My friend from Asus A600

A new friend is better than the old two?

Actually, of course, still the question of who is better ... But the new Pocket PC MyPal A600 (the title translates as "my friend"), released by Taiwan's ASUS, really good. Briefly it can be described as - "a little like Palm, powerful as the Pocket PC". Although, why - how? This is the Pocket PC ... There are no revolutionary innovations in the MyPal you will not find. This is the usual Pocket PC of the last generation, equipped with powerful 400-MHz processor PXA250 (same Intel Xscale). Just made this computer, as all that goes under the brand ASUS, at a decent level. True, there are in this nice machine an attractive and very distinctive feature. It's about an extremely long battery life on your computer. Energy lithium battery lasts as much as 15 hours. A record result, given the small size of the computer itself. How did they build into the pocket little girl a long-lived battery? Although it's probably not so much in the battery, but in well-implemented power saving features ... MyPal A600 (except time work) nothing special stand. The standard PDA-class memory - 32 MB of permanent (flash) and 64 megabytes of. Full-color (65536 colors) reflective display with switchable backlight. All the necessary multimedia stuffing (integrated audio, headphone, microphone). Memory card slot, the ability to connect additional devices (using a standard technique which has become worn "jackets"). But all together turned out just great. Let's take a closer look at the machine - from the perspective of an ordinary user, not a specialist. This can be useful, since ASUS company is not only accurate but also very persistent. It is unlikely to be limited to Asian and European markets, which means that soon we will see MyPal on the shelves of our stores, touch, taste, and quite possibly, to buy for personal use.

A kind word to someone old

I have not noticed that any product manufactured by ASUS has decent quality, and therefore stands out motley variety of competing offerings. I can only confirm this observation, as a longtime user of computer components from ASUS. Many years (for rapid computer standards, of course) on my PC, now owned by his son, the motherboard is ASUS P3B-F. Obsolescent, it still copes with its responsibilities, and never for more than three years has not delivered any problems. This spontaneous and not sanctioned by anyone (not to be considered the author's worse than it actually is) dithyramb - a tribute to one of the most respected Asian manufacturers dobivshemusya impressive quality of the computer named "glands." Incidentally, the reason for my conservative (as you can hold on to the old as a pterodactyl egg, a technique?) That I can not pick up their "big" car worthy replacement. Components of the cheaper ASUS can not call and waste your time on the devices of dubious origin is not desirable. (The real reason lies in my innate skuperdyaystve and that I have long been over to the laptops). Why these intimate confessions? In addition, the new Pocket PC will certainly cause the trust of many users, who ate more than one peck of salt with an unnamed production machines, and then appreciate the products of recognized brands. Personally, I am in no way have no doubt as computers from Hewlett-Packard and Casio. But if I had a choice at the time (still is - not the last day we live!), I would very much thought of whether to take my machine from ASUS ... In the meantime, with the curiosity to view images MyPal A600 and re releases. And while I think that the new machines from Toshiba appeared very serious competitor. Especially the ASUS in the field of handheld computers is no longer a rookie.

Raisin in Taiwan

What can be seen in the photographs, and what you can deduct in the specification suggests that the machine should turn out successful. The convenience of the location of the control buttons keep silent because they are comfortable in any case where they do not Pristrom (the user is able to get used to anything if it's not quite so outrageous trash). But on the body machine can talk to. The fact that the body MyPal made of aluminum. The fashion for light alloys as the structural CCP is not opening ASUS. In aluminum were collected computers Palm Vxx, Sony Series T, popular iPaq. And this is not always turned out good, although at first glance metal housing must be durable plastic. Polished or matted in a special way aluminum is protected against oxidation with varnish. According to the experience of using machines Sony (alas, not me, but a close acquaintance) I know that in normal operation, when the computer hangs in the pocket with keys and other "stitching" items, aluminum body rapidly loses its marketability. That is covered with scratches and dents. That's not all. Where constant contact fingers polishes plastic to an unpleasant gloss, protective coating aluminum body darkens, and then descends. As of this scourge or protect themselves, and it completely unavoidable. On the other hand, the surface of the shell structure MyPal looks like the surface of lighters Zippo. You know, those old, broken time, cigarette lighters, which forty years of age, and anything they do not do it. Among these new instances, too, come across, if you choose not courtly splendor and stark cowboy sermyagu ... Anyway, see what happens in reality. The outer casing MyPal very attractive. Especially a couple of LED indicators, dashing to go off the left side, and holes in the navigation button, reveal a systematic speaker.

Good friend should be more

It in fact must be more so if it's a true friend. Not in terms of physical size, so at least with respect to the brain ... The MyPal A600 built-in slot for flash memory cards and various devices extension format MultiMedia card and Secure Digital. So, it was stated during his first presentation of cars in March 2002 at an exhibition in Hanover. That is a normal slot, SD / MMC, which with a light hand Palm became the accepted industry standard. Dimensions cards SD / MMC slot to allow you to squeeze the most compact body, not sacrificing anything except, perhaps, the user's wallet. Yet tiddly Secure Digital cards are significantly more expensive than popular CompactFlash. The computer press is possible to find a reference to a promise to release the ASUS MyPal "jacket" with a slot CF. Such an extension would take advantage of peripherals, which are in the form factor CF produced more (at least for now) than in the miniature buildings SD.

A healthy, deep sleep

However, the main feature of the new PDA - energy system. Indeed, 15 hours of standard battery does not work, no family of handheld Pocket PC. Can do it only keyboard Jornada 720, and then only with a substantial addition in the form of an optional external battery ... For many years the acknowledged leader in energy-saving technologies for laptops was the company Apple. Today portable Macs that are weak and slow does not call one of the "LPs" notebooks on the market. Technologies that were used in the PowerBook `iBook` ah and ah, it's special hardware and software mechanisms to monitor the load on the computer systems and their inaction instantly lower supply voltage, thus reducing the overall power consumption laptop.Example - stop the hard drive with no recourse to him for some time in plants. Apple did not achieve passed notebook manufacturers a family of Wintel. Today, all laptops in varying degrees are supplied with systems of energy saving, but not all allow you to extend battery life the way it works a little Macs. In the field of handheld computers the problem of limited battery capacity is greatest. In a small enclosure PDA is physically impossible to build enough capacity battery ... capacious enough - for what? In the first place to ensure effective illumination color screen, without which the PDA can be used only in daylight. The second energy consumer battery - the CPU. Consequently, the scheme of energy must somehow manage energy lamp backlight (lamp itself must also be extremely cost-effective) and lower power CPU during idle times. How does the proprietary technology ASUS Smart Power Saving, remains a mystery. But if we are not talking about hungry every minute "fainting" PDA and computer is able to function at maximum energy efficiency, the engineers and in fact succeeded in convincing results ... Unfortunately, the manufacturer's battery life of handheld computer is rarely the case. That means, for example, the formula - "a normal work week? Normal for whom? For a normal user, which includes a machine for fifteen seconds a day? What he then normal, this poor user? Very often, this "rule" is reduced to what a computer is recommended to use no more than an hour a day at minimum brightness backlight. In such circumstances, the standard Pocket PC can work without recharging, and two weeks, and the most defective in this respect, Casio BE-300 seems to be simply long-lived. In practice, the BE-300 does not pull and 4 hours of continuous battery life, and other Pocket PC work a little more ... What can I say? We'll see. ASUS never seems to be not deceived by their users. If notified 15 hours, then, must be exactly 15 ... Or at least 14 and a half.

Cold shower for a hot head

Massive sales MyPal A600 should start coming in the fall. Around late September - early October, the clipper can be expected in Europe. Around the same time, I think, she gets up to us. Another question - whether to last out till it we? The expected cost of new items - about $ 700. Obtained wow sweet ... Yet even this computer, and handsome, but no extraordinary "bloat" deprived. He hath no built-in Bluetooth, no camera, no pull-out keyboard. What is there still ohmuryayut unsuspecting buyers, developers handheld machines? However, such equipment as computers Pocket PC, cheap in any case does not happen. But now the potential user of the Pocket PC there are additional options. Someone will catch the fancy new Toshiba e310, someone will be faithful iPaq `y, someone will not stay to see MyPal. Let them be as much as possible. And let them be as diverse as possible. The authors, translation:

The story of one of the expedition

We bring to your attention a photo report about the trip special correspondent Andrey Kuznetsov HPCru the Indian Himalayas. Most recently, he visited at the foot of the peak of Meru, shestitysyachnika, famous for its inaccessibility, and witnessed the initial phase of ascent on this mountain climber Russian Valery Babanov. Andrew has provided technical support to the expedition Valery, its relationship with the mainland, and held at an altitude of 5000 meters Test Kit mobile communications: the satellite phone of Inmarsat in conjunction with handheld computers Cassiopeia E-125 and Palm IIIxe. In addition, our author has tested as a power source for the original set of solar cells, created by specialist of mobile development company MakTsentr. But first things first. The streets of Indian cities - a chaos of people, bikes, sidecars, and other amazing vehicles. Taken Casio QV-3500, t 30oC, morning Descended rural piled dirt mountain road and blocked traffic for several hours. Common in these parts. Taken Casio QV-3500, t 28oC, day The PDA Handspring Visor - Map Garhwal Himalayan region. Taken Casio QV-3500, the height of 4700 m, day Electric current produced by solar cells, enough to work simultaneously with the re-charging your Pocket PC. Taken Casio QV-3500, the height of 4300 m, noon In the shadows of the tents of base camp to work with Cassiopeia - a pleasure. Taken Casio QV-3500, the day in a tent Shivling - a beautiful mountain area. Taken Casio QV-3500, the height of 4300 m, noon Tapovan in Hindi means "place of meditation."Here, at an elevation of 4300 meters above sea level, is the base camp expedition Valery Babanov. Taken Casio QV-3500, the height of 4300 m, the morning Himalayan bright sun charges the battery Cassiopeia less than an hour. Taken Casio QV-3500, the height of 4300 m, noon Satellite phone to charge it requires at least 7 hours. While charging the phone is in the tent, while the battery is fried in the sun. Taken Casio QV-3500, the height of 4300 m, day. In the mountains, are necessary not only handheld computers, and other equipment. Valery Babanov is preparing for a decisive assault on the peak of Meru. Taken Casio QV-3500, the height of 4950 meters, night, t 5oC www.HPC.ru in the Himalayas. September 2001, the district Garhwal, India Taken Casio QV-3500, the height of 5000 meters, night, t 0oC Flag MakTsentr company - at an altitude of 5000 meters at the foot of the array of Meru Taken Casio QV-3500, the height of 5000 meters, night, t 0oC Sharing photos with a Japanese expedition. Japanese, oddly enough, did not have their own computers and communications, except for a small domestic radio. Our computers and digital camera from Casio has caused a lot of enthusiastic sighs: "Oh, Casio ...." Taken Casio QV-3500, the height of 4900 m, evening, t 5oC We have offered the Japanese to send a letter home through our channel of communication. They gratefully took advantage of the proposal, quickly making a brief letter to the Cassiopeia EG-800, though never before on a PDA is not working. Taken Casio QV-3500, the height of 4900 m, evening, t 5oC Here it is, the purpose of the expedition - the peak of Meru Central, the highest point of a sharp edge "Shark Fin". For many years she never bent climbers. For the first time joined the top of this mysterious mountain foot Valery Babanov, and it happened on Sept. 22, 2001 Taken Casio QV-3500, the height of 5100 m, morning, t 15oC Www.HPC.ru flag flutters in the heart of the Himalayas at an altitude of 5,100 meters.Already above the clouds! Taken Casio QV-3500, the height of 5100 m, evening, t 10oC Expeditionary Complex communication: satellite phone Nera Worldphone with extensive antenna, Cassiopeia E-125, an external power supply unit. Taken Casio QV-3500, the height of 5100 m, day, t 15oC Igor Zdanovich, lying in a tent high camp ABC, monitors working on the wall Valery Babanov. Antenna pointing to the south, is receiving mail. Thread that ties with the house, again stretches thousands of miles away Taken Casio QV-3500, the height of 5100 m, day, t 15oC A few days until Babanov stormed the summit, the expedition members were able to communicate with him only on the radio. Zdanovich Igor, assistant to Valery and the permanent operator deploys equipment for the next communication session. Taken Casio QV-3500, the height of 4950 meters, day, t 15oC "How do you hear me? I atop! Transmit news to Russia! "Within minutes Moscow email received joyful news:" ... Today 22/09/2001 in 15.10 (Omsk time) Valery Babanov climbed vertex Meru Centralnaya. Altimeter showed height 6310 meters. The weather is excellent ... "A few minutes later found out about it the whole world Taken Casio QV-3500, the height of 4950 meters, day, t 15oC Expedition Equipment: Cassiopeia E-125, satellite phone, a pair of VHF radios Taken Casio QV-3500, the height of 4950 meters, day, t 15oC New firm Camping Gas: gas burner on the basis of Compact Flash, designed specifically for the expedition, equipped Cassiopeia E-125. In the photo: CF-burner portable gas cylinder in the New firm Camping Gas: gas burner on the basis of Compact Flash, designed specifically for the expedition, equipped Cassiopeia E-125. In the photo: CF-burner portable gas cylinder in the Taken Casio QV-3500, the height of 5000 meters, night, t 5oC Cassiopeia EG-800 transcend any shaking and dust of Indian roads, no frost and snow of Himalayas.Height - 5000 meters, wet snow glacier Meru Taken Casio QV-3500, the height of 5000 meters, night, t 5oC In bad weather with a Cassiopeia E-125 is better to hide under a rock - after all the water it is not protected ... Taken Casio QV-3500, the height of 4950 meters, day, t 10oC Sometimes you just need to hear the mother's voice, and no e-mail is not replaced. Taken Casio QV-3500, the height of 4950 m, morning, t 15oC The last letter before the decisive assault Taken Casio QV-3500, the height of 4950 m, morning, t 15oC All good Cassiopeia, now only her screen poorly visible in bright alpine sunshine. Accounts blanking palm or climb into tent. However, the small inconvenience is more than compensated reliability and dependability of this remarkable handheld Taken Casio QV-3500, the height of 4950 m, morning, t 15oC Automatic weather station: electricity to the sensors comes from solar panels and wind turbine generator. These weather stations scattered throughout the valleys of the Indian Himalayas Taken Casio QV-3500, the height of 4450 meters, day, t 20oC Mountain range with the interesting name Vasyuki. Chessplayers Countryside spotted were not. But on rocky wall easily notice Coif preparer to spring cobra. Photographed Casio QV-3500 height 4800 m, day, t 15oC Authors translation:

Courageous middling from the country of the Rising Sun or Sony PEG-SJ30 at first glance. Part One

It seems that Sony has decided to return to the production of handheld entry level and middle class. Proof of this can serve as a release of Sony PEG-SJ30 - the first color model, Medium price category. Its price in America - about $ 300. Exact figures are manufacturer has not yet announced. Given the fact that, until now, Sony engaged exclusively release high-end PDAs NR-series, T series, and quite unpretentious model series S, the publication of the SJ30 and SJ20 and his fellow SL10 is coboy birth of a new line of devices the middle class. We bring to your attention a mini-review of new items, the first part of which was published on the site PalmInfocenter. Its author has not tested the device, but it makes the conclusions of those materials that are in his possession.

Face

In this regard, the SJ30 was a success: Sony decided not to save and equipped handheld display, not inferior in quality screen, hi-end handhelds T615C: high, as with all Sony, resolution - 320x320 pixels, no glare, unlike the younger series handhelds S. Colors are displayed accurately, without erosion, and distortion. However, without the disadvantages of not happened. White color gives a little blue, and the lower edge of the matrix is ​​somewhat obscured. Feedback from early users, the best PDA with work in the room, but you can if you are already very much want to use it on the street, even in direct sunlight.

Statuette

I must say that the SJ30 is not the most graceful of the family palmovyh. Its dimensions - 10.41 x7, 37h1, 78 cm at almost 150 grams - enough for a hefty brick of his shirt pocket. However, this is shorter than most color handheld PDAs from Sony. Beginner maintained in the corporate style: plastic housing in white and silvery tones that disguise is complete. All models of the new series of middle-class S (SL10, SJ20 and SJ30) have the same dimensions.

Memory Stick

One of the distinguishing features of the products Sony - proprietary slot standard, Memory Stick, whose presence allows you to expand memory capacity PDAs, as well as its capabilities (eg, add Communication Technology with a desktop PC or mobile via Bluetooth using the Bluetooth Memory Stick). The company plans to issue cards Memory Stick capacity to 5 GB while also offering users a more modest 128 MB MS. In SJ30 slot "works more slowly than similar models have a higher class. This means that downloading files and applications from the Memory Stick card will take some time.

Accessories

Due to the fact that the new model is equipped with the same HotSync connector that and a series of T, this PDA can be used accessories, designed for older models. Given the fact that it is this has become a universal connector for the entire range of products Sony, selection of accessories is rich enough.

SJ 30 against T615S?

Since the SJ30 will debut with a starting price, which is identical to the true value of the CPC T615S, these models can not avoid comparisons. No new items have improved microphone and IR port, which is equipped with T615S. In principle, the list goes on, but you must immediately specify that we are comparing fundamentally different device classes.SJ30 in any case is not an extension of hi-end line of T, the price at which the model was reduced gradually and reached to this point, the average level. SJ30, in turn, is positioned as a mid-range PDA, and therefore more appropriate to compare it with models of the same weight category, where the handheld was virtually nothing inferior to its competitors. Sources, Materials:

Shark's fin and Pocket TV

We bring to your attention a report from the set of TV show "The World-220" of the "Capital". October 10 "metropolitan" film crew was interviewing the famous Russian climber Valery Babanov, recently carried out a sensational solo ascent to the peak of Meru Central "Shark Fin" (The Indian Himalayas), as well as the head of the Division of mobile development company MakTsentr Andrey Kuznetsov, who helped the climber to "communicate" with the equipment and carried out parallel tests in extreme conditions, yet few models of PDAs and other equipment.In one of the November TV program "The World-220" You can totally watch this interview! Make sure not announcements HPC.ru!

Familiarity

A conversation with director

Preparing the Camera

Final preparations

Finishing touch

Valery Babanov and Andrei Kuznetsov

Cassiopeia in

Working moments

The authors, translation:

PDA Sony SJ20: elegant achievement of Japanese thought

Certainly more or less knowledgeable users PDA heard about a new product line from Sony. In addition to an inexpensive monochrome SL10 and a top color SJ30, reviews of which are already on our "Library", in it there is also an intermediate version with the most attractive ratio of price and functionality under the name of SJ20. What is a creation of fancy Japanese thinking?

Dimensions, ergonomics, appearance

Back in August, at the Moscow pilotovke after work with live SL10 I immediately wanted to change my Palm m105. Prior to that, a candidate for the purchase was 125 model. Major role in the reorientation played exactly the design and compactness of the device. Like the entry-level (SL10), SJ20 slightly shorter and thicker than the now classic series of T. To be precise, the dimensions of new items up 101.6 h71h16, 7 mm, weight - 128 r. Thus, all three new items are made in one form factor. However, low-end PDA SL-10 is equipped with a power source in the form of replaceable AAA-battery, and SJ20 - batteries. Sony engineers decided not wise and make models of the same size, regardless of the source. Well, this step can be considered quite reasonable, since the details of the CCP will now be used interchangeably, and, hence, their cost will decrease due to lower production costs. In addition, these handhelds will be easier to pick up peripherals and accessories, as their proizvoliteli be borne in mind that working for the benefit of users is not one, but three models. Palm at the time forgot about the release of first elegant Palm m500, and then the m505, which was a little thicker than it, and therefore find, for example, the case for the earlier model was a big problem. It is encouraging that the developers are learning from the mistakes of their competitors. In addition to design refinements do not forget about ergonomics, and she, alas, in the case SJ20 not up to par. Thus, the sacrifice visual appeal and the compactness of the device was brought to fullness. Indeed, thin computer is easy to carry in your pocket, but awkward in the hand. Recall, for the same tolstyachkov Palm m10x, which are perfectly in the palm of ... Ergonomics of the device compares favorably in comparison with the same T665C. Thus, designers have increased the buttons fiddly little stick turned into a pick-up and push the wheel has become noticeably more comfortable. As a result, work with the new device better than its predecessors (SL10 does not count), but not as convenient as the more "complete" Palm'ami. The latter, however, can be countered by the presence of SJ-20 scroll wheel and buttons Back, which is not even in the expensive color models from Palm. Thus, the surface impression: style, elegance, not a single extra gram. Ergonomics for the amateur. But it fully justifies the proud title of your Pocket PC as SJ20 is ideal for carrying in a breast shirt pocket.

Inside

The interior of the handheld does not represent anything special. So, our PDA running Palm OS 4.1, under the command of which are Motorola Dragonball 33 MHz and 16 MB of RAM. To synchronize with your desktop PC uses the same connector as the T-and NR-series. Of course, due to some structural differences are not the whole periphery of the above models fit, but count on some accessories from the brothers afraid it is still possible. Naprmer on the cradle, because the SJ20 is not equipped with their own "crib."

Screen

SJ20 is equipped with a monochrome screen with a resolution of 320x320 pixels, which is identical to the display SL10 with the only difference is that a brighter illumination. I must say that the lights actually failed - it was very pronounced and has a white background, which is not typical for monochrome models. As a result, black text on this background, looks just fine. Highlighting SJ20 even brighter and clearer than the color Palm m505. And if you continue to compare, then feel the difference between one of the best monochrome PDA Clie 415 and novelty. Moreover, not only in the screens, but also in size ...

SJ 20 cprava ...

Screen model with all its advantages still far from perfect. The reason is the inertia matrix. For example, dynamic scenes look at it is not the best way. Of course, with normal use of PDAs, such as: navigation in folders, recordkeeping, and other daily affairs of ordinary palmovoda this lack is not felt at all. Problems arise with dynamic toys and watching videos. During playback, fast-moving object of its boundaries are blurred. Inhibition of the matrix resembles a fashionable nowadays computer effects blur. Personally, I would be happy with this situation, because the games I play rarely watch movies, too, not often, and I myself do not think so quick to run applications with such a high rate that the elements of "fly" on the screen, leaving behind is the only loops. But now with the inconvenience autoscroll when viewing text, I hardly humble. At the same time and in this situation there is an exit. For example, can be reduced to an acceptable rate avtoskrolla readability, but it will not be the best solution, since the text in this case is moving very slowly. The only reasonable solution is to use dial Jog Dial. Fortunately, it is present in this model. Rate this uniquely display the CPC - is complicated. Of course, the inertia matrix monochrome Sony's disappointing, but a remarkable contrast white backlit SJ20 somewhat compensates for this disadvantage, at least in my eyes. Anyway read on this screen is very convenient, even in bright sunlight. Most likely, when you buy stands on its own to work with the device, to decide that the most important for you - high readability of a separate piece of text or comfort autoscrolling. In any case, a small screen is Palm m125, its nearest competitor SJ20, losing on many parameters (resolution, size, lighting, etc.) to the Japanese fellow, and therefore can not be compared.

Term Life

Have not you noticed that the more progress more rapidly handhelds, the more reduced battery life of each new model? Apparently, the thing is that the development of storage-battery industry lags behind the growth of technology and capacity of mobile devices. So with the SJ20 is the same story. This PDA has about 7-8 hours, which is approximately equal to the time shown a color Palm m130. My good old Palm m105 on a much more capable, and he's already a grandfather. It is not good, but ...

Sprinter Sony SJ20 ...

... On palmovskim standards before the next charging does not live long, but "running" quickly. It is no secret that their theoretical similarity Palm'y today have very different actual speed performance. How did act in that regard SJ20? For example, we present the results obtained by testing different handheld computers. Moreover, for clarity we take the figures are not only cost monochrome PDA, but also more expensive color handhelds. By the way, the latter do not always have the speed, the corresponding prices that set of developers.So, here is a table of results:

Neal Bridges' Benchmark 2.0
Device	%
Palm IIIx/V/m100/m105	91
Palm Vx	112
Handspring Visor DeLuxe	145
Palm m125	154
Palm m500	154
Palm m130	156
Palm m515	156
Handspring Treo 270	164
Handspring Visor Platinum	204
Sony PEG-SJ20	207
Sony Clie T625C	214
Visor Edge	244
HandEra 330	244
Sony Clie NR70V	307

As can be seen, regarded the device looks quite confident and outperforms its major competitors - Palm 125/130. However, if you look at the results of the CCP The average price level Sony Clie T625C, we can see that this model is not far ahead of budget Sony PEG-SJ20.

Expandability: like fun!