New Tricks for Palm Tungsten, Dell Axim

If you're going to shell out at least $400 for a handheld that isn't also a phone or a camera, you expect more than a plain-vanilla PDA. Both PalmOne's Tungsten T5 and Dell's Axim X50v deliver that something extra--but they do so in notably different ways.

The biggest selling point of the $399 Tungsten T5: It has 256MB of memory--almost four times as much space as its predecessor (the Tungsten T3) had, and the most we've seen on a PDA to date. Sure, you can always add storage by using the T5's SD slot; but you might need that for something else, such as a promised optional SD Wi-Fi card.

What's more, the memory is nonvolatile: Even if the T5 loses its charge, you won't lose any of your data. And 160MB of it is held in an internal flash drive: Plug the handheld in to any computer with plug-and-play support for a USB thumb drive, and you can access your stored files. (The T5's desktop software also supports HotSync-less file transfers for the internal drive, but you can add apps only by using HotSync.)

Big Display, no Wi-Fi

The T5 forsakes the collapsible chassis that distinguished previous Tungstens, but it retains its predecessor's handsome, oversize (320 by 480) display. As a result, the T5 is a bit taller--though not dramatically so (4.8 inches versus 4.3 inches for the collapsed T3).

Powered by Intel's 416-MHz Bulverde XScale CPU, the T5 is a snappy performer. But my preproduction unit's battery life was adequate for only a day or so of intensive use, even without going online. I wish that PalmOne would add a removable rechargeable battery, not to mention Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth for wireless Internet access--something that's become increasingly important for business use.

This is the first Tungsten that doesn't ship with a cradle. Instead, you get a USB cable with a Hot Sync button. But the T5 should appeal to people who would like to use their PDA for storing lots of files. Others might take a fresh look at the T3, which now goes for $50 less than it used to cost.

Better Graphics

If multimedia--especially video and games--matters to you, try Dell's Axim X50v Pocket PC: Not only does it pack Intel's most powerful CPU for handhelds, the 624-MHz Bulverde, but it's one of the first mainstream PDAs with a dedicated graphics processor (the Intel 2700 with 16MB of graphics memory). It's also the first PDA to include version 10 of Windows Media Player Mobile, which permits playback of content from subscription services that support Microsoft's Windows Media Digital Rights Management 10 technology.

The X50v has 64MB of RAM and 128MB of flash ROM; you can add more storage via the SD Card and CompactFlash slots. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are built in. Battery life depends on whether you use the power-draining multimedia and wireless features. If you do, consider carrying a spare battery: The X50v's batteries are removable and rechargeable; the USB charging cradle has a slot for an extra standard ($50) or double-strength ($89) battery.

Dell is catching up with the competition in the industrial design of its handhelds. About the same size as the T5 but slightly heavier (6.2 ounces versus 5.1 ounces), the Axim X50v is sharp-looking in the style of HP's smaller IPaqs.

I played a racing game on a shipping X50v and was impressed by the smooth performance on the 3.7-inch 640-by-480 (full-VGA) screen. The handheld gets warm, however, and the Pocket PC won't replace anybody's Game Boy.

Still, the X50v delivers excellent Pocket PC performance, expansion, and connectivity in a sleek, $499 package, reinforcing Dell's reputation for delivering the most PDA bang for the buck. (Dell also offers two less expensive X50 models, each having less memory, 320-by-240 screens, and slower Bulverde CPUs.)

The Dell's impressive update should delight any power Pocket PC user. The Tungsten T5, an evolutionary upgrade, will appeal primarily to people who want a Palm-based business handheld that can double as a portable storage device, and who don't insist on having out-of-the-box Wi-Fi.

Yardena Arar