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Axim X50v

Daniel Robinson — 2005-01-14T10:40:32.000Z

Daniel Robinson, IT Week, Friday 14 January 2005 at 10:40:32

Dell's Axim X50v has a high-resolution screen, Bluetooth and WLAN capability, and can support PowerPoint presentations

Dell's Axim X50v is a capable Pocket PC handheld featuring Bluetooth and 802.11b wireless technologies, plus a new high-resolution 640x480 VGA screen that makes text easier to read. The device can also optionally connect to a monitor, so that mobile employees could give presentations from the unit.

The X50v, shipping now, was announced along with the rest of Dell's Axim X50 family in October 2004. The X50v is the top-of-the-range model with a 624MHz Intel PXA270 chip, 64MB RAM, and a 3.7in colour screen driven by an Intel 2700G mobile graphics chip with its own 16MB of display memory.

Other models in the range include an Axim X50 that supports 802.11b wireless LAN (WLAN) and Bluetooth, like the X50v, but only has a 520MHz processor. The standard Axim X50 has a 416MHz processor and Bluetooth wireless only. These last two models have 320x240 pixel 3.5in screens.

In tests, we found the superior display of the X50v made for much smoother on-screen text rendering than the standard screen of other Pocket PC handhelds, and this made it easier to read smaller font sizes in documents and especially web pages. The screen itself is bright and clear, even at the default brightness setting.

With its fast processor and dual wireless capability, the Axim X50v is similar in specification to HP's iPaq hx2750, shipping since last month - see our review at the web link below. That model has twice the RAM of the X50v, but costs more and lacks the Dell's high-resolution screen.

Like HP's model, the Axim X50v has good tools for managing wireless connections. An icon on the main screen serves the dual purpose of linking to Dell's WLAN utility and providing an at-a-glance indication of signal strength. The WLAN utility lets users turn the radio on or off with a single click, and automatically scans for available networks. In our tests it found no fewer than six in the vicinity of our labs.

Similarly, a second icon toggles the Bluetooth radio on or off and links to the Bluetooth Manager and Settings tools supplied by Broadcom. The Manager links to wizards to set up a link to a Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone or a Bluetooth ActiveSync partnership with a PC.

A minor gripe concerns the placement, on the left side of the case, of two buttons that turn wireless mode on or off and start audio recording in the Notes application. We constantly hit these by accident when grasping the Axim to lift it out of its docking cradle. Fortunately, Dell has also provided a switch that disables all controls - even the power button and the touchscreen. This can prevent the device from being accidentally switched on in a jacket pocket.

Using any of the wireless modes eats up the device's battery life much faster, but the battery pack is removable, allowing users to carry a spare and swap over when necessary. The supplied docking cradle has a slot to charge a second battery pack at the same time as the Axim itself.

One feature we were unable to try was the Video-Out Presentation Bundle. This optional extra comes with a cable to plug the Axim into an external display unit and show PowerPoint slides using Westtek's ClearVue Presentation tool.

The Axim X50v has both CompactFlash and Secure Digital slots for adding peripherals, although the most common use is likely to be for Flash storage cards. Unused space on the Flash memory chip holding the device's code can also be used for non-volatile storage of user files. About 87MB was free on our review unit.

Price: £289 + VAT

HP iPaq hx2750

Daniel Robinson — 2004-12-02T19:08:44.000Z

Daniel Robinson, IT Week, Thursday 2 December 2004 at 19:08:44

HP's latest palmtop offers a range of features that should appeal to business buyers

HP's new hx2000 series handhelds offer better performance than earlier models and feature built-in wireless connectivity. The devices allow staff to access email and corporate data while on the move, but battery life is unlikely to last for a full day with heavy use of the wireless interface.

The hx2000 series, which ships this month, consists of three models running Microsoft's Windows Mobile for Pocket PC Second Edition software, and all feature Bluetooth wireless capability as standard. We looked at a pre-production version of HP's top-of-the-range hx2750 model, which also has integrated 802.11b wireless LAN capability. It also has a built-in swipe scanner that can be used to restrict access to the device by fingerprint scan, but this capability was not working on our test model.

We found our review unit was noticeably more responsive than earlier Pocket PC handhelds we have seen, thanks to its 624MHz Intel PXA270 processor. The hx2750 also has impressive tools to help users set up and manage their wireless connections more easily.

Features that will appeal to enterprise buyers are HP's ProtectTools to encrypt data stored on the device; HP's mobile printing tool that lets staff print documents from the handheld; and a utility to back up data to Flash storage cards.

The hx2000 series handhelds all have a traditional 320x240 QVGA display rather than the high-resolution 640x480 screens found on some newer Pocket PC devices.

Windows Mobile Second Edition allows the screen to be switched between portrait and landscape orientation at any time. We found many web pages looked better if Pocket Internet Explorer was used in landscape mode. The screen itself appeared bright and easy to read.

HP's iPaq Wireless application allows the user to set up and manage WLAN and Bluetooth connections. Once configured, we found the tool would quickly connect to whichever of our WLAN access points was available. A Bluetooth wizard also walks the user through the process of setting up common scenarios, such as connecting to the internet via a phone or synchronising with a PC.

Both radio interfaces can be turned on or off via their own on-screen button, which makes it easy to have wireless on just long enough to collect emails or to look up a web page, then switch it off again to save battery power. Our tests suggested that the batteries would last only for about three or four hours if the WLAN were being used for much of the time.

At 165g, the hx2750 is lighter than many previous iPaq models. Its casing features rubber strips at the sides that make it easier to grip, and a detachable flip-up clear plastic cover protects the screen when the device is not being used.

The hx2750 has a removable battery pack rated at 1,440mAh, which can be swapped out for an optional larger battery pack with twice the capacity.

Another useful feature is HP's iPaq File Store, which lets users access spare capacity in the Flash chip that holds the device's firmware. The hx2750 models have 80MB free, which is in addition to the device's 128MB RAM, and this 80MB does not lose its contents if the batteries run down.

All models in the hx2000 range have a CompactFlash and a Secure Digital card slot for expansion.

Price: £365 + VAT

Contact: HP 0845 270 4222

ViewSonic V35

Daniel Robinson, IT Week — 2003-05-23T09:04:27.000Z

Daniel Robinson, IT Week, IT Week, Friday 23 May 2003 at 09:04:27

ViewSonic's V35 is slim, light and one of the cheapest handhelds around, but it lacks wireless capability

ViewSonic's V35 is a low-cost handheld based on Microsoft's Pocket PC 2002 software. The device lacks built-in wireless capability, but its light weight and slimline design will probably appeal to mobile staff who only need basic handheld functionality.

The V35 is currently shipping at a price of £195 + VAT, which makes it one of the cheapest handhelds available.

One of Dell's Axim models is cheaper, but only has 32MB of memory compared with the V35's 64MB. Dell's model offers more flexibility with both CompactFlash and Secure Digital card slots, but the V35 is much lighter at 125g.

At 121x76x12mm, the V35 is slightly larger than Hewlett-Packard's iPaq H1910. Like that model, the V35 comes with the Pocket PC code stored in Nand Flash, which means it must be copied into memory when the device is first turned on.

This reduces the available memory to just 36.45MB, but user files and documents can be held on Secure Digital Flash storage cards, freeing the internal memory for applications.

ViewSonic has equipped the V35 with a 3.5in colour screen. This screen is slightly smaller than that of some rival PDAs, which are typically 3.8in, but we found it to be clear and easy to read.

On the downside, the V35's battery is not removable, unlike that of most new handheld models. ViewSonic quotes a life of about 10 hours from the built-in lithium-ion battery pack.

The ViewSonic V35 ships with a USB docking cradle and battery charger, plus Microsoft's ActiveSync software to synchronise the handheld's data with Outlook on a Windows PC.

Price: £195 + VAT

Contact: ViewSonic 01293 643 900

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HP iPaq H1910

Daniel Robinson, IT Week — 2003-03-14T09:52:52.000Z

Daniel Robinson, IT Week, IT Week, Friday 14 March 2003 at 09:52:52

HP's latest iPaq is cheap, stylish and compact but lacks wireless support and expansion options

HP's iPaq H1910 is a low-cost handheld running Microsoft's Pocket PC 2002 software. It is one of the lightest and slimmest handheld designs we have seen, but it is handicapped by a lack of built-in wireless communications and limited expansion options. But it will still appeal to firms where few staff need wireless access to information, and it might sell to users who value portability more than high-end features.

The iPaq H1910 is shipping now at a price of £245 + VAT, which makes it slightly more costly than Dell's Axim X5. But while Dell's low-cost handheld is at least as big as other Pocket PCs, the iPaq H1910 is significantly smaller. At 113x69x12mm, it is about two-thirds the size of other Pocket PCs and just over half the weight, at 120g.

Some compromises have been made to reduce the size and weight of the iPaq H1910. It lacks the built-in Bluetooth or 802.11b wireless communication functions found on other iPaq models such as the H5450. Unlike Dell's Axim, the H1910 also lacks a CompactFlash expansion slot, and its Secure Digital (SD) slot can only be used for adding Flash storage cards. A later model will add SDIO, said HP.

Another limitation is that only 46MB of the 64MB memory fitted is available for user programs and data. This is because the Pocket PC 2002 operating system is stored in Nand Flash memory, and has to be copied into RAM when the iPaq H1910 is first switched on. Nand Flash memory was used because it is cheaper and physically smaller than standard Flash chips.

The H1910's display is slightly smaller than those of other iPaq models, but comparable to that of the Dell Axim at 3.5in. The display is of the transflective type, and we found it bright and easy to read in a variety of light conditions.

HP has wisely equipped the iPaq H1910 with a removable battery pack. This is a small rechargeable lithium ion pack, about the same size as a mobile phone battery. Despite its relatively small size, HP claims it can last 12 to 14 hours between recharges.

The iPaq H1910 ships with a USB synchronisation cable as standard, but not with a docking cradle. A cradle is available as an optional extra, and this allows a spare battery to be charged at the same time as the handheld, according to HP.

The H1910 is based on a 200MHz version of Intel's XScale PXA250 chip instead of the 300MHz or 400MHz typical of rival systems, but this has no discernible effect on the speed of the device in normal use. In addition to the standard suite of Pocket PC tools and applications, the H1910 includes an Asset Viewer application that displays useful information regarding the device, such as model name and serial number.

Price: £245 + VAT

Contact: HP 0845 270 4222

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Dell Axim X5

Daniel Robinson, IT Week — 2003-02-07T09:57:35.000Z

Daniel Robinson, IT Week, IT Week, Friday 7 February 2003 at 09:57:35

Dell's Axim X5 is cheap and offers most of the features found on pricier rivals

Dell's Axim X5 is a low-cost handheld based on Microsoft's Pocket PC 2002 platform. The Axim's price of £229 + VAT, or less, may appeal to firms that have previously had to pay over £400 to equip each employee with a handheld client. But the low price means the device lacks some of the more advanced features of recent models for corporates, such as Bluetooth or wireless LAN (WLAN) connectivity.

The Axim X5, available now, includes most of the features seen on other Pocket PC handhelds, including a colour TFT screen and an Intel XScale processor.

Unusually for a low-cost model, the Axim also features both Secure Digital (SD) and CompactFlash slots for adding extra storage and peripherals. Two models are available; our review unit had a 400MHz processor and 64MB memory and costs £229 + VAT; an entry-level model has a 300MHz processor with 32MB memory for £169 + VAT.

HP's rival iPaq range now includes many models with built-in Bluetooth wireless capability for connecting to mobile phones and peripherals. Its high-end iPaq 5450 also features an integrated 802.11b WLAN adapter and a fingerprint scanner for added security.

While such features can be added to Dell's Axim through its SD and CompactFlash slots, companies are advised to evaluate whether a low-cost model would meet their requirements or whether greater connectivity is needed.

In Dell's favour is the Axim's removable battery pack, which lets users carry a swappable spare to boost working time. The docking cradle provided with the Axim X5 also has a second slot to let users recharge a spare battery pack while the handheld itself is charging, or synchronising with a desktop PC.

Dell has built in one or two extras in addition to the standard Pocket PC 2002 suite of productivity applications and utilities. A tool called the Switcher Bar places three icons on the Axim's menu bar at the top of the display: one lets the user switch quickly between running applications; another accesses the screen brightness controls; a third accesses the device's power management options.

The power management options are similar to those offered on PC laptops, and consist of Normal, Power Save, and Auto modes to control the processor clock speed. On our review system, the Normal option ran the Axim at its full 400MHz, while PowerSave throttled the clock back to 200MHz. Auto mode adjusts the Axim's processor clock speed according to the workload.

A System Information utility displays useful information about the Axim, such as the processor clock speed, memory size, and the unique identification number carried by each Pocket PC device.

Under our Windows CE Processor Test 2.1, the Axim returned a score of 13.1 when running in Normal mode. This is slightly higher than other XScale-based Pocket PC models we have tested, but these were little faster than older devices based on the StrongArm chip for which Pocket PC 2002 is optimised.

In PowerSave mode, the Axim scored around 10.6, while Auto mode produced intermediate scores, just as would be expected if the processor were switching between 200MHz and 400MHz.

The Axim X5 is a little thicker than most iPaq models and weighs roughly the same at about 200g. The X5's screen is slightly smaller, however.

We found the Dell device's stylus, which is very thin and paddle-shaped, somewhat awkward to hold and use.

Price: £229 + VAT with a 400MHz processor and 64MB memory; £169 + VAT with a 300MHz processor and 32MB memory

Contact: Dell 0870 152 4699

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HP iPaq 5450

Daniel Robinson, IT Week — 2002-11-15T10:43:56.000Z

Daniel Robinson, IT Week, IT Week, Friday 15 November 2002 at 10:43:56

With its integrated wireless connectivity and strong security, HP's latest iPaq handheld should attract corporate buyers

HP's iPaq 5450 Pocket PC handheld, shipping this week, features both 802.11b wireless LAN (WLAN) and Bluetooth connectivity as standard, and also has a built-in fingerprint scanner for secure access to the device, as an alternative to users entering a PIN. The combination of integrated wireless communications and security will probably attract interest from firms wanting to support mobile staff.

The iPaq 5450 is the first handheld IT Week has seen with both WLAN and Bluetooth wireless standards, although Toshiba has been shipping its Pocket PC e740 with built-in WLAN since September.

With many firms now rolling out 802.11b WLAN infrastructure, the iPaq 5450 will let workers browse the Web and access email from anywhere on-site within range of a wireless access point. Off-site, the Bluetooth interface lets the iPaq 5450 connect to enterprise resources via Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones.

In tests, we found we could easily connect to an evaluation WLAN and browse the Web. A built-in HP configuration tool stores multiple WLAN configuration profiles, letting the user roam between different wireless networks. The iPaq 5450 also supports voice over IP (VoIP) when connected to a WLAN, and can use an optional headset for calls.

A small window just beneath the iPaq's navigation button is a built-in fingerprint scanner, over which the user swipes their finger to be identified. A supplied HP tool can lock the device until a valid fingerprint has been entered, or an optional four-digit PIN can also be used to log in. We would like to see this extended to secure access to corporate resources as well as the device.

The iPaq 5450 is the same size and shape as current iPaq models, and can accept the same expansion jackets, if required. It also has the transflective 64,000 colour screen introduced on the iPaq 3900 series, and includes a removable battery pack. HP said that users should get a full day's use out of the iPaq 5450 even with frequent WLAN access, but an optional extended battery pack will ship within the next few months.

The device is based on a 400MHz Intel XScale chip with 64MB memory and has a Secure Digital card slot for Flash storage.

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Price: £552 + VAT

Contact: Hewlett-Packard 0990 474747