Dell Axim X5 400 MHz Pocket PC Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought a Dell Axim after owning a Palm Vx for two years. I shopped around a lot, especially comparing the differences between the Palm OS and Pocket PC OS. I knew I wanted a color screen. The ability to play songs through headphones and 802.11b Wi-fi connectivity would be pluses.
I bought the Axim because it is the best PDA option right now. The color and design of the Axim and cradle are beautiful. I was glad to learn that I can input text in four ways: with the on-screen keyboard, by writing regular print letters, by writing Graffiti letters (perfect for old Palm users like me), or with a special transcriber that lets you write anywhere on the screen and then converts your handwriting to text (and it works fairly well.)
Another big selling point for me was the Compact Flash slot, which allows me to add hardware peripherals. I already ordered a Linksys 802.11b Wi-fi card so I can get on the Internet at home and on campus, and the Axim and Linksys card together will be much less expensive than the Toshiba e740 or any other wireless PDA. The Axim also has a Secure Digital memory card slot like most other PDA's.
I can sync my Outlook contacts, calendar, tasks, memos, and e-mail inbox, plus Microsoft Money. When the Wi-fi card arrives, I won't even need to put the Axim in its cradle to synchronize; I'll be able to synchronize over the wireless network. I have also installed Adobe Acrobat reader and an e-book reader.
I'm thinking about making my next computer a Mac, so I was glad to find out that there is third-party software to synchronize a Pocket PC with a Mac (pocketmac.net).
I don't like the feel of the Axim's buttons. The circular dial-pad seems flimsy and just doesn't "click" well. The scroll button on the left side of the Axim is also flimsy. The record button is kind of small.
I have never liked Microsoft Outlook, but in anticipation of the arrival of the Axim, I have been using it for the past couple weeks just hoping that I could bear it once my PDA arrived. In my opinion, Outlook is too complicated and its Pocket PC counterparts are too simple. For instance, on the Pocket PC you can't add all-day appointments to your calendar - you have to do it on the PC and then synchronize. Also, you can only sort your task list by one attribute (date, or priority, etc.) instead of two (date then priority, or category then date, etc.) like on a Palm. You can't filter the task list to show only the tasks due today. (To Pocket PC's credit, you can classify each task with more than one category.) You can't mark memos as private.
The Pocket PC also brings with it some headaches we often associate with Microsoft products: the bloat of numerous operating system files, and occasional error messages like "such-and-such program is not responding...." I never saw any of that on my Palm.
Palm products are superior in the PIM (Personal Information Management) department. I will miss Palm's calendar, contacts, to-dos, and memos. However, since I was in the market for a PDA and I wanted "multimedia" functions, the price difference between the Axim and the Palm Tungsten steered me towards the former. And Pocket PC's really are ready for multimedia right out of the box. Finally, the Axim's Compact Flash slot put it above all the other Pocket PCs for me.
I'll be delighted if I can find a good, third-party PIM software package. Further, the idea of being able to add, for instance, a GPS card and track my current geographical position on a map, or any other useful Compact Flash card, makes me glad I bought the Axim. In the meantime, I'll have plenty of fun with what I've got.

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The Dell Axim X5 is the ultimate handheld device, delivering style and outstanding features at an affordable price. It's powered by the Intel XScale processor at 400 MHz to help you keep up with the tasks of everyday life, and is equipped with 64 MB SDRAM and 48 MB Intel StrataFlash ROM.
The Axim X5 is equipped with Microsoft Pocket PC 2002 Premium and pre-installed with familiar applications like Pocket Word and Pocket Excel, along with a calendar, contacts database, voice recorder, and a number of other built-in features.
With an integrated Type II CompactFlash card slot and a Secure Digital/MultiMediaCard slot, the expansion capabilities seem endless. And with its removable, rechargeable battery, the Axim X5 is never tied to its cradle--simply leave a spare battery charging in the cradle, and swap your battery when it's low.
The Dell Axim X5 features a backlit, 3.5-inch, 16-bit, touch-sensitive, transflective TFT color LCD display capable of displaying 65,536 colors at 240 x 320 resolution.
The Axim X5's audio capabilities include 16-bit stereo, full duplex record and playback, and an integrated microphone and speaker. The Axim also features a headphone jack.
The Axim X5 comes with a rechargeable, removable 1440 mAh lithium-ion battery. A rechargeable, removable 3400 mAh lithium-ion battery is optional.
What's in the box
Axim X5
Stylus
Sync cradle
AC Adapter
1440 mAh Lithium-Ion Removable, Rechargeable battery

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