Ultra Cool Gadgets

A great productivity companion that will keep you connected to email and the Internet, the ultra-slim, palm-sized ASUS A626 PDA stands out from other PDAs on the market. Weighing just over 5.5 ounces, it features a brightly colorful 3.5-inch anti-glare touchscreen LCD and durable, fashionable stainless steel case. In situations where utilizing a notebook is more hassle than convenience, the A626 will help you stay productive and connected with its Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system and 54g Wi-Fi LAN (802.11b/g) for downloading email and surfing the Web in both corporate and coffeehouse environments.
With ASUS’s user-friendly Remote Presenter application, the A626 can also be easily utilized to remotely link and control presentations on a computer via Bluetooth. And since all data is stored in flash memory (128 MB ROM with 64 MB SDRAM), your most important data remains saved even if all battery power in the handheld has drained away. You can expand the A626′s memory vie optional Secure Digital (SD) memory cards.
The Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Pocket PC operating system includes the Microsoft Office Mobile suite, which features Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, and PowerPoint Mobile. Meanwhile, the File Explorer application makes it easy to browse the files. It also supports Windows Media playback right out of the box. With Windows Media Player, you can play streaming and downloaded video and audio content in a variety of formats. You can also keep favorite tunes loaded on a memory card and listen to your music wherever you roam. With its front-mounted speakers, it plays a variety of popular video and audio formats (MP3, WMA).

Specifications

* 312 MHz Marvell XScale processor
* 3.5-inch TFT LCD touchscreen with 65k colors, 240 x 320-pixel resolution (QVGA)
* 128 MB Flash ROM and 64 MB SDRAM
* 3.5mm earphone jack
* Integrated microphone and speakers
* Full duplex recording and playback
* 1200 mAh removable/rechargeable battery
* Dimensions: 2.8 x 0.6 x 4.6 inches
* Weight: 5.57 ounces

Customer feedback:

1. Well, coming originally from Pocket PC 2002, I was interested in seeing what was added/changed in Windows Mobile Edition 6. (WME6)
For one thing, it’s more Vista like in it’s loading bars and in it’s resource management. On initial boot, it is already using half of the available RAM, leaving only about 34MB for your programs to run in. Conversely, my PPC2002 device had 64MB, and the left about 42-48MB for program storage and usage. Also, with this device, Windows and your programs are actually stored in the built in flash, Although it has 256MB (probably 248MB or so once converted), only 174MB is available to the user. However, it does come with a lot more, which justifies the OS becoming much larger.
My PCC2002 was a light version to save on memory, so word didn’t even have spell check. Well that is there now, excel now does graphics, and there is a power point viewer. Additionally, there are built in drivers and settings for WiFi, Bluetooth, etc. They have also added Transcriber, a new way to write, which I’ll give more detail on later.

2. I have had my ASUS for two months now. Battery life is great and I have never had to reset it–both constant problems with the TX). The screen is clear and easy to read. It comes with a very nice slip holder–not the cheap kind you get with other PDA’s. It has a very nice solid feel to it and is easy to hold. The bundled software is Windows Mobile and I was able to adapt to the change from a Palm OS system. I have found that there is a wide choice of outside vendor programs to download on Handango.com. Enough to meet my needs. (Reviewers of PDA’s often promote the Palm because it has more software available) If you want a great PDA without a phone get the ASUS. You won’t regret it.

The HP iPAQ 111 Classic Handheld helps you keep your life organized on the go with easy access to your calendar, contacts, and tasks. If you have some down time, use the iPAQ to watch videos, listen to music, or play games. At just half an inch thick, the iPAQ will easily travel with you. The iPAQ 111 runs Microsoft Windows Mobile 6 Classic OS and features a bright, crisp, and easy-to-read 3.5-inch, 320 by 240 touchscreen with LED backlight. The iPAQ 111 employs the powerful new Marvell PXA310 624 MHz processor and has 64 MB SDRAM main memory and 256 MB flash ROM, so there is plenty of space for all your applications to run snappily. With Microsoft Office Mobile, you’ll be able to work on all your documents and files no matter where you are. Microsoft Office Mobile includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. You can even view PDF documents.
Never be late again to your appointments as your calendar and contact info will be handy. With built-in Wi-Fi, you can also check your email at any hotspot to make sure there hasn’t been a change of plans. Bluetooth is also supported, allowing you to go online and connect to your Internet-enabled mobile phone if Wi-Fi is unavailable (requires Bluetooth-enabled phones with supporting Internet service plan). Bluetooth accessories such as headphones and keyboards can also be connected for added functionality and ease of use.

Technical Details

* Runs Windows Mobile 6.0 and offers fast 624 MHz processor with 64 MB RAM and 256 MB flash ROM
* View and edit Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files with Microsoft Office Mobile; sync email and calendar from desktop with Outlook Mobile
* Built-in WiFi to check email at any hotspot
* Backed by 1-year warranty
* Device measures 2.71 x 0.54 x 4.59 inches (WxHxD)

Customer feedback:

1. I have owned several Pocket PCs, including a few earlier versions of the iPaq. Of the ones I have tried, this is probably the best, though its not a great leap forward. Having WiFi, Bluetooth, SDHC support (previous versions didn’t support the new higher capacity cards that this one does – I have an 8Gb SD card in mine), a standard USB connection (previous iPaqs I owned use a proprietary USB connector) a relatively fast processor, the latest version of Windows Mobile all whilst retaining a relatively small form factor is a strong combination. Whilst many will opt for a Pocket PC phone (as my last Windows Mobile device was), having a seperate PDA from your phone has advantages for some e.g. if you are obliged to use a particular mobile phone for work (as I am) then you don’t need the phone features on your PDA. With this device I can keep all of my personal contacts seperate from the business contacts on my phone and use the bluetooth feature to get my phone (a Blackberry Pearl) to dial any number I select on my iPaq.

2. I have been using this for a few weeeks and am entirely satisfied.
Being a 3rd party/mod buff I like the fact that is has the power of my old hx4700(May it rest in peace). It has douple the rom for more apps
WM6 accually uses ram as ram and rom as rom, somthing WM2003 SE did not do.
The screen is smaller and less crackable (get the hint?) and fits nicer in my pocket, however VGA would have been nice. I would highly recommend over the competition, even the up and coming ipaq 211, for it is a quality build

When you’re on the move, sometimes you need a faster way to compose longer messages, reports, and even spreadsheets. This compact yet full-size wireless keyboard folds up for portability, while giving you the benefits of true touch typing. Plus, the freedom of Bluetooth Wireless Technology allows you to work with or without your Treo smartphone docked on the pull-out easel.

* Features a QWERTY keyboard with five rows of full-size keys (including numbers)
* Pull-out easel provides adjustable viewing angle and a steady platform for your Treo smartphone
* Enter or edit data even while your device is charging nearby
* Encrypted link connects your keyboard and smartphone for secure Bluetooth connection
* Get up to five months of keyboard usage from 2 AAA alkaline batteries (included)
* Closed: 5.7 x 3.85 x 0.75 inches
* Open: 11.2 x 3.85 x 0.55 inches (keyboard only)
* Weight: 6.65 ounces

Technical Details

* Word where you need to with your Palm Treo or Centro and this Bluetooth wireless keyboard
* Full QWERTY keyboard with five rows of full-size keys
* Encrypted link connects your keyboard and smartphone for secure Bluetooth connection
* Powered by 2 AAA batteries (included)
* Compatible with the following models: Treo 650, Treo 755p, Centro, Treo 680, Treo 700p, Treo 700w, Treo 700wx, Treo 750, Tungsten E2, TX

Customer Feedback:

1. I had used the Palm keyboard model 3169WW (Palm 3169WWZ Universal Wireless Keyboard) for a couple of years, and got fed up with it. It was being very temperamental. I’ve upgraded now to this Palm Bluetooth keyboard, and love it. It works smoothly every time, and is more stable so that I can use it on my lap without backing it up with a book or a clipboard. I can carry it in my pocket, and it’s like having a computer with me all the time. I use it to take notes in meetings. I can write articles, and even used it once to write a book. The keyboard on this page uses radio waves to communicate with the Palm. The model 3169WW uses an infrared beam. And a cool thing is that either of these keyboards really impress my friends. I get comments like, “amazing!”, “where’d you get that?” I love it.

2. I had bought an infrared keyboard for my Palm TX, but found that it was not easy to keep the connection established, as the Palm had to be positioned exactly with the sensor. The Bluetooth keyboard can be used with the Palm in any orientation/position. The only issue is battery life – of the TX, as the Bluetooth consumes a lot of power.

Start your day right by waking up gently to a gradually escalating alarm volume. Normal alarm sounds with a preset volume are either too low to wake you up or are so uncomfortably loud that you are rudely jolted awake. Choose to wake up to your favorite music, radio station or buzzer alarm. Gentle wake’s alarm volume gradually increases from subtly low to reasonably high in order to gently rouse you.

Technical Details

* 7″ widescreen TFT color display for easy viewing of clock, radio and calendar
* MP3, WMA, JPEG, DivX and MPEG4 file support
* USB and SD /MMC card slot for photos, music and video clips
* Preloaded nature sounds and relaxation music
* FM digital tuning with 20 presets, dual alarm time and gentle wake with increasing alarm volume.

Customer feedback:

1. There is a lot to love about this product. It’s sleek. It’s stylish. It’s bright, bold and clear. (It can be dimmed!) It’s a clock-radio with two independent alarms that also plays audio files (.mp3 and .wma), video (mpeg4 and divx codices) and photo slide shows (.jpg only). It has built-in “relaxation” sounds to help you fall asleep. It has so much going for it! And just when you think it can’t get any better…
It doesn’t get better. It slips a little. You start thinking to yourself, “If only…” and “Why didn’t they just take the next step?” Why isn’t there a tiny bit of built-in memory so that I don’t need a SD card or USB stick to be attached to change the cute-but-becoming-annoying default photo? Why can’t I select an audio file on the SD or USB as my alarm music? Why only three built-in sounds for the “relaxation” music? Why isn’t there an AM tuner? Why isn’t there a headphone jack? Why can I only display JPEG-format images? For a widescreen 7″ LCD picture frame, why is the resolution only 480 x 234? Why isn’t there a back-up battery?

2. I purchased this for my mom for a birthday present. I am so glad I did. This was a much better deal than a plain digital picture frame. She really enjoys the radio on it.