HP, Dell Engaging In Handheld-To-Handheld Combat Rivals Eye Consumers Hewlett-Packard aims its latest iPaq PDAs at lower-cost markets.(A)

Byline: MURRAY COLEMAN

Small and sleek win out over big with consumers in the U.S. handheld market.

At least that's what Hewlett-Packard Co. is betting with its new iPaq Pocket PC H1910.

In the past, the computer maker focused on business-oriented wireless devices. Those are powerful and bulky. Now it's coming out with less expensive and slimmer models.

So is rival Dell Computer Corp. It's offering a model that's cheaper than HP's or most others. Cheaper, yes, but HP says Dell's handheld is bulkier and harder to use than the H1910.

"Dell is selling a different sort of device," said Cindy Box, HP's marketing director for smart handhelds. "Our product is much lighter and portable, with more features."

HP and Dell are targeting consumers. That's a change for HP. In the past, it mostly made higher-end personal digital assistants. Those PDAs are aimed at business users willing to pay top dollar for more powerful devices.