HP admits Pocket PC isn't so colourful

Hewlett Packard (HP) has apologised for providing users with incorrect information about the graphics capability of its recently launched Pocket PC device.

The company said that while promoting its Jornada 540 series Pocket PC, which was launched in April, it incorrectly stated that the handheld device is capable of displaying 16bit or 65,536 colours.

HP said it only recently discovered that while the screen technology has the ability to display 16bit images, an electronic component within the device limits the actual colour resolution that customers see to 12bit - or a maximum of 4096 colours displayed at any time.

This means that Jornada users will not be able to view high-resolution images on the handheld PC, such as photographs or high-resolution images on websites.

Emmanuel Klotz, Jornada spokesman at HP Europe, said: "This does not affect any of the standard applications, but it does affect users trying to look at high-resolution images, and websites with rich content, in particular using specialised graphics software such as Sierra Imaging's Expert CE."

"It is a mistake from us, but at the same time it is not an issue that would affect many users," he added.

HP is working on a scheme that enables European users of the company's older Windows CE based handheld devices to upgrade to a new Pocket PC device, said Klotz.

Currently, only US Jornada users are able to trade in their old Windows CE devices for a Pocket PC by paying a fee of $100.

"We are working on a trade-in scheme [for HP in Europe] and will announce this in the next two or three weeks," said Klotz.

Compaq and Casio on the other hand are able to upgrade user's existing machines to Pocket PC for around $100. Any user who bought a Compaq Aero 1520 or 2100 after 24 February 2000 can upgrade the device free.