New Pocket PC? - Compal Palmax z720

[Jonathon Watkins]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.mobile-review.com/pda/review/palmax-z720-en.shtml' target='_blank'>http://www.mobile-review.com/pda/re...x-z720-en.shtml</a><br /><br /></div><i>"After producing its own low-end handheld - Palmax z710, Taiwanese company – Compal decided to continue this business. Today we'll talk about the second PDA of this company in this year - Palmax z720. Long time before Compal produced only ODM-models of PDAs (as well as laptops), for example, for Toshiba. Probably, Compal's production activity under own brand somehow confirms rumors that Toshiba leaves the PDA market."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/pic03.jpg" /> <br /><br />Duncan from <a href="www.firstloox.org">FirstLoox</a> let us know about a possible new Pocket PC – the Palmax z720 by Compal. It will run WM2003SE, has a integrated GPS receiver (which explains the antenna) and has a 300Mhz Intel XScale PXA263, 128Mb RAM, 32Mb ROM, a QVGA screen, a SD/MMC Slot and a removable 1050mAh battery. Compal usually produce Pocket PCs for others and as the quote above mentions, it may have been designed originally for Toshiba to release. These <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=29743&amp;start=0">continuing rumours</a> about Toshiba exiting the PPC market are starting to get worrying. I do hope that they will keep at it and continue to make great devices. Dell and HP could use a solid competitor. <br /><br /> <a href="http://www.mobile-review.com/pda/review/palmax-z720-en.shtml">Mobile-review.com</a> have an English translation of their review of the z720 with lots of details and screenshots. You can marvel at the 'pleasant silver plastic' and wonder if we will ever see it in stores over here. Bear in mind that Mobile-review were testing a prototype and not the final production hardware. The only current information about the z720 is on Russian sites and while they talk about a release date of a few months, it remains to be seen when/if the device will be released elsewhere/at all. Personally I would love to see more PPCs with built in GPS receivers! So, a new Pocket PC model, more Toshiba rumours and GPS. Thoughts?

[Duncan]

Just a minor correction - the screen is only QVGA - though it has a dedicated button for switching to landscape - so definitely had WM2003SE in mind when designed.

[Janak Parekh]

Thanks, Duncan, I've corrected it.

--janak

[jlp]

Did you notice the Casio E-1xx style keys and pad location??

Plus the Casio-like icon on the launch key??

Me think it was designed for Casio for the Japanese market. 8)

Watch Casio.co.jp for a (possible) announcement there... :D

[Fishie]

Looks like an awesome device for games(button placement and directional key)

[jizmo]

Looks like e310 with a huge antenna. Didn't like that desing either .. :?

/jizmo

[T-Will]

I'm sorry...but this design gets a BIG :pukeface2: from me...

It looks cheap and what's with that HUGE antenna nub... :?

[kosmicki]

Interesting form factor... It does look 'cheap' though. Will be interesting to see where this company goes!

[Jonathon Watkins]

Just a minor correction - the screen is only QVGA - though it has a dedicated button for switching to landscape - so definitely had WM2003SE in mind when designed.

Doh - don't know how that type happened. :oops:

Cheers for the heads up on this unit Duncan! 8)

I agree with the comments about the aerial. :? Too bulky, too angular.

[carphead]

Palmax. Now that's a blast from the Past :)

Used it have one of their Mini-PC's. Great product better than the Libretto I used to run Windows NT4 Server on mine :) VERY SLOW but it worked great as a storage device.

http://www.tidalpower.com.tw/pd1100.htm

[bjornkeizers]

I was thinking the same thing :D Yeah, Libretto's are pretty sweet. A full blown PC with windows 95-98 the size of a videocasette.

I really hope someone makes a decent replacement; and I'm not talking about some ****ty Oqo or Vulcan vapourware

[jlp]

Bjorn,

You can get the Sony U50/70. It's twice as bulky as those you harshly and wrongly(*) reject as vaporware but they're available now :D


*=the OQO has been steadily scheduled for Fall 04 since last CES in January and has been presented at several major computing and electronic shows and to TechTV and CNet's News.com. The company is now conducting real life applications testing with 40 major corporations and everything seems on schedule so far.

[whydidnt]

I agree that it looks a little cheap. Gets me wondering though. Why is every PPC with GPS built in a low end unit as far as the rest of the specs? I have yet to see one with anything but the 300 Mhz XScale processor. I would think these would be more of a high end device and should be sporting top-of-line hardware.

Doesn't the loading and scrolling of maps take a lot of processing power? It always seems slow on my 2215 (non GPS) as it is.

[bjornkeizers]

Bjorn,

You can get the Sony U50/70. It's twice as bulky as those you harshly and wrongly(*) reject as vaporware but they're available now :D


True, the U50/70 is pretty nice, but they're a bit expensive and neither of them have a built in keyboard like the Libretto had.

Yeah, I know the Oqo isn't vapour, but the vulcan still is, AFAIK. And neither of those have a keyboard as well.

[powder2000]

I agree that it looks a little cheap. Gets me wondering though. Why is every PPC with GPS built in a low end unit as far as the rest of the specs? I have yet to see one with anything but the 300 Mhz XScale processor. I would think these would be more of a high end device and should be sporting top-of-line hardware.

Doesn't the loading and scrolling of maps take a lot of processing power? It always seems slow on my 2215 (non GPS) as it is.


Anything higher would just drive up costs and people wouldn't buy. Well, most people. :lol: It would be sweet to see one built like a garmin gps unit with solid construction and rubber grippies!

[Jonathon Watkins]

Why is every PPC with GPS built in a low end unit as far as the rest of the specs? I have yet to see one with anything but the 300 Mhz XScale processor. I would think these would be more of a high end device and should be sporting top-of-line hardware.

Agreed. It does seem a little puzzling. I wonder why this is. Maybe they are trying to keep the price down with the existing units. I do wonder how much building in GPS would add to the size/weight/price of say.... the HP 4700?

[Fishie]

I was thinking the same thing :D Yeah, Libretto's are pretty sweet. A full blown PC with windows 95-98 the size of a videocasette.

I really hope someone makes a decent replacement; and I'm not talking about some s****y Oqo or Vulcan vapourware

Libretto´s still exist: http://dynabook.com/pc/catalog/libretto/020424l5/index_j.htm

[whydidnt]

I do wonder how much building in GPS would add to the size/weight/price of say.... the HP 4700?

I know that I, for one, would love it if a company out there would help me discover this answer! :wink: