conferences/meetings/lectures, what programs you may suggest using for file compression while recording, and if anyone has used the external mic option on the 5455. I know these questions aren't wardriving specific, but I wanted opinions from the experts

. Thank you in advance.

HITMONEY · 06-07-2003

Well I own a 5455 but as of yet have not utilized the external mic function.... infact didn't know it had one till now

But I can tell you that I am very happy with it... once you do the now well documented fixes it performes quite well. But staright out of the box its a bit buggy and therefor has gotten slammed in some reviews.

gxoboy · 06-08-2003

Thank you for the quick reply

It looks like both of us are up late tonight almost 3:15 now our time. I finally said to myself.. "JUST ORDER IT!!!" so it should be arriving here by Tuesday (I hope next day for the compaw is truly next day) I also ordered a 512 CF card and Dual expansion sleeve for it. I hope those were good decisions on my part. Are the fixes for the 5455 listed here in the forums or on Compaq's website? Maybe I should do a search before just in case right

. I also ordered the Sony directional mic and from what I've read its supposed to work very well for lectures/meetings where the speaker is far away. Lets hope the reviews hold up seeing as the mic itself was $80. Like I was telling retrokilla we will all have to meet up sometime since your in Atl... Maybe on the upcoming WWWD.

HITMONEY · 06-08-2003

Wow, you bought all this stuff retail.....

I got my stuff all from ebay, infact I got 2 5455's cause I won 2 auctions. I could have sold you one. I won't tell you how much, it might ruin your night.

Anyway I posted the reg fix over at Pocket Warrior Forums

Get the WLAN and ROM update from HP, and prepare for the addiction.

Oh and I am the Organizer for the Atlanta WWWD 3 check out
My mad front Page skillz here.

I could definitly use some help though

gxoboy · 06-08-2003

I compared the prices on the auctions off of Ebay and I set the order in for $449 (if you got them for much less than this shoot I might just have to take you up on that offer, cancel the order and drive my happy arse up there and buy it from you ). The Sandisk 512 Ultra was around $120 (Not too too bad but not cheap either) I just cant wait!!

Having to lug the lappy out to the card and set everything up has become a ritual of sorts..but times are changing

Its time to minimize the bulk. And oh yes if I can get away from school and work I will defintely join in on the fun in Atl

HITMONEY · 06-08-2003

$449.00 From HP? Wow.

I sold mine for 550.00 bucks including a 256 SD card.

List is $699.00 So you did well.

I also bought my Dual slot off ebay, think I paid $120.00 which also included a CF to PCI adapter.

I almost bought a 1 gig CF card at CompUSA yesterday, $249.00. I was thinking of all the mp3's I could tote with me. I have one of those old tape adapters that use to plug into a portable CD player years ago so I could listen to CD's in my car before I got a CD player. We are talking early 90's here, well I found that tape adapter and I plug it into my iPAQ and listen to mp3's in my truck.

I am just waiting for a blue tooth dongle or something that attaches to you stock stereo and I can WLAN my tunes to the radio.

HITMONEY · 06-08-2003

Well forget the registry fix now according to this THREAD.

gxoboy · 06-08-2003

It was a refurb but I have had very good experience in the past with refurb electronics direct from the company. Ill just keep my fingers crossed on this one but I have no doubt the problems were corrected on the unit they are sending me. It was very tempting to get the 1 gig cf card at ecost.com the Sandisk Ultras have a $30 manufacturer rebate going on right now. E-cost is a great company and I have purchased a lot of computer product from in the past. You can't beat $9 overnight shipping.

I used the tape adapter a few times in my car but with all the wires coming off of the laptop it it was just an added possibility for an accident (friend moves a little too far to the right and BAM there goes the mini plug stuck in my speaker out) I saw a very nice setup somewhere and the stumbler had a PDA windshield mount. I think I will be getting one of those. Just looking around at the different Arkon versions out to see which would work better. I am using a Garmin GPS V so I may go with the PDA/cell mount.

06-07-2003	#1 (permalink)
gxoboy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Middle Georgia Posts: 15	Ipaq 3955..5455?? I have been thinking about adding a pda to my wardriving setup...but just haven't been able to justify the cost...well until now. After 1 1/2 yrs I have decided to go back to school and I am needing a voice recorder for a lecture class. After looking on the net it seems like I will be spending at least $150 on a decent recorder (if not more). Then I started to think... Hmmmmm the IPAQs have the option to record and with a CF card I should be able to record the 2 hr lecture no problem for (only $200 more than the voice recorder plus it has other options I love). Until I tested the voice record option on the 3955.. Its just not made for far distances (6 - 10 feet). After searching through different forums I was able to find that the 5455 has the option for an external mic. My question to you all is have any of you used the ipaq as a personal recorder in conferences/meetings/lectures, what programs you may suggest using for file compression while recording, and if anyone has used the external mic option on the 5455. I know these questions aren't wardriving specific, but I wanted opinions from the experts . Thank you in advance.

06-08-2003	#4 (permalink)
HITMONEY Who Wants Butter??? Join Date: May 2003 Location: St. Pete Beach, FL. Posts: 529	Wow, you bought all this stuff retail..... I got my stuff all from ebay, infact I got 2 5455's cause I won 2 auctions. I could have sold you one. I won't tell you how much, it might ruin your night. Anyway I posted the reg fix over at Pocket Warrior Forums Get the WLAN and ROM update from HP, and prepare for the addiction. Oh and I am the Organizer for the Atlanta WWWD 3 check out My mad front Page skillz here. I could definitly use some help though Last edited by HITMONEY : 06-08-2003 at 01:49 AM.

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06-07-2003	#2 (permalink)
HITMONEY Who Wants Butter??? Join Date: May 2003 Location: St. Pete Beach, FL. Posts: 529	Well I own a 5455 but as of yet have not utilized the external mic function.... infact didn't know it had one till now But I can tell you that I am very happy with it... once you do the now well documented fixes it performes quite well. But staright out of the box its a bit buggy and therefor has gotten slammed in some reviews.

06-08-2003	#3 (permalink)
gxoboy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Middle Georgia Posts: 15	Thank you for the quick reply It looks like both of us are up late tonight almost 3:15 now our time. I finally said to myself.. "JUST ORDER IT!!!" so it should be arriving here by Tuesday (I hope next day for the compaw is truly next day) I also ordered a 512 CF card and Dual expansion sleeve for it. I hope those were good decisions on my part. Are the fixes for the 5455 listed here in the forums or on Compaq's website? Maybe I should do a search before just in case right . I also ordered the Sony directional mic and from what I've read its supposed to work very well for lectures/meetings where the speaker is far away. Lets hope the reviews hold up seeing as the mic itself was $80. Like I was telling retrokilla we will all have to meet up sometime since your in Atl... Maybe on the upcoming WWWD.

06-08-2003	#5 (permalink)
gxoboy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Middle Georgia Posts: 15	I compared the prices on the auctions off of Ebay and I set the order in for $449 (if you got them for much less than this shoot I might just have to take you up on that offer, cancel the order and drive my happy arse up there and buy it from you ). The Sandisk 512 Ultra was around $120 (Not too too bad but not cheap either) I just cant wait!! Having to lug the lappy out to the card and set everything up has become a ritual of sorts..but times are changing Its time to minimize the bulk. And oh yes if I can get away from school and work I will defintely join in on the fun in Atl

06-08-2003	#6 (permalink)
HITMONEY Who Wants Butter??? Join Date: May 2003 Location: St. Pete Beach, FL. Posts: 529	$449.00 From HP? Wow. I sold mine for 550.00 bucks including a 256 SD card. List is $699.00 So you did well. I also bought my Dual slot off ebay, think I paid $120.00 which also included a CF to PCI adapter. I almost bought a 1 gig CF card at CompUSA yesterday, $249.00. I was thinking of all the mp3's I could tote with me. I have one of those old tape adapters that use to plug into a portable CD player years ago so I could listen to CD's in my car before I got a CD player. We are talking early 90's here, well I found that tape adapter and I plug it into my iPAQ and listen to mp3's in my truck. I am just waiting for a blue tooth dongle or something that attaches to you stock stereo and I can WLAN my tunes to the radio.

06-08-2003	#7 (permalink)
HITMONEY Who Wants Butter??? Join Date: May 2003 Location: St. Pete Beach, FL. Posts: 529	Well forget the registry fix now according to this THREAD.

06-08-2003	#8 (permalink)
gxoboy Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Middle Georgia Posts: 15	It was a refurb but I have had very good experience in the past with refurb electronics direct from the company. Ill just keep my fingers crossed on this one but I have no doubt the problems were corrected on the unit they are sending me. It was very tempting to get the 1 gig cf card at ecost.com the Sandisk Ultras have a $30 manufacturer rebate going on right now. E-cost is a great company and I have purchased a lot of computer product from in the past. You can't beat $9 overnight shipping. I used the tape adapter a few times in my car but with all the wires coming off of the laptop it it was just an added possibility for an accident (friend moves a little too far to the right and BAM there goes the mini plug stuck in my speaker out) I saw a very nice setup somewhere and the stumbler had a PDA windshield mount. I think I will be getting one of those. Just looking around at the different Arkon versions out to see which would work better. I am using a Garmin GPS V so I may go with the PDA/cell mount.