I personally do not like the touch pad on the 4700 at all. If you’re an action game player, you probably won’t like it much either.

No sure what you mean about smudging… the screen or the case? If it’s the case you are referring to, then neither suffer from smudging.

As far as screen / color, both devices have VGA displays, but the 4700’s is bigger. I’ve had both and both have great screens.

Not sure about the extended battery for the x50v as I’ve not seen one. I’m pretty sure that it will increase the thickness though.

Wow what a great site, I am so impressed with your reviews, spesh on the 4700, im just about to buy either one of them (ebay about $400 for either) and couldnt split the diff.

Is the toggle pad thing on the 4700 really that bad?

Havnt seen either side by side, the HP looks mahoosive? And does it smudge that bad, does the Dell smudge that bad? lol I should work for you

I read a review that went on about the colour of screen 4700 vs X50v

http://www.aximsite.com/articles/link.php?id=200

What say you?

Oh and one last thing, if you put a bigger batt in the X50v how does it make it thicker, does it come with a new back plate, or does it just stick out like a lump?

Hope all this can be answered for my little obsessed nugget

Again, great site

Julie wrote:

bquin:

I try not to get into Palm OS vs. Windows Mobile OS type of comparisons just because it tends to be totally subjective. Both platforms will help you manage your life. It just depends on what special features you need as to which one works best for you. It sounds like you already have a lot invested in Palm OS software. So I guess my question to you is: why are you wanting to switch to the PPC? Bored with Palm or what?

I think that the only real reason that one should switch from the Palm OS to the PPC OS is because of the hardware. If you really need built-in Wi-Fi in your PDA, then there are a lot more options on the PPC side of things. I used to use a Tungsten T3, but switched to a Dell x50v when the hospital where I work installed a open access Wi-Fi system. If Palm had offered a PDA with combined Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, I would have stayed with the Palm OS.

Stay with your Tungsten, unless there is something specific that it can’t do for you.

TMann

Thanks for the photos.

While I have been researching the x50v, I saw this posting somewhere. Sena now has a case for the x50v w/extended battery.

http://www.senacases.com/cart/home.php?cat=321

I am still considering buying the x50v. I am contemplating the extended battery, or an additional standard. I don’t know if I’d rather have the “hump” or have to lug another battery around.

You’ve hit the nail on the head as to why I continue to prefer the Pocket PC over Palm devices. Wifi and the two slots! Well, that and the easier file management system that the PPC has. You can’t just copy a SD card full of PRCs, stick it in a Palm PDA and expect to be able to run the programs.

I try not to get into Palm OS vs. Windows Mobile OS type of comparisons just because it tends to be totally subjective. Both platforms will help you manage your life. It just depends on what special features you need as to which one works best for you. It sounds like you already have a lot invested in Palm OS software. So I guess my question to you is: why are you wanting to switch to the PPC? Bored with Palm or what?

Mobile-review.com wrote:

According to the opinion of Mobile-review.com team the handhelds are ranked in the following way, this is the overall mark, it’s not like we summed up separate points:

1st Fujitsu Siemens Pocket LOOX 720
2nd HP iPaq hx4700
3rd Dell Axim X50v
4th Asus A730W
5th Asus A730

These are just a few of 50-60 programs that I would have to replace if I switched.

The hardware is very impressive, but the software??

1st Fujitsu Siemens Pocket LOOX 720
2nd HP iPaq hx4700
3rd Dell Axim X50v
4th Asus A730W
5th Asus A730[QUOTE]

http://www.mobile-review.com/pda/review/vga-comparing-en.shtml

OTOH, if you have to buy a second battery, why not just take the regular model and bring it along with you in a corner of your pocket/purse, etc.

That way the device is still 1) less bulky 2) lighter and 3) still fits any regular case (and 4) it feels better in you hand and 5) it looks less ugly as a wart ).

I still have my good ol’ Axim x5 and looking for a replacement. The problem I had with 3!! of them is the digitizer. I write a lot on my PDAs (first one was a Newton MP 110, 11 years ago!!) and though every digitizer wears out the x5’s wears out quickly; ALL my x5’s only lasted between 1 and 6 month . Hope the x50v’s is more resistant.

Anyway I ordered the x50v when Dell offered a good deal recently. Unfortunately the announced delay was over a month!! They seem to have a supplier shortage with the VGA screen. So much so as they removed that model from almost every European Dell pages !!

So I resigned and have now decided for the Fujitsu-Siemens Pocket Loox 720 some have been talking about.

It offers quite more than the Dell: has a better display (same supplier and technology than the 4700’s), has more than twice the AVAILABLE RAM (*), a side scroll (for more than just ebook reading; also for surfing, image viewing, moving from day to day in calendar, etc.), USB host (has a much wider use than VGA out), consumer grade IR to remote control TV Hifi equipment more comfortably, more app buttons, and each have 2 functions, front buttons including the dpad are larger, has a dedicated VoIP speaker, etc.

* double the ROM does NOT make up for half the RAM; in a typical hardcore x50v setup you only have 20-25 MB RAM left; with no apps installed you already have no more than 47 MB out of 64 (due to OS overhead). Storage RAM takes a good chunk away; plugins and some utilities can only be installed to RAM and the former take twice the RAM, once in the storage area and once in the program RAM when the plugin is activated!! Plus all your addresses, appointments, notes and tasks can only be stored to RAM; and many people report that their 64MB RAM device is too short on RAM; besides GPS and video are both much demanding on program RAM. Try installing the same apps and utilities on an x50v and a PL720 and it will clearly show the Loox has more than twice the free RAM left; it’s easy to guess even without having to install anything: you have twice the RAM but only once the programs/data installed and only once the OS overhead. Say you have 16 MB of apps, programs, utils and data; that’s 32% of 47 MB (64 minus OS overhead) and only 14% of 112 MB (128 minus OS overhead) AND that’s not even counting the double RAM usage of plugins and TSR programs (Terminate and Stay Resident utils like WisBarAdvance, tray utils, etc.)

If you’re comparing MSRPs, the Dell has a $150 advantage over the HP iPAQ 4700, which is great. However, you can regularly find it for as low as $360-$390 on deal sites like http://www.gotapex.com, http://www.slickdeals.net, etc. That drives the price advantage up to a whopping $280, which absolutely kills the 4700 in my mind. There’s no way I could recommend someone spend that much more for the 4700 when the feature set is so similar.

Thanks again for the review, and check out http://www.tinyscreenfuls.com!

Josh Bancroft
TinyScreenfuls.com

Julie wrote:

chriszzz:

Hmmm, I don’t like the added humpback of that extended battery at all. Do you find it hard to hold the PDA?

its actually fine. When you hold a PDA, your fingers and palm naturally form a curve into which the bulge fits. Of course now that it’s thicker, none of those after-market leather cases will fit it anymore ( though the included slip case still fits fine ). I think there is a metal case in the market that specifically accomodates the bulge of the hi-cap battery though.

One minor irritation is that the extented battery makes the x50v more creaky. A firm squeeze makes it creak like crazy.

Hmmm, I don’t like the added humpback of that extended battery at all. Do you find it hard to hold the PDA?

Julie wrote:

chriszzz:

I’m happy to hear that you have the extended battery. Would you be able to supply a image of the battery attached to the X50v? I’d like to see how much thickness it actually does add.

As for the fuss, most people will not want to go out and buy the bigger battery after just plunking down $500 for the PDA. They will expect the PDA to give them enough juice to get them through a typical day. With the X50v, I noticed on several occasions, that I needed to charge halfway through the day. That just won’t cut it for someone that is always away from a power outlet. Knowhutimean?

Okie dokie. Photos at http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/chriszzz987/album?.dir=/cc71&.src=ph

It ain’t pretty, but the longer battery life is great. The battery itself is TWICE as thick as the regular battery.

As for the price, well, considering Dell is selling the x50v at reduced price ( its now US$424 at the Dell website ), even adding the cost of the battery means that it is still significantly cheaper than the HP4700 or any of its VGA class competitors.

I’m happy to hear that you have the extended battery. Would you be able to supply a image of the battery attached to the X50v? I’d like to see how much thickness it actually does add.

As for the fuss, most people will not want to go out and buy the bigger battery after just plunking down $500 for the PDA. They will expect the PDA to give them enough juice to get them through a typical day. With the X50v, I noticed on several occasions, that I needed to charge halfway through the day. That just won’t cut it for someone that is always away from a power outlet. Knowhutimean?

I have always liked the looks of the Loox (no pun intended), you should write a user review about yours.

tthiel, I am sorry to hear that Dell quality is so low on the laptops at your bank. I have a Dimension 4600 and I love it – no problems whatsoever. I would have expected the same quality from their laptops. :0/

IMHO it has all the good features from the current crop of VGA devices – decent battery life, good selection of buttons (including jog dial for ebook readers!), 1.3mp camera (quality isn’t up to much though), consumer IR & decent RAM specs.