The new rx1950 looks good. The boxy form of last year's PDAs has been discarded for the rounder lines of venerable and beloved iPAQs like the h1940. Measuring 4.5 by 2.8 by 0.5 inches and weighing just 4.4 ounces, this is a sleek, thin, and lightweight little machine. Battery life is surprisingly good for something so slim running Windows Mobile; we got more than 6 hours with Wi-Fi turned off.
The rx1950 is better suited for work than play. Its 300 MHz Samsung SC32442 processor works fine with both PIM and Internet applications, but is too slow for full-screen, full-motion video. The five-way navigation button is also too cramped to provide a great gaming experience. Programs have 23.75MB of RAM to call on and there's another 37.65MB of storage space. This is fine for storing business documents, but you'll need to supplement with a separately-purchased SD card if you want to carry much in the way of multimedia (no card is included).
Thanks to Windows Mobile 5.0 and the on-board Wi-Fi, the rx1950 is a whiz at connecting to corporate networks and the Internet. HP's Wi-Fi software is easier to use than the standard Microsoft settings dialog used by Dell. In fact, there are a host of software improvements that come with Windows Mobile 5.0: The new Internet Explorer Mobile adds more Web page compatibility and a progress bar; the new mail application supports Hotmail; and the OS has built-in hooks for syncing with Exchange servers and SMB shared drives. Unfortunately, the folks at HP told us that they probably won't enable Microsoft's upcoming push e-mail software extension, which will automatically send Outlook email and PIM information from an Exchange server directly to Windows Mobile devices, on the rx1950. We think that's shortsighted and hope they'll reverse their decision.
The switch to Windows Mobile 5.0 slows down memory access (see our review of the for a more detailed explanation of this Dell X51v) and brings the process of opening Microsoft Word documents to a crawl, thanks to the OS's labored processing of invisible formatting codes. We think the new features of Windows Mobile 5.0 are worthwhile despite this: better built-in Word, Excel and PowerPoint viewers, better battery life, better integration with Exchange servers over the air, and a persistent file system that won't erase your data when the battery runs down. In applications other than Word Mobile slowdowns are barely noticeable, and ActiveSync time isn't affected by the new OS. We found the device faster than the old rz1715, but slower than other Pocket PC handhelds on the market.
The rx1950's closest competitors are the Palm Tungsten E2 ($199) and the 416 MHz version of Dell's Axim X50, which comes with a free upgrade to Windows Mobile 5.0 ($299). Neither has Wi-Fi, but casual users may prefer the Tungsten E2's low cost, ease of use, and snappy PIM responsiveness. Other consumers may find the X50's somewhat faster processor, bigger memory, and Compact Flash expansion slot more compelling.
We think it's interesting and sad that there are no new Pocket PC handhelds below $300. Yes, Wi-Fi is great, but lowering the price by $50 or even $100 would make the rx1950 a slam dunk for consumers. As it is, the budget-conscious PDA buyer will still go for a Palm OS device.
With its sleek style and integrated Wi-Fi, the rx1950 is a good corporate PIM and Internet-enabled handheld. While a lower price and firm support for Microsoft's upcoming push e-mail features would make the rx1950 even more compelling, this Pocket PC will suffice as a good corporate solution for Microsoft-focused companies.
SPEC DATA :
- Type: Pocket PC
- Screen Size: 3.5 inches
- Operating System: Windows Mobile 5.0
- Processor Class: Samsung SC32442
- Processor Speed: 293 MHz
- RAM: 64 MB
- Networking Options: 802.11b
- Flash Memory Type: Secure Digital
- Bluetooth: No
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