Product Roundup: PDA's Get Wireless Religion
Palm Tungsten C
The Tungsten C is Palm’s first device to ship with integrated 802.11b
technology (also known as WiFi) for wireless campus connectivity. Some features
include: a built-in keyboard; 64MB of memory to manage data-intensive applications;
400Mhz of ARM processing power to drastically re- duce wait times for almost
any query or application; and integrated, full-
featured business applications, such as VersaMail 2.5 and DataViz Documents
To Go for managing Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents. The TFT
display offers clear, high-resolution viewing inside classrooms or outside on
campus.
This handheld provides the most memory available for any Palm OS based device.
An internal rechargeable battery provides a full day of consistent WiFi connectivity,
or five days of average handheld use.
If you require behind-the-firewall access to institution or university networks,
the Tungsten C ships with a built-in PPTP (point-to-point tunneling protocol)
virtual private network (VPN) from Mergic. This solution enables users to securely
check e-mail, browse the Web or institution and university networks, and wirelessly
synchronize with their desktop to back up information and receive the latest
e-mail, documents, calendar, and contact information.
Information about Palm Inc. products is available at http://www.palm.com
Dell Axium X5
Dell’s Axim X5 is equipped with Microsoft Pocket PC 2003 Premium and pre-installed
with familiar applications like Pocket Word and Pocket Excel, along with a calendar,
contacts, voice recorder, and a number of other built-in features.
Axim X5 special features include built-in Secure Digital (SD) and CompactFlash
II (CF II) expansion slots, a removable, rechargeable battery, and a scroll
dial located on the left side of the device, making “one-handed”
operation easy.
The CF II card slot located on the top of the unit can accommodate additional
memory expansion or wireless options like WiFi or Bluetooth cards. Use the (SD)
card slot located on the upper left side of the unit for memory expansion, to
store files and presentations for productivity on the go, or store MP3 music
or eBooks for entertainment.
The Axim X5 features a removable lithium-ion battery and an optional high capacity
battery for extended battery life. The Axim X5 offers an optional cradle with
a battery charging slot, and will dock to the cradle with either battery installed.
Keep a spare battery charged in the cradle at all times and simply swap batteries
as needed.
Information about Dell products is available at http://www.dell.com/us/en/gen/default.htm
Handspring Treo 600
(Pre-release)
Handspring’s Treo 600 series was named “Best of Show” in the
mobile and wireless services category at the CeBit America trade fair in New
York, N.Y. The upcoming Treo 600 smartphone series combines a smaller, more
phone-like design with a full QWERTY keyboard that is small enough to fit on
this compact device but still big enough to enter text quickly and accurately.
New design features include a fast Palm OS 5 organizer running on an ARM processor,
and a new Web browser that allows surfing of any Web site—including JavaScript
enabled sites—and even download software. The new Treo 600 also has a
built-in digital camera to take and send pictures or connect a face to a phone
num- ber with picture caller ID, and a built-in SD/MMC expansion slot for adding
memory, content or hardware (supports SD I/O).
Information about the Treo 600 is available at http://www.handspring.com/treo600/index.jhtml
HP iPAQ h2210/2215
The HP iPAQ h2210/2215 is the smallest Pocket PC on the market to include dual
slot expansion (CF II and SD). The h2210’s small, sleek design also includes
integrated Bluetooth wireless capability, enabling wireless synchronization
and data sharing through a personal area network to other Bluetooth devices.
In addition, the h2210/2215 includes Nevo universal remote control software,
allowing users to control all their home and office audio and video equipment
with a single device.
The device comes with 64MB of RAM (56MB of main memory), the 400-MHz Intel X-Scale
PXA255 applications processor, and the full Pocket PC 2003 Suite, including
Microsoft Outlook, Pocket Excel, Pocket Word, etc. Multimedia capabilities are
enhanced by an integrated graphics controller for faster, smoother video. A
slipcase and desktop cradle with an extra battery slot for charging is included
with the device.
Information about the HP iPAQ h2210/2215 is available at http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/eng/prodserv/handheld.html
Sony Clié PEG-UX50
The PEG-UX50 Personal Entertainment Communicator features dual wireless and
is powered by Palm OS. With both WiFi and Bluetooth built-in, the UX50 offers
two methods of wireless communication for maximum flexibility. By pairing the
UX50 with other Bluetooth enabled devices users can transfer data between Clié
handhelds, HotSync with a PC, or connect to the Internet via cell phone. When
users enter a new geographic location, they can easily detect available WiFi
signals through the device’s embedded “sniffer” technology.
The built-in 310,000-pixel digital camera is great for taking quick snapshots
and transmitting over one of the wireless connections. It also incorporates
a voice recorder and digital audio—so users can record and play back video
(MPEG4, 30 fps, 160x112).
The new wide-screen design features a high-resolution 480x320 display. The wider
display allows Web pages to be more readable. The screen lifts to expose the
illuminated keyboard, or swivels to hide the keyboard and use as a touch screen.
Plus, more room is available for the built in keyboard, allowing for more space
between each key.
The UX50 also features Dedicated Internal Media Memory (29MB) for storing multimedia
content. The Automatic Data Back-up feature helps protect information by moving
data in RAM memory to non-volatile memory when a low battery state is detected.
Information on the Clié line, visit http://www.sonystyle.com
