HP iPAQ rw6818 Ultimate Guide to Specs Pricing Pros & Cons

Overview of HP iPAQ rw6818

The HP iPAQ rw6818 was launched in the second quarter of 2006 and quickly became an innovative product for its time, introducing several features that set it apart from many of its contemporaries. As a PDA-phone hybrid, it combined the functionality of a mobile phone with the features of a personal digital assistant (PDA), running on Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 PocketPC.

Design and Build

The device comes in a compact form factor with dimensions of 102 x 58 x 19.5 mm and a weight of 140 grams. The design of the HP iPAQ rw6818 was quite modern for its release, utilizing a silver color scheme that provided a sleek, professional appearance. Despite its compact size, the device packed a surprising amount of functionality within its frame, which is typical of PDAs at the time.

Display

The HP iPAQ rw6818 features a 2.7-inch TFT resistive touchscreen capable of displaying 256K colors, though effectively showing 65K colors. The screen resolution of 240 x 320 pixels offered a 4:3 aspect ratio and ensured that texts and images were clear, even if the pixel density was not up to modern standards at around 148 pixels per inch. While the screen might not seem impressive today, it was competitive among devices from its era.

Performance

Powering the HP iPAQ rw6818 is an Intel PXA 272 processor clocked at 416 MHz. This CPU, coupled with 64MB of RAM and 128MB of internal ROM, ensured adequate performance for applications available at the time. The device also featured a miniSD card slot, allowing for expansion of storage, critical for users needing more space for applications, contacts, or multimedia.

Camera

Equipped with a 2 MP rear camera, the HP iPAQ rw6818 provided basic photography capabilities. The added LED flash was a significant inclusion, allowing for better photos in lower light conditions. While video recording was possible, the quality was more suitable for casual snapshots rather than high-definition videos.

Battery Life

The removable Li-Po 1530 mAh battery provided a respectable standby time of up to 240 hours and up to 5 hours and 30 minutes of talk time. This performance was reasonable given the device's functionality and was an important consideration for mobile professionals or frequent travelers who relied on significant up-time from their devices.

Networking and Connectivity

The HP iPAQ rw6818 supported GSM technology and was compatible with 2G networks on the GSM 900/1800/1900 bands. It offered GPRS and EDGE support, both at Class 10, which was quite standard for data transfer speeds in 2006. Although it lacked WLAN capabilities, it included Bluetooth 1.2 and infrared port, providing versatile connectivity options for data exchange with other devices. Additionally, the device could connect via miniUSB, which was useful for synchronization with a PC. The onboard FM radio was a nice touch for users wanting to listen to music or news on the go.

Sound and Audio

The sound system in the HP iPAQ rw6818 featured stereo speakers, which were notable for providing richer audio output. Despite the absence of a 3.5mm audio jack, users could rely on downloadable polyphonic, MP3, and AAC ringtones for notifications, which provided a degree of personalization in line with the multimedia capabilities of smartphones of that time.

Operating System and User Interface

Running on Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 PocketPC, the HP iPAQ rw6818 leveraged an interface that was familiar to users of Microsoft's desktop operating systems, albeit with a mobile twist. This OS provided essential PIM (Personal Information Management) applications, which were critical for business users needing access to email, calendars, contacts, and tasks on the move. The inclusion of Pocket Internet Explorer also meant that users could browse the web, albeit with the limitations of the mobile networks of the era.

Additional Features

Further to the primary capabilities, the HP iPAQ rw6818 included software and hardware features designed to enhance user experience. Its browser supported WAP 2.0/xHTML and HTML enabling basic web browsing activities. Although it lacked modern positioning sensors like GPS, its suite of connectivity options still enabled significant communication and data sharing functionality for workflow integration.

Market Position and Conclusion

When initially released, the HP iPAQ rw6818 had a starting price of around 290 EUR, positioning it in the mid-range segment of the PDA-phone hybrid market. While discontinued, its legacy is reflective of the innovative period in mobile technology development during the early 2000s. For tech enthusiasts and collectors, this device represents a significant step in the convergence of mobile and portable computing, serving as a reminder of the rapidly evolving smartphone and personal digital assistant technologies which would continue to develop into the highly integrated smart devices of today.