PC Magazine Reviews the Dell Axim X51v

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1860795,00.asp?kc=PCRSS02129TX1K0000530' target='_blank'>http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,175...2129TX1K0000530</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Two steps forward, one step back is still a step forward. Dell's new Axim X51v PDA is physically a very close relative of their existing X50v but runs the new Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system. The X51v has more memory and includes some more powerful features, but unfortunately its benchmark-test performance lags a bit."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20050921-AximX51v.jpg" /><br /><br />Yet another Axim X51v review has surfaced - this time, by PC Magazine. Overall, it appears to be a solid device, though the poor memory and file system benchmark results may be a bit of a concern.

[Clinton Fitch]

Overall, it appears to be a solid device, though the poor memory and file system benchmark results may be a bit of a concern.

I'm not so sure how much can be read into the benchmark results though. We all know that writing to ROM is slower than writing to RAM but I suspect that the benchmarking software - like Spb Benchmark - is not optimized to take into consideration that ROM is now the storage point.

In reading the Windows Mobile Team blog (http://blogs.msdn.com/windowsmobile/default.aspx) I get the impression that the real slowdown is when the initial sync'ing of all of the contacts, calendar, ect happens but that in normal use it is not noticable.

Having not received my upgrade CD for my x50v, I have nothing to base this on personally, just on what I've read.

One thing for sure, with ROM being the storage point now, 256MB of it on the 51v is nnnniiiiiicccccceeeeee...... :D

[Darius Wey]

I'm not so sure how much can be read into the benchmark results though. We all know that writing to ROM is slower than writing to RAM but I suspect that the benchmarking software - like Spb Benchmark - is not optimized to take into consideration that ROM is now the storage point.

I've heard of people experiencing lags with certain applications (and that can easily be expected with programs which have to deal with relatively large databases). But you're right - benchmark results should be taken with a grain of salt, and it is the real-world usage which matters most. I think for the most part, the speed differences in normal usage are negligible.

[DaleReeck]

I'm not so sure how much can be read into the benchmark results though. We all know that writing to ROM is slower than writing to RAM but I suspect that the benchmarking software - like Spb Benchmark - is not optimized to take into consideration that ROM is now the storage point.

I've heard of people experiencing lags with certain applications (and that can easily be expected with programs which have to deal with relatively large databases). But you're right - benchmark results should be taken with a grain of salt, and it is the real-world usage which matters most. I think for the most part, the speed differences in normal usage are negligible.

Yep :) I've never been a fan of benchmarks anyways and with WM5, I think they are even less important. However, that being said, my actual use of a JasJar has shown it to be slightly slower in everyday stuff than a WM3 Pocket PC, but not enough for me to get pi$$ed off :D Also, VGA may have a part in that slowness too. Unfortunately, while processor speeds have been increasing, ROM read/write speeds have not and that is the big factor on a WM5 device.

[jngold_me]

Also, VGA may have a part in that slowness too.

Doesn't WM5 level the playing field with regards to that?

[KTamas]

The first sync between AS4 and WM5 is sloooooow, very slow. But after that, AS4 and syncing is faster then AS3/2003SE...

[ctitanic]

The benchmarks are ok if you are comparing apples with apples and grapes with grapes. WM5 is slower than WM2003; you don't have to get a collage degree to know that. The comparison between the X51v and the Jasjar was good and it shows the X51v being faster. In another hand, anything in WM5 that demands read and write access will be show a performance hit.

[alex_kac]

Also, VGA may have a part in that slowness too.

Doesn't WM5 level the playing field with regards to that?

Actually, at the moment it makes it worse. I've heard from other people associated with OEMs I'm not associated with that future WM5 updates will dramatically improve graphics speed.

[KTamas]

Also, VGA may have a part in that slowness too.

Doesn't WM5 level the playing field with regards to that?

Actually, at the moment it makes it worse. I've heard from other people associated with OEMs I'm not associated with that future WM5 updates will dramatically improve graphics speed.
Honestly, since I've upgraded my BA, games run faster...

[KTamas]

The benchmarks are ok if you are comparing apples with apples and grapes with grapes. WM5 is slower than WM2003; you don't have to get a collage degree to know that. The comparison between the X51v and the Jasjar was good and it shows the X51v being faster. In another hand, anything in WM5 that demands read and write access will be show a performance hit.
Offtopic: Apples are better than grapes i think.




(Sorry, could not resist :P)

[ombu]

Offtopic: Apples are better than grapes i think.




(Sorry, could not resist :P)

:mrgreen:
Right, wine's not good in sort of a "pill" container.