Heard, Pocket PC cheaper? And, so cheaper, that are comparable in cost with Palm `s budget. Is not it great? Very, very cool. I have even called this event "a revolution in your pocket, yes, I'm afraid I misunderstood ...
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At this time the distinguished "monitor" to ViewSonic. You know, a cute label with multi-colored birds (incidentally, tkachiki - charming southern establishment, which often have at home). Until recently, the ViewSonic monitors, and engaged exclusively in this case has made significant strides. But then the company is interested in portable computers, releasing wow flatbed machine (very close to the upcoming Tablet PC). Now that's a PDA-class Pocket PC. I have to say - nothing outstanding in the new computer, V35 no. The most common Pocket PC ... But it is only to look at the price - $ 249. It is true that in America, not from us (Fit the additional 50 dollars, you get "we"). I say there is pretty cool. For the money, and - Pocket PC ... Here it is happiness ... I wonder what we offer for these "almost 250"? And why so cheap? We ought to look closely.
Something about the money
What is included in the cost of a handheld computer (margin of wholesalers and retailers to put aside)? The cost of hardware and software Pocket PC. Plus nabavka manufacturer, which is not only to cover the cost of production and ensure profits, but also to pay for development of future models of computers. The high price of pocket typewriters Pocket PC family of conditioned color value matrix with the mechanism of sensory sensitivity, the cost of the processor, flash memory and the operating system MS Windows CE. What happened extraordinary, if manufacturers have begun to aggressively cut prices? It is unlikely that we are talking about reducing the rate of return or a sharp increase in production. In this sector of the market is not so much space to allow sales of products for this expansion (although the PDA market is growing). News of the cardinal cheaper (at times!) Software from Microsoft, too, seems to be no. Another rally to consolidate its market position at Intel, at present the only manufacturer of processors for Pocket PC? Or matrix color LCD become cheaper? Most likely, the decline in prices occurred immediately in all directions. Cheaper processors, memory chips and liquid crystal matrix (the less). Increased volumes of production - to a sufficient degree to reduce the cost of production itself. Microsoft has a great attention has to treat its "iron" partners. And so on. But the main reason, in my opinion, is contained in the book of Bill Gates' The Road Ahead. " Handheld computers have experienced a stage of technical innovations and become a mass commodity. And this is very different production, different pricing and other terms of competitive confrontation ... But all this, though higher, but tedious matter. We as users of PDAs are more interested in how much we have to spend hard-earned on his passion pocket cars. And here the news is also good. Handheld computers will become cheaper, including the brands of the brand - for example, the same Sony CLIE. Fighting something unfolds with serious and, as among the cheapest entry-level computers, as well as in the camp of hi-end.
At number 35
Now, actually the new Pocket PC V35 (such full computer name given on the company website ViewSonic). Let's start with the appearance of ... never mind machine, beautiful. Slightly reminiscent of subtle PDAs from Toshiba, although you can say so - all low cost PDAs are surprisingly similar. None of them that courtesy, that refinement that distinguishes expensive models of the senior group, like the famous iPaq.
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In V35 elegant two-color plastic casing (white top, black bottom ").The design is very simple - on the front of the four programmable buttons run basic applications, the round navigation button (joystick), star-shaped lattice dynamics of the system ... The presence of dynamics means that the acoustic characteristics is not truncated, like a Casio BE-300 and not go beyond generally accepted standards Pocket PC. That is a voice machine will be quite decent. Inspect the controls. And we find that V35 has adopted features of both Pocket PC, and Palm `Yes. Power Button presented for the upper bound of the body (in most Windows CE machines, it is located on the front panel next to the buttons quick launch). There is also a infrared port (fellows, do not forget) and the only expansion slot format Secure Digital (presumably, with support for cards MMC). Well exactly - Palm ... While the rest - Pocket PC. Look further. The left lateral face is not overloaded. Wheel-type jog dial (hi company Sony - its invention), the rollback button (I think is) the nest audio input / output ... Yes, your computer does a microphone, respectively, no and switch the recorder. Reservation - probably because in the plant description (an unusually detailed and high-quality design - check out the ViewSonic website and check in person) about the microphone and the recorder is not a word. If your computer does not, and mini-jack for an external microphone, then things are bad. But I believe he still is. Would emphasize the firm audio capabilities of your computer (leaning to play MP3 files), if any computer functions in this area will be truncated? Although, who knows ... What else? A pair of lights - the battery charge and notification of upcoming events. Synchronizing PDA with a PC - and through the USB port via the supplied "crib." For the type of crib looks cute. Perhaps the most hollow for a few cars too small. Although not visible in photographs - whether "crib" supporting rear backup machine. If yes, then everything is fine. No - I, too, in general, nothing. Most importantly - electronic components. Ekran a V35 standard for Pocket PC is the size that is 3.5 inches diagonally. Matrix color, active. Highlighting reflective (reflective), with switchable lamp. Screen resolution of 240x320 pixels. All very ordinary (in the sense of - expensive) Pocket PC. Although the transflective screen, which is equipped with a brand new PDA, there is only a new hi-end iPaq 3900. Processor ... very interesting model - XScale from Intel, but the clock speed is not 400, and 300 megahertz. That is, theoretically, the computer must give way to the Pocket PC based on the 400-megahertz XScale processor performance. But in fact it will be noticeable only in special-edged optimized applications. In the meantime, the performance of 206-megahertz processor StrongARM and XScale is new about the same level (with a slight advantage of the latter). So that the "brake" the computer will not V35. Memory ... There really is interesting. Typical - 32 and 64MB. What is different from handheld computers older group? The answer - nothing. Maybe this machine "dead" battery? Precise characteristics do not give it - no tanks, no other options. Said only - Lithium-Ion battery, up to 10 hours of battery life ... Okay, let the record time of 10:00, achievable when running "light" applications and disconnected the screen backlight. But with light, in this case, the machine will run no less than 6 hours. Enough? Quite! .. On what did they save? What usekli machine in order to reduce the final price? May have used his own version of Windows CE, as in the same BE-300 (that's really zamoroka so zamoroka). Consider ... No, Microsoft Pocket PC 2002 Premium Edition. All it is now customary to express "complete OK.
When and what to expect?
When exactly ViewSonic sale for public, nobody knows. Although the machine is already being offered on Amazon for the price of the manufacturer (the American model for $ 249 are not round). Especially do not know when your computer will appear here in Russia ... A sure - you often look into the "MakTsentr. There, like new items, especially long-term ... The new V35 is worse than their competitors selling now? Why it costs so low - at the level of color Palm `s m130? Vpriglyadku difficult to determine. Perhaps building a computer a little easier.There is not a variety of accessories (machine will be popular will and accessories). Other difference is difficult to even imagine, so the technical specifications V35 coincide with the characteristics of the bulk of Pocket PC. However, it may be not as distinct, and that the V35 - the model sign. It gives a never seen before race start lowering prices. If handheld computers and in fact become a mass commodity (in the west - exactly), then manufacturers will release their huge numbers, in great variety and will not fight for a dollar for every dime of profit. Change primary priorities. From an attempt to surprise the consumer unexpected opportunities, it would be surprising low cost. Another question - what will become a rival platform - with computers running Palm OS 5? Interesting question, huh? Most of us chose Palm because of the affordable prices - again, and because of the huge number of programs - twice. Today the situation has equalized. For the new Palm `and will release new software, and cheap Pocket PC use the same software as their expensive predecessors. Are there any in this case, the Palm `s at least some advantages? Price, price alone ... Therefore, the cost of Palm `s too, will fall to an all-time low mark? It looks like it would happen ... By the way, in normal set of programs that will be included in V35, there is nothing remarkable. Standard software standard Pocket PC. Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, Pocket Outlook. And so on, until the "reading room" and media player ... Oh, found it! Toy only one - the immortal game of solitaire Solitaire. So on what they have saved - on the toys! And the price immediately fell three times ...), authors, translation: