Customer Reviews
I loved it until the screen broke....twice.... 
2005-02-19
I won my ipaq in a school-related economics competition and it was in perfect working order for about 1 or 2 months. One day it was in my pocket in its INCLUDED case (that apparently doesn't protect it in the least) and when I took it out the screen was cracked. I had to send it to hp and pay $200 to get it fixed because "screen issues" are not protected under warranty. They fixed it, sent it back, and I proceeded to assume that it wouldn't break again. Then 7 months later I was using it in my car, parked my car, put it in a cargo pocket - one that wouldn't put ANY pressure on it, walked inside my apt. building, walked up the stairs, walked into my room, pulled it out, took it out of its INCLUDED case, and lo and behold, 6 cracks lined the screen. I emailed hp and they told me that I only had a warranty on the screen for 6 months after its repair - since it was 7 months since its repair, I would have to pay 200 dollars once again. So now it sits in my drawer and takes up space. You'd think that hp would have the sense to warn people of the screen's fragility, or of their case's complete inability to protect it. Why should I have to pay $200 every time a defective product breaks? Be prepared to make a serious investment if you purchase this product.
Another HP failure 2005-02-09
Initially the ipaq 4355 had everything I wanted: bluetooth, wireless internet, a sdc slot for memory and a keyboard. It worked well for 6 months.
After 6 months of normal use the screen "cracked" and stopped displaying the images properly. I sent the ipaq to HP assuming that it would be covered under the warranty. Instead the HP repair center claims that it happened because I put too much pressure against the screen causing micro-fractures and weeks later it finally broke, therefore it was not something covered by the warrenty.
They gave me the option of paying $180 to have it repaired or pay them $80 to send it back to me unrepaired. Naturally, I took the 3rd option and paid them $0. I'll let you figure the logic of charging customers a fee to evaluate the problem.
A few other people posted reviews of the screen cracking on this same model leading me to think its a design problem that HP is covering up. It seems that normal usage of the machine will cause cracks and the eventual failure of the screen.
Definitely think twice about buying any HP product!
Extremely bad screen durability 2004-11-20
I have had my 4355 for about 10 months now, and in that time the screen has cracked twice. The first time, I grudgingly paid the $175 fee to replace it and figured I must have done something wrong. Two months later, it cracks again. This time I am positive there was no extreme pressure, it was never dropped.
It is simply poorly designed and extremely fragile.
I will say that the way I use my PDA's has not changed in a decade. This is the only one (Palm Pilot, etc) that cannot take simple every day wear and tear.
HP, if this your idea of product quality and design, you should be ashamed of yourself. When people have problems with your flawed products, fix them for free.
I have spent thousands over the past 2 years on HP cameras, computers, etc and this has left such a bad taste in my mouth I will never by another HP product again.
A Palm lover easliy converts to the PPC platform! 
2004-11-19
I'm a professional reviewer of fiction books - and I've gotten pretty good at that. My desire now is to try to get into beta teting and technical writing. It's not going to happen tomorrow, but if indeed it is ever to happen, I need to use multi PDA platforms - so I asked one of my writing groups to recommend a PPC. I wanted three things: A thumb keyboard, WiFi and Bluetooth and a bright, bigger screen. So, this PDA was recommended, and it is now in my hands.
Though I still love and use my Palm PDAs - Tapwave Zodiac 2 and Palm Tungsten C - I find the SPEED of the WiFi radio amazing - no setting it up to find my network - it happened automatically. One of my favorite things to to read news or ebooks late at night without disturbing my husband. Granted I can read and review ebooks with my Palm PDAs, but the WiFi on the Tungsten C prevented me from surfing the web unless I was in the same room with the wireless. With the iPAQ, I can surf the web, and collect email anywhere in my entire eight-room apartment. I've even gone out to the front porch and still have access!
I got used to the thumb keyboard with the Tungsten C. I like the backlight that comes with the iPAQ, but admittedly, it'll take some time getting used to the keys being a bit different (location wise, from the Palm), but I'm a quick learner.
For someone who hasn't crossed PDA platforms before, I'm truly glad I did.
I highly recommend this device, especially since the price range on Ebay is quite reasonable.
Robin T.
Fabulous piece, slightly expensive, no Windows Mobile SE 200 
2004-10-26
I have been using my 4355 for over 2 weeks now and it has been a faithfull little PDA, juggling my Notes, Appointments, maps and directions from Mapquest - AvantGo.
eMails are fun with the small keyboard attached, I'm a network freak, and even have PocketPutty installed, I have SSH and so with the Wifi network, I really dont need my Notebook at all!
My music sounds okay, volume is loud enough and so is a decent mp3 player for the money, and I have discovered this box to be a great way to show off pictures that I take from the places that I visit.
On the down side, the keyboard is a tad smaller than what is comfy, and I have found this PDA to be slightly heavy too. The lack of Windows Mobile SE 2003, means no landscape mode ;-(.
Other than this, no gripes (as yet), I am buying a hard-case for this baby looking at others experiences with the LCD screen.
All in all, a great PDA, extremely reliable.
Very nice pocket pc 2007-02-10
I had an HP IPAQ RZ1715 and I upgraded to the HP IPAQ 4355. The 4355 is a very good pocket pc. I had no trouble connecting to the wireless network of my university. The total memory is 64 MB which makes running multiple applications possible, something that was unthinkable with the 1715. Obviously there is a limit to the number of applications that you can install and run with the 64 MB or memory. The keyboard is also a very welcome feature and it makes input much easier. However, constructing Word, Excel documents etc. will take longer than it does on a desktop or a laptop. That is to be expected with a keyboard of this size. The size of the pocket pc is relatively large (especially if you compare it with other pocket pcs) but again that is because of the addition of the keyboard. Overall, I am impressed with the 4355 and would recommend this device.
Good, but can do with more enhancements 
2006-01-11
I've had this PDA for 6 months and it's been very useful in most cases. My one big complaint is that you cannot use a bluetooth cordless headset to listen to mp3 music/audio. This is something HP needs to upgrade. I would rather not have to switch to a corded headset just to listen to music.
some recommendations after using it 1 year 2005-11-27
I bought this unit one year ago, and I love it. I have some recommendations about ways to take the best of it:
1. Don't buy it before you buy a hard case. The screen is extremely fragile. Mine broke while I had the unit in my pocket. Use an aluminium hard case and never take it out of it.
2. Internet browsing sucks, I installed pcAnywhere software and I connect directly to my pc at home, I use the pocket pc as a remote screen of my home pc, so I have all the power of a desktop pc in this little unit.
3. I recommend to install mobile skype out, you can use your unit as a mobile VOIP phone
Really good, haven't found the perfect PDA yet, but close 2005-04-11
If it could do more screens in landscape, especially the internet, it would be a a 10 (out of 5 starts. I like the combination of a useable keyboard and stylus, the battery ife is very long. I don't need a camera. The screen can always be bigger and better, but I was happy with it for business and intrenet use, I'd still have it someone didn'swipe it. I'm likely to buy another one.
Response to previous comments on screen issues... 2005-03-21
I took my ipaq to Guatemala and S. Mexico for several months, and after regular usage, and normal precautions against impact, etc., with the factory-issued case, my screen was still intact and remains perfectly fine.
I imagine that there might have been a batch or two that had a flaw. The ipaq color screens are designed like the colorscreens of many comparable color screen products.
I don't feel the screen is a downfall of this product. In fact, it is the primary reason why I chose this product: the resolution, the size, the color.
