opinionated3's Full Review: ASUS MyPal A626 Pocket PC
I recently found out the hard way that my HP iPAQ 4700 PDA wasn't compatible with Windows Vista, when I recently upgraded my work computer to Windows Vista. The reason for the incompatibility turned out to be an issue with the Active Sync program (used to sync files between Windows on my computer and Windows Mobile on the PDA.
The issue was that Microsoft decided to no longer support Active Sync in Windows Vista OS and therefore I was stuck.
The only problem was that I used my personal PDA quite heavily at work; to hold notes, contacts and to check my mail when I was away from my desk working.
So I went looking for suitable replacement PDA for myself and a co-worker. What I found was a great little device from ASUS; a company I have a lot of experience with. We purchased a couple of ASUS A626 Ultra Slim PDA's from Dell.
Look and Feel
The A626 is much more compact than my HP iPaq 4700 and has most of the same features. So I can do much of the same things I used to do with the HP 4700, but it smaller and lighter. The case is made of stainless steel so it doesn't have the flimsy feel of plastic and it has a 3.5" screen and weighs only 5.6oz.
Features
The A626 runs on Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.0 OS, which makes it easy to operate. It includes Microsoft Excel Mobile, Microsoft Word Mobile, Microsoft PowerPoint Mobile, Microsoft Outlook Mobile, Microsoft Internet Explorer Mobile and Windows Media Player Mobile.
All of these programs come in handy when it comes to performing my job on a daily basis. Much of what we do where I work is centered on Microsoft Office products, so having all of these programs included is perfect for me.
ASUS included both WiFi and Bluetooth wireless connections to give you full access to wireless broadband connections to keep you connected to your home or office. The Bluetooth will let you connect to a variety of devices that are Bluetooth capable such as cell phones or the newest Bluetooth wireless headphones.
You can also keep in sync with your desktop files by using the USB/Sync cable that plugs into a port on the bottom of the A626and any available USB port on your computer.
The ASUS A626 has plenty of built in storage capacity to store notes, contacts, mp3's and WMA files; 256MB of flash ROM and 64 MB's of SDRAM. Along with the memory ASUS included an Intel 312 MHz Xscale processor that makes this handheld device pretty fast when it comes to crunching numbers and running your programs.
For expansion, it comes with a SD port to insert SD memory cards, which greatly increases the storage capability of this device.
Specs
312 MHz Xscale processor, 256MB Flash and 64MB SDRAM storage, 240 x 320 high resolution TFT touchscreen, WiFi andBluetooth, expansion slot, 4-way navigation button, Lithium-ion rechargeable battery(AC adapter included) overall dimensions 2.8" x 4.6" x 0.6" (W x H x D) and 5.6oz, microphone and voice recorder
My final thoughts
After using this device for a few weeks now I have to say I am very impressed with all the features that are crammed into it. The screen is sharp enough to display images in high enough quality and video playback is adequate. I am not a heavy listener of music like I used to be, but audio play back is more than adequate.
I can hold all my music and listen to it with headphones on and it sounds great. I love the fact that it comes with the mobile versions of the all the Office software that we currently use, so I can create notes and step-by-step instructions on my desktop and sync the files to my PDA and carry it around the plant.
The WiFi connection is great; it allows me to connect to our company LAN. This means I can check my email and sync with my desktop pc. However, there is one drawback to using the WiFi; it uses quite a bit of battery power. So I have to be careful to not forget to recharge the battery when I am at my desk, or just leave it on charge over night.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 250.00 Recommended for: Gadget Lovers - Trendy and Hip
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