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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