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Despite its best efforts, Hewlett-Packard isn't a major player in the world of smartphones. Nonetheless, it is still - by far - the top selling Windows Mobile licensee due to its extremely successful and in-depth line of iPAQ Pocket PCs.

This week, the computer and printer giant introduced several new handhelds, for the most part incremental upgrades to the hx2000 series rather than revolutionary new devices.

The new models (see top image) in the iPAQ hx2000 business series -- hx2790, hx2490 and hx2190 -- all run on Windows Mobile 5.0 and feature Pocket PC typical 240 x 320 pixel (QVGA) resolution 3.5-inch displays.

Compact Flash Type II and Secure Digital In Out slots for memory and peripheral expansion are also common to the three iPAQs. Additional features include translucent plastic flip covers plus 4.7 x 3.0 x 0.65-inch (119 x 76.x 16.3-millimeter) dimensions and 5.8-ounce weights.

In addition to the hx2000 iPAQs, HP recently snuck out another new Pocket PC, the rx1950.

All four new iPAQs should ship sometime next week.

(In related news, HP has started offering Windows Mobile 5.0 upgrades to previous iPAQ hx2000 series models, the hx2110, hx2410, and hx2750. The platform updates sell for $40. For more on iPAQ Windows Mobile 5.0 upgrades, see HP Windows Mobile 5.0 Upgrade Kit Update.)

hx2790
The $500 top-of-the-line model in the hx2000 series integrates biometric-based fingerprint security, found in some previous iPAQ models as well. There's also 64 MB of RAM, 192 MB of ROM, Wi-Fi (still 802.11b), Bluetooth (1.2) and a 624 MHz Intel XScale CPU. It ships with a 1440 mAh rechargeable battery that is swappable, but a higher-capacity 2880 mAH can be bought as an add-on.

hx2490
A notch below the hx2790, the $400 hx2490 runs on a slower 530 MHz XScale processor and integrates less ROM, 128 MB. It has the same amount of RAM, 64 MB, as the other model, however. It also has Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and a 1440 mAH battery.


hx2000 Series Model, Flip Cover Closed

hx2190
This $350 model runs on a mere 312 MHz CPU. The hx2190 nixes Wi-Fi, but still offers Bluetooth and the same 64 MB of RAM and 128 MB of ROM as the next model up, the hx2490. Unlike the other two hx2000 iPAQs, this one won't bundle a cradle. It also bundles a lower-capacity 920 mAH battery, with the higher-capacity type available as an option.

rx1950
Although this $300 device isn't shipping yet, you can pre-order it. As with the hx2000 Pocket PCs, the rx1950 uses Windows Mobile 5.0. There's an even less powerful processor (a 300 MHz Samsung SC32442) than the hx2190, however.


                      rx1950

You get 64 RAM, half of which is used for applications, and 64 MB of ROM, with a little more than half available to the user as storage—similar in concept to an external memory card. Unlike the hx2190, the rx1950 delivers Wi-Fi but not Bluetooth. It has one expansion slot, a SD/SDIO type and a 1100 mAH battery that can be swapped out. Like all three new hx2000 models, the rx1950 uses a 240 x 320 pixel (QVGA), 3.5-inch display.