Acer Introduced New PPC - N30

[Jonathon Watkins]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/06/18/acer_n30/' target='_blank'>http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/06/18/acer_n30/</a><br /><br /></div>The Register pointed out that Acer have introduced a new Pocket PC to <a href="http://global.acer.com/products/pda/spec_pda_n20.htm">their line-up,</a> called the N30. The <a href="http://global.acer.com/products/pda/n30.htm">Acer website</a> calls it the "Wireless wonder", which is bit misleading. Lets see, Wfi? No. GSM? No. GPRS? No. Bluetooth 1.1? Yes. Ah. So, not so wonderful then? :wink: <br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/inner_main_n30.gif" /> <br /><br /><i>"The n30 is driven by a Samsung S3C2410 CPU clocked to 266MHz. It contains 64MB of SDRAM and 32MB of Flash ROM. The screen is the usual 3.5in 240 x 320 display, and the device runs the first edition of Windows Mobile 2003. Acer's new model is a compact 11.8 x 7.1 x 1.3cm and weighs 130g, so it's both slimmer and lighter than its n10 predecessor. It provides a single SD IO/MMC slot for expansion, though the n10 offers a CompactFlash connector, one of the reasons for its bigger bulk. Inside the n30 is a 1000mAh rechargeable battery."</i><br /><br />That's not too bad for £180 / $280, but that battery capacity seems rather small and I wonder how that Samsung 266Mhz CPU wil do......<br /><br />edit: It's been pointed out that these are actually very similar specs to the iPAQ 1940, which has the same processor and an even smaller battery. So there you go. :)

[arnage2]

Why would you buy this over a hp1940 or a e405?

[devhen]

A 1000mAh battery for a non-wireless PPC doesn't sound small to me at all. In fact, this device should offer great battery life. No?

[Kati Compton]

1000 seems the minimum for me for battery, but there are certainly devices that have less. ;) I predict "not too bad but not too good" battery life.

But it's good to see more (as in, greater variety/quantity) affordable devices. Even if they're not what I'd get for myself. ;)

[Fishie]

Why should you wonder what the Samsung processor performs like?

I mean the Ipaq 1940/45 uses it and its a spiffy machine with exactly similar specs isnt it.

[Fishie]

Oh and the battery has a 100Mah higher capacity then the one in the 1940/45 as well.

Cheaper and larger battery(list price).

[dh]

But it's good to see more (as in, greater variety/quantity) affordable devices. Even if they're not what I'd get for myself. ;)
I agree that more variety is good. I'm not excited about a new tablet, 64MB, even less than 400MHz device though. Talk about being in a rut.

The only innovation seems to be the Motorola, where on earth has it got to I wonder? At least with this slow progress my old Axim A5 isn't feeling left behind. :D

[Jonathon Watkins]

At least with this slow progress my old Axim A5 isn't feeling left behind. :D

Same here. My X5 (OS upgrade apart) is holding it's own nicely, until a suitable replacement comes along, something wit VGA and all the trimmings like the rumoured replacement for the Toshiba e805 etc.

[c38b2]

GSM? No. GPRS? No.
GPRS is data over GSM so they're essentially the same thing. :roll: And seeing how it's the first Acer to incorporate radio-wireless I think that the title is appropriate. :|

[Jonathon Watkins]

GPRS is data over GSM so they're essentially the same thing
Not it's not (http://www.gsmworld.com/technology/gprs/intro.shtml). It is an data transmission standard that is layered on top of the voice service and is independent of the standard underneath.

It should be noted right that the General Packet Radio Service is not only a service designed to be deployed on mobile networks that are based on the GSM digital mobile phone standard. The IS-136 Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) standard, popular in North and South America, will also support GPRS. This follows an agreement to follow the same evolution path towards third generation mobile phone networks concluded in early 1999 by the industry associations that support these two network types.


And seeing how it's the first Acer to incorporate radio-wireless I think that the title is appropriate. :|

So, when they have a unit that does BT and Wifi and GSM it'll be called the Wireless Wonder, Wonder, Wonderful? :wink:

(Oh and the first Acer PPC to offer WiFi was actually the n20w).

[Fishie]

Regardles of those things, your newsitem comes of as overly negative.

The specs are exactly the same as the much loved Ipaq 1940/45 and the battery is larger.

Why put your reservations in there about processor speed and battery size when people who have a 1940/45 are generally pleased with the machine?

[Jonathon Watkins]

Why put your reservations in there about processor speed and battery size when people who have a 1940/45 are generally pleased with the machine?

At the time I did not realise that the 1940 used the 266 processor, but I have since update the front page.

It's a bit cheeky calling it the Wireless wonder when it can only do BT and infrared. :?

[Fishie]

Why put your reservations in there about processor speed and battery size when people who have a 1940/45 are generally pleased with the machine?

At the time I did not realise that the 1940 used the 266 processor, but I have since update the front page.

It's a bit cheeky calling it the Wireless wonder when it can only do BT and infrared. :?

Hehe true but what do you expect for that price?