Most recently, Acer has announced sales of the new n10 handheld-based Pocket PC, based on fashionable now budget gap this platform. This machine can be called the next link in the chain of inexpensive handheld solutions, already consisting of HP iPAQ 1910, RoverPC P3, ViewSonic V35, Dell Axm X5, and, most definitely not weak. Freshly PDA has a good chance to be recognized, thanks to the original design features, which are just below.
Exterior
Externally, Acer n10 - a cross between Futjitsu Siemens Pocket LOOX and Dell Axim X5. He is also hydrogen, silver, has a plastic body with black accents on the sides, through which it does not slip, and obediently lies in the palm of your hand. In general, the design can be described as restrained and futuristic. In general, given the functionality of which below, Acer n10 can be considered very successful in terms of compactness. It weighs relatively little. Judge for yourself:
| Model / parameter | Dimensions | Weight, g | Expansion Slots | Approximate cost |
| ACER n10 | 130 x 78 x 17 | 168 | SD / MMC
and
CompactFlash Type I / II | $ 299 |
| Toshiba e740 | 124 x 79 x 15 | 175 | SD / MMC
and
CompactFlash Type I / II | $ 599 |
Fujitsu-Siemens
Pocket LOOX 600 | 132 x 82 x 17 | 175 | SD / MMC
and
CompactFlash Type I / II | $ 599 |
ViewSonic V35
RoverPC P3 | 123 x 77 x 13 | 119 | SD / MMC | $ 329
$ 299 |
| HP iPAQ 1910 | 113 x 70 x 13 | 120 | SD / MMC | $ 399 |
| Dell Axim X5 Basic | 128 x 82 x 18 | 196 | SD / MMC
and
CompactFlash Type I / II | $ 315 |
Note: The table shows the cost of Acer n10, recommended by the manufacturer. Prices of other Pocket PCs - already Russia. As can be seen from this table, almost all currently manufactured PDAs economy class, except for fat Axim X5, does not have a second expansion slot, which reduces their functionality. Now in the "dissonant series" Dell - addition - Acer n10. This machine is also equipped with Compact Flash and SD / MMC. On the background of low-cost cobratev, and hi-end handhelds novelty looks very attractive, as it combines and small size and light weight and low cost, and good functionality.
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Screen of this PDA, following routine recently manufacturers tradition, built on transflective technology and has a size 3.5 inches diagonally. He looks good in the room and not the best looks in the street, but there remains quite readable. Especially want to note the brightness of the display, even at low levels of illumination good contrast, though, to the screens of the latest HP products, or Sony (which, incidentally, according to rumors, the same thing, because it is a Japanese corporation supplying this item for Pocket PC series iPAQ) still far, far closer to all other members of the budget niche.
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Stylus new items placed in the top and, as it seemed too easy, but because it is far from ideal in terms of ergonomics. Also, it is not very convenient to get, and when it is hidden, a little loose in his lair. The power button is unusual: in front of the case in the upper right corner next to the indicators. However, I think such an arrangement would not deprive the ergonomics of the device, but probably will include PDAs in close bag without the owner's knowledge. The navigation joystick is in its rightful place and has an average size. He is one of the best of its kind because it is very accurately respond to user actions and gently pressed. Also has a function of input, that is, it can be used to run the selected program. Hardware application buttons, reminiscent of similar to that of Fujitsu Siemens Pocket LOOX, - in contrast to the protruding joystick, but also very easy to work.
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On the left side, in addition to the lever bar (which is pretty easy to use), there is a button, by default, start menu, allowing you to work with the device with one hand. Agree, a pleasant trifle.
On the right side has a button to start recording, the place for which was not chosen very well. Just below the slider to lock the buttons ("Hold"), which is convenient when using PDAs as a player, but to his move, you need to make a noticeable effort. However, the latter is not so bad, especially considering the possibility of accidental deactivation of the lock.
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In terms of multimedia capabilities in all the standard n10. Its subwoofer average quality sound. As in the case considered not so long ago, ViewSonic V35, it has enough volume, but inferior to other devices as. Headphone jack is on top, so use the handheld as a player to be comfortable. However, when playing MP3-music heard hardly noticeable hiss. Microphone from machines located in the lower right corner of the device. It is also of poor quality: the recorded sound is accompanied by numerous crash and dropped frames. In general, Acer n10 will obviously not the best choice for journalists. At the top end Acer n10 placed expansion slot standard CompactFlash Type I / II, which is protected by a plug, so what about getting dust can not worry. The second connector SD / MMC card is located on the left side. His only serious design flaw - insufficient size. Slightly serving card expansion may be lost or deformed during use or transport device. Unfortunately, the slot does not support SDIO, but this disadvantage is smoothed by the presence CompactFlash. The bundled Acer n10 no cradle. For sinronizatsii PC has a cable. According to the developers, the port of their creation represents a real USB-host-adapter, but the devices with which to confirm or deny this fact at hand was not, so let's leave that statement on the conscience of Acer.By the way, using the supplied can not charge the PDA used for this tiny adapter that is not so convenient. The latter connects to the PDA through a separate connector on the base of the machine. Ascetic Acer n10 deprived of the joys of life as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, which still remain a prerogative of top products. But equipped with two expansion slots, and therefore opportunities to expand on his unusually large.
Interior
There is nothing unusual. Heart machines - the newfangled CPU Intel XScale PXA255 clocked at 300MHz, onboard 64MB of RAM, 59 MB of which are available to the user. The handheld comes with a non-replaceable battery, although quite capacious (1500mAch). So, battery life is quite satisfactory: after 20 minutes of MP3 playback and use of schedules with a high level of illumination the charge fell only a few percent. Judging by the example of a fairly close both hardware and externally Dell Axim X5, we can assume that Acer n10 will last about 6-7 hours. It is encouraging that the developers have not saved on such an important element.
Software
ROM in addition to the standard set there are also two brand-name additions: utility to backup to a memory card, which proposes to make a copy when battery power is low, has password protection and some other functions, and softinkoy RecentDo, showing a list of recent activated programs, files and Web sites visited by the user device. By the way, the latest to navigate through lists provided by the scroll wheel, so use this program very useful. Complete CD contains a collection of programs from Microsoft: ActiveSync, Reader and others. In addition, there are Pocket TV Professional, IA Album Lite and Adobe Acrobat Reader. As can be seen by continuing establishments in the camp of budget tradition, Acer has decided not to bother filling the full set of programs, but I think that for home users, this is not a very big blow, because the purchase of licensed software, we are concerned about a few. On the display bar and software parts Acer n10, there is only one serious drawback: a few inadequate touchscreen, which is especially noticeable, for example, when using handwriting recognition and other similar operations. For example, a stroke left his mark in the notes, which came dotted, particularly closer to the borders of the screen. However, it is likely moot point.
Speed
Agree, always interesting to know the real performance of the newest handheld computers, especially if they are built on the new PXA255.Here are the results, which showed our hero on the background of the CPC with the same processor, preferably the more expensive (the test BMQ 0.31):
| Model / Test | Total | Inte. | Float | Draw | Window | Memory |
ACER n10
(PXA255 300MHz) | 456 | 932 | 105 | 304 | 45 | 895 |
HP iPAQ 3950
(PXA250 400MHz) | 495 | 1221 | 119 | 180 | 95 | 860 |
Toshiba e740
(PXA250 400MHz) | 486 | 1232 | 84 | 167 | 89 | 859 |
Fujitsu-Siemens
Pocket LOOX 600
(PXA250 400MHz) | 516 | 1228 | 85 | 320 | 85 | 862 |
Toshiba GENIO e550G
(PXA250 400MHz) | 514 | 1233 | 119 | 384 | 112 | 872 |
As can be seen, this budget machine is very worthy of competing with more expensive models. Especially revealing the advantage of its faster bus of the memory, where n10 - the first one. It has long been handhelds economy class is not such a joy to agility.
Verdict
Reviewed handheld - a very decent product, which undoubtedly will be serious competition not only close the hardware Dell Axim X5 due to its relatively modest size and weight, but almost all state employees - RoverPC P3, HP iPAQ 1910 and ViewSonic V35. If the developers Acer n10 not miss a moment and quickly begin deliveries of its cars to retailers around the world, she just destined to become a bestseller. The authors, translation:
Dmitry Ryabinin
