ViewSonic Pocket PC V35 PDA (ViewSonic-PPCV35)

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ViewSonic Pocket PC V35 PDA (ViewSonic-PPCV35) Review

by Mick Lockey

One of the least-expensive PDAs running Pocket PC 2002, this unit also offers good looks and ample storage at an affordable price.

WHAT'S HOT: ViewSonic, known primarily for its CRT and LCD monitors, dives into PDA waters with a cost-conscious, stylish unit that runs Pocket PC 2002. Priced at only $299, the V35 is a bargain compared to others, and one of the least-expensive Pocket PC PDAs we've tested. It resembles the thin, sleek Zayo USA A600 PPC and Toshiba Pocket PC E335, but it weighs a tad less. The light weight can be partially attributed to its plastic (rather than metal) case.

The V35 displays text and images at a resolution of 240 by 320, which puts it on a par with pricier units. The quality of the display's text and images is adequate, though the screen is not as bright as on other Pocket PC devices we've looked at.

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WHAT'S NOT: The V35 can record voice memos, but in our tests with the feature, the sound quality during playback was marred by a scratchy, whistle-like background noise, even at relatively low volumes. Other PDAs we tested at the same time, such as the Zayo USA A600, offered better sound quality.

In terms of style, it's a notch below PDAs like the Toshiba Pocket PC E335. Its plastic silver case doesn't feel as sturdy.

WHAT ELSE: The V35 has most of the features you'd expect in a PDA that costs $300, including an IR port for beaming information between devices, a Secure Digital card expansion slot, and a headphone jack built into the unit's bottom-right side for listening to MP3 files.

Aside from standard applications bundled with the Pocket PC 2002 OS, such as Pocket PC versions of Word, Excel, and Windows Media Player, the unit doesn't come with any of the extra software that pricier PDAs, such as the HP's IPaq Pocket PC H5450, offer. But with 64 MB of internal memory, you can add plenty of applications.

UPSHOT: Though it doesn't have the high style or plethora of features that higher-priced models do, the V35 is a good PDA value.

SUMMARY

Viewsonic Pocket PC V35

Pocket PC 2002, 64MB of internal memory, 2.7-by-2-inch active screen area, Secure Digital card slot, 240-by-320-pixel resolution, removable lithium ion battery, 4.2 ounces. One-year parts and labor warranty, toll-free support for 24 hours daily.

$299

www.viewsonic.com

User Reviews for ViewSonic Pocket PC V35 PDA (ViewSonic-PPCV35)

Reviewed by: tott888

Duration of ownership:

Strengths: Good Screen Visual QualityGood Access to Internet With SDIO Card and PPC 2003

Weaknesses: Non Self Changeable Batterlow battery life after chargeLow Quality Screen which developed a thick horizontal for no reason

Overall Evaluation: I was really happy when I got my unit as it worked as it was suppose to. I never really carried it because it seemed as if the battery didn't last long. I turned in on one day after is had been sitting in my dock and I noticed a THICK BLACK HORIZONTAL LINE/DEAD PIXELS. I was horrified. It had barely been used and was not accessable to any children so I though that it needed to be reset or something. WRONG, after contacting Customer Service I found out that I had to send it in and they replaced the screen. This would be great if I felt that I could depend on it not to go out again but this is not an isolated incident, but I hope not. Not worth it if the screen develops problems for no reason and the company doesn't issue a recall to replace a KNOWN defect in its products.
Reviewed by: Shingshing

Duration of ownership:

Strengths: Price and condensed MS Office programs.

Weaknesses: Battery life while in use is not even close to manufacturer claims. Sync program is inconsient, drops data, and causes problems with MS Outlook contact list.

Overall Evaluation: I have had the V35 for just over a year. Currently, with the battery setting on optimal, I get the "back up battery dangerously low" message after about 30-45 minutes of use--even if it is my first use after it has been charging for 8 hours or more. I have returned the whole unit to ViewSonic on warranty; the returned unit lasts longer than it did before the warrantly work (at which time I had average of 11 minutes before battery low warnings appeared), but is still unsatisfactory. The sync program is glitchy: files won't have synced but it will tell you they have, it drops data out of the calendar, and causes problems (creates duplicates and loses data) in the MS Outlook contacts list. In the latter, problems appear in both the PocketPC and desktop contacts lists.The manual and the ViewSonic product support web site do not provide insightful user tips or help files. For instance, in their Q&A for syncing problems they recommend you check to make certain that the prongs are not bent on the ports. One aggravating feature is that it only holds past appointments 8-10 days in the calendar (with or without syncing) and then drops them off completely. It will pull them off the desktop calendar when it syncs, as well. Any information, notes, phone numbers, or other info you might have wanted to retain in that calendar entry is gone.It is a disapointment that there is very little customization available--for instance, changing default meetings slots from 30 to 15 minutes or chosing to display the task list rather than the number of tasks. These things don't make the unit unusable, just less appealing.

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