Have you heard anything about "palmovye" PDAs from Acer? If only our news. It turns out, Acer s10, the representative of this illustrious family, have long been sold in China. For other countries, the CCP that can be found there only strongly tightening. And yet s10 - quite an interesting product, unlike the counterparts. This is an example of successful breeding. Components of the "palmovyh" handhelds from different manufacturers with the addition of multimedia features. How did the cross now, and we estimate ...
First impression
Item the first - design. From this perspective, Acer is a cross between a computer from Sony and car manufacturing Palm, manifestly tending to the latter. Sony's body was taken by an aluminum color, and terribly inconvenient joystick instead of the usual set the scroll buttons. However, the device from Acer is somewhat longer than usual, which clearly does not play into the hands of ergonomics. Size of the device are 120 x 77 x 13 mm, weight - 140g, which is slightly larger than normal. Judge for yourself:
| Model | Acer s10 | Palm m500 |
| Weight (g) | 140 | 113 |
| Dimensions (mm) | 120 x 77 x 13 | 114 x 79 x 11 |
Unlike Palm'ovyh handhelds, the stylus Acer s10 Schiltz has to press a favorite reset. But the screen is positive borrowing not carry - the usual black and white display with a resolution of 160x160. At first glance, it is disappointing, but then it becomes clear that a color screen this unit is not needed. Reading to the end of the article, you think, will agree with me.
Hardware capabilities
In general, it is nothing remarkable: 16 MB of RAM, a processor Motorola Dragonball VZ 33 MHz. Volume ROM is 8MB. Here are just in the era of color even in low typewriters monochrome display looks like something archaic. However, the side from which to look at this flaw.
 |
Chinese PDA equipped with a mp3-player, but for music availability of color screen (especially not interrupted) severely restricts the time of her audition. By the same assurances of developers, Acer s10 Ways delight hearing user almost nine hours. So, in this model is used to empower a memory card slot standard Memory Stick. Something I do not recall a single handheld, produced not in the bins by Sony, which would support this type of cards. This glaring omission developers, as well as Memory Stick sufficiently far behind in popularity is now widely used SD / MMC and Compact Flash. But do not let the bad news, because the Sony still has a few features that have benefited the new PDA. The first of them - it certainly support mp3, which do not possess any PDA Palm, or PDAs from Handspring. By the way, the sound of this unit, very decent quality. Of course, it's far from a normal desktop stereo capabilities, but with the dynamics of the average laptop is quite comparable. In addition, complete with palm headphones are also excellent quality and with a good margin volume. The only pity is that the fans really quality music will not be able to connect to other device other than the supplied "gags", as the connector for connecting a few less than usual. Though hardly audiophiles will generally listen to mp3.
| Made in China "width =" 203 "height =" 421 "/> |
Another interesting option available in the arsenal of Acer s10, is the ability to work as a handheld digital recorder. In my memory devices on the Palm OS, equipped with this really useful feature, it was not. With regard to the functioning of this option Acer s10, then by pressing the record at any time, opened the application to record sound, but as a result of a long (few seconds), pressing the recording starts automatically. The only pity is that sometimes the writing can begin by chance because of the crude location of the keys to turn it on, but because of its accidental pressing. The recording process is accompanied by a red LED display. The recording quality at the right level and it is amiss to notes from a lecture or important meetings, even in a noisy environment. The recorder has a fairly rich settings, and the records themselves can be stored in memory as a standard PDA. Pdb, and on the memory card in no less than usual. Mp3. And, in the case of storage. Pdb at the earliest timing converter on the desktop will automatically convert the accumulated data in a clear desktop. Mp3. In general, all practical and without any frills.
Software stuffing
Nothing special in this program part of the handheld can not boast. Except for the specific software for specific options the same - sound recording and playback - nothing remarkable, and different from other similar models do not.
 |
Thus, the operating system for Acer s10 is a Palm OS 4.1 Chinese version (the world's first PDA with fully translated into Chinese interface (!), While that to us before), and includes the supply of watches, a program for backing up data to a memory card Anglo-Chinese dictionary, and finally, E-book Reader - a program to convert any text file into. pdb. With regard to AudioBox - Program for playing mp3, - then in her case also has some interesting moments. For example, it provides rich opportunities for the formation of the order of playback of files: "random", "repeat", "play around", etc. In addition AudioBox can not only turn off the screen, leaving the sound on, but on and off the display automatically after a specified period of time. As can be seen, this program can turn Palm into a qualitatively working mp3-player. Also on CD that came with the handheld, you can find the Palm Desktop, Pumatech Intellisync Lite, eBook Converter, Voice Converter and instructions in PDF. It is not hard to guess all of these programs are designed for use on the desktop.
Little nothings of life
It should be noted wonderfully elaborate system of charging the internal battery. Acer s10 can be fed while in the cradle connected to the network. Another way of charging - the same cradle, but connected to the USB. And finally, a way that is lacking for most manufactured today, the CCP: The adapter can be connected directly to the device, which is absolutely indispensable on a trip or at the office not to carry a cradle. And if we add to this a very solid stock of battery life, it becomes clear that engineers Acer really worked for her. It is also worth noting the details of a successful lighting, which makes the work with the CPC in low-light conditions more than comfortable.
Total
The result is a wonderful machine to work, where the color screen is not absolutely needed, but the voice recorder handy. Besides mp3-player will be a nice addition. The only pity is that some time ago has withdrawn a device has not yet appeared in Europe, so do we. As for the cost, it is about $ 300, which is justified available functions. When its value in our Acer s10 of the competitors will have a not entirely successful because of its truncatedness Casio Cassiopea BE-300 and the Palm m130 with a color, but passive and small screen. Well, let's hope that this handheld still appear on our market and will find its buyers. PSIncidentally, in the picture, if you've noticed, is depicted version of the hieroglyphs, both on the screen and in graffiti. Also on some photos, you can contemplate a different version, devoid of the Chinese alphabet. It turns out that the European version is already there ... This is just to find him in Moscow, I could not. The authors, translation:
