September 20, 2005
Review by: Adam Z Lein, Senior Editor
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THE DISPLAY
The 640x480 pixel VGA screen is the same as the Axim
X50v. Since the X51v seems to be aimed at the gaming and media market,
I decided to compare it to a PSP.
The Axim's screen seems to have a little less contrast than the excellent PSP screen. However it kept up with the video playback quality very nicely. The Axim is much much more pocketable than the PSP though. The real test will be when Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2 is released for the Axim.
INTEGRATED SOFTWARE
First of all, the Axim X51v
includes all of the software improvements of Windows
Mobile 5. Some of the best features of Windows
Mobile 5 are the increased one-handed usability,
persistent storage support, and better low-power
performance.
ActiveSync is also much improved and you can easily sync with multiple desktop computers in addition to one Exchange Server. You can still only sync email with one thing, but Contacts, Calendar, and Tasks can sync with both desktops and an Exchange Server. I don't have Exchange 2003 SP2 installed with the new features for Windows Mobile 5, so I wasn't able to test the automatic updating features.
Windows Mobile 5 also comes with a new (free) version of Pocket MSN. MSN Messenger has been engulfed here along with links to the Hotmail inbox account and MSN Mobile website.
A simple Data Backup utility is included in ROM. This is less likely to be necessary now that Windows Mobile 5 uses persistent storage and none of your data will disappear if your battery dies.
There's a Modem Link program that looks like this. I have no idea what it's supposed to do. I thought it might be similar to the "Wireless Modem" application on most HTC devices that allow you to connect a laptop to the PDA Phone for internet access, but the Axim X51v isn't a PDA Phone.
A "Mirror Mode" Control panel is added.
An alternate program manager application called "Home" is also included. This is just another way to organize and access your programs and settings.
You also get a "Switcher Bar" application which is launched (oddly) from the System Settings tab. It functions as a basic task switcher.
The Power Control panel has some interesting new options including a method for changing the processor speed performance automatically.
The "Power Button" tab gives you options for re-assigning the function of the Axim's power button. I'm not sure if anyone would use this, but it's nice to have options.
Here's the System Information Settings dialog just in case you didn't believe me when I said it has 256MB of ROM (we don't lie!).
Dell's WiFi utility is pretty simple to use with enough options for the demanding IT professional.
Windows Media Player 10.1 is a minor update that adds Windows Mobile 5 support along with a ratings capability. One thing they forgot to add was one-handed user-interface support. There's no way to access the on-screen GUI buttons, and there's no way to go "back" when trying to navigate the library (without tapping the screen). Anyway, it's still PlaysForSure compatible, meaning you can use DRM protected content from all of the online music and video stores except for iTunes. It can also sync your storage and memory cards with Media Center 2005 and Windows Media Player 10.
Along with Outlook and Activesync, the CD ROM that comes with the Axim X51v also includes a bunch of other 3rd party programs that you can install at your leisure. It's hard to tell, but some of them are full versions while others are only trial versions. I'll tell you right now though, there are two full version 3D games included that will really show off the graphics capabilities on the Axim X51v. So make sure you install "Toy Golf" and "Geo Rally 3D." The other full version programs you can install are: Dell Axim Self Diagnostic Utility, Resco Picture Viewer, and Battery Pack Lite.
THE GAMES
Now let's take a look at "Toy Golf" and "GeoRally"; the
full games included on the X51v's CD.
Toy Golf is a very amusing game that simulates playing miniature golf on desktops or kitchen sinks. The graphics are great, and the 3 dimensional movement is very smooth. To view the video of Toy Golf, click the link below.
GeoRally 3D is your average racing game. As you win more races you unlock other tracks and cars. The graphics are quite smooth, but not as fast or as detailed as PSP games. On the other hand, these are probably the best graphics you'll see on a Pocket PC. Click the link below to see the game in action.
OTHER SOFTWARE
One potential problem
with moving to a Pocket PC with Windows Mobile 5,
especially in the early stages, many of your older
software programs may not work properly with the new
operating system. There are so many changes in
Windows Mobile 5 that many applications will have to
be updated to support it fully.
The Beta version of Skype 1.5 works okay, sometimes. Other times it won't launch at all. Also notice the lack of soft-key support at the bottom.
If software has issues on Windows Mobile 5, you could send an error report to Microsoft, as with Windows XP.
AOL Instant Messenger launches, but there's no way to log in. No menus, no pop-up login window... nothing!
Most GPS Navigation programs have not yet been updated to support Windows Mobile 5 and the new user interface. Most don't support Windows Mobile 5's new automatic GPS Management features either. You'll probably have to shut that off just to get a GPS Navigation program to work. As you can see here iGuidance has some interface issues, but will still function okay. If you have the Dell GPS Navigation system, you will be able to upgrade to their latest version of the Netropa software when it's available.
