When we were about a year ago, first learned about the Casio BE-300, followed by computer analysts began to call him not only as "killer." Well, yes - "Killer Palm'a. Wild, wild boar. Bloodthirsty vampire ...
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| Casio BE-300 |
And what is he a vampire? In the sense - it is, little darling "Beshka? Look at it closely. It's just a pocket-sized machine. Cute and comfortable. Miracle, not a computer! And to suspect it of predatory intent - a grave sin. She did not kill anyone and does not intend to kill. As they say, Palm'u palmovo and "Behe - behino. Is not it? By the way, nice to talk more substantively. Identify strengths and weaknesses, to compare features of the application. Perhaps these arguments will help someone make a choice in favor of the BE-300 or Palm'a. You can not spend money on, and on both. While I - has spent ... very much wanted to try for yourself. It happens.
Beauty - terrible force
We compare the computers of about the same class. On the one hand Casio BE-300, on the other - Palm m125, and (when it touches of color and power from the internal battery) m130. Still, these cars are close in value and are not too money-user.
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| Palm m125 |
Externally, BE-300 looks decent, but intelligently. In her case there is no right of brilliant linings, nickel grids and other tinsel. The buttons are the arc and have an elongated teardrop-shaped. To its credit, Casio should be noted that the buttons well protected overhangs the hull, and press them by accident is almost impossible. At the same time trigger buttons clear, with a tangible tactile feedback. As navigation devices in the BE-300 uses flat mini-joystick - a large diamond-shaped button, which has four degrees of freedom. However, perhaps all eight, but the intermediate positions, I never felt (perhaps feeling the ill). This navigation button is properly performing its functions, but sometimes it still fails. Flipping through a book-reader program, I occasionally inadvertently press a button instead of upwards and upwards and sideways (yeah, that's you and the intermediate position!). And the book machine can be browsed through at the beginning ... We have to come back, find the desired page. Favorites, I do not put ... In short, happens. Plastic, from which the casing is made of BE-300, scratch-resistant and has a matte, textured surface. Smooth only silver inserts on the sides. So keep the machine in the hand easily and comfortably. Even in the heat of the computer does not slip from his hands and did not seem wet. But the silver insert themselves I do not like. And who like painted plastic? Bullshit some, honestly ... But the overall impression does not take away ... Now, take in hand, Palm series mXXX (in our case the m125). In my opinion the body of the inexpensive Palm `a little simple-in registration, but quite ergonomic. Lower body tide, concave button - fingers as expressed in young people, relax. Did not like the button on the computer (and the backlight). Tight, works with a loud click. But sensitive - in defiance of BE-300, in which food, sometimes, on / off is not the first time. But really liked the protective cover that shields the screen and the Palm `. In m125, it rubber, soft, with shaped bulge on the lower side - on-screen aperture, with a Plexiglas window through which you can see current time, not including the Palm - by pressing the scroll up through another cut in the same cover. Protective cover fastened hinges to the body of Palm `Yes. Rim loop drowned under a removable faceplate, so just get rid of the cap difficult. But to lose - too hard. To cover does not interfere with work, it can be pulled back.And poluotkinutom situation it becomes a stand for your computer - just like a desktop folding mirrors. And here at BE-300 cover is worthless. It is made by the same principle as in the old Palm `s third series - as a rigid hinged cover for other paper notebooks. Cover can tilt forward, increasing the size of the computer twice. Ago, it does not stack and stand (or, rather, focus) can not serve ... No, awkward thing. At his typewriter, I took it off right away ...
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We return to the Palm `y ... plastic base housing at the proper level, the same textured, rough to the touch surface. But removable lid with a silver (in blue m130) insert - into the black of its parts - the slippery hands and even unpleasant. Soap some (if not - tallow). And this despite the fact that the surface of plastic mat, but not smooth ... However, it is unimportant trifle, you can factor out (again - maybe my hands are incorrect).
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| Palm m130 |
By weight of both computers (BE-300 and Palm) are roughly equal - plus or minus a few grams are not considered. A Palm in size considerably smaller. And in his pocket is comfortable to wear all the same Palm. Therefore Palm `a set of five round appearance, and Casio BE-300 - Four, but that's Taken a plus.
Window in the microcosm
Now compare the screens ... a difficult task. Firstly, the cars belong to different platforms, which directly compare very difficult. And, secondly, the Casio BE-300 is one of the best screens among handheld computers in general. (Note that this is not just my opinion and the opinion of many users who have tried different machines). Screen BE-300 is built on the technology of passive matrix color LCD. Nevertheless, it looks no worse aktivnomatrichnyh reflective screens Pocket PC 2002. The reason for this high-quality matrix - once, and small (by the standards of Pocket PC) screen sizes. Resolution remains the same as that of the older models of the family - 240 by 320 pixels.
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I had a chance to "play" with the color vyave Sony, the screen resolution is 320 by 320, and, of course, compare it with BE. I gave preference to Casio. Even the pictures on it look better than Sony ... Although one can argue with me (I will not resist). Passive matrix (dual scan - so the on-screen BE-300 is sometimes visible band split screen) is slow down your property when displaying rapidly changing images. And it is retarding. In games it is almost invisible - because of low resolution. And when playing video ... also almost imperceptibly. Anyway, to convert movies to "pocket" format with a resolution of 160 by 160 pixels, I will gladly watched wow boevichok (fights, terrible shooting, but at the end of "our" all win). And what headphones - your ears, glasses - in my eyes and see myself formic movie, though obsmotris! .. By the way - to fit the hour and a half movie on a 64-megabyte flash drive, I divided the film into four parts. Troublesome, irrationally (laptop right there next to it), but in principle it is possible ... Palm `from these refinements are not able to do. That "movie" that can run on the Palm `s, it is not. No sound, the screen slows down. No fun.
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Color screen for Palm m130, too, is built on the technology of passive matrix, but looks different than the BE-300. No worse and no better, but it otherwise. Even the pictures on the screen m130 I somehow did not liked. That is, they somehow just not liked as compare video playback on these computers really really stupid ... Three features of the screen Casio BE-300 - a nasty, second and third so-so funny. Unpleasant feature - at a minimum (25%) level of the backlight is noticeable uneven illumination of the matrix. Right edge of the screen becomes yellow, which sometimes prevents view pictures and even read a book ("catches the eye, though burst). But it is necessary to add brightness and this effect disappears. Have to balance between power saving and more comfortable screen reading. So-so feature - when you turn on the BE-300 passive matrix takes time to warm up. Depending on outside temperature (and probably the nature of a particular instance of machines), the matrix is heated from one to three minutes, first giving enough contrast. But then the screen comes into operation and becomes bright and contrasting. An amusing feature - the screen BE-300 is not the center of the front panel, as it seems at first glance. He shifted to the left, which is not so easy to overlook. I saw on the seventh month of ruthless exploitation of the computer ... They say, easy asymmetry person a necessary condition of beauty. Judging by appearances Casio BE-300, then the way it is. Now about the screen Palm `s budget. On the matrix m130, we have already spoken. Only add that, unlike older brothers (sisters?) M130 screen more like a darkened room, and even less fond of sunshine. In general we can say that for the Pocket PC on the street will not do any Palm m130, or Casio BE-300. In bright sunlight the screen can not see anything. In the shadow of something that can be discerned. In the room, but still enough twilight - the image is excellent. A completely different situation with a monochrome screen Palm m125 ... You know, I would not call that a small monochrome screen is m125 (and, generally, all the monochrome Palm `s) perfect. I would not call him even more or less acceptable to display grayscale graphics. But this is the only type of liquid crystal display, capable of running completely in all conditions except extreme cold and extreme heat. It is curious that on a monochrome screen m125 looks good even toys - unless, of course, be included on all cylinders imagination "palmovaldeltsa. And working with the texts are no less comfortable than on computers with color screens ... Here, I confess, I'm exaggerating a bit (once in a hundred, not more). Read with a color screen is much nicer than monochrome. Therefore, filling up on the couch with a book, I take all the same "Behu. But starting in the short-lived (or vice versa - in the long) journey into his pocket put - Palm. Ratings for the quality of the screen. Casio BE-300 - Five-one. Four-plus because of the small size put Palm m130. And three - Palm m125. But a strong triple! Muscular like a wrestler Karelin.
When the machine asks a
If we choose a PDA only on battery life, I would go with a light heart, exclaimed: "Brothers and sisters, do not you take this nonsense BE-300! Obrydaetes a board mykayas with a dead battery it!" But the fact of the matter is that lean battery - perhaps the only drawback Casio BE-300 ... But by no means unique. But the rest can be put up (still get $ 250 a full PC based on Windows CE - it is, I tell you, this good luck). On a weak battery, BE-300 is not just lazy writing. And the output seems to be unavailable - external battery pack from the most Casio's Russia is not driven (because blamed for small capacity and high price), the power supply of replacement elements looks horrible samopalom (this is) ... But then I read - "Leather Cover for the BE-300 with built-in power supply.And somewhere I read - on our site! Mama dear, yes the same is the very unique solution that pulls us, the owners of BE-300 from the pool inescapable sadness! Oh, you're my home MakTsentr! What do you really molodchinka ... Give, give the author's imagination roam! Give to dream about this wondrous gadgets. The fact that the BE-300 is difficult to find suitable to sit, as poured, cover (box, bag and so on), commonly known fact. We have to shift, selecting products companies Hama and her youngest daughter Samsonite (or - Xigma). Companies producing these wonderful handbags, some of which are suitable for Casio BE-300, like the people ... The fact that replacement items are packed in a plastic container and connected to the computer wiring, not the most elegant for the BE-300 solution is also well known. But what really can you do .. Now imagine the cover, which has a pocket for a plane ... rechargeable batteries? Yes, at least for the native from Casio (only 10 dollars - nonsense). And - a connector for the charger ... Okay, let the usual elements of AA, the main thing - this thing will not hang out somewhere near or attached to a typewriter eraser pharmacy. What can I add? Only one - waiting for ... The relatively new m130 problems such as a BE-300, operating on internal battery from 2 to 4 hours, no. In contrast, m130 "live" longer than the older models of Palm computers, since the area of the screen it has a smaller, but the battery is exactly the same. That is, the load on the lithium battery, which mainly falls on the provision of energy the backlight screen, and then to meet the computing needs of the CCP, below. This and ample battery life - 8-10 hours (or longer). After suffering from the immediate discharge the battery BE-300, picking up a Palm m125, I feel, like in a pocket-computer paradise ... and evaluation of food I put these: Palm m130 - Five, Casio BE-300 - a pitiful, shameful troechku ( Yet a few hours of work). How much was food for Palm m125? If you can not put the top six, I give him a million dollars. Or even two.
Rise and shine
On the audio features Casio BE-300 can be said briefly - they're gorgeous. Impression of a little spoiled but no built-in speaker. But, you see, listen to MP3 songs better with good stereotelefonov than tiddly speaker giving sound shrill notes of cockroach ... On the sonic possibilities Palm m125 and m130 can say is even shorter - they are not at all. You can not call the sound of beeping buzzer system (which, incidentally, is in the BE-300)? As the clock all the computers described deserve only three points. Wake up faint sounds alarms BE-300 and the m125 I have get through the times.
Droplets fly in the ointment
Ideal computers did not happen ... But you know that without me. The only question is whether these or other shortcomings capable of spoiling the pleasure of working with a handheld machine. Disadvantages Casio BE-300 are in the nature of unrealized opportunities. It would be desirable, for example, without the hassle to use "Behu" paired with a cell phone. But this is impossible, since BE-300 is no infrared port, and communication cables to the popular phone models have simply not produced. But the BE-300 works seamlessly with memory cards and peripherals in the format of CompactFlash. Recognized even Micridrive! Yes, and devices for the CF slot is produced by the thousand ... Expansion cost Palm `s special raises no objections. Sorry, of course, that the periphery of the format SD cards prohibitively expensive. But other devices - the same covers, keyboards, various kinds of cables and adapters - albeit with a spoon, eat. More or less significant disadvantage Palm `and I would call a weak infrared. Stable communication is possible at a distance of 20 centimeters. But more is just not needed. Important - this same port is ... Summing the final outcome, I dare say - no matter what machine you take, whether it's Casio BE-300, Palm m130 or m125, you are in any case not lose. All of the computers - the masterpieces of engineering, graceful, intelligent digital devices, these assistants at work and home. And the cost - look at the price! By the standards of the portable digital devices 200-250 dollars is really cheap. We only need to understand that none of the handheld computers is not universal.Casio BE-300 - a remarkable "sofa" machine. She can be nice to play, can be more convenient to read a book. Or stick your computer under your pillow - so as not to wake for work. It can take with him to the metro, where for four hours in a row no one travels. But if your path stretches over the clock and it happens more frequently than once a year, it is best to choose a color Palm. He easily make it to the nearest outlet, and will not shut down because of battery depletion in the most interesting place. " Finally, for the inveterate wanderers matchplan the cities and villages and not to shun modern digital technology (such as satellite GPS navigator or stuffed unimaginable service functions of a cell phone), a good choice would be a monochrome Palm m125. He is able to perform the same tasks that computers and color. Without any special frills, but honestly and to the last drop ... alkaline electrolyte. The authors, translation:
Nicholas Nadezhdin