A new line of its PDA series Tungsten Palm Inc company began with the release of the handheld Tungsten T, then appeared Tungsten W, and now came the third variation on Tungsten - a model with an index of C. This is the first computer from Palm Computing Processor Intel PXA 255 and more memory. In the future, most likely, in all of its flagship models the company will use that Intel-Sylow "stones" and left Motorola and Texas Instruments for budgetary decisions. Tungsten C is the first Palm, which according to its specifications practically does not yield a family of models of Pocket PC.
Design and Ergonomics
Few of the box. A typical user usually sees a box once in a lifetime, when buys a computer. Then, in most cases, he throws it, and never remembers nothing about it. Apparently, it is guided by this principle, the company Palm Computing made packages for all their latest models: Zire, Tungsten T and Zire 71. It was a horrible or plastic blister or a combination of plastic with a thin cardboard. With the release of the model Tungsten C Company moved to a small and functionally convenient package.
Inside the box are: computer, AC adapter with three adapters for different countries, cradle, protective cover, paper manual, two CD disk with drivers and additional software and set specific to Palm-s leaflets.
Our hero is virtually the same size from its predecessor, Tungsten T: the same length, only a couple of millimeters wider and thicker than a millimeter. However, they look at it differently.
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Tungsten C is distinguished by a smooth line of the body, made from a dense soft-touch plastic. Sufficiently controversial issue, which body is more reliable and easy to use - plastic or metal. It is clear that the metal more durable, but plastic is lighter and cheaper. So the choice of housing is a matter of taste and service conditions. Personally, I like metal - more solid feel and less fear (psychological) damage the body. The new computer system has changed and I consequently disappeared graffiti, which was hidden under a sliding panel. By the way, the classic handwriting and no more, because the computer is now equipped with a system of "Graffiti 2". As the same basic method of data entry offered a miniature keyboard. Printed on it quite comfortably. You can keep the computer with both hands, pressing the keys with your thumbs. All the buttons are dual purpose. For the convenience of the user has a separate button to switch between, which is located in the lower left corner of the keyboard. She highlighted in blue.
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Print speed with this method of entering a decent enough, at least, higher than in handwriting. The only question is how will look at a miniature keyboard stickers or laser engraved with the Russian layout. On the keys themselves place no longer exists, unless you arrange them on a small free space between letters, or to learn how to print "blindly". This is not the first time that American developers are not thinking about foreign (not using the Latin alphabet) of the user.True, Department of Mobile development company MakTsentr promises to solve this problem by issuing special stickers with Russian letters, which will be located in mezhduknopochnom space.
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But over the ergonomics of the new device, developers have worked thoroughly: all controls are very convenient. If you hold a computer with two hands, you can easily reach any of the control buttons. The power button is located at all well: if you hold the PDA in her left hand, then it will be just below the little finger. The navigation button has become a little less than the Tungsten T, but that has not ceased to be convenient. The rear panel does not differ notable: the speaker, reset button and fasteners accessories ...
At the bottom of the universal connector Palm Connector, compatible with all the accessories for older models.
Top headphone jack and a voice recorder, infrared port, clot SD (IO) and the charging indicator. Headphone jack nonstandard 2,5 mm, as iPaq h1910. In principle, one could complement the PDA free headset, as does Hewlett-Packard, or an adapter 2,5 mm-3, 5 mm. Charging indicator light serves as warning and shows connected your device to the network or not. However, when the computer is connected to the network, understand the battery is charged or not the indicator is impossible, because when connected to a power grid, he's always green. Could make it, for example, a flashing green during charging and always included at 100% battery capacity. At the computer connector to the AC adapter is not, so if you take a long time with a PDA, you'll need to grab and cradle.
Side of the stylus holder and mount a protective case ...
It is noteworthy that the cradle has a slot for the network adapter.
Only the latter is usually inserted into the USB cable.
The kit also includes a solid rubber cap, designed to protect the computer display from external influences.
The only thing that is made of metal, so it's a stylus. Its upper plastic part can fasten, and under it there is a thin pin, which you can press the reset button.
The stylus is fairly easy, though, in my opinion, still inferior to design a pen Tungsten T.
Iron
As mentioned above, this is the first PDA with Palm OS operating system, whose technical characteristics are similar to computers Pocket PC: a new processor from Intel, 64MB of RAM (of which the user has access to 51Mb - for the Palm family of computers is just a giant figure), color display with transflective backlit, built-in wireless connectivity.
| Processor | Intel Xscale PXA255, 400MHz |
| RAM (MB) | 64 (available 51) |
| Display | 3,0 "TFT, 320x320, 64K, transflective |
| I / O ports | IrDA, Palm universal connector (USB 1.1), SD (IO) |
| communication capabilities | built-in 802.11b (Wi-Fi) |
| multimedia | 2,5 mm earphone output (mono) / speaker (mono) |
| removable media | SD / MMC |
| battery | built-in Li-Pol battery, 1500mAch |
| Dimensions / weight | 122h78h16, 5mm/178g |
Display
Most of the time when working with the PDA we are perceiving or holding up in the computer information. It is therefore not surprising that the quality of the display increased demands. Fortunately, the screen of our hero does not find fault. As the new model Zire 71, the display features transflective backlit. Palm Computing has so far only two models with excellent displays, but it seems that all future computers will be equipped with the same or even better matrices.
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Transflective display with backlight have one drawback: the turn-off, they can be read only in very bright sunlight. Tungsten C developers have solved this problem quite original, the computer can not turn off the backlight, so the information is perceived just fine at any level of ambient light, even at the lowest level of brightness. Maximum brightness is slightly higher than the iPaq h1910, and in my opinion, even redundant, since it is difficult to imagine the working conditions on the PDA, which would be required for such a strong brilliance. True, I still use the "tseshkoy" a couple of times as a flashlight, when opened the front door.
Sound
Tungsten C is positioned as a solution for corporate customers. According to the company, high-quality stereo sound for corporate PDA is not important, therefore, not surprising that the speaker and headphones with Tungsten C mono. So fans of high-quality stereo sound will slug upset. The network has free software for playing MP3 (RealOne Player). Unlike Pocket PC your computer has no built-in microphone and recording voice messages can be implemented only with an optional headset with a microphone, which are good to go in the sales package. You can of course provide the corporate user who does not need stereo sound, but the lack of built-in voice recorder, frankly, surprising. But there is vibration, which in contrast to sound warnings operates quietly and not disturb others.
Wi-Fi
Tangible benefit for enterprise customers is a built-in wireless communication standard Wi-Fi (802.11b). In the U.S., Japan and Western Europe, wireless networks have become a daily occurrence. Now in the U.S., Microsoft has an advertising campaign to provide free Internet access for users of Pocket PC with Wi-Fi adapters. In Russia, with wireless networks is much more difficult, but in Moscow, I managed to find an access point standard Wi-Fi. This hotel chain Marriott (the company provides wireless MosCom Group), where I tested the Wi-Fi adapter Tungsten C.
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With the automatic search function, the operator is determined almost instantaneously, after which the browser loads page hotel and asked to enter an access code, which can be obtained on the spot. It is necessary to connect to a wireless network $ 10 per hour or $ 30 per night. Special test integrated Wi-Fi adapter or the quality of the wireless network company MosCom Group I did not hold, but the speed of the Internet is completely arranged for me - pages and files load faster than on my home modem. While the computer with an active Wi-Fi connection is much lower, despite the stipulated in the standard 802.11b feature reduce power consumption for PDAs and laptops.
Performance
Using a 400 MHz processor allowed to raise the performance of your computer at all-time for Palm-device height. When you work with documents "inhibition" was not at all, "tseshka" behaved very energetic. Unfortunately, it is not possible to objectively compare its performance with counterparts from the clan Pocket PC, but I could not find a program that could significantly slow down your system. To understand how fast the computer works with video, I "drove" it in test mode by entering the package delivery software Kinoma Player 1.5.1. For this purpose, with the participation of the program Kinoma Producer created several videos with different values of the data stream.
| Values video | playing time, with | number of frames | frames per second |
| 320x320, 25 frames / s, 480Kb / s | 3,7 | 2198 | 579 |
| 320x320, 25 frames / s, 560Kb / s | 3,8 | 2200 | 571,5 |
| 320x320, 25 frames / s, 640KB / s | 3,9 | 2204 | 560,9 |
| 320x320, 25 frames / s, 720KB / s | 4 | 2210 | 540 |
| 320x320, 25 frames / s, 1000Kb / s | 4,6 | 2241 | 485,1 |
Compare these data with Pocket PC is difficult enough, but according to my subjective impressions, video playback at the Tungsten C all right: the image of a smooth even flow of 1000 kB / sec.
Runtime
To test battery life when reading books used the program MobiPocket Reader (v4.6 build 407) in the automatic shift with an average speed of 22-24 characters per second. It's quite decent for an adult reading speed.
To be honest, the result I am a little surprised, because the battery life Tungsten C is two times higher than the Tungsten T. View the video (stream 1000Kb / c) from the computer memory in full-screen mode using Kinoma Player 1.5.1 took:
Again, a double advantage. When playing audio files (mp3, 128Kb / s) from the memory card using the RealOne Player PDA stayed:
Typically, the use of more powerful processor increases energy consumption and, consequently, to reduce battery life. In the case of the Tungsten C Replacement TI OMAP on Intel PXA led not only to increase productivity, but also doubles the battery life on your computer.
Software
The computer's new operating system Palm OS 5.2.1 (like Zire 71), equipped with a new feature handwriting text "Graffiti 2" allows you to enter text in any part of the screen. In the software bundle includes: Address Book, Calculator, Card Info, Date Book, HotSync, Memo Pad, Note Pad, Preferences, To Do List, World Clock, VersaMail 2.5, PalmSource Web Browser 2.0, Palm Photos 1.0 (for photos) DataViz Documents To Go, Pro Edition 5.003, PPTP VPN client by Mergic, Enhanced Security with built-in Encryption and Password Masking Options, Quick Tour for device overview, keyboard, and 5-way navigator.
In addition to standard applications, the bonus CD ROM also contains the following programs: - Acrobat Reader software
- advanced calculator PowerOne Personal
- PrintBoy program to print to a printer via the IR port, Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
- for recording voice notes, Voice Memo (only if there is an appropriate expansion module)
- World Clock WorldMate
- Collong Meeting program to synchronize calendars and schedules between the two PDA's Wi-Fi
- program for reading electronic books Palm Reader
- Solitaire Game
- software player audio and video files Kinoma Player
- program for making video files Kinoma Producer
- AvantGo and AOL.
Most recently, Palm Inc. released a new update for the Tungsten C, in which: - Fixed errors when dealing with MAC addresses
- improved caching, and how to update the web-pages Browser
- improved compatibility with devices HotSpot
- updated email program VersaMail, which added a VPN client
- updated sound effects that accompany various events
- Fixed errors when installing Wi-Fi connection.
The update is only suitable for devices Tingsten C with software version 1950 04/01/2003 23:5 and requires 20 MB of free memory.
Russification
In addition, the package includes a disc of MakTsentr "Russian Palm", which is crack PaPiRus 2003 in the "light" versions. In the "easy" localization PaPiRus 2003 Russified entry system "Graffiti 2 and virtual keyboard. Mode allows the full localization to translate into Russian language interface for all embedded applications, adapts the system settings PDAs for Russia. Supports encoding of the Russian language Windows-1251, KOI8-R. Russification "Graffiti 2" I liked writing the letters as close to traditional. Additionally, there are ergonomic strokes, giving the opportunity to write with shorthand speed.There is a Russian-screen keyboard, background information, accessible from any application, arranged according to the Russian alphabetical sorting and searching for Russian words, it is possible to switch languages with one click on the indicator of language and save all settings after a reboot.
Price
In chain stores computer in the palm »Tungsten C costs $ 499. In the online store PalmStore.ru price - $ 490.
Conclusions
| Pluses | Cons |
| Large amount of RAM | The monaural speaker and earphone output |
| High performance | MP3 playback with only the memory card |
| Bright high-contrast display | 2,5 mm earphone output |
| Built-in Wi-Fi | No built-in voice recorder |
| Supports SD (IO) | |
| Convenient and strategically placed controls | |
| Built-in keyboard | |
| Great battery life | |
| Built-in vibrating alert | |
| Compatibility with peripheral devices of previous models (via the universal connector Palm) | |
| Oh great set of supplied software | |
Frankly, after the first Tungsten T seemed that Palm Inc will soon withdraw from PDA market, replaced by younger and aggressive Pocket PC. But apparently, "there is life in the old dog yet", and after a farewell «I'll be back» from the Tungsten T, we saw a completely new concept of Palm computer. The main conclusion that can be done - the difference Mezhuyev Pocket PC and Palm is becoming less and less. Processor, amount of RAM, the quality of displays and communications capabilities are already identical, and the battery life Tungsten C is kept on a par with the leaders of the family of Pocket PC. Lack of stereo sound due to the orientation of the computer to corporate clients. Work still has something, but the third Tungsten, as the third terminator, already very different from the first two. The authors, translation:
