Sony Clie PEG-UX50 Handheld Review

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(More customer reviews)I have had an older Sony Clie for a few years. I was thoroughly impressed with that one. It served me well. I then had to replace it, and was solidly leaning toward another Sony product. The features of the UX50 series impressed me very much. But it does have some shortcommings.
Pros:
* Small size. Without a doubt, this is a great unit that fits nicely in my shirt pocket.
* Beautiful screen. It is clear and bright. It is a bit smaller than the older unit, but it is perfectly legible.
* Lots of internal memory. This means I can record a bunch of voice memo's or quick low-res pics from the built in camera w/o using a memory stick.
* Toolbar. There is a little toolbar along the side next to the silk to pull up commonly used features quickly. (like clock, speaker and memory stick media info)
* Built in Keyboard. I love it. It even has a backlight. Not too difficult to use, unlike smaller kbds on other units. The keys are slightly raised.
* Landscape working environment. The "silk" is along the side, and when not being used, the silk can be hidden giving an expanded screen to show text or other items in the silk area. This widescreen mode is a much more efficient use of screen real-estate.
* New handwriting recognition. Decuma is very natural, and has a very good recognition rate. But... see below...
* Rotate/Swivel screen. Use the unit as a micro-laptop, or as a micro-tablet.
* Bluetooth and WiFi. Very easy to setup and use.
Cons:
* This unit only works in landscape mode. I prefer holding the unit in my hand in portrait mode. There doesn't appear to be any setting in software to change this.
* The design favors wireless hotsync, since USB cable is very awkward to plug into side of unit. The cradle should provide the USB connection, and when inserted in the cradle, the USB connection is passed through the cradle (one less wire to insert)
* The battery life is terrible on the UX50 (even compared to the three year old unit I replaced). Perhaps the keyboard light uses up much more energy.
* The memory stick and stylus can come out too easily. I have nearly lost my stylus twice. The end of the memory stick protrudes just a bit too far, and can be easily unlocked.
* New Graffiti is difficult to get used to after a few years of proficiency with the old Graffiti. Some of the strokes are not as easy to use. Perhaps I'll get used to it, but my entry rate is significantly slower.
* Decuma takes up a large amount of screen space when used. There doesn't appear to be any way to shrink it. Also when in wide screen mode, decuma still only uses 2/3 of the screen (the rest of the screen is unusable)
* Decuma should be used in Portrait mode (replacing the Silk). This would free up more screen space, and would still be natural.
* The speaker mute feature should have a timeout, so I can mute for only 1/2 hour or so while in a meeting, but then get my audible alarms afterward.
* Cannot "type" special symbols from the keyboard. I use the bullet symbols all the time, but must enter them using graffiti.
I like the unit. Everybody I show it to is very impressed. The hardware is well designed. If they come out with software that fixes some of my above issues, then I would wholeheartedly recommend this above any thing else presently available.

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The PEG-UX50, a new Clie handheld from Sony, is a personal entertainment communicator. It is extremely portable, at 6 oz. (including stylus), and features integrated wireless LAN (802.11b) and Bluetooth interface. The high-resolution TFT Color Display (480 x 320 dots, 65,536 colors) has swivel screen design. The automatic data back-up feature backs up data to non-volatile memory (16MB). There is a dedicated internal media memory (29MB) for storing multimedia content. Other features include a built-in 310K pixels CMOS rotating camera with 3x digital Zoom (JPEG, 640 x 480 resolution), built-in QWERTY-layout with a wide-pitch keyboard with backlight, video recording (MPEG-4 compatible, 30 fps, 160 x 112), and playback. Other features include:*Dedicated Application Buttons for Launching Web Browser, Mail and Date Book Applications.*Integrated Memory Stick Slot. (Compatible with Memory Stick Pro Media)*Center Jog Dial Navigator with Back Button*Built-in Voice Recorder with Adjustable Recording Sensitivity (Built-in Monaural*Built-in Audio Player (Compatible with MP3 and ATRAC3 audio formats) *Polyphonic Audio Alert Feature*Key Applications (CLIE Mail, World Alarm Clock, etc.) Pre-installed in the ROM*Bundled with Decuma Input Handwriting Recognition Software (Decuma AB).*Bundled with Picsel Viewer Software (Picsel Technologies, Ltd.) for Viewing Native*PowerPoint, PDF and HTML Files*Rechargeable Lithium-ion Polymer Battery (Internal)Box Contents: Clie Handheld, Charger Cradle, USB Hot Sync Cable, AC Power Adapter, Hand strap, Retractable Stylus, Installation CD-ROM, Instructional Manual, Graffiti2 Card, End User License Agreement

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HP iPAQ hx2495b Pocket PC (FA674B#ABA) Review

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(More customer reviews)Okay, so I bought a brand spanking new hx2495b. One of the first things I did was install a SD card. Then the problems started. Fairly frequent soft boots required to get the thing to turn on. Battery dead (0%) from full charge over night. Not too often, but a couple of times in the 2 weeks I had it.
Emailed hp support about the problem (I did forget to mension I had a SD card installed) and they, of course, recommended doing a ROM update. Okay, I just got a brand new unit, why should it need a ROM update all ready? I go and locate the update, down load it and go to install it. Sure enough the update they wanted me to install was the exact same version all ready in the silly thing! Like that is going to do any good, duh?
Then I notice one of the things the ROM update was suppost to fix is a lock up and battery drain problem when an SD card is installed. Humm, maybe they haven't really fixed that. So, I pull my SD card and whad ya know, all the problems went away!
Well, I really don't need the SD card, so I can live with that, but I'd wish they had said something about it! Even though I forgot about the SD card being in there, they should have realized the problem when I said the battery went dead over night! I can't be the only one to have this problem. Guess they don't want to admit there is still a flaw in the programming. A year after it was suppost to be fixed!
So, I'd recommend if you don't need an SD card, don't put one in. If you do need it, pull it out when your not using it.
One other thing to keep in mind is when you turn the PDA off, it doesn't really turn off. The display goes out, but a lot of stuff is still running inside. This is so it will come back exactly where you left off when you turn it back on. That's nice, but if you don't have it on a charger, it will drain the battery in 3-4 days just sitting around. Maybe not a big deal to most people, but I want to use the thing to keep a trail journal while hiking the Appalachian Trail, and I could go a week between towns and AC power. Guess I'll have to lug a solar charger along too if I want to use it.
Other than the problem with the SD card and not really turning off when its off, its a great little gizzmo. Solidly built and otherwise works great.
Oh, one other thing you might want to know. The instructions aren't clear about this. Activesync likes to turn it's self on all the time. The way to stop this is to set it to manual sync only. Unfortunetly, the button to access this command is not available if you have it set for USB sync. To set it to manual sync only, you have to set up a server connection first.
Start activesync (if it isn't already running!)
Menu > add server source
enter a dummy server address like 1.1.1.1
enter some other dummy info into the next blocks it wants you to fill in
then go back to menu and click on schedule.
Now select manual sync in two places.
Go back and delete the server connection.
Now active sync will only come on when you want it too.


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The HP HX2495B Ipaq Pocket PC lets you take your favorite songs, videos, and Web sites everywhere you go. Compact and versatile, the Ipaq offers just the right mix of performance, security, connectivity, and expandability. Thanks to the integrated 802.11b wireless LAN, you can surf the web at your local Wi-Fi hotspot, keep in touch with friends and family via email, and download videos and songs in minutes. Take the Ipaq with you, and you'll never be out of touch.Special Features The Ipaq features wireless connectivity with integrated Wi-Fi 802.11b and Bluetooth, as well as an expansion slot compatible with Secure Digital (SD) cards. It's powered by an Intel PXA270 processor running at 520 MHz. It also features the Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 premium edition software for Pocket PCs. To help you enjoy more vivid music videos and movies, the 3.5-inch display features 16-bit color transflective for more than 65,000 colors. The Ipaq also contains 256 MB total memory, so there's plenty of room to store all your data. The integrated microphone, speaker, and stereo headphone jack offer a clear, enjoyable audio experience. Plus, the Lithium-Ion (1440 mAh) battery is both removable and rechargeable, which saves you money. How to Get the Most Out of Your Ipaq Ipaq offers a world of personal, professional, and entertainment options at your fingertips. View and edit Microsoft Office documents like Excel charts and Powerpoint presentations, including custom animations and slide transitions. Save time and remain up to date by using the USB 2.0 desktop synchronization cradle, which enhances file transfer speeds and synchronization of information between your PC and Windows Mobile-based device. The persistent store feature lets you protect data when your device runs out of battery power, while the HP ProtectTools (in collaboration with Credant Technologies) lets you use a PIN or password to control access to your Ipaq with encryption so that your data is protected should your Ipaq get misplaced or stolen. Enjoy images and slide shows using the HP Image Zone software for Pocket PC, and wirelessly print documents, e-mail, brochures, and photos to a Bluetooth-enabled printer. You can also easily transfer files to your Ipaq by communicating with other Bluetooth-enabled devices, and create personal area networks using peer-to-peer communication.Additional Benefits The Ipaq, with its soft, rubber sides and slip-free grip, is easy to carry. You will also appreciate the faster, more flexible playback with enhanced audio and video file formats using Windows Media Player 10. While surfing the Web, get where you want to go fast with the five-way navigation button and four application launch buttons. Expand your capabilities as your needs grow, using the Secure Digital (SD) card slot, and keep the display clear and free of scratches with the included plastic flip cover.Warranty and Customer Service The Ipaq comes with a one-year limited warranty. You can also rely on HP's renowned total care service and support, which J.D. Power and Associates has recognized as consistently providing "an outstanding customer service experience." What's in the Box HP iPAQ hx2495 Pocket PC, USB desktop synchronization cradle, removable/rechargeable lithium-lon battery, AC adapter, charger adapter, stylus, protective plastic flip cover, product information guide, and getting started disc.

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PALM Centro Quad-band Smartphone - Unlocked Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased this phone for two reasons. First, I needed a phone because I couldn't keep a good case on my Motorola Razor. And second, my wife needed a new phone badly. My razor was about a year old, so I would buy me what I was looking for (no flipper or slider; but had full key board). This is what I came up with. My Wife keeps the Razor in her pocket without a case anyways. She was happy. I was really, really happy. This phone performs so well and looks so professional, I want it's premium model when It's upgrade time, even if I have to pay some. It does have a bug here and there but MOST of those can be worked out - seriously. I have AT&T, you HAVE to call and get your ring time extended from 20 to 30. Seriously, to have plenty of time, that has to be done. And the phone itself is awesome. All I can say is keep your upgrades up. Keep it updated.

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Palm Treo Pro Unlocked Phone with 2 MP Camera, 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS, and MicroSD--U.S. Version with Warranty (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)I love my new Treo Pro. I have been using it for about 2 weeks and already plan to hold on to it for the long haul. Little, history, I have had the Origional Treo, 200, 600, and 650. This is the best of them all. I swtiched two windows mobile 2 years ago because... well the PALM OS is dead in my book. That aside, I really missed the treo. I think palm gets how to build a nice device.
Keyboard: Works great. I find for a thumb keyboard and now with some experience I can fly with it. Personally, I love the thumb keyboard. Perfect for one handed operation with little compromise.
Thin: This thing fits very nicely into the pocket and the screen guard is excellent. I dont even know I have it with me and I never accidently Dial anyone. It fits in the hand wonderfully.
Buttons.. Some devices are going away from having so many buttons. However I like the ability to launch frequent programs. The Pro is great at letting you customize. (You have many hardware buttons and some of them can also be configured to have an Option + Hardware button application bound to them)
Also, you have hardware button access to volume control and wifi.
GPS: Works great. I installed and worked right away.
Power: this device is not a power pig. With normal use I get a good run off it. Mind you, I use applications on it all day along and SMS extensively.
Camera: I havent used it. Frankly, it doesnt matter how many mega pixels any phone has, it still just a phone camera. Quality is never that good. But it is good enough for those fun quick shots.
Dislikes: well, the screen is a standard windows mobile device screen. I was hoping for a new device, especially manufactured by HTC it would have a bit more kick to it. However, its very functional and does what I want. One thing I love is how they built into the keyboard access to the brightness control. This is something all devices should have. Its really hard to increase the brightness if you can read the screen. No problem with the treo.
The ALT key on the keyboard allows you to access characters not on the keyboard, including accented letters for various languages. What I dont like is that its a little window that shows up with about 8 characters show and you scroll to see more. Well there are a lot of characters, it would be better if they just filled the screen so you can quickly find the special character you want.
Windows Mobile Phone Dialer stinks! This is true in my opinion for any windows mobile device. Its a phone, but you have to navigate often 2 to 3 screens deep just to get a phone number. For example, you start typing someones name and the dialer appears. It instantly starts searching for a name. Great! When you select a name by pressing enter, it pulls up their contact screen. (HUH???) yes, you now get to see more info about them. I just want to DIAL the phone number. Long story short, for simple dialing its more complicated than it needs to be. Second, the Windows Mobile phone dialer always seems unresponsive and slow. Its a phone... but the phone is slow. it makes no sense. This is not a critisim against the treo, but if this your first Windows Mobile device you will be a bit disappointed with this.
My Final gripe is that it uses the Micro USB Cable. I dont know why. All I can say is that about 90% of my small electronic gizmos use Mini usb and now I have a new cable standard to deal with. I am sure there is some value to it, but I dont see it. Yes, the connector is smaller, but the cable is still just as thick and just as long. So why I need a thinner (by maybe a few hair widths) I dont know.
If you made it this far, thanks for reading. Click Buy Great device.

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A great choice for business road warriors who want to stay on top of both their professional and personal lives, the Palm Treo Profeatures a new, streamlined design and Windows Mobile 6.1 Professional operating system. Packed with a wide range of connectivity options, you'll be able to access email and documents via tri-mode 3G reception and Wi-Fi as well as navigate to new destinations with the built-in GPS mapping. And with the power of the updated Windows Mobile 6.1 operating system, you'll stay easily connected to your business and personal data on the go with support for a wide variety of email accounts as well as the ability to edit Microsoft Office documents.
Like its predecessors in the Treo line, the Treo Pro sports a brightly colorful touchscreen and full QWERTY keyboard. It's also loaded with 100 MB of user accessible memory, MicroSD memory expansion (supporting MicroSDHC media up to 32 GB), a 2-megapixel camera with video capture, Bluetooth connectivity for communication headsets and stereo music streaming, digital audio and video player, and up to 5 hours of talk time.
This unlocked cell phone can be used with a GSM network service provider and it provides quad-band connectivity (850/900/1800/1900 MHz). It also offers tri-band 3G connectivity (850/1900/2100 MHz), which makes it compatible with UMTS/HSDPA 3G networks in both the United States and in international territories. It does not come with a SIM card, and it requires that you provide a SIM card for usage with your selected service provider. This phone comes with a one-year warranty from a third party provider.
Phone Features The Treo Pro smartphone, based on the popular Windows Mobile platform, offers a number of enhancements to help you optimize your cellular and organizational life. The screen saver lets you know at a glance what time it is and whethere you have any new SMS/MMS messages, the center button flashes when you receive a new voicemail, and you can perform web searches directly from the Today screen (which collects your appointments and tasks for the day). In addition to dedicated email and calendar buttons, the large color touchscreen (320 x 320 pixels, 65K colors) gives you one more way to access the applications you use most--just tap the screen to navigate without scrolling through menus.
With the integrated GPS receiver, you can search for the nearest coffee or copy shop and get turn-by-turn directions displayed on the screen (additional charges may be applicable). With the Wi-Fi LAN (802.11b/g with WPA, WPA2, and 801.1x authentication), you can seamlessly connect to your company's wireless network as well as access the Internet and download important documents at Wi-Fi hotspots during your travels. The instant-on Wi-Fi button lets you join a local Wi-Fi network, whether you're in a hotel lobby or an airport, a conference room or a cafe.
Carry your calendar, contacts, tasks and notes, so you're prepared and organized wherever you go. You can sync with Outlook, accept meeting invites, look up people in your company's directory, or set an Out of Office email reply when you're away from your computer. Stay on top of your latest Outlook email on your touchscreen thanks to Microsoft Direct Push Technology. You can also access your Hotmail, Gmail or Yahoo! mail accounts and view graphics and links in HTML email.
This phone provides Bluetooth version 2.0 wireless connectivity, and includes profiles for communication headset, handsfree car kits, audio/video remote control, and printing. With the A2DP Bluetooth profile, you can stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones. You can also use the Treo Pro as a modem for your PC using Bluetooth to connect to 3G connectivity.
Other features include:
With Internet Explorer Mobile, you can access your company data in seconds, check the latest news or sports scores, and stream audio or video without annoying pauses and delays.
Boost productivity by adding an expense tracker, shopping list, or any of the other applications made for the Windows Mobile Professional platform.
Use Windows Media Player Mobile to listen to music or podcasts on the train to work as well as watch video.
Chat-style messaging lets you keep track of the entire conversation.
2-megapixel camera with 8x digital zoom and video capture
MicroUSB 2.0 for synchronizing with PC and charging
Digital audio: MP3, WMA, AAC formats supported
3.5mm stereo headset jack
Memory: 256 MB (100 MB user available), 128 MB RAM

Lower Costs, Increased Productivity With Treo Pro, businesses can quickly and easily deploy a secure, low-cost and compatible infrastructure for their mobile workforce by taking advantage of a tightly integrated Palm and Windows Mobile 6.1 solution, including:
Microsoft Direct Push Technology -- Direct connection to Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 SP2 or 2007 gives users up-to-date email, contacts and calendars.
Microsoft System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008 -- With the deployment of Mobile Device Manager, the Treo Pro can deliver increased security, easier smartphone management, and access to information on the corporate network. IT professionals can confidently manage large Treo Pro deployments.
Thousands of applications available for Windows Mobile -- Businesses can extend mobility beyond email to optimize business processes.
Support and training -- Palm shortcuts make Treo Pro so easy to use, businesses can spend less on training and support for their users. End-to-end enterprise support means companies can expand the scope of their mobile deployments without putting a strain on internal support personnel.
Familiar Windows experience -- Users can browse the web with built-in Internet Explorer Mobile; open, view, and edit Word and Excel compatible files; review PowerPoint presentations and PDF files; and open ZIP files remotely.

Included Software ActiveSync; Adobe Reader LE; Bluetooth; Bubble Breaker; Calculator; Calendar; Communications Manager; Contacts; File Explorer; Get WorldMate; GoogleMaps; Internet Explorer Mobile; Messaging; Microsoft Office Mobile including Excel Mobile, OneNote Mobile, PowerPoint Mobile, and Word Mobile; My Treo; Notes; Pics & Videos; QuickGPS; Quick Tour; SIM Manager; Solitaire; Sprite Backup; Streaming Media; Tasks; Telenav; Voice Command; Windows Live; Windows Live Messenger; Windows Media Player Mobile

Vital Statistics The Palm Treo Pro weighs 4.69 ounces and measures 4.5 x 2.36 x 0.53 inches. Its 1500 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 5 hours of talk time, and up to 250 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/900/1800/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS/EDGE frequencies as well as 850/1900/2100 MHz UMTS/HSDPA 3G frequencies.
Powered by Windows Mobile 6.1 Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6.1 offers a number of handy features that make searching through email, editing Microsoft Office documents, and staying on top of your most important communications even easier. Emails can now be viewed in their original rich HTML format and now offer the ability to visit embedded links. It also includes Windows Live for Windows Mobile, which provides a full set of Windows Live services, such as the Windows Live Messenger IM application, which now enables you to chat with more than one person at one time or send a file.
With Windows Mobile 6.1, your phone will finally be able to emulate the power and features of your PC's Microsoft Office suite. You'll be able to neatly view, navigate and edit Word documents and Excel spreadsheets in their original formatting--without affecting tables, images or text--as well as view PowerPoint presentations.
Microsoft Office Word Mobile features include spell-check, Find and Replace commands, bulleted lists, text formatting, and support for tables for the first time.
With Excel Mobile, you're not just confined to editing charts: with the new Chart Wizard you can create charts quickly and easily.
PowerPoint Mobile allows you to view the full presentation, rehearse timings, check the order and any live links you may have in your presentation. You can then email comments back to the team or communicate via MSN Messenger for an immediate response.
After creating or editing a Word document or Excel spreadsheet, you can synchronize it with your PC and it will automatically be converted to the PC version.

All Windows Mobile 6.1 powered devices include Direct Push Technology for up-to-date e-mail delivery and automatic synchronization of Outlook calendars, tasks and contacts through Microsoft Exchange Server. It also offers a set of important device security and management features that include the capability to remotely wipe all data from a device should it be lost or stolen, helping ensure that confidential information remains that way.
What's in the Box Handset, battery, travel charger, USB cable, 3.5mm stereo headset, getting started guide

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Palm TX Handheld with Hard Case Review

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(More customer reviews)This item bundles the two essential items you need immediately with your new Palm: screen protectors (3) and a sturdy highly protective case. The well designed case is lightweight, sleek and slim, and is made specifically for the TX. This case is easy to slide into your pant/jacket pocket, it will hold two memory cards, provides high protection from spills (it completely encloses the Palm), and unlike many other hard cases, the lid swings a full 360 around to the backside so you can hold the palm as if it were not in case at all!! The Palm swings on a hinge to allow you to plug things in while the TX is still attached to the hinge.

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Asus A626 3.5-inch PDA Windows Mobile 5.0, Wi-fi (802.11 B+g), Bluetooth 2.0 (edr), Review

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(More customer reviews)Introduction
This is my review on the Asus MyPal A626 Pocket PC PDA. It is a pure PDA, not a phone, though does have WiFi and Bluetooth capabilities.
The basic specs are as follows:
-Intel/Marvell XScale PXA270 312Mhz
-64MB RAM
-256MB Flash
-Windows Mobile Edition 6 with mobile office
-3.5" 320x240 16k color touch screen
-802.11g and bluetooth
-3.7V 1200mAh L-ion Battery
-3.5mm headphone jack, SDIO slot, speaker, microphone, IrBuild and first impression
First off, the build quality appears and feels quite good. The front Is a brushed steel or chrome with shiny chrome on the edges. The backside of the PDA is a soft gray plastic. The buttons are solid and have a nice feel, but the 4 task buttons are positioned to high to really make good controls if you plan on using emulators or some games on it. Also, the PDA is designed to be held either portrait or landscape, but assume I am holding it portrait when I am referring to it.
The top of the PDA has the centered power button and and offset SD slot. The right side has the 3.5mm headphone jack, hold slider, and stylus. The left side has the USB port. The bottom side has the Ir and reset button. The microphone is above the screen on the front, and the speaker and indicator lights are below the buttons.
Everything is well placed and convenient. My only complaint here is the bright LED indicator lights being right under the buttons, as they are bright and blink instead of staying on steady. I would have preferred them be on top or something less intrusive to the eye.Basic Usage
Well, coming originally from Pocket PC 2002, I was interested in seeing what was added/changed in Windows Mobile Edition 6. (WME6)
For one thing, it's more Vista like in it's loading bars and in it's resource management. On initial boot, it is already using half of the available RAM, leaving only about 34MB for your programs to run in. Conversely, my PPC2002 device had 64MB, and the left about 42-48MB for program storage and usage. Also, with this device, Windows and your programs are actually stored in the built in flash, Although it has 256MB (probably 248MB or so once converted), only 174MB is available to the user. However, it does come with a lot more, which justifies the OS becoming much larger.
My PCC2002 was a light version to save on memory, so word didn't even have spell check. Well that is there now, excel now does graphics, and there is a power point viewer. Additionally, there are built in drivers and settings for WiFi, Bluetooth, etc. They have also added Transcriber, a new way to write, which I'll give more detail on later.
Other notable new features for people comming from older PPCs are the CPU management, which is adjustable, portrait and landscape rotation, and quick tasks in the bottom right of the "Today" screen. The device is pretty responsive under default settings, but if you put the CPU to "Maximum", it is very responsive, though you sacrifice battery life. I keep it on "auto" most of the time, which is sufficient for most tasks.
The device is comfortable to hold, thought the telescoping stylus is overly light and short, primarily because it comes out of the short side of the device. However, the stylus and screen work well together and are pretty accurate and easy to use. The screen requires just the right amount of effort IMHO.Audio
Many people like the idea of the iPhone because it is a phone, PDA, and Music player all in one. However, a PPC device can play audio as well, and some do quite a good job of it. The sound of the ASUS through it's headphone jack is just above average. If anything, it's a little flat at it's default settings, so I go to the audio settings, where you get a bass and treble slider, each from -2 to +2, starting at 0. I found +2 for treble and +1 for bass works well for my music and headphones, but I'm sure this varies between headphones used. It also has a 3D setting for sound, which is a slider with about 18 stops, with 0 as the default. I liked it on about 5. With these settings on my headphones, most of my music sounded quite good, with good detail and minimal distortion. However, on songs with heavy deep bass, it didn't distort or quiet, but it could be a little sloppy with some of those notes. Nothing major. Volume levels will go high enough for most, and unless you have the bass on +2 and max the volume with some heavy bass music, you won't get distortion. I used the included Windows Mobile 10 for music, as well as TCPMP for music and AV.
Overall, sound quality is on a similar level to an iPod, but there are some portable music devices out there with better sound. Definitely usable!Video Playback
With TCPMP, this device is excellent at playing AV. I actually found a patch for TCPMP that allows the device to play flash videos, so I can get on youtube or a similar service and watch the videos full screen on my PDA. They are as smooth as a regular PC is with the high compression video. I have also done a quick test with Divx files on an SD card, but it was a lower bit rate one, which played fine. I have yet to try a higher bitrate Divx video yet, but I don't think it will have trouble. I update this once I give that a go.
The screen is a pleasure to watch video on. While it won't be that bright in direct sunlight, the backlight is even and color seems fairly accurate an pleasing. I give this device props over video iPods because of it's larger screen and ability to play more formats, though will have less space unless you stock up on SD cards.Battey Life
This is actually a strong point of this PDA. Even with it's modest 1200mAh battery, it's usage life is about 4-24 hours. If you set your playist up, and just let it play at moderate volume with the device on hold so the screen is off, you should easily get over 20 hours. Playing a high bit rate video with the backlight turned up should yield about 4-6 hours. Internet usage with the WiFi on isn't a whole lot better than palying video, but all things considering, I think this is excellent battery life. My HP iPaq 1910 only got 3-6 hours for all tasks, even in it's prime, and had difficulty playing anything but video tailored to it, and that was overclocked.Software Issues
My only real complaint about this PDA is that Windows Mobile Edition 6, and reported 5 as well, have problems running older PPC software properly. The emulators made for ARM processors and PPC2000-2003 run significantly slower on this device thant hey did on my older, slower PPC2002 iPaq 1910. I am having a hard time finding newer emulators that were made for the newer OS, so I am kind of stuck for now. So if you have specific older software you want to run on it, try the software on a WME5 or 6 device first to see if it has any issues.[b]Included Accessories[/b]
I was very happy to find the ASUS to come with an extra stylus and a simple soft case for the device. It also came with a USB cable, a wall charger, 3 CDs. and the booklets. The package was very good, and made me feel that ASUS really cares what their customer think. [b]Conclusion and Who it's for[/b]
The ASUS MyPal A626 is an excellent PDA overall. It has no significant weaknesses, it comes well equipped for the price, and if you know what you are getting, you should be very happy with it.
So who is the Asus A626 for? It is for someone who wants a PDA that can do more than schedule, but you don't need it as a GPS or Cell Phone. The built in flash is ALOT of space for a PPC, as most programs are only 500KB to a few MB, so you can fill it up with programs, and still have the SD slot available. Personally, I don't want my PDA and phone to be the same device, because I don't want to have to not use my PDA so my phone doesn't die, or vice versa. I like having the two devices separately, though you can communicate the two with bluetooth. I would like to see the ability to bluetooth your contacts to your phone, too.
This device has a huge list of things it can do. Scheduling, Music, Video, Voice Recording, Notes, Typing, Games, Internet, and much more with appropriate software or addons. No, it's not also a cell phone, but it doesn't claim to be, so if you're not expecting it, it is a great device, all for about $300.


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A great productivity companion that will keep you connected to email and the Internet, the ultra-slim, palm-sized ASUS A626 PDA stands out from other PDAs on the market. Weighing just over 5.5 ounces, it features a brightly colorful 3.5-inch anti-glare touchscreen LCDand durable, fashionable stainless steel case. In situations where utilizing a notebook is more hassle than convenience, the A626 will help you stay productive and connected with its Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system and 54g Wi-Fi LAN (802.11b/g) for downloading email and surfing the Web in both corporate and coffeehouse environments.
With ASUS's user-friendly Remote Presenter application, the A626 can also be easily utilized to remotely link and control presentations on a computer via Bluetooth. And since all data is stored in flash memory (128 MB ROM with 64 MB SDRAM), your most important data remains saved even if all battery power in the handheld has drained away. You can expand the A626's memory vie optional Secure Digital (SD) memory cards.
The Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC operating system includes the Microsoft Office Mobile suite, which features Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, and PowerPoint Mobile. Meanwhile, the File Explorer application makes it easy to browse the files. It also supports Windows Media playback right out of the box. With Windows Media Player, you can play streaming and downloaded video and audio content in a variety of formats. You can also keep favorite tunes loaded on a memory card and listen to your music wherever you roam. With its front-mounted speakers, it plays a variety of popular video and audio formats (MP3, WMA).
With the integrated Bluetooth technology, you can connect wirelessly to peripherals such as your cell phone and make cable clutter a thing of the past. Bluetooth 2.0+EDR is up to three times faster than its predecessors, offering a maximum data rate of 3Mbps, and is also backwards-compatible with Bluetooth 1.x devices.
Specifications
312 MHz Marvell XScale processor
3.5-inch TFT LCD touchscreen with 65k colors, 240 x 320-pixel resolution (QVGA)
128 MB Flash ROM and 64 MB SDRAM
3.5mm earphone jack
Integrated microphone and speakers
Full duplex recording and playback
1200 mAh removable/rechargeable battery
Dimensions: 2.8 x 0.6 x 4.6 inches
Weight: 5.57 ounces

What's in the Box ASUS A626, rechargeable battery, AC adapter/charger, carrying case, mini-USB cable, CD with software and drivers, printed user guide

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Palm Pre 2 Factory Unlocked GSM Phone with Web 2.0, 3G, Wi-Fi, GPS, 5MP Camera, 16GB Storage--U.S. Version with Warranty (Black) Review

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(More customer reviews)This is the 3rd edition of the Palm Pre. Gone is the shiny rounded plastic screen. Say hello to Gorilla Glass - same as the iPhone. Clock speed of the CPU is double that of the previous Pre and Pre+ models. This thing is fast, and yet the battery life improves with the more efficient processor.
All of the batteries, cases, and and accessories from older versions still work.
This is still the only phone that charges wirelessly. Just set it on the magnetic Touchstone base, and you won't ever buy something that needs a cable again.
5 minutes to learn 5 gestures and you have full command of the phone. Effortless one-handed use. Excellent keyboard slides out of the way when you don't want it.
Best kept secret in the business. Get one!

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Celio REDFLY C8N Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)If you have a compatible smartphone, this is the handiest accessory you can have. In a package of less than 2 pounds and measuring 6 x 9 x 1 inches, you have the logical extension for your smartphone, giving you a very sharp 8 inch screen, a suprisingly usable keyboard, two USB slots that can be used to hold flash drives.
You connect your smartphone via a USB cable or Bluetooth and you have everything you need to do your business. Essentially, you've just tied a dumb terminal to your smartphone. There's no software to load, no settings to fiddle with, no hassles or problems.
Your smartphone screen is now on the 8" Redfly screen. Instead of the miniscule keyboard on your smartphone, you use the surprisingly capable Redfly keyboard. (I'm not sure of how they did it, but the less-than-full-size Redfly keyboard doesn't feel cramped to my large hands.)Connectivity and application software are supplied by your smartphone.
Quite frankly, the Redfly allows you to go without your laptop on many occasions. You can use Windows Mobile Office or pick up one of several office-like applications that are more powerful. Adobe Acrobat Reader (or a third party programs) allows you to readPDF files comfortably. You can browse with your smartphone's install of Internet Explorer, Opera, Skyfire or other browser.
It is a pure hoot to use this two pound wonder. You can throw it into a small bag and carry it everywhere. The idea of harnessing the power of your smartphone, leveraging its connectivity, built-in computing power and applications. Plug in a flash drive, which are now available in 64GB capacities, and there's little in the way of typical productivity work you can't get done.
The rechargeable battery will last 8 - 9 hours on a charge and recharge your smartphone over a USB connection.
Are there drawbacks? Yes. You are limited to the capabilities of your smartphone, so viewing online Flash movies will most likely be out of the question and your smartphone processor may not be anywhwere near as speedy as you would like when you are banging out a long memo. The battery is not removable: there are people who need even more than 8 or so hours on a charge. The power adapter does not have foldable prongs which makes it unnecessarily difficult to pack in a carrying bag.
Beyond that, the Redfly comes close to being an act of technological brilliance. It takes advantage of the increasing power of smartphones and makes them more usable, without making the technology more complex. Nice move!
My review, by the way, is based on the C8 model, which is the same as the C8N except for the plug-in video import capability.
Jerry

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