Bundle makes HP palm-size PC a handful

Hewlett-Packard Co. is adding a flash card and software bundle to its Jornada 420 palm-size PC package.

The 16MB SanDisk CompactFlash removable-storage card extends the device's storage capacity and its file-sharing capability. The three software products enhance the unit's voice and visual features.

The software includes HP voice contacts, a speech-recognition application that allows users to retrieve telephone numbers and even dial them from their contact databases simply by pressing the Record button and speaking the person's name. Also included, Sierra Imaging's Image Expert CE P/PC software, allowing users to view and annotate JPEG or BMP images with voice, hand-drawn "ink" or text. The final component of the software bundle is the HP 64K color driver, which improves the Jornada 420's display quality from 256 to 65,536 colors.

The memory and software offer, which HP values at $160, will come free with any Jornada 420 palm-size PC purchased before Aug. 31.

The 8.81-ounce Jornada 420 runs Microsoft Windows CE and features a color display. It sells for an estimated street price of $499.

More information on the HP Jornada 420 palm-size PC and its third-party solutions is available on the web at http://www.hp.com/jornada .