Review of the PDA Dell Axim X50v. Part II

Top Pocket PC models feature the following: a dual extension slot - Compact Flash Type II and SD/MMC (SDIO), two wireless adapters - Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, a VGA-screen. Gradually the above-mentioned wireless adapters have become typical not only for top models, but also for mid-range and low-end handhelds. Step by step we'll pay less attention to them, as they become the integral part like the infrared port. The situation with extension slots is more difficult. All handheld computers can be divided into single slot (respectively small dimensions, SD/MMC slot) and dual slot (larger dimensions, SD/MMC and CF slots) devices. Currently high-end Pocket PCs belong to the dual slot category. You won't find tiny models among them, which could have been the real alternatives with dimensions and weight to HP iPaq 1940, FS Pocket LOOX 420 (functional, but small devices). This niche is still empty, there weren't yet any announcements on single-slot VGA handhelds, they are expected next year. However we'll note that taking into account the size aspect Dell X50v and Asus A730 prove to be optimal solutions with the VGA-screen.
What kind of peculiarities we can face with dealing with interfaces, and should we focus on them? We'll try to find out it in brief.
Compact Flash Type II. Customary it is marked CF. Frankly speaking CF slot has two options - either there is one or there is none. Dell Axim X5 had the problem - its slot was too deep inside, so some CF peripherals simply didn't reach the contacts. Dell X50v doesn't suffer from it. Officially Dell X50v doesn't support Microdrive cards (with the voltage - 3.3v, instead of 5v required by the hard disk drive), but they still do work. However there are some problems (they work slowly and not always). Usually CF slot is the criterion to buy in the following cases: chip memory of large size, a digital camera with CF slot, the need to copy large-size info from one card to another, rarely - the need of the simultaneous use of CF slot for peripherals and SD for memory (for example, for GPS). As a matter of fact, prices and memory size in this format prove to be good. For example, a 4GB card costs about $350, a 2GB card - $160, and 1GB card - just $65. As we see the prices for flash-memory keep on going down dramatically, while memory size is growing. This is far from the limit, in the near future the situation won't change. But SD/MMC is approaching to the CF standard.
Secure Digital/MultiMedia Card (SD/MMC). The prices for SD cards per 1MB are close to CF analogs, however these cards are a step behind in memory size. For example, 2GB SD cards just appeared on the market. The slot can support SDIO (SD Input/Out), i.e. you can plug peripheral devices. Dell X50v comes with SDIO support, but I think the slot is located too deep inside. This means there might be problems like in Dell X5 with CF slot - some peripherals won't access the contacts, however we didn't face with this problem. In all, following the appearance of larger-size SD cards, price cuts and emergence of non-expensive SDIO-equipment, CF slot will be less popular. Many Pocket PC users postpone the purchase of a new VGA PDA expecting a single-slot handheld with smaller dimensions.
IrDA. . An infrared port can differ in speed: Slow Infrared (SIR, 115 kbps), Fast Infrared (FIR, 4 mbps). There is also Consumer Infrared (CIR) that features long distance effect, it can control remotely home appliances. We won't go into details, just tell you that there is no PDA with full CIR support, only SIR or FIR with different signal power. That's why you can use them as a remote control, the maximum active distance varies from 20-30 cm to 10 m depending on the chip. The Dell handheld works at some 4-5 m distance as a remote control. The IrDA window is conveniently located to operate home appliances.
Bluetooth. Lately there was adapted Bluetooth 2.0 standard, the handhelds supporting it will appear next year, so for the time being we have to be satisfied with Bluetooth 1.1 and Bluetooth 1.2. As for the software for Bluetooth, the manufacturer has two ways. It can license Broadcom software (earlier - WIDCOMM) or use Bluetooth support integrated into WM2003SE. The first way is more acceptable so far, WIDCOMM drivers became almost the industrial standard, this software is more convenient in use, supports maximum profiles and is easily adjusted. All VGA Pocket PCs including Dell X50v involve drivers by Broadcom (WIDCOMM). With the headset profile Dell X50v works as the IP-phone via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth headset (that's the advantage of simultaneous work of both wireless adapters). You can synchronize by wireless means PDA with desktop PC, access the Internet via a Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone, exchange files and so on.
Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b). Despite of the rumors spread before the release of the model, Dell X50v supports 802.11b standard instead of new and speedy 802.11g. At the moment there is no PDA supporting g version. Don't treat it as a shortcoming. Is there the need for such speed? - The matter being discussed, but manufacturers gradually cut production of b chipsets shifting to g ones (this relates first of to the access points, different PC adapters). Thus, sooner or later PDAs will be switched to g, as it is dually compatible with b. Dell X50v has good sensitivity of a Wi-Fi signal, and it supports Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) security standard, which is considered to be safe compared to vulnerable WEP standard. You can use the handheld as the IP-phone talking on it by wire (the standard 2.5 mm headset with the 2.5-3.5 mm adapter, not included in the standard kit) or wireless means.
Well, we've done with the story about interfaces.

Why you shouldn't rely on productivity tests

The user can access 61.78 MB of RAM. This is enough to fulfill many PDA tasks, however you'd better install applications to the memory card or 91.43 MB of integrated flash.
The CPU is Intel XScale PXA270 624 MHz processor, the same as in HP iPaq hx4700 (FS and Asus have other modification - PXA272 with the highest standard clock rate - 520 MHz). The PXA270 processor differs from the PXA272 in higher clock rate and it lacks Intel StrataFlash.
See the results rovided by SPB Benchmark test package. We've chosen handhelds with VGA screens and relatively old QVGA-models.
Integrated index turned to be the lowest, despite of the fact that Dell X50v features the highest processor frequency, it is the first handheld with the integrated Intel 2700G accelerator with 16 MB of memory onboard. The graphical SPB test revealed a dramatic lag. The same situation is with the non-optimized (at the moment the device was released) BetaPlayer. Naturally the audience was surprised and disappointed.
Well, to the scene comes Intel company, which explains results by synthetic test packages (see the full test here). The essence is that, currently applications (including graphical test packages) and games do not use high-level API (Application programming interface) such as GDI , OpenGL ES and Direct3D Mobile, so you have to optimize applications to a certain hardware (ATI Imageon, Intel 2700G). That means, soon before the switch to high-level API applications and games will be divided into two camps: one will support graphical accelerators and the other won't. This process is familiar to the computer industry, remember first graphical accelerators for PC, when games were specially adapted to 3Dfx. The same way will follow handheld computers, probably the process will take less time, but not an instant. For now Intel 2700G is supported by two games and two applications.
Two Intel 2700G optimized games come with Dell X50v. The impressions of them recalled distant memories, when I got acquainted with 3Dfx for the first time: it was quick, beautiful and unusual. Even the level of graphics is similar to that of the beginning of 3D acceleration for home PC.
Stuntcar Extreme. It's an extreme 3D race. Along with graphics the game stands out for the multi-player support via Wi-Fi. You can operate your car with the joystick and the touch-screen.
Two hardware video players support the hardware acceleration.

*BetaPlayer 0.094 with 2700G plug-in

BetaPlayer. The best media player has recently acquired the support of Intel 2700G. This accelerator revealed its potential at once by leaving behind the accelerator by ATI integrated into HP iPaq hx4700 (the former leader at the video playback speed). However the speed over 120% at the heaviest clip is excessive, in real conditions it is unclaimed. The major plus isn't with the video processing speed (the CPU without the graphical accelerator provides the normal playback), the fact is you can lower CPU speed by shifting video encoding to the graphical accelerator, thus increasing battery life.
The hardware video encoding is also supported by Windows Media Player 10.
We think that the most likely scenario for the situation is the following. In 2005 there will be mass supplies of 2700G devices, many games will be adapted to this accelerator. But one shouldn't expect the game avalanche, with the release of the next Windows Mobile version the industry will make a smooth switch to high-level API.

Hidden opportunities

Now we'll tell you about the opportunities hidden from the ordinary user, the topic being enthusiastically discussed at specialized forums.
GAPI Driver. GAPI game interface is applied in many games, but it is badly optimized for 2700G. Gabor Kovacs wrote its GAPI driver for 2700G, which noticeable accelerates the input of graphics in games and emulators. Follow the link to download it.
Hidden equalizer. The log hides the key (HKEY CURENT USER\ControlPanel\AudioAdvContrl), which enables sound post processing. Follow the link to download the key change program.
Contrast adjustment. . Rename the log entry HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\ControlPanel\Contrast from Redirect. This will add contrast adjustment to the control panel.

Software

Dell X50v is powered by Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition. You can learn more about its opportunities in the respective review published on our site (later we'll add the description of Windows Media Player 10). Now let's pass over to non-standard built-in applications.
Switcher Bar. This utility provides a quick switch between applications launched. It's simple compared to any built-in task manager, there is no pecularuties.
Data Backup. It enables data backup with just essential settings. It doesn't work on schedule, for example.
Home. It's a simple program with poor functionality, it looses to all the analogs. The program is meant for beginners mostly.

Impressions and conclusion

The device produced a good impression with its assembly quality and rich functionality. It has one of successful designs, now hardly anyone will call a Dell PDA a brick, like Dell X5.
This time again Dell has made a small "price revolution" on the PDA market. It's noteworthy that a lower price hasn't affected functionality and dimensions of the handheld. Moreover some functions of Dell X50v are unique: Intel 2700G accelerator, image input to the external screen (with extra accessory).
There is just one shortcoming: short battery life, however this problem can be solved with a double capacity battery, which correspondently provides double battery life.
New Dell model draws at least to trends. Firstly, the price of $424 will force HP and Fujitsu Siemens to cut prices for the top models at least to $500, and Asus - to $400. Else their sales might be greatly affected. Secondly, the graphical accelerator by Intel that appeared in Dell X50v for the first time, will become a common feature in 2005.

Description:

• Class: Hi-End
• Position in the product line: above Dell Axim X 5
• Rivals: HP iPaq 4700, Asus A730W, FS Pocket LOOX 718/720
• Operating system: Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition with Windows Media Player 10
• Processor: Intel XScale PXA270 624 MHz
• RAM: 64 Мб (61.78 MB available to the user)
• Flash-memory available: 91.43 MB
• Connectivity: SD/MMC slot (SDIO), Compact Flash Type II, IrDA, Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11b (Wi-Fi, chip maker - Texas Instruments), USB for synchronization, TTL Serial
• Screen: 3.68", 640х480 pixels, 65K colors
• Battery: removable Li-Ion, 1100 mAh (2200 mAh optional)
• Dimensions: 119х73х16.9 mm
• Weight: 175 g.