Over the past year, Dell has earned a reputation for producing some of the best handhelds on the market -- first with the high-performance (and recently discontinued) Axim X30 series, then with the versatile Axim X50 series. Now, the company is out with the new Axim X51 series.
Although these Pocket PCs keep the same design as the X50 series, they have plenty of new features. They come with a more robust software bundle and are the first standalone (i.e. without a built-in phone) handhelds to run the Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system. The new series includes three models: the high-end 624MHz Axim X51v (£269 ex. VAT), the middle-of-the-road 520MHz Axim X51 (£229), and the entry-level 416MHz Axim X51 (£189), all aiming to fit the needs of both business users and consumers.
Dell's new Axim X51 series handhelds use the same hardware design as the X50 series (pictured here), but run the latest Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system.
The big news here is Windows Mobile 5.0. The new OS brings a much-improved and more sophisticated mobile Microsoft Office suite to the Axim X51. Replacing Pocket Word and Pocket Excel are Word Mobile and Excel Mobile, which support embedded images, tables and charts. You can also now view PowerPoint presentations right on your handheld, thanks to PowerPoint Mobile. Although it doesn't let you edit slides, PowerPoint Mobile fills a void that's long been missing on Pocket PCs.
Windows Mobile 5.0 also has built-in support for persistent storage, so if your device happens to run out of battery power, you won't have to kiss your data goodbye. Dell has bumped up the memory on the Axim X51v from 128MB of flash ROM to 256MB (the other two devices feature 128MB of flash ROM and 64MB SDRAM), and if that's not enough, all three models are equipped with dual CompactFlash and SD expansion slots.
We criticised the Axim X50 series for having a lacklustre software bundle, but we're glad to see that's changed. The companion CD comes with Microsoft ActiveSync 4.0, a Battery Pack Lite utility, a Dell Axim self-diagnostic utility, and an image-editing application, among others. The X51v is packaged again with a gaming bundle that includes Geo Rally 3D, Toy Golf and trial versions of other games.
Each model in the series is equipped with at least one form of wireless: Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on the X51v and the mid-level model, and Bluetooth on the entry-level unit. And speaking of Bluetooth, the Axim X51 series now supports the Bluetooth 1.2 stack, so it can sync with more multimedia accessories, such as Bluetooth stereo headphones.
On paper, there isn't much missing from the Axim X51 series, but we're anxious to see if its performance can match the hype. We were disappointed by the X50v's mediocre graphics performance (particularly for a device that's supposed to be such a multimedia machine) and its sub-par battery life, but Dell claims the X51v and its stablemates have 10 to 12 percent better battery life.
The Dell Axim X51 series gets a leg up on the competition by being the first standalone Pocket PCs available to have Windows Mobile 5.0, but we suspect others will follow soon. We've had a chance to play with a pre-production unit of the Axim X51v, and we're happy to say that the new Microsoft Office mobile suite is more robust and lives up to its claims.
We'll hold off on final judgment until we can run the device through our suite of performance tests, so check back soon for our full review of the Dell Axim X51v.
Preview Microsoft has released an upgrade to its operating system for handhelds and smartphones. Stand by for better business productivity, snappier multimedia and a wider range of device form factors. [11 May 2005]
Review Solid performance and advanced multimedia capabilities make the Axim X50 a suitable handheld for both serious and more casual users. [14 Oct 2004]
Review Hold on to your handheld: the Axim X30's fast processor runs away with strong performance and the latest OS to make for a powerful Pocket PC. [25 May 2004]
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