Seen at the Computex computer convention, could the ASUS A639 be the best Pocket PC ever? Well, with the following specs, it just might be:


  • Windows Mobile 5 (that wasn't specifically stated, but the picture implies it)

  • Intel XScale 416MHz CPU

  • 1 GB flash memory (yes, one gigabyte !)

  • 64 MB RAM

  • QVGA screen (no mention of the size, though)

  • 802.11b/g

  • Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate — up to 2.1 Mbps)

  • SiRFstarIII GPS


It's not perfect, of course. A 416 MHz processor seems a bit slow in a non-phone system where battery life isn't such an issue. Maybe ASUS feels 802.11g WiFi is enough of a battery drain to justify the slower processor.
Also, there's no cellular support or VGA, so if you need those, this isn't for you. Personally, I'm still not convinced that I want my PDA and cell phone converged — if only because it gives carriers the power to cripple things like Bluetooth and WiFi. I also haven't been convinced of the usefulness of VGA on such a small screen.
Finally, there aren't any biometrics. That may not be important to many people, but I love my iPAQ 5550's fingerprint reader. I don't always get a good scan the first time I try, which is annoying, but it's almost always faster than trying to type my password in.
I haven't seen any mention of price or availability (including whether this will be released in the U.S. or not), but it looks like a pretty amazing Pocket PC to me. How can you not love a Pocket PC with a gigabyte of storage? What about you? Share your thoughts in the discussion.