BIOS: Technology Means Business

PDAs are no longer business-only tools. Fast processors, more memory and larger screens are allowing us not only to read and edit office documents on the move, but also browse the Internet, send and receive e-mails, as well as watch movies and listen to music. The Axim X50v blends digital entertainment with productivity in a well-rounded package that's excellent value for money - as long as you can get on with the fiddly navigation controller and middling battery life, and don't require biometric fingerprint security like on HP's iPAQ range.

Pros: VGA screen; Wi-Fi and Bluetooth; dedicated graphics engine
Cons: Small nav controller; middling battery; no biometric security

The Axim X50v is Dell's latest Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition (SE)-based PDA. Whilst the successor to 2003's popular Axim X30 has been available in the US for a few months now, UK availability has only just started to filter through.

The device is available in two models, the Axim X50 (from £249 ex. VAT) and Axim X50v (from £289 ex. VAT). We've reviewed the flagship Axim X50v here, which includes a 624MHz Intel XScale PXA270 processor. This is currently the fastest chip for Pocket PCs, and like any chip in this family features SpeedStep and Wireless MMX technology to optimise battery life.

It also comes as standard with 64MB of SDRAM, 128MB of ROM, as well as 3.3-Volt CompactFlash and SDIO/MMC slots for external storage and additional peripherals. Both Bluetooth 1.2 and 802.11b Wi-Fi are included with the Axim X50v, but Axim X50 customers will have further budget for Wi-Fi.

However, the real star of the show is the big-and-bright 3.7in., 640x480-pixel screen (QVGA) which supports 16-bit colour (65,000 colours). The Axim X50 has a smaller 3.5in., 240x320-pixel display. The benefit of a larger screen is that it improves the viewing area and makes documents easier to see so you can work and player faster and more comfortably.

The PDA also provides an excellent entertainment experience, thanks in part to Intel's integrated 2700G graphics accelerator with 16MB of video memory that enables high quality movie playback and an excellent Web browsing experience.

The device's black-and-silver livery is very fetching and less utilitarian looking compared to its predecessors, and the slightly rounded enclosure and rubberised sides make for a comfortable and solid grip. It's also relatively compact and light (73x119x16mm, up to 175g), so it shouldn't be a burden in your pocket. It houses no less than eight buttons, excluding the main 5-way navigation controller, but their uses are fairly obvious and shouldn't complicate its usage.

For instance, there's a power button, four programmable application shortcut buttons (Home, Inbox, Contacts, and Calendar), lock switch, record button, and wireless on/off button, in addition to the reset button, mono microphone, wireless LED, 3.5mm stereo audio jack (supports VoIP and voice recognition applications), lanyard hook, battery cover lock, cradle/sync connector, and stylus holder. The inclusion of a wireless on/off button is really handy because you don't have to wade through menus and software settings to toggle Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

The Axim X50v also includes a new user-replaceable 1100mAh battery, and there's an optional 2200mAh battery should you want to extend run time even further. Dell claims a battery life of around 6 hours, but under real-life workloads you should expect around 4 hours use between charges. You also get a soft protective case, but it adds more bulk compared to a preferred flip-screen cover.

Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003's Zero Configuration utility makes it easy for you to find and connect to any 802.11b wireless local area network. When the PDA encounters a hotspot - whether at home, work or a coffee shop - you'll be asked if you want to connect, allowing you to easily access the Internet, check your e-mail or update your schedule on the fly. The WLAN software also displays signal strength, encryption options, certificate enrollment for advanced Wi-Fi authentication, and more.

The Axim X50v was the first PDA to ship with Windows Media Player 10 Mobile, so it's ready to roll in the multimedia department. Microsoft's excellent software lets you carry your favourite music, movies and TV shows wherever you go, and makes it simple to download TV and movies and access online stores and subscription services, such as CinemaNow, MusicMatch, MSN Music and Napster.

Unfortunately, you can't transfer playlists in Media Player's manual-sync mode. To transfer playlists, you need to do an automatic sync, which sets certain playlists to copy over automatically every time you connect the PDA.

Another benefit of Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition is that it supports Landscape mode, which is a boon if you're keen on sharing photos, surfing the Web, or working on spreadsheets. All the usual software is also including, such as Pocket Word, Excel, and Internet Explorer, in addition to MSN Messenger, VPN client, clock, calculator, File Store, and Backup utility, making the Axim X50v good value-for-money if you don't need high-end security features or 128MB of system memory.