05-18-2004, 06:20 AM
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Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
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aximsite Reviews the Dell Axim X30
Yup, it's official: the Dell Axim X30 is out. It's not up on their Web site yet as of this writing, but I'm sure it will be soon. Dell sent me an X30 to review, but I didn't receive it until Thursday, and I've spent the past few days doing battery tests and taking pictures. And then tonight, when I was hoping to finish up my review, I spent four hours with an insurance agent talking about life insurance. 8O So there you have my sorry excuses for not having the review finished - regulars will know that if I can't be first I don't like writing reviews at all, but in this case I promise I'll finish it off tomorrow. ;-)
One fellow who did manage to get an X30 review written is Chris Leckness from aximsite:
"Since this is the 1st 624mhz Pocket PC, there is nothing to compare benchmark scores with at this time, But compared it to the older machines, it is"Smoking"! What is the perfect PocketPC? That is a question that will never be answered, there are too many opposing views and usage patterns for that to ever be accomplished. Today, Dell released the closest to my perfect PocketPC to date. It sports the fastest processor available at this time, SDIO SD Slot, a small and light form factor, Bluetooth and WiFi, and Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition. Other than a few features that some find a must, it has everything I want in a PocketPC. The only real complaint offhand is the look. I mentioned in my X3i review last year that I really wish that Dell would have duplicated the modern, unique look of the X5 when they design the X3. Just in case you have not figured it out yet, the Dell Axim X30 is the same as the X3i with some major enhancements."
What I can tell you is that the X30 is f-a-s-t. I threw a 320 x 240 WMV clip at 1011 kbps, and it played it without a hiccup (yeah, that's over 1 mbps!). That same clip on the same SD card while played in my iPAQ 4150 resulted in a brief sputtering every four seconds. The raw CPU power of the 624 mhz CPU is very impressive for multimedia. Overall, this is the most powerful Pocket PC I've ever tested - witness the benchmark results:
In fact, what's really amazing is how painfully slow the Axim X5 is with the PXA250 CPU. This is the first Pocket PC which, from a performance standpoint, feels truly faster than the original iPAQ based on the 206 mhz StrongARM CPU.
Other interesting bits about this X30 release include the fact that their entry-level non-wireless model will be $199 USD, and that they will have a Bluetooth keyboard released within 60 days or so. Battery life is decent, but not stellar - 3 hours and 17 minutes with the backlight cranked up to maximum. With the 1800 mAH battery that rises to over seven hours, which is very respectable. No backlight and CPU idle? 28 hours and seven minutes. 8O
More on this tomorrow, but definitely go check out Chris' review!
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05-18-2004, 06:35 AM
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Thinker
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 407
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8O
Finally this is the type of thing that I have been waitinf for. SNES emulators will play even better now.
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05-18-2004, 07:14 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 106
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The new processors sound promising - too bad this is just a quickie remake of an old model that still has the sucky 320x240 screen.
But that makes me look forward to something like the new iPAQs even more. Hopefully we'll see more of these 624MHz PocketPCs soon.
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05-18-2004, 07:51 AM
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Theorist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 301
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I'm also wondering about what VGA goodness Dell has up it's sleeve. It feels weird to say it, but I'm not really craving the Mhz that badly. Sure I would like more speed, but I really want the resolution. It's all about the pixels...
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05-18-2004, 07:53 AM
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Neophyte
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 4
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X30 on Dell Oz site show 312mhz ONLY
Just saw this on Dell Australia website.
http://www1.ap.dell.com/content/prod...=au&l=en&s=dhs
The site mentioned it have 312Mhz and not 624Mhz.
I wonder if it is a typo or are they releasing a different spec model for Australia? :!: :?:
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05-18-2004, 08:24 AM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,055
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Wow, this sounds very impressive.. Finally, Dell has released a dual-wireless model with an incredible processor. Plus, with the regular Dell discounts, I'm sure this thing will be significantly cheaper than the iPaq 4150.
I'll be waiting for that review, Jason! 
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05-18-2004, 08:27 AM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 66
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Just an observation: why is it that, 4 years since the 3600 iPaq, the cpu in the X30 is only twice as fast as the original? :devilboy:
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05-18-2004, 08:37 AM
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Philosopher
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 498
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by zkmusa
Wow, this sounds very impressive.. Finally, Dell has released a dual-wireless model with an incredible processor. Plus, with the regular Dell discounts, I'm sure this thing will be significantly cheaper than the iPaq 4150.
I'll be waiting for that review, Jason! |
even without any coupon, it is only $349, $100 less than h4155.
X30 has more than 20mb ROM storage too, which doesn't exist in h4155.
Let alone the middle version, which is only $249 and faster than h4155.(FROM Aximsite.com review.)
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05-18-2004, 08:57 AM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,202
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Am I the only one amazed that Dell actually beat HP to the punch with the release of a 2nd Edition Device? HP really seems to be sleeping on this release. I wonder if they are as committed to the platform as Compaq was? If I was a betting man, I'd bet that all of HP's releases last year were the completion of previously started Compaq projects. All we've heard from them is very think rumors and inuendo to this date.
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05-18-2004, 09:26 AM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 176
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I'm struggling to work out why anyone would release a non-VGA device at this stage...
I'm guessing it must be down to the cost of the screen - anyone have any idea what the difference in manufacturing cost is?
Iain.
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