Acer n35: classic with navigation

Mobile devices that use satellite navigation system GPS (Global Positioning System), are now experiencing a rebirth thanks to the fact that they have finally hit the mainstream. At the moment difficult to say who gave birth to this demand - whether the vendors in search of new "chips" or buyers, puzzled problem orienteering. But one thing is clear: demand is there and, pardon the pun, will be there. All the more so for a promising new direction took The record of Hewlett-Packard (see news on the upcoming device HP iPAQ hw6500), establish itself, finally, on the throne PDA realm. So, the market is already there are many models of GPS-receivers, working both solo and in duet with a different PC. Naturally, the PDAs after "navigators in itself" - the first candidates for the role of mobile agents. For built-in GPS in the PDA "indicate" small, solid (compared to laptops), battery life, and informative color displays. Nevertheless, while the model with built-in GPS-receivers can be counted on the fingers. In Russia, the most well-known two of them - Garmin iQue 3600 (based on the operating system Palm OS 5.2) and Mitac Mio 168 (running Windows Mobile 2003). Completion of the series has come "from which no waiting" - from the company Acer, hitherto known for victories at the "noutbukostroeniya. So, we meet - Pocket PC Acer n35.

Specifications:
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003
• Processor: Samsung S3C2410 266 MHz
• Memory: 64M RAM (55 MB user available) and 32 MB of Flash ROM (2 MB available)
• Screen: 3.5 "(89 mm) transflective TFT, 240x320 pixels, 65536 colors
• Memory Expansion: SD / Multimedia Card
• Wireless interfaces: IrDA
• Battery: Li-ion, built-in, 1000 mAh
• Audio: microphone, speaker, 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack
• Dimensions and weight: 120 x 72 x 20 mm and 150 g.

Compare Acer n35 with the nearest competitor, Mitac Mio 168, can use the "Compare devices" in the "Catalogue of the CCP" on our site.

Supplied

As the main rival (Mitac Mio 168), the new PDA is adapted primarily for use in the car. Hence the complete set, explicitly targeted to this application. For example, the set is not the cradle, but there is a car holder and adapter for power from the motor network.

So, set:
• PDA
• Mains Charger
• USB-cable for synchronization with PC
• Car Holder with mounting to the windshield
• adapter into the cigarette lighter to power the on-board vehicle network
• cover
• Software
• User's Guide.

Appearance

Left to right: HP iPAQ h2210, Acer n35 and Mitac Mio 168

Pocket PC 2005 Acer n35 has a fairly large size and weight, especially compared with the same Mitac Mio 168, so keep it in your hand is not too convenient. Curiously, the rear part of the PDA a bit skewed towards the bottom, which improves his "landing" in the hand and somewhat compensates for the thickness. Body material - smooth plastic silver. Housing - strictly rectangular (kirpichevidnoy - hello first Pocket PC!) Shape, with slightly rounded edges. The back of the Acer n35, GPS antenna and the panel around the screen is also made of plastic, but black. Workmanship body of our hero deserves a solid four. In addition to the antenna GPS (when folded) czadi posted a multimedia speaker. The design of the new PDA, in my opinion, bezyskusen. Immediately evident that the company - a newcomer to the PDA market and has not paying particular attention to the appearance of their products. Although, I repeat, external evaluation of the merits - a subjective thing. Maybe someone will like a retro-style handhelds. Nevertheless, a definite plus to the design of Acer n35 can include, for example, the antenna of GPS-receiver, which is folded completely utaplivaetsya in the case, as opposed to, say, Mio 168, the antenna is simply pressed against the back wall, which greatly increases the size PDA.

Cverhu Mitac Mio 168, bottom - Acer n35

Location of Controls - Standard. Under the screen is a block of buttons "hot call" applications with a joystick. On the background of the latest designer finds eminent PDA manufacturers buttons and the joystick Acer n35 looks a bit old fashioned, but, nevertheless, is a classic version of the location from which we have already managed to break the habit. The buttons are also the most ordinary: Today, Calendar, Contacts and Inbox. Function keys, of course, can be reprogrammed. Buttons - are rather large (outside a bit more inland), have a great course and a clear tactile feedback. To protect against accidental clicks, they are placed in a special recess. Interestingly, the Acer n35 joystick again "classic." This is not the now familiar four-way key, namely the joystick. Unlike counterparts in other typewriters, this constructive element - not a round and square, which greatly facilitates the recognition of areas of depression. In the joystick is a unique feature: there is no fifth (center) button, usually performs the function Enter. This fact is puzzling at first, but then remember that the machine is another element of control - the scroll wheel. On him and appointed Enter. This solution has pluses and minuses. Plus the fact that there is no possibility of confusion "arrows and the Enter key on the joystick that adds convenience when using it in games. Less - joystick becomes inconvenient for menu navigation PDA, for it is better to use the wheel. In general, the quality of execution control buttons have no complaints, since they are quite comfortable. We continue our examination. Above the screen Acer n35 are performance indicators. Right is responsible for the batteries, and memos. Left indicates the work of GPS-module and include, as appropriate, only when advanced GPS-antenna. At the top end cars all the same standard. Here are located: the headphone jack, memory card slot SD / MMS, inlet microphone and a silo. It also houses the infrared port, covered by a strip of dark translucent plastic. In general, paying attention especially not on that. Headphone jack - standard (3.5 mm). The stylus is also a classic: metal, with plastic okontsovkami top and bottom. Mounted on it is quite durable, the possibility of spontaneous fall-out of the nest is practically impossible. At the bottom there is an interface connector, reset button (for some reason square:) and a switch to disable the battery. The left side is placed the power button and a scroll wheel. His presence all the more pleased that now it is more convenient control is rare in today's PDAs. On the right side there is nothing but jack for an external GPS-antenna. So, to sum the subtotal. Before us, so to speak, the classical implementation of the CCP. All of the minimum required elements and is conveniently located, any excesses are absent. Special thanks to the developers for the scroll wheel. By cons include the fairly large size and weight, well, lacking frills appearance. However, the last point - the amateur. Total, pretty confident, "Quartet." Now let's see what's inside.

Processor. Memory. Performance

Acer n35 In a fairly old processor Samsung S3C2410 clocked at 266 MHz. This decision has not proved particularly fast, but for the vast majority of applications is fully applicable. In addition, the installation of the "stone" allows you to reduce the cost of the platform, which is important for this class of device. The amount of RAM is standard - 64 MB, of which the user has access to 55 MB. ROM decreased in volume compared with the adopted today 64-128 MB and is only 32 MB. This has resulted in an extremely small amount of space allocated for storage of user data - less than 2 MB. However, at current prices for memory cards, this option is not so critical. Evaluation of performance made the program SPB Benchmark. The testing revealed a nasty bug. PDA hangs on the test read a large number of files. I had to remove this item from the tests, which resulted in lack of appreciation Platform Index.The rest of the new CCP has shown itself pretty well, beating all of their "classmates" as on the processor speed, and speed of memory operations. Although, in fairness, it should be noted that all the contestants this machine - very old Pocket PC as well as the characteristics of Acer n35 frankly weak for 2005. The only modern PDA, taking part in the race "with the Acer n35, - budget HP iPAQ hx2110. Below are the detailed results of testing. Speed ​​video test programs for playing movies in the format of MPEG4 - BetaPlayer 0.0.95. Not that watching movies was very important for this class of PDAs, but the concept of the speed charts, this test provides. Media was three test file supplied BetaPlayer: RL_LQB, RL_MQB and RL_HQ. The first two - mobile movies and medium quality, the latter - the usual (unconverted) video. Test Results - below. Detailed results can be found in the attached file. Thus, despite the fact that playing video is not for Acer n35 prerequisite, however, our hero is pretty well accomplished this daunting task. The only thing that typing "too tough" - to play a full, unconverted video. However, the cost of modern PDA is a little-under force.

Screen

Absolutely nothing eye-catching, high-quality 3.5-inch (89 mm) transflektiv. Highlighting a little weaker than the nearest competitor, Mio 168, but in general, bright. Unfortunately, the minimum level of lighting - too bright, which leads to the fact that in the dark screen PDA is quite straining your eyes. And if in the case of the usual palm on it you can watch through your fingers, then a GPS-navigator, which is designed for installation in the car, it's still failing. The quality of images have no complaints. Lights - uniform, has 20 degrees of brightness. No artifacts (flicker, bands) was observed. The viewing angles are also good - the image is not inverted at all angles up to 90 degrees and only looks good at angles of 45 degrees. In general, the standard for today's handheld screen.

Battery

Acer n35 is equipped with built-in battery 1000 mAh. This decision does not add to the handheld mobility, given that fuel accounts for not only PDAs, but also GPS-module, and an extra battery available. Excuse is just that PDAs are mainly planned for use in the car, and there are no problems with power.

Testing time work was carried out with a full battery charge before the Main battery low warning in four different modes:
1. Stress test. GPS-enabled module, brightness and volume - the maximum, the CPC lost in a series of "hard" video. Opening hours - 2 hours 05 minutes.
2. Normal operation. Simulated average load: GPS-enabled module, the speaker volume was set at half the maximum brightness - in the first division of the minimum. PDA lost in a cycle of regular video. Opening hours - 3 hours 15 minutes.
3. Reading e-books. GPS-module is turned off, the light - in the first division of the minimum, the reading was made c card program Haali Reader mode avtoskrolla. Hours - 5 hours 15 minutes.
4. Play audio. GPS-module and the screen turned off. Plays performed on the headphones for Palm Zire 71 (the usual "gag" in the ears of middle harakteritikami). Used the program GS Player, files with a bitrate of 192-256 KBps played with the memory card. Hours - 7 hours 50 minutes.

The new PDA is certainly not record for longer battery life. Substantially all of the tests, our hero left behind, even from its direct competitor, Mitac Mio 168 (typewriter more than a year old). Particularly surprised while working in read mode. Obviously this is due to the fact that the minimum level of illumination still pretty high. But, overall, the results can not be called a failure. And if we take into account the specificity of the positioning device (for use in the car), it is quite tolerable.

Sound

About the sound is nothing special (nor bad nor good) we can not say. Y Acer n35 is quite high-quality audio section: both high and low frequencies are well developed, no distortion or noise on hearing have been reported. Unfortunately, the machine is not a hardware equalizer, so that the fans dig the sound will have to find the application player with software tone control. Voice recorder for Acer n35 is standard. Inside the average noise (a small retail shop) conversation cobesednika clearly recorded at a distance of 2 meters. The sensitivity of the recorder can be changed for this purpose there is a corresponding applet in the settings.

GPS-module

Unfortunately, the manufacturer does not specify in what chipset built internal GPS-receiver. Indicated only that he was a 12-channel. In addition, the palm is not any (even Test) software to work with GPS. The manual says that the machine must be equipped with a memory card preloaded with navigation software for a specific region. Apparently, for Russia, nothing was found. I had to install the best of my test utility from the GPS-module Pretec - GPS Info. Cold start was quite fast. Within three minutes after the launch of the CPC found the six satellites and moved to the regime of 2D-navigation, "hooking" the three of them. Within a half minutes had been "caught" two more satellites. It is enough for normal 3D-navigation, even though in difficult reception conditions, I still would recommend using an external GPS-antenna. When testing on the road has been involved Navigation System PocketGPS Pro v.2. Subjective feelings are.The quality of GPS-navigator Acer n35 is comparable to other decent receivers. PDA confident "holds" companions, losing their signal is only there, where we put (in tunnels and under bridges). Within three days of intensive travel on the central part of Moscow (the narrow streets with tall buildings, which are not very comfortable setting for navigation) the signal was lost a total of five times, and then no more than 20-30 seconds. Speed ​​of cars was quite adequate tasks. PocketGPS Pro, quite demanding to the resources of the handheld software, worked perfectly. True, when laying a long and complex routes (through the city with a few exclusions) the PDA had to think for 30-40 seconds, which, incidentally, is quite normal. In addition, when navigating a very loud speaker helped Acer n35. Thanks to him, the voice instructions not disappoint:) Only seen the negative - Acer n35 flatly refuses to work with magnetic car holder. Apparently, the receiver "does not like" the magnetic field. So we'll take care of the included holder, he is something just is not magnetic.

Software

On the Acer n35 is running Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 with his gentlemanly set:
• Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, Notes
• Pocket Word, Pocket Excel
• Pocket Internet Explorer
• Inbox
• Voice Recorder
• Windows Media Player 9
• File Explorer
• Pictures
• Calculator
• Solitaire, Jawbreaker
• Terminal Services Client, MSN Messenger
• Microsoft Reader

In addition, there is an additional utility for creating backups. More on the machine is not installed anything. That is to say, a classic in its pure form, without impurities. Very upset absence of at least an elementary test program to work with GPS. If you are thinking to buy this PDA, I recommend pre-load some utility for the reading of the GPS-receiver (for example, VisualGPSce or GPSengine), or you do not understand, this module is working or not.

VisualGPSce: see nine satellites, "geared" - 7

VisualGPSce: stable operation of the receiver

VisualGPSce: speedometer, altimeter, compass and vertical speed indicator

VisualGPSce: Receiver mode 3D-navigation

Price

The suggested retail price of Acer n35 in Russia - $ 373. Home sales are expected next week.

Conclusions

When testing Acer n35 me not to leave mixed feelings. Firstly, to test for Contemporary PDA features still rather modest, however, to carry out their main tasks is enough. Secondly, in terms of design handheld clearly does not cause positive emotions, but at the same time for his size has the ergonomics and boasts quality construction. Only, perhaps, an absolute disadvantage is the lack of Bluetooth PDA at the time, as for today's PDA availability of this module - a standard de facto. In addition, many navigation systems used in their work internet connection, for example, to download information about traffic jams. This operation in the car with the help of infrared future owner of Acer n35 will be to put it mildly, awkward. So, what do we balance?

Cons:
• the lack of Bluetooth
• Built-in battery
• lack of bundled navigation software.

Pros:
• good ergonomics and build quality
• ready-made set of accessories for installation in the car.

The authors, translation: