Pen Computing Magazine 2005 Editor's Choice Awards: 

PDAs/Consumer handhelds

AlphaSmart Dana Wireless      List price: US$379 www.alphasmart.com	BEST STUDENT PALM - The original Dana came bundled with communication software, but unless you had a hard-to-obtain IrDA modem, you were hard pressed to use any of it. That all changes with the 802.11b Dana Wireless. Students and businesspeople are finding WiFi everywhere these days, and nothing is more suited to the task of note taking and mobile research than a widescreen Palm device with a large keyboard. The new Dana Web Browser, available in the optional Internet Solutions Pack supports HTML 2 through 4, plus Java-Script 1.3, and direct download of files, such as PRC (Palm program format) and MP3. It also includes MarkSpace Mail and VeriChat, a widescreen IM client. The Dana Wireless also has 16MB RAM, 2 SD slots, 2 USB slots and the excellent AlphaWord word processor as well as software for syncing and modifying Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files.	Processor OS RAM/ROM Expansion Display Type Display size/resolution Color depth Input method Voice recording MP3 playback Alarm Screen lid Dimensions Weight Power Cradle/Dock included? Integrated wireless Connectivity Software bundle Options Options	Motorola Dragonball VZ 33MHz Palm OS 4.1 8MB 2 MMC/SD/SDIO slots backlit monochrome LCD 7.75"/560 x 160 monochrome 80% Qwerty keyboard/Graffiti no no audible no 9.3 x 12.4 x 1.9 inch 2.0 lbs. Rech. Batt pack/3AAs, AC adapter yes 802.11b    2 USB, IrDA Wide apps, AlphaWord, PrintBoy, Palm Reader, QuickOffice Admin software, ImagiWorks for Dana
Dell Axim X30  List price:US$199-349 www.dell.com	BEST LOW COST POCKET PC - As you would expect from Dell, the Axim X30 is a thoroughly modern, up-to-date device sporting the latest Intel processor, the latest version of Microsoft’s Windows Mobile for Pocket PC platform, and built-in 802.11b WiFi and Bluetooth in all but the entry-level model. As is the custom at Dell, you can get almost every device in a variety of performance and equipment levels, and their Pocket PCs are no different. CPU speeds, for example, range from 312MHz to 624MHz. Visually, the X30 looks no different than its popular X3I predecessor. The X30 has that distinctive “sandwich-style” design with excellent ergonomics that draws attention with its wealth of brightly colored blinking and steady lights both on device and cradle. The screen isn’t too bright and battery life is average, but the X30 sure offers a lot for the money.	Processor OS RAM/ROM Expansion Display Type Display size/resolution Color depth Input method Voice recording MP3 playback Alarm Screen lid Dimensions Weight Power Cradle/Dock included? Integrated wireless Connectivity Software bundle Options Options	Intel PXA270/312 or 624 MHz Windows Mobile 2003 Pocket PC SE 32-64MB/32-64MB         1 SD Transflective color TFT 3.5”/240 x 320  64k on-screen kbd, handwriting reco yes yes audible/LED no 3.0 x 4.6 x 0.6     4.9 oz. 950 mAH Li-Ion yes 802.11b, Bluetooth USB, IR Pocket PC apps, some 3rd party Cases, 1.8AH battery, keyboard BT GPS, cables, screen protectors
Garmin iQUE M5     List price: US$749 www.garmin.com	BEST GPS PDAed GPS receiver and a full GPS/mapping software suite. They just look almost identical. Amazingly, despite all the extra electronics inside, the M5 is no bigger than your average iPAQ or Palm device. The device is so small and handy that you can use it as a regular Pocket PC anytime. However, where the M5 really shines is on the road. Mount the M5 to the windshield in your car, and you’ll never get lost again thanks to one of the best GPS/mapping systems anywhere. The mapping software suit has a bit of a learning curve, but once you master it it’s simple. We had hoped for a full VGA display, but found the standard 240 x 320 pixel LCD to be perfectly adequate. And we love the ingenious screen lid.	Processor OS RAM/ROM Expansion Display Type Display size/resolution Color depth Input method Voice recording MP3 playback Alarm Screen lid Dimensions Weight Power Cradle/Dock included? Integrated wireless Connectivity Software bundle Options Options	Intel PXA270/416 MHz Windows Mobile 2003 Pocket PC SE 64MB/64MB         1 SD Transflective color TFT 3.5”/240 x 320 64k on-screen kbd, handwriting reco yes yes audible/LED yes 2.8 x 5.0 x 0.8     5.8 oz. 1,250 mAH Li-Pol (“5-12 hrs.”) yes Bluetooth, GPS USB, IR Pocket PC apps, GPS/mapping Travel kit, bracket mounts Carry cases, automotive antenna
HP iPAQ rx3710/15     List price: US$449 www.hp.com	BEST CONSUMER POCKET PC - The iPAQ rx3715 is the flagship in Hewlett Packard’s series of “Mobile Media Companions” which is supposed to be your iPAQ-based personal entertainment center. It comes with a generous, terrific software suite that takes advantage of the built-in 1.3 megapixel digital camera, offers great imaging capabilities, the Nevo universal remote control, and anything else you need to take pictures, and then edit, share, print or email them. Thanks to built-in Bluetooth and WiFi you can view and stream content anywhere within reach of a network. And you can even print wirelessly. The 3700 Series sports a handsome anthracite-colored body, a fast-enough 400MHz processor, lots of memory, and a powerful battery. All that’s missing, really, is a full VGA display to really enjoy the imaging and multimedia experience offered by this device.	Processor OS RAM/ROM Expansion Display Type Display size/resolution Color depth Input method Voice recording MP3 playback Alarm Screen lid Dimensions Weight Power Cradle/Dock included? Integrated wireless Connectivity Software bundle Options Options	Samsung S3C2440, 400 MHz Windows Mobile 2003 Pocket PC SE 64MB/128MB         1 SD Transflective color TFT 3.5”/240 x 320 64k on-screen kbd, handwriting reco yes yes audible/LED no 2.8 x 4.5 x 0.65     5.6 oz. 1,440 mAH Li-Ion yes 802.11b, Bluetooth USB, IR, 1.3mp camera PPC, HP Image Zone, Mobile Media Extended battery, desktop cradle Cases, CF and SD cards, adapter cables
HP iPAQ hx4700 List price: US$599 www.hp.com	BEST PROFESSIONAL POCKET PC- If you’re looking for the best and most powerful PDA ever built, look no further. The HP iPAQ hx4700 is it. Starting with its gorgeous magnesium-alloy case, its state-of-the-art electronics, its spacious memory, its dual storage card slots (one CF and one SD), its strong battery, its superb connectivity (both 802.11b WiFi and Bluetooth), to its very large 4-inch full 480x640 pixel VGA display of unmatched sharpness and brilliance, this machine has it all and then some. The display alone lifts the hx4700 into a whole different PDA dimension. You have to see it to believe it. Despite all of its power and features (including perhaps the cleverest , least intrusive smoked plastic display lid), the hx4700 is neither very large nor very heavy. A total winner. It even includes a novelty that’s perhaps ahead of its time: a notebook-style touchpad.	Processor OS RAM/ROM Expansion Display Type Display size/resolution Color depth Input method Voice recording MP3 playback Alarm Screen lid Dimensions Weight Power Cradle/Dock included? Integrated wireless Connectivity Software bundle Options Options	Intel PXA270, 624 MHz Windows Mobile 2003 Pocket PC SE 64MB/128MB         1 CF Card, 1 SD Transflective color TFT 4.0”/480 x 640 64k on-screen kbd, handwriting reco yes yes audible/LED no 3.0 x 5.2 x 0.6     6.6 oz. 1,800 mAH Li-Ion yes 802.11b, Bluetooth USB, IR PPC, HP Image Zone, ClearVue Extended battery, SDIO camera Thumbtype kbd, Cases, car charger, GPS
Palm Treo 650 List price: US$449 (varies with service) www.palm.com	BEST PALM-BASED PDA PHONE - The palmOne Treo 650 is an enhanced, improved version of the original Handspring Treo 600, Handspring’s last hurrah (listed above). The 600 was a smartphone that really deserved its name. It was an excellent phone and also an excellent Palm device. Unfortunately, it had a few shortcomings that have (almost) all been fixed in the Treo 650. Speed is much improved thanks to a fast Intel PXA chip. The VGA camera takes better pictures, especially in low light. The little thumbtype keyboard has been further improved. There is Bluetooth. And the display now has 320x320 pixel resolution and is a real TFT instead of the Treo 600’s low res, faded CSTN relic. All of this makes the Treo an even better smartphone than the original 600. The only remaining problem is memory. It’s the same old 32MB, and that is nowhere near enough.	Processor OS RAM/ROM Expansion Display Type Display size/resolution Color depth Input method Voice recording MP3 playback Alarm Screen lid Dimensions Weight Power Cradle/Dock included? Integrated wireless Connectivity Software bundle Options Options	Intel PXA270/312MHz Palm OS 5.4 32MB RAM SD/SDIO/MMC Transflective TFT 320 x 320 64k keyboard, Graffiti no 3rd party apps audible, vibrate no 2.3 x 4.4 x 0.9 6.3 oz. (CDMA) Li-ion, 5 hrs talk, 2 weeks organizer use no GSM/GPRS or CDMA, Bluetooth  USB, IrDA Palm apps, PhotoViewer, browser Headset, slipcase, SD cards, IR keyboard Essentials kit
Palm Zire 31 List price: iUS$129 www.palm.com	BEST LOW COST PALM- The palmOne Zire 31 is the first color Palm that truly lives up to Palm’s old mantra of “cheaper, faster, smaller, lighter, smarter, and longer,” the latter referring to battery life. The 31 is the first low-end Zire that is not only cheap, but offers good bang for the buck and is actually useful for more than just the most basic PIM functions. And the battery lasts for weeks, not hours, something which is rare these days. Don’t expect the world, though. The screen is only an old-fashioned 160x160 pixel STN that’s neither fast enough for games nor very visible in bright light. There is no email or wireless of any kind, unless you want to do it via infrared. And to play MP3 music, you need to buy an optional SD card. But considering how little it costs, the Zire 31 is the perfect first PDA for those who want to learn or know what Palms are all about.	Processor OS RAM/ROM Expansion Display Type Display size/resolution Color depth Input method Voice recording MP3 playback Alarm Screen lid Dimensions Weight Power Cradle/Dock included? Integrated wireless Connectivity Software bundle Options Options	Intel ARM-based/200 MHz Palm OS 5.2.8 16MB/8MB         1 SDIO  STN color LCD 160 x 160 “thousands” Graffiti 2 no with optional SD card yes protective cover 2.9 x 4.4 x 0.6 4.1 oz. 900 mAH Li-Ion no no USB, IR Photos, Docs to Go, VersaMail, Web Expansion card, cases, Software
Palm Zire 72 List price: iUS$299 www.palm.com	BEST CONSUMER PALM - Improving on the immensely popular Zire 71 was quite a task, but palmOne succeeded admirably with the even better Zire 72. The Zire 72 is lighter, slimmer, faster and more attractive than its predecessor. It has a superb 320 x 320 pixel color display and very high built quality. It also has Bluetooth and a built-in 1280 x 960 pixel digital camera with 2X digital zoom that can even do video. We’re not talking excellent imaging quality, but the pictures are far better than what the best cellphone camera can do. And the included Media application is quite entertaining. The Zire 72 is fast thanks to a modern Intel PXA270 processor, and it comes with the heralded Documents-to-Go so you can load, view and modify Microsoft Word and Excel documents. This device is elegant, competent, well made, and full of functionality. A winner.	Processor OS RAM/ROM Expansion Display Type Display size/resolution Color depth Input method Voice recording MP3 playback Alarm Screen lid Dimensions Weight Power Cradle/Dock included? Integrated wireless Connectivity Software bundle Options Options	Intel PXA270/312 MHz Palm OS 5.2.8 32MB/8MB         1 SDIO Transflective TFT 320 x 320 64k Graffiti 2 yes yes yes no 2.9 x 4.6 x 0.67 4.8 oz. 950 mAH Li-Pol (3.5-5 hrs.) no Bluetooth USB, IR, 1.2MP camera Media, Docs to Go, VersaMail, Web Expansion card, cases, GPS Headphones
Palm LifeDrive List price: US$499 www.palm.com	BEST PROFESSSIONAL PALM - Though they have been available in iPods and other device for a while, the new palmOne LifeDrive is the first PDA ever that comes with an internal hard disk. This gives the LifeDrive massive storage capacity (per palmOne: 1200 Office docs + 6000 emails + 1000 pics + 300 songs + 10000 contacts + 10000 appointments + 50 voice memos). When connected to a PC or Mac, the LifeDrive shows up as a disk drive and you can easily drag files to and from it. Sporting a sleek new design, the LifeDrive is no bigger than a Tungsten (but weighs a bit more). It has a terrific high-res transflective display that can be used in portrait or landscape mode. 802.11b Wifi and Bluetooth permit wireless connectivity almost anywhere. All of this makes the US$499 LifeDrive an impressively flexible and powerful PDA and photo/music/video multimedia device.	Processor OS RAM/ROM Expansion Display Type Display size/resolution Color depth Input method Voice recording MP3 playback Alarm Screen lid Dimensions Weight Power Cradle/Dock included? Integrated wireless Connectivity Software bundle Options Options	Intel PXA270/416 MHz     Palm OS 5.4 4GB Hitachi Microdrive         1 SDIO Transflective TFT 320 x 480 64k Graffiti 2 yes yes yes NA 2.8 x 4.7 x 0.76 6.8 oz. 1,600mAH Li-Ion no 802.11b and Bluetooth USB, IR, multiconnector PocketTunes, Docs-to-Go, WiFile, web MP3 and camera adapter Headphones
Tapwave Zodiac 2 List price: seek best www.tapwave.com	BEST GAMING PDA - Tapwave’s metal-cased Zodiac puts an emphasis on portable gaming with true a true 360 degree analog joystick, trigger buttons, four-way navigator, brilliant 480x320 16 bit landscape (rotatable into Portrait mode) hi-res color screen, and stereo speakers. The zodiac is also a PalmOS V5.x powerhouse with a 200 MHz Arm 9 CPU with ATi Imageon Graphics co-processor and Yamaha PA2 sound chip. The only Palm with two SD card slots, plus built-in Bluetooth, the Zodiac can play full screen video at 30fps, MP3, AAC, and other audio formats, and comes with a huge bundle of apps including a Web browser and all the  PalmOS V5 goodies with a cool program launcher. The Fathammer X-Forge 3D game engine lets developers produce console-quality games.  With a vocal user community, the Tapwave Zodiac console/PDA is a breed apart. Sadly, Tapwave closed shop shortly after we picked the Zodiac. Get one while you can.	Processor OS RAM/ROM Expansion Display Type Display size/resolution Color depth Input method Voice recording MP3 playback Alarm Screen lid Dimensions Weight Power Cradle/Dock included? Integrated wireless Connectivity Software bundle Options Options	Motorola I.MX1/200 MHz     Palm OS 5.2T 128MB/NA     2 SDIO Transflective TFT 3.8”/480 x 320 64k Graffiti 2 yes yes yes yes 5.6 x 3.1 x 0.55 6.3 oz. 1,540 mAH Li-Ion (3-5 hrs.) yes Bluetooth USB, IR Kinoma, InkStorm, WordSmith, games Wireless card, cases Headphones