Pocket PC Tools looks at the Zayo A600

[Jason Dunn]

<a href="http://www.pocketpctools.com/modules.php?name=News&amp;file=article&amp;sid=100&amp;mode=&amp;order=0&amp;thold=0">http://www.pocketpctools.com/modules.php?name=News&amp;file=article&amp;sid=100&amp;mode=&amp;order=0&amp;thold=0</a><br /><br />The Zayo lives! Long live the Zayo! Despite the silly name, this looks like a very interesting Pocket PC - go check out the photos on Pocket PC Tools and you'll see how thin it is. The iPAQ looks monstrously huge compared to the Zayo! It only has a single SD slot, but all in all it looks like a nice Pocket PC.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/zayo-off.jpg" /><br /><br />"Okay. Several people have asked me to "throw you a bone" about the new Zayo. I have therefore taken some pictures which are seen here (click on the Read More... link to see the entire story). I will post software and hardware information over the next few days. As well as what I like and dislike, as well as, more pictures. I was hoping to compare it to the Toshiba e310/e740 but alas, I do not have any of those devices (if anyone has a contact at Toshiba or their PR firm, let me know!). The unit I got was a final product, but the packaging was not done. The manual was a copy, the drivers came on a floppy disk, and the CD ROM was missing (as was the case). I should know Monday what all will ship with it. Also notice that according to the box the official name of the device is the zayo A600 Pocket PC."

[Chris Spera]

I was one of the 40 or so that bought a e310 from Amazon over the weekend of 8/8-8/10. The body design of this unit is similar to that of the e310, and the dimensions and visual comparisons also seem right on.

I wouldn't be surprised if this was OEM'ed by the same original manufacturer.

I live in my 3835; but would love to switch to the e310 for a while, provided I could find a 1GB or larger (as well as insanely AFFORDABLE) SD card. I have all my WMA's ripped to a Toshiba 2GB PC Card hard drive, and use it often with my iPAQ and its PC Card Sleeve. I love the e310, but will find it hard to use as a permanent solution unless Toshiba comes up with some sort of realistic expansion solution for the e310.

I see the Zayo A600 in much the same light. It looks like a really cool device (thin is definitely in!); but I don't know how well it will be accepted without any real expansion capabilities.

Kind Regards,

Christopher Spera
-------
pocketnow Writer

pocketnow.com -- it's all about portability...
http://www.pocketnow.com

[mar2k]

I wouldn't be surprised if this was OEM'ed by the same original manufacturer.


Actually, Zayo is apparently just a marketing "rebadge" for the Asus MyPal A600 Pocket PC. How the name Zayo on the device is better than Asus, I'll never know. The Toshiba e310 was not manufactured by Asus.

The whole thing is quite bizarre actually. Razor, the same folks who make the scooters, is apparently involved in the marketing of this device in some strange way. Look at the box picture over on the pocketpctools web site, you'll see what I mean. Weird huh?

That being said, Asus has apparently optimized this device to the hilt, at least as much as possible given the current XScale/MS software issues. Apparently the benchmarks blow away the e740 and iPaq 39xx series devices. We'll just have to wait and see if this is true in real life usage.

[David McNamee]

How the name Zayo on the device is better than Asus, I'll never know.

Likewise. To me, "Asus" means "damned good motherboard." I just bought two of them this weekend. The Asus name carries a lot of weight in the tech community - which influences the decisions made by those in the non-tech community. There's going to be plenty of people trying to decide on a purchase and have it come down to name brand. "Zayo" will lose every time to HP or Toshiba.

[nirav28]

My dream PDA would be...

Ipaq size screen,
TFT screen, 16-bit color.
Dual Slots (CF and SD). SD I/O capable,
WiFi or Bluetooth.
Microphone Input jack,
8-way control pad,
Easier docking cradle (Not the ipaq cradle!),
Removable Battery,
Ipaq 3900x hardware IR chip
Rubber grips on the sides.
Flip over cover. (Vaja) With magnetic Lock.
Thin has the toshiba 740e.

Ok ..I'm just dreaming here..one day...urgh!

[JonnoB]

Asus, in its attempt to appease their OEM supply side business of mother boards may have re-branded the Asus device to Zayo.

[paris]

i asume that this is the size we will be looking at in future Pocket PC. I own an ipaq h3850 and when i saw the pictures i said WOW, the device is half the size of the ipaq. I belive that form now on that is the size that Pocket PC manufacturers will aim.

I can wait for the next ipaq series which will most likely be under this sort of form factor.

[shilmover]

Here is my understanding of it...

Asus will be selling the MyPal A600 as the Zayo A600.

There will be other expansion options (I just can't tell you about them yet :oops:).

It is highly optimized. For example, with PocketTV, it will do 56 fps!

I will continue to post pictures and info on my site (and I am sure Jason will link to it).

[takotchi]

It looks very plain (ugly), but if the performance is good...

What I wonder is it says they are "targetting the enterprise". In other words, can the lowly common people get ahold of this device or is it going to be difficult?