05-26-2003, 09:05 AM
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Sage
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 739
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Dell Reduces Prices on Axim Line
I just saw this interesting article over at Brighthand about Dell reducing prices on its Axim line. But what really caught my eye in the article was this:
"According to statements made by company executives, Dell is going to release at least two Pocket PCs this year. One will be a model with a color screen that will cost less than $150. The other will have both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth built in. It is not known when these will be announced, though it is unlikely to happen before the release of Pocket PC 2003, expected sometime this summer."
These new Dells sound really exciting - a low-end model to get more people into Pocket PCs, and a high-end model with WiFi and Bluetooth built in. Imagine the possibilities of such a device; wireless browsing at home, browsing through a bluetooth-enabled cell phone while on the road, all while leaving your CF and SD slots free for storage, storage, storage. I could see getting a 1 gig (or higher) CF card for music, and a 256 MB SD card for eBooks and other stuff. Who knows, as flash media gets cheaper, and the "sweet spot" for pricing goes into a higher MB range, you could put a *lot* of storage into one of these things.
I don't know whether I'll go with an Axim or an iPaq (or something else?), but I'm pretty excited about the new Pocket PCs slated to come out this summer. With some form of built-in wireless, and dual slots for storage and other peripherals, the new Pocket PCs are going to be entertainment powerhouses. All of this in a small package - one of the key reasons to get a Pocket PC in the first place!
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05-26-2003, 09:35 AM
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Swami
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,303
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Yup, I'm looking forward to the X7 and X3.  Hey, my wife always wanted my X5 anyway. :wink:
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05-26-2003, 11:07 AM
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Swami
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 4,396
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Re: Dell Reduces Prices on Axim Line
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Originally Posted by Crystal Eitle
These new Dells sound really exciting - a low-end model to get more people into Pocket PCs, and a high-end model with WiFi and Bluetooth built in. Imagine the possibilities of such a device; wireless browsing at home, browsing through a bluetooth-enabled cell phone while on the road, all while leaving your CF and SD slots free for storage, storage, storage.
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People with iPAQ 5450s don't have to imagine that -- they can do that. :-) They won't have a CF slot, but that's not really necessary if you don't need more than WiFi and Bluetooth plus some SD memory.
Of course, if an iPAQ user does need more, with the various sleeves available, there's no more expandable Pocket PC available. With a dual PC Card sleeve, someone could conceivably put in two 5 GB PC Card hard disks and a 512 MB SD card, for a whopping 10.84 GB of storage (including the 64 MB RAM and 20 MB (I think) iPAQ File Store).
Steve
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05-26-2003, 01:22 PM
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Swami
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,303
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Re: Dell Reduces Prices on Axim Line
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Originally Posted by Pony99CA
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Originally Posted by Crystal Eitle
These new Dells sound really exciting - a low-end model to get more people into Pocket PCs, and a high-end model with WiFi and Bluetooth built in. Imagine the possibilities of such a device; wireless browsing at home, browsing through a bluetooth-enabled cell phone while on the road, all while leaving your CF and SD slots free for storage, storage, storage.
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People with iPAQ 5450s don't have to imagine that -- they can do that. :-) They won't have a CF slot, but that's not really necessary if you don't need more than WiFi and Bluetooth plus some SD memory. |
Yes, but if I got an IPAQ, where would I put my 1Gb CF card without making my PPC the size and weight of a brick? :wink:
I really like the Dell X5 form factor - can't wait to see what they are comng out with next!
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05-26-2003, 03:18 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 57
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Can't wait to see what the new Axims will be like, as well as the new HP units. Maybe it will be time to trade in my Jornada 568?
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05-26-2003, 03:54 PM
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Ponderer
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 65
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I certianly hope that the X7 maintains the same form factor. I would hate to have to wait 2 months again for Vaja to release another case. I can't imagine the complaining if it gets any bigger. Anyone have any thoughts on that??
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05-26-2003, 05:34 PM
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Mystic
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,639
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by CharlesWilcox
I certianly hope that the X7 maintains the same form factor. I would hate to have to wait 2 months again for Vaja to release another case. I can't imagine the complaining if it gets any bigger. Anyone have any thoughts on that??
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Yes, an X7 with the same form factor, PPC2003, 128MB RAM, BT and 802.11b would be hard to resist.
__________________
Cheers!
David
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05-26-2003, 06:20 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 46
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what could they possibly do to get the price of the cheap one below $150? the x5 basic is currently $199. i'm guessing slower processor so as to accomodate a smaller battery in a similar form factor as the x5 perhaps without one or both of the expansion slots.
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05-26-2003, 08:41 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 384
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WHERES THE LID?????
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Originally Posted by ledowning
Can't wait to see what the new Axims will be like, as well as the new HP units. Maybe it will be time to trade in my Jornada 568?
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Only if they include an integrated screen cover !!!!!
I looked closesly at the HP 2200 pictures. It didn't seem to have the little "holes" for a cover attachment.
Lets hope dell steps up a little and adds the $0.20 part that lets us avoid buying a $30-$50 case that really doesn't fit right anyway.
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05-26-2003, 08:59 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 384
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Dell 1910 Clone????
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Originally Posted by kidA
what could they possibly do to get the price of the cheap one below $150? the x5 basic is currently $199. i'm guessing slower processor so as to accomodate a smaller battery in a similar form factor as the x5 perhaps without one or both of the expansion slots.
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SQUEEZE their vendors!!! Thats how all the best discounters get prices down :-)
Beyond that, the parts for PocketPC are becoming commoditized. The manufacturers are getting better at it, their yields become higher, less waste etc...
I would speculate that it would probably look ALOT like a HP 1910 knockoff. Dell isn't the champion of pioneering, they are a champion of copying and then making it cheaper.
* CPU - Intel doesn't make the old StrongARMs anymore. Since, Dell only uses Intel CPUs, it will likely be the cheapest X-Scale available. Besides, I'm fairly certain that the next-gen PocketPC will be X-Scale optimized.
* RAM - They'll likely use the Cheapo RAM/ROM combination that started with the 1910 and has become increasingly popular.
* Battery - An internal battery WOULD make the thing cheaper. However, I think Dell is well aware (as H-Paq is) that selling accessories is where the real $$$ is to be made. I would expect a replaceable batter that IS upgradable. Likely the same form-factor as their current models to save money and not cause IT departments nightmares (something H-Paq DOESN'T understand).
* Screen - Transflective is now the gold standard. If Dell can get such low prices (compared to h-Paq) in it's current line, I would expect Transflective in this iteration as well.
* I/O - I would expect them to DITCH the CF card in a low-cost model. The CF slot module is big, bulky and combersome. Eliminating it could elimate some costs for parts AND manufacturing. It would also allow them to slim down the device and offer it as a DIRECT competitor to the 1910.
I would expect a single SDIO slot as memory/comm expansion. 2 would be trendsetting and Dell doesn't do that.
* Like the HP1910, I would expect the package to be "Sans Cradle". Cradle sales would help offset the undoubtably slim margins on a $150 color PocketPC.
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