HP's new hx2000 series handhelds offer better performance than earlier models and feature built-in wireless connectivity. The devices allow staff to access email and corporate data while on the move, but battery life is unlikely to last for a full day with heavy use of the wireless interface.

The hx2000 series, which ships this month, consists of three models running Microsoft's Windows Mobile for Pocket PC Second Edition software, and all feature Bluetooth wireless capability as standard. We looked at a pre-production version of HP's top-of-the-range hx2750 model, which also has integrated 802.11b wireless LAN capability. It also has a built-in swipe scanner that can be used to restrict access to the device by fingerprint scan, but this capability was not working on our test model.

We found our review unit was noticeably more responsive than earlier Pocket PC handhelds we have seen, thanks to its 624MHz Intel PXA270 processor. The hx2750 also has impressive tools to help users set up and manage their wireless connections more easily.

Features that will appeal to enterprise buyers are HP's ProtectTools to encrypt data stored on the device; HP's mobile printing tool that lets staff print documents from the handheld; and a utility to back up data to Flash storage cards.

The hx2000 series handhelds all have a traditional 320x240 QVGA display rather than the high-resolution 640x480 screens found on some newer Pocket PC devices.

Windows Mobile Second Edition allows the screen to be switched between portrait and landscape orientation at any time. We found many web pages looked better if Pocket Internet Explorer was used in landscape mode. The screen itself appeared bright and easy to read.

HP's iPaq Wireless application allows the user to set up and manage WLAN and Bluetooth connections. Once configured, we found the tool would quickly connect to whichever of our WLAN access points was available. A Bluetooth wizard also walks the user through the process of setting up common scenarios, such as connecting to the internet via a phone or synchronising with a PC.

Both radio interfaces can be turned on or off via their own on-screen button, which makes it easy to have wireless on just long enough to collect emails or to look up a web page, then switch it off again to save battery power. Our tests suggested that the batteries would last only for about three or four hours if the WLAN were being used for much of the time.

At 165g, the hx2750 is lighter than many previous iPaq models. Its casing features rubber strips at the sides that make it easier to grip, and a detachable flip-up clear plastic cover protects the screen when the device is not being used.

The hx2750 has a removable battery pack rated at 1,440mAh, which can be swapped out for an optional larger battery pack with twice the capacity.

Another useful feature is HP's iPaq File Store, which lets users access spare capacity in the Flash chip that holds the device's firmware. The hx2750 models have 80MB free, which is in addition to the device's 128MB RAM, and this 80MB does not lose its contents if the batteries run down.

All models in the hx2000 range have a CompactFlash and a Secure Digital card slot for expansion.

Price: £365 + VAT

Contact: HP 0845 270 4222