Dellovye PDA: Axim 5 going to "blow up" the Russian market for handhelds

Camye cheap in PDA history of the Pocket PC from Dell, we have been waiting a long time, since the advent of reliable information about them from unofficial sources. The first rumors started cruising the Internet in the late summer of 2002. They said that Dell Cobiralas release "iPAQ" for $ 250. Indeed. A few months later, in November, the corporation's own after many Anosov showed to the same greedy for sensations IT-press my Axim 5. The presentation was held at the largest exhibition Comdex Fall 2002, where everything is brought to a stand of handhelds (about 400-500 pieces) were immediately snapped up like hot cakes, and turn on the orders lasted for two months. It is known that, and now to buy the U.S. one of the most optimal combination of price-quality "Pocket PC must apply and wait for 1.5 months. Very soon, after two weeks, selling Axim 5 will begin in Russia. Company DellSystems signed a distribution agreement with the concern "White Wind" on the sales of popular handheld machines, on the occasion of which the partners have arranged a press conference yesterday. At this point, we have prepared your own review of "live" Dell Axim 5.

People who have brought us Dell Axim 5 ...:)

To buy any of the two available models in the lineup - that same "mythical" younger (Axim 5 Basic) or more advanced older (Axim 5 Advanced) will be no problems in any Moscow store, "White Winds" and his partner, or your local dealer. Not have to wait. Only here the price for Russia, you know, is not the same, that in America, the market is Axim 5 really a revolution. Suggested retail - $ 299 and $ 385 for junior and senior CCP respectively. Although DellSystems believe that at this price, given the functional typewriters, they will have no equal. And I must say, it is believed not covsem reasonably. Apparently, the machine from Dell will have to compete with brand Otechestvennaya Rover, namely Pocket P3 and P5. True, the assurances of the "White Wind", lower-end models of hardware specifications are not competitors to each other and respect their elders, then after the Dell Axim on the market RoverPC P5 in the company's network will fall in price by $ 40-50. In general, we were on the operating table were two cars, which we shall now dissect, sometimes resorting to comparisons to the Rover P3. Let us proceed ...

We meet on clothes ...

Picking up a Dell Axim X5, once you feel that the handheld is much superior in size and weight of its closest price competitor. Elder Advanced-model a little easier in this regard, since the more advanced machines traditionally fairly heavy and have a total "figure." On subjective feelings, both models are very similar to Pocket PC hi-end class HP iPAQ 39xx. True, dellovskie cars a little thicker. However, their excessive fullness can be justified for one distinguishing feature - they are both equipped with two expansion slots - the most popular Compact Flash Type II and SD / MMC (though without the support of SDIO). The quest for minimalism makes many PDA makers to abandon the format CF, despite the fact that memory and peripheral devices on its base is now much cheaper, and therefore demanded by users. While the majority shifted to a more compact Secure Digital, Dell contrary fashion trend is ready to sacrifice the most beautiful cars, rather than its functionality. To date, no budget PDA with a CF-slot.So in this respect, the youngest out of competition, and the eldest is a bit like themselves. However, with CF-slot with Axim 5 is not all right. The fact is that to get a card from him pretty hard. However, most users do not often pull out the memory of her lair, and therefore a significant drawback is difficult to call. We checked for compatibility with Pocket Card IBM Microdrive 340 MB and MMC (NCP) 64MB. Both Dell quickly and with gusto "swallowed" proposal. So with the expansion of handhelds problems should arise. Hold the PDA in the hand are not too comfortable. Perhaps it's not so much in weight units (nearly 200), but in their size - 128 x 81,5 x 18 mm. This shortcoming is somewhat offset by rubber inserts on the sides of computers that do not allow them to slip out of hands.

Rubber flank ...

The screen on both models transflective resolution of 320x240 pixels, like expensive Pocket PC (iPAQ 5450 like in the picture), that is perfectly readable in the room and not the best works on the street. Diagonal - 3.5''.

iPAQ and Dell Axim 5

If you compare the display Dell Axim X5 c roverovskim (RoverPC P3), then the odds would be clearly in favor of the latter. True, there have to say that RoverPC P3 greater than the maximum brightness, although the practical need for this. Inside is enough low, and with natural light and Dell in general, "friendly".

Rover PC P3 and the Dell Axim 5

Looking at the device, I wanted to listen to them. It is clear that the occupation is a thankless task and it is unlikely practically useful, because most PDA built in speaker will compete unless China's cheap tape recorder, but still ... Fears were justified: Axim 5, "croaks" at maximum volume as a real sympathy Boxing. With regard to the sound outputted by the output for headphones, it is quite acceptable quality. In the course of the experiment revealed that the designers find a good spot for a nest under the "ears": it is located, in contrast to other PDAs on the top end machines. So use the Dell as a mp3-player convenience. Oh, and battery capacity allows, but more on that below. Separately, the stylus would like to mention Dell Axim X5. We found him to be extremely comfortable and stylish. Due to atypical design pen, unlike most machines, excellent grip. Pocket for a PDA stylus on the side, so to remove it will not have to turn the handheld.

Set of "feathers" for the Axim 5 ...

Speaking of accessories. Them for the Dell Axim 5 is produced in abundance. Tried not only to third-party, but the developer. Thus, complete with machine will be supplied branded pouch-bag, which is really hard to call egronomichnym: a prisoner in his "hug" the handheld is unlikely to fit in a standard pocket, and quickly retrieve it and see that something will not work. The standard cover is only good as a coffer for the transport of the CCP. True, there is a Dell and a second, more successful version, but for the money. As explained at the press conference, representatives of companies of various small things for the Axim 5 in Russia you can buy at an amount that is twice the price of the PDA. That is what will deliver the "White Wind" for domestic users: Let's go in order. With respect, the cradle, then it is not in the standard delivery model junior-level price. Instead, he invited USB-cable, but if necessary it is clear you can buy. Especially since it looks very sipatichno. Especially when a perfectly polished steel surface, made in the form of a hemisphere, light up bright blue Dell shaped as letters during podzryadki or synchronization. The battery in both models interchangeable, which is a big plus, because statistics such elements is enough for about 2 years. Another advantage of "source of life" Axim 5 is their capacity - 1440mAch that almost vpoltora times greater than that RoverPC P3 or HP iPAQ H1910. This is not to affect the Runtime, which is considered in two handhelds is about 6-8 hours. At maximum load (video playback at maximum brightness), this figure falls by almost half, which, incidentally, is also quite good. In addition, Dell offers an option to purchase the battery capacity 3400mAch, which, as you might guess, after some simple mathematical calculations, allows the computer to work approximately 20 hours. Perhaps, the figure turns out to be wrong in practice, given the traditional over-the producers of this parameter. But rest assured, even 15 hours - this is a good indicator for the Pocket PC. Also in the cradle has a separate slot for charging additional battery so that the convenience of this procedure problems should arise. Followed by the keyboard. These useful accessories, of course, sold separately.For your PDA Dell offers two versions - a mini keyboard to enter text on the weight of thumb: ... And full-size folding keyboard, which is suitable for use on hard flat surfaces: Under CF-clot PDA Dell offers two communication cards - Bluetooth or Wi-fi: In the near future, Dell promises to deliver to the Russian market GSM / GPRS-module, so that the device can be turned into the phone. While it is only a promise. Know that these accessories still have to go through the Russian certification.

Hardware

Senior and junior handheld completely identical in appearance, and even in regard to the hardware they are filling is not too different. The difference this is the clock frequency of CPU and memory and fits into almost $ 100 difference (to be exact difference is $ 86). The eldest is equipped with Intel XScale processor at 400 MHz, 64 MB RAM and 48 MB of ROM-RAM Intel StrataFlash. The junior model is based on the XScale processor 300 MHz and has on board 32, and 32 MB respectively. In the above-mentioned difference includes the cradle, which is devoid of low-end model and the utility of which some of the cast great doubt. Cable because is more transportable and easy to use. Although there is no accounting for tastes.

Softness

In the Axim 5 is running Microsoft Pocket PC 2002 with the update EUU3, designed to add something, and something to fix. Detail, but it's nice. By the way, the computers Operating System has a version Premium, that is, the bundle includes a full "set of happiness" from Microsoft: Outlook, Word, Excel, Internet Explorer, Windows Media Player, MSN Messenger and other pleasures, friends since childhood. In the setting of Dell Axim X5 can slow it down a processor, putting auto performance. In this case, the CCP itself will determine when to increase the frequency of the processor, and when there is sufficient and minimal. As a result, increase battery life Pocket PC. However, the machine will not be able to disperse, although this option may appear later. An interesting softinok, bundled with Dell Axim X5, it is worth noting Switcher Bar, a sort of simple option WisBar'a possible to view the battery charge level, quick switch to the options of brightness, and naturally, switching and closing running applications. Of course, the utility is not as functional as its illustrious counterpart, but is quite efficient and meet the needs of undemanding users. Also by tradition, handhelds are equipped with a disk with software from other vendors. Among them are basically the demo version, but there are exceptions, namely, full versions of Resco Picture Viewer, IA Presenter, the program for viewing files, Power Point. Of course, a set of software is not impressive, but obviously, the economy has not given opportunities to enrich the collection in full. However, for our country, full versions of programs is not so critical, so that the relative lack of it soon.

Ran?

We have already compared different CPC for high-speed indicators, but to gather it all together somehow failed.Now it's time to set the record straight "and". Comparison of handheld devices for high-speed indicators will be conducted in two compartments - the budget (which include 300MHz th Dell Axim X5) and hi-end'ovoy (where the participants listed Dell Axim X5 with a 400 MHz-m "pebble"). Tests conducted on the tradition of using VOBenchmark 2.12. In bold the best result in each of the subtests. To begin, define the champion in the budget niche:

Test / Model	Toshiba e310 (Strong ARM 206 MHz)	Toshiba e330/e335 (XScale 300 MHz)	ViewSonic V35 (XScale 300 MHz)	Dell Axim X5 (XScale 300 MHz) Normal
CPU Floating Point	8.02	9.49	6.34	9.50
CPU Integer	15.50	20.11	13.30	20.08
Graphics Bitmaps BitBlt	56.86	56.41	16.66	36.69
Graphics Bitmaps StretchBlt	0.35	0.30	0.50	0.20
Graphics Filled Ellipse	2.24	2.14	0.85	1.96
Graphics Filled Rectangle	7.76	6.52	1.02	6.35
Graphics Filled Round Rectangle	1.72	1.32	0.66	1.33
Memory Allocation	8.69	9.53	6.42	6.31
Memory Fill	0.39	0.95	0.85	0.94
Memory Move	0.74	0.36	0.30	0.38
Text	3.77	3.88	2.20	3.50

As can be seen from the table above, Dell Axim X5 Basic can not be called shustryagoy, but at the same time lag from the leader of each test is small. Moreover, the strengths of the dips speed in which whatever subtest is not observed, and therefore handheld in most cases to fully carry out the tasks entrusted to it by the owner. Now let's see what happens in the camp of the more expensive PDAs:

Test / Model	ASUS MayPal A600 (XScale 400MHz)	Toshiba e740 (Xscale 400MHz)	HP iPAQ 3950 (XScale 400 MHz)	Dell Axim X5 (XScale 400MHz) Normal	Fujitsu-Siemens Pocket LOOX 600 (XScale 400 MHz)
CPU Floating Point	12.63	12.62	12.68	12.20	9.50
CPU Integer	26.97	26.91	26.73	24.14	26.52
Graphics Bitmaps BitBlt	28.48	78.11	26.02	57.52	52.16
Graphics Bitmaps StretchBlt	0.85	2.34	0.78	0.34	0.78
Graphics Filled Ellipse	1.06	2.42	0.50	2.53	2.03
Graphics Filled Rectangle	1.33	6,47	2.02	6.72	6.12
Graphics Filled Round Rectangle	1.97	1.08	0.43	1.90	1.48
Memory Allocation	11.05	11,76	11.66	10.47	10.43
Memory Fill	0.90	0.90	0.90	0.94	0.88
Memory Move	0.36	0.38	0.42	0.39	0.38
Text	3.87	3.31	2.93	3.92	4.60

It is clearly seen that the highest Dell in nearly all the tests loses its more expensive competitors, but this loss, as in the case of the younger model is very relative. Machine is not far behind. Axim 5 shows the best performance when working with graphics, but the overall speed of the results fall short of the leader - Toshiba e740. However, to make the CPC to work harder you can. For this case, there are program-overclockers, review of which lie in our Library. But this is undocumented features. Originally older machine is very weak in speed for comparison with similar, although the lack of brightens up the lower price. The same can be said about the younger model. Finally an interesting detail.Dell has launched relatively recently to equip its newest handheld PXA255 processor instead of an old PXA250. Thus, the bus frequency increased to 200MHz, which eventually according to preliminary reviews to increase in the overall performance of 25%. How to find out which processor is in buying a typewriter? Very simple! There are two ways: either go to the \ My Documents \ SysInfo and view the file SysInfo.txt, or visit the tab "System Information" in "Start-Settings-System". If there is listed "CPU: Intel (r) PXA250 400Mhz B2", then there is nothing particularly enjoy - you have an old processor with a 100MHz-th bus, but if your stepping "stones" is equal to C1, then you PXA255, and, consequently, the speed of your machine for a quarter more.

And you do not want to see off ...

Let's sum up. Thus, the new Pocket PCs from Dell actually combine a low price, even by the standards of the Russian market and greater functionality. How to look Axim 5 on the background of its nearest competitors? Substantial weight and size, of course, not the best news release from the CCP-regime. However, the size compensates for the presence of two expansion slots - the inexpensive Compact Flash Type II, which, in addition to expandable memory, you can use to connect various devices on the cards (cameras, GPS-receivers, Bluetooth-cards) and Advanced Secure Digital (unfortunately, without the support of SDIO ). The latter just serve to add a few megabytes of superfluous to the "strategic reserve" on board the handheld. The rest of the device is not much different from the typical Pocket Pc so-called middle-level price. Axim 5, with all their strengths and weaknesses - a very ambitious machine. By the end of 2003, they intend to win as much as 15-20% of the Russian PDA market, which is projected to retailers, will have to grow twice as much. Including due to "efforts" of these handhelds. (That is, in total this year are going to sell nearly 120,000 PDAs in general, of which 20% want to take Dell'y). Their price for obrzanomu expression of Head of Marketing "White Wind" will be "hence safety fuse, which" explode "sleep the domestic market. Let's see ... PS Thank firm BelSoft for the provided equipment. The authors, translation: