Category Archives: Q&A

Responses to questions emailed to me

Upgrade an HP iPAQ 2215?

Reader I.I.B. asks: I wish to know if my ipaq 2215 can upgrade to windows mobile 5.0?? or windows mobile 2003 2nd Edition????

Unfortunately, HP did not provide any kind of upgrade path for the iPAQ 2215 Pocket PC. However, current generation Pocket PCs (without phone capability) are reasonably priced as they slowly disappear from the product  landscape. The 416MHz Dell Axim X51 is currently $224 and the HP iPAQ rx1955 is $299.99.

Windows Mobile Terminal Client Port Assignment

Reader M.T. asks: I just read your article: “Get organized with Windows Mobile.” Nice job! I have a question: My tech is about ready to throw my hand held out the window! How can I connect the terminal services to a specific port? We are networked in my office and I can’t seem to connect remotely to my office computer. It doesn’t like the colon after the address and my four digit port number.

Also, is there any version of internet explorer 5.5 or higher that is compatible to Windows 5.0?

M.T.: A fellow Microsoft MVP has a great article about Remote Desktop tips at…
Windows XP Pro Remote Desktop configuration, use and troubleshooting help and tips

…that includes a section on port assignments on the Pocket PC side. Head over to read that article and see if it addresses your question.

I’m not sure what you are asking regarding Interet Explorer. I’m assuming you are asking if there is some newer version you can upgrade to on the Pocket PC. If so, the answer is no.

PowerPoint for Windows Mobile 5 Pocket PCs

Reader K.N asks: I have axim x51v with pocket pc 2002 installed, can I upgrade the OS to windows mobile 2005? Those technicials or supporting engineers can’t really help. The x51v I am using came with windows mobile 5.0, but the feature of powerpoint is view only, not editing. The editing feature is available in Pocket pc 2003 or later. do all these versions belong to the same family of windows mobile 5.0?

K.N. The Axim X51v Pocket PC only ships as a Windows Mobile 5 device. So, that is what you already have. Windows Mobile 5 is also the first version of Windows Mobile to ship with PowerPoint Mobile. So, there is no previous version from which features were lost. My guess is that you are thinking of a third party application called Conduits Pocket Slides which has some slide editing features.

Compaq Aero ActiveSync Serial Cable

Reader R.O. asks: I lent my Compaq Aero to a friend that promptly lost the Autosync cable. I haven’t been able to locate a replacement but I was wondering if a db9f/db9f null modem cable would suffice.

Wow, a Compaq Aero? Handheld PC or Palm-size PC. Haven’t had a question about one of those in years. Yes, the serial cables were null modem type cables with 2-3 (and other pairs crossed). Click on this link for more possibly useful info: HP Jornada cable discussion in PocketPCFAQ.com forum.

Excel/Word Mobile for Moto Q Smartphone?

Reader J.R. asks: Is there an excel, word package that works for the Motorola Q smartphone that recently came out thru Verizon?

J.R. Unlike Windows Mobile Pocket PC and Pocket Phone Edition devices, the Windows Mobile Smartphone devices (such as the Motorola Q) do not have Mobile Office components such as Excel or Word. There are, however, third party packages that may meet some of your needs (reading but not writing). You can read my O’Reilly Network blog item…

Reading Microsoft Word and Excel Files on a Windows Mobile Smartphone

…for more information. If you want to edit Word and Excel files, you should look at Pocket PC Phone Edition products such as the T-Mobile MDA or Verizon Wireless Treo 700w.