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