Dell Axim X30

Dell Axim X30

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Dell's Axim X5 PDA, launched almost 18 months ago, made the price of a Pocket PC affordable. The X3 introduced a slimline design, and now the X30 Wireless adds the latest technology.

The X30 looks identical to the X3, but a major difference is that it's powered by Intel's latest XScale PXA270 processor. This is the first embedded CPU to incorporate the Wireless MMX (WMMX) instruction set, designed to improve multimedia, 3D and encryption/decryption performance.

Our top-of-the-range review model had a 624MHz chip, but an entry-level 400MHz non-WMMX PXA255 machine and mid-range 312MHz PXA270 system are also available.

The PDA is very responsive, with little lag when using the on-screen character recognition, and video playback is smooth. The screen is sharp and bright, and almost readable in strong sunlight. This said, the slim but uninspiring slab-like design offers no concessions for left-handed users - the asymmetric casing is uncomfortable to hold and the jog wheel is in an awkward position. Right-handers will find it much more usable.

The system includes both Wifi (802.11b) and Bluetooth, and you can manage the former with the Dell Wlan utility or the free Odyssey client - we found Odyssey slightly easier. There's a dedicated button on the front panel for disabling the wireless functions, in addition to the usual four navigation buttons and four-way control paddle.

The X30 Wireless comes with a USB docking cradle (easy to slot the X30 into, but not quite as easy to remove it) and a USB sync cable. There's space in the dock for charging a spare battery like dell Inspiron E1505 battery, dell Inspiron 1501 battery, dell GD761 battery, dell KD476 battery, dell TD347 battery, dell Inspiron 1000 battery, dell Inspiron 2200 battery, dell 312-0292 battery, dell INSPIRON 2600 battery, dell INSPIRON 2650 battery.

At this price and with this processor, the X30 Wireless is a bargain and a welcome addition to Dell's range of Pocket PCs.

Contact: Dell 0870 152 4649

Specifications:

• Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition
• Intel PXA270 624MHz
• 64MB Ram
• 64MB Rom
• 3.5in transflective TFT 240 x 320 pixels, 65,000 colours
• Single SD/SDIO/MMC slot
• Headphone, infra-red, Wifi, Bluetooth
• 139g
• 77.2 x 14.9 x 122.4mm
• USB cradle and USB sync cable

Dell Inspiron 8200

Dell Inspiron 8200

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If you demand power and have cash to spare, there really is no need to buy a traditional PC any more, as a suitably equipped notebook like this one from Dell will do just fine.

Inside is Intel's new mobile processor, the Pentium 4-M, which runs at an astonishing 1.7GHz. This is very similar to the desktop version of the Pentium 4, although it consumes less power.

Add nVidia's new graphics chip for notebooks, the GeForce 4 Go with 64Mb of dedicated memory, and you've got a seriously powerful, transportable games machine. Also inside is 256Mb of fast DDR memory and a 40Gb hard disk.

Although a bulky beast weighing 3.7kg, what you lose in portability is gained in features. Dell has made full use of the notebook's mammoth proportions to pack in everything you'd expect from a high-end desktop PC.

The 8200 houses both a combined CD-RW/DVD drive and floppy drive. Situated at the front, the floppy drive can easily be removed and replaced with an Iomega Zip drive, a second hard disk or a second battery such as dell Latitude D830 battery, dell MM165 battery, dell YD626 battery, dell 312-0393 battery, dell Latitude D800 battery, dell Inspiron 8500 battery, dell 8N544 battery, Dell Precision M60 battery, dell Inspiron 8600 battery, dell Inspiron 6400 battery.

The 15in screen displays its best picture at a resolution of 1,600 x 1,200. While some may like this, we found the combination of high resolution on a screen this size to be just a little too much for our eyes. Text was too small to read comfortably and everything seemed a little cramped.

You can run the display at lower resolutions but, although the image is pleasant enough, it appears slightly blurred.

The keyboard is solid and responsive, and the keys are large enough to use for touch-typing. To control the mouse pointer, Dell has integrated both a trackpoint and the more common touchpad. You can disable either or both in the Windows Control Panel.

The Inspiron can be connected to just about anything, as the list of ports is comprehensive. Inside the chassis is a wireless network card which gives you the potential to connect to wireless networks at high speeds. In practice, most of us are unlikely to use it at home but it's a welcome addition nevertheless.

The software package is also impressive, and Dell has added a pre-loaded copy of Microsoft's Office XP Small Business Edition to the additional Windows XP Home Edition operating system.

So far, it's very impressive stuff but there's a price to pay for power: battery life. The Inspiron lasted for one hour 32 minutes in our tests, which is pretty poor for a notebook of this size. In fact, that's 33 minutes less than its predecessor, the 8100.

For many, this won't matter as the 8200 is so bulky you're unlikely to be transporting it away from a power socket for very long, but it is something to be aware of.

The Inspiron is undoubtedly expensive but it offers pretty good value for money considering its features and generous software package. Whether it would make a good purchase depends on whether you need all that speed.

Price: £2,407

Contact: Dell 0870 907 5664

Dell Inspiron 9100

Dell Inspiron 9100

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We have seen a fair few notebooks in past months that are powerful enough to compete with their desktop counterparts. Dell's Inspiron 9100 uses a selection of cutting-edge hardware that puts many desk-bound computers to shame.

The processor is Intel's Pentium 4, running at 3.2GHz, with an impressive 1Gb of memory to boot. None of this memory is shared with the new ATI Mobilty Radeon 9700, that has 128Mb of its own memory with which to play 3D games quite competently with. The 60Gb hard disk is also good for a notebook. Needless to say, as a result, the 9100 did very well in our Labs tests.

The 15.4in widescreen display can cope with resolutions up to 1920 x 1200, which is fantastic for a notebook. This means text, icons and images are very clear and easy to read.

It's not only the screen that's clear - unlike most notebooks, the sound quality is quite good. This is thanks to a subwoofer built into the battery pack such as dell Y9943 battery, dell RC107 battery, dell Latitude D620 battery, dell 312-0386 battery, dell PC764 battery, dell TD175 battery, dell Precision M65 battery, dell DF230 battery, dell Latitude D531 battery, dell Latitude D820 battery, which creates better bass effects when playing DVD movies and games. However, battery life wasn't that impressive - only 80 mins on full usage. This is due to the amount of power-hungry hardware that the notebook uses. Another trade-off for implementing all this hardware is the notebook's size. The 9100 is almost 6cm thick and weighs a whopping 4.2kg.

However, because of its dimensions, the notebook has space for a multitude of ports, including four USB 2 sockets, both analogue and digital monitor outputs, TV-out and mini FireWire. There's also a recordable DVD plus drive, which can be 'hot-swapped' for a floppy disk drive or a second hard disk. The 9100 also has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections.

The software bundle is very generous and includes some demo versions of software that you can buy through Dell. Internet security is covered by the Dell Security Centre, which includes anti-virus, privacy protection and firewall products from McAfee.

Dell Studio 17 NR73502 notebook PC

Dell Studio 17 NR73502 notebook PC

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There has always been a gap between Dell’s popular mainstream Inspiron notebook series and its higher end XPS models.

Now it has bridged this gap with the Studio family, incorporating features found in both product lines.

The Studio line-up features 15in and, as on this Studio 17 sample, 17in versions.

These days, choosing a notebook finish is almost as complicated as choosing the paint scheme and interior finish of a new car.

The Studio family comes with a choice of eight colours, including the Graphite Grey of our review model; you also get a choice of four trim colour options.

Depending on your point of view, the pattern on the chassis either looks like a series of water stains or the contour lines on a map.

Still, the finish is impressive, but whether you’ll want to carry it around showing it off to people is another matter, as it weighs a hefty 4.1kg with the power supply.

As with all Dells, you can customise the specification to suit your needs. Our sample came with an Intel Core 2 Duo T8300 processor (there are two other options both with 6MB of L2 cache, namely the 2.5GHz T9300 at £79.99 extra and the 2.6GHz T9500 at a whopping £270 extra).

The T8300 is clocked at 2.4GHz and, with an 800MHz front-side bus (FSB) and 3MB of L2 cache backed by 4GB of 667MHz DDR2 memory, it has plenty of power to do all the everyday tasks you’ll ask of it, as confirmed by its PCmark05 score of 6,014. It also scored a respectable 3,546 in the more demanding PCmark Vantage.

A single 320GB 5,400rpm Western Digital Scorpio hard disk is fitted along with an eight-speed slot-loading DVD burner. Powering the graphics is ATI’s Mobilty Radeon HD3650 with 256MB of dedicated GDDR2 memory clocked at 500MHz, which provides a modicum of games performance.

When tested using the built-in benchmark in World in Conflict at the screen’s native resolution (1,440x900), it only gave a maximum frame rate of 16fps (fr ames per second); this was tested with all the details turned on or set to high. Turning some of these off and dropping the resolution will give better frame rates, but it’s no gaming system.

The 17in screen features Dell’s Truelife coating and is very impressive, and to output to other screens there are VGA and HDMI ports. Although it comes with an Intel CPU and chipset, this isn’t a Centrino notebook as the wireless networking isn’t an Intel product – instead, it’s one of Dell’s own 802.11n 1510 mini cards; the Bluetooth module is also a Dell product.

The keyboard feels sturdy, with hardly any flex to the key bed, while the keys themselves are good and responsive. It also has a dedicated numeric typepad. Compared to the keyboard, the touchpad seems undersized, but again it has just the right amount of sensitivity. Above the keyboard is a row of touch-sensitive controls and a Media Center remote control.

A notebook of this size isn’t going to be carried about too much, so we weren’t expecting wonders in our battery tests. But when tested with Mobilemark 2007, the standard six-cell battery like dell Latitude D600 battery, dell Latitude D610 battery, dell 312-0068 battery, dell 6Y270 battery, dell C1295 battery, dell Inspiron 1100 battery, dell Inspiron 5100 battery, dell 6T473 battery, dell Inspiron 630m battery, dell Inspiron 640m battery lasted 125 minutes for the DVD test, 158 minutes for the Productivity test and 178 minutes for the Reader test.

Microsoft Works 9 is included along with Vista Home Premium, and a one-year RTB warranty is provided as standard.

It’s not much good for gaming and its weight will put some people off, but the Studio 17 is well built and benefits from a decent processor.

Latitude C600

Latitude C600

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The Latitude C600 is the baby brother to Dell's Inspiron 8000, but still manages to pack almost as many features into its restyled chassis that is smaller, lighter (2.7kg) and more robust than the Inspiron 8000. The most noticeable difference is the 14.1in display. The smaller screen has a native resolution of 1024 x 768 and produces a good-quality and consistent image.

The Latitude C600 is powered by Intel's latest 850Mhz Mobile Pentium III SpeedStep processor, which is partnered with 128Mb of SDRAM which can be upgraded to a maximum of 512Mb. An ATi Rage Mobility 128 graphics controller that has just 8Mb of SGRAM caters for graphics. However, the 20Gb IBM Travelstar UltraDMA66 hard disk drive helps the system to achieve a respectable SYSmark 2000 score of 162.

There is an integrated V.90 modem and 10/100 Ethernet connection as standard. Dell claims the Latitude is "wireless ready": to the rest of us that means it has an infrared port and a PC Card slot. Other connectivity ports are kept to a minimum - there's no FireWire and only one USB port. A single PS/2 port lets you connect a keyboard or mouse, and a VGA port lets you output a display on a monitor or via a projector. When connected to the VGA port, the maximum display resolution using a monitor or projector is 1600 x 1200.

The Latitude C600 is a twin-spindle device, so you can only fit one module at a time as well as the battery like dell F5136 battery, dell 312-0306 battery, dell 312-0305 battery, dell Inspiron 500m battery, dell Inspiron 510m battery, dell Inspiron 600m battery, dell Latitude D500 battery, dell Latitude D505 battery, dell Latitude D510 battery, dell Latitude D520 battery. The media bay at the front of the unit lets you juggle with C-Family media modules, such as the included floppy disk drive and eight-speed DVD-ROM drive or optional devices, such as a Zip 250 or LS-120 drive or second battery.

Two module release latches on the underside of the chassis let you remove either of the two modules quickly and effortlessly.

There's also an optional Advanced Port Replicator that provides more convenient desktop expansion. Existing Dell customers will be pleased to know that the Latitude C600 retains backwards and forwards compatibility with all Latitude C-Family media modules and docking solutions.

The 88-key keyboard is excellent and the large palm rests make typing more comfortable. The keys have 2.7mm travel but are sensitive, and the key spacing of 19mm makes touch-typing comfortable compared to more cramped ultraportable PC alternatives. The full-size return, backspace and spacebar keys help give a full-sized keyboard feel.

The touchpad is set to a decent level of sensitivity as standard, but the trackpoint offers a more precise control method if you don't like touchpads. One problem we noticed when using the trackpoint is that we tended to accidentally touch the touchpad, causing erratic mouse-pointer movements. You can disable the latter if this causes problems, though.

Software bundled with the Latitude 600 comprises Windows 2000 Professional, InterVideo's WinDVD for DVD-video playback and a modem diagnostic test that checks your modem is functioning and obtaining a dial tone. There's also a hypertext user guide that provides information like setting up and operating the system, solving problems and useful web links. Its browser-like interface makes navigating the comprehensive topics quick and intuitive.

Within the documentation is the full technical specification of every component in the system, which is useful if you install new components and need to refer to the original configuration.

The Latitude 600 supports Dell's OpenManage Client software which is designed to reduce a company's total cost of ownership by allowing you to manage, support and track notebooks in a networked environment. The software lets network managers remotely access and manage portable-specific attributes like battery status, power management settings, display type, PC Card information and docking system connections.

OpenManage offers security lockout features by providing the capability to remotely disable the floppy disk drive, serial, parallel and mouse ports. It supports industry standard DMI 2.0 and WBEM specifications.

Mobile security software lets you set a primary system password, administrator password, and hard disk drive password.

Its components are housed in a better quality case than the Inspiron 8000, but it still looks dull. Nevertheless, the Latitude C600 offers a practical combination of performance, features and portability for business use, but it's an unexciting product and a little pricey. Contact

Dell: 0870 907 5664, PROS Practical design and software configuration CONS A bit weighty for twin-spindle chassis; bland case OVERALL Good overall, but it's a rather standard device.

Dell Inspiron 3700

Dell Inspiron 3700

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Thinner and lighter than Dell's Inspiron 7500 (PCW, December 1999), the 3700 is designed to appeal to less power-hungry users, or to those who need to compute on the move. Depending on the configuration you choose, it weighs in at between 2.8kg and 3kg, keeping it a full kilogram below the 7500 at either end of the scale. There's a range of processor options, all Celerons, starting with the 400MHz and topping off with the model we tested, running at 466MHz.

Our review model arrived with 128MB of RAM, although this is upgradable at the time of purchase to 512MB, using two 256MB DIMMs. The excellent 14.1in active matrix LCD has a good viewing angle and is sharp and comfortable on the eye. It's driven by an ATi Rage Mobility -M1 2X chip, which can simultaneously send its output to a second monitor and span the desktop across both screens for an enlarged working area. Sound, meanwhile, is handled by the ESS Maestro-2E chip, which supports Sensaura's Positional 3D, and drives its output to the side-mounted stereo speakers.

The thing that sets this machine apart from the usual Dell fare is the styling. It is gently curved, and has a woven finish to the wrist areas.

Dell's URL is stamped just below the keyboard and the unit is available in two colours: storm grey or Tahoe blue. The keyboard is excellent - it feels fairly slack and is comfortable to type on for extended periods.

The touch pad is also smooth and responsive, but if it's not your thing then you'll be pleased to see the supplementary pointing nib in the middle of the keyboard. Each device has its own set of buttons, and pressing both the left and right buttons on either set turns your chosen pointing method into the equivalent of a scroll-wheeled mouse, moving the contents of your active window up and down.

Dell is fast getting itself a reputation for building highly-versatile machines, and the 3700 does nothing to diminish this. A front-mounted media bay gives you a choice of drives, including floppy, CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, Zip, LS-120 or extra hard drives. It can also house a second battery such as Dell 8M815 battery, Dell 851UY battery, dell 75UYF battery, Dell BAT-I3700 battery, dell 5081P battery, Dell Inspiron 3700 battery, Dell Precision M40 battery, Dell Precision M50 battery, dell Inspiron 700m battery, dell Inspiron 710m battery for extended use away from power points, or be emptied altogether and protected by the bundled cover for the ultimate in portability.

Softex Bay Manager has been pre-installed to enable hot-swapping, and should you find yourself in need of more than one drive at a time, Dell has thoughtfully included a cable for using the floppy drive as an external unit.

The stacked PC Card slots support two Type I/II or one Type III card.

One of these can be filled by the bundled Margi DVD-to-Go card that lets you watch DVD movies on a standard television. This supplements the integrated S-Video out port.

There are also a number of other innovations, such as Dell's exclusive ExpressCharge, which cuts the lithium ion battery's charging time in half - with no detrimental effect on its operational life. In normal use patterns, battery life is staked at around three hours.

What we didn't like was the absence of a flap covering the rear ports.

Dell explained that this was because it often snapped off but we feel it smacks of cost cutting. Dell aims this machine at 'travelling professionals, consumers and students who want an ideal combination of performance, mobility, convenience, style, quality and affordability', and with specs like this, and the 3700's modular, versatile design, it looks like it has hit the mark.

Dell Axim X5

Dell Axim X5

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It has taken Dell a surprisingly long time to enter the PDA market, but at last it has taken the plunge. It's done a lot to differentiate itself from the established players - the Axim X5 uses Pocket PC 2002 and comes with lots of good features, yet has a price tag more akin to its Palm-based rivals.

Unlike the rest of Dell's PC range, the Axim isn't black - quite a shame, as it's likely it would have looked better than the silver exterior that has been chosen, and certainly would have separated it from the rest of the market.

It's quite an odd shape too, curving in towards the bottom, but this is presumably to keep its size (and therefore weight) down.

Speaking of weight, it's pretty light at 185g, and chunky enough to be comfortable in the hand without being too cumbersome. One major plus is the removable battery to the rear.

The USB cradle has a shiny silver finish, which wasn't particularly to our taste. The Dell logo at the front lights up a fluorescent blue when the PDA is plugged into the mains - we're not sure whether this is particularly to our taste either, but it is a good indication of whether it is actually plugged in.

The thing we liked most about the cradle is the slot for a second removable battery such as dell Inspiron 8100 battery, dell Inspiron 4000 battery, dell Inspiron 4100 battery, dell Inspiron 2500 battery, dell Latitude CPX battery, dell Latitude C600 battery, dell Latitude C610 battery, dell Latitude C640 battery, dell 1691P battery, Dell 1K500 battery. A spare isn't supplied, but a 1,440mAh one will be availalble for around £45.

One of the most impressive features of the Axim X5 is the inclusion of both Type II Compact Flash (CF) and Secure Digital (SD) slots. This is normally found only in £500 PDAs, and can ultimately give up to 1.5GB of extra storage space at one time.

However, we weren't particularly keen on the position of the SD slot, on the top left-hand side - it's exactly where your thumb normally rests.

It's unlikely any installed card would pop out just by you resting your thumb on it, but we would have preferred to have seen the jogdial in its usual place, rather than a couple of inches further down the same side.

On the front are the four standard shortcut buttons for email, calendar, contacts and home, along with the five-way navigation button.

The Axim X5 uses an Intel Xscale processor. The model we tested had a 400MHz version, coupled with 64MB of SD-Ram. A 300MHz, 32MB version will also be available, and for significantly less (approx £180), though it won't come with the cradle.

The Axim X5 is pretty fast; in fact, only the more expensive Palm Tungsten T is significantly faster. Just over 21MB of the 48MB Flash Rom is free for use, so investing in a separate SD or CF card may therefore be wise.

The device uses Pocket PC 2002 Premium. The 'Premium' in its name means that it includes Pocket PC versions of Office programs, such as Word and Excel; the 'Professional' version lacks these vital features.

The 3.5in screen is transflective, meaning it works as well in poorly lit conditions as it does in sunlight. We thought the screen was fairly good, but it isn't as clear as those we have seen from Sony and Palm in recent months, particularly when it comes to text.

Video playback through Windows Media Player flowed well and therefore looked good, though that's more down to the speed of the processor than the screen itself.

Battery life is only okay, at 12 hours. We found it took an extraordinarily long time to recharge in the cradle - a full working day once the battery had been almost fully run down.

Using a second battery, and keeping the device in its dock as often as possible, is definitely recommended.

The Axim X5 does have flaws, but considering it's nearly half the price of similarly equipped Pocket PC rivals, it's excellent value. It does lack a wireless option or Bluetooth, which lets it down, but you really can't complain at less than £280.

Specs

•Pocket PC 2002 Premium

•400MHz Intel Xscale processor

•64MB of Ram

•48MB Flash Rom

•3.5in colour TFT screen

•SD slot

•Compact Flash Type II slot

•USB cradle

•Removable Li-Ion battery

•130 x 80 x 17 mm (h x w x d)

•185g

Dell Latitude D620 business notebook

Dell Latitude D620 business notebook

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Dell's Latitude range of corporate notebooks have been a long-term mainstay for many a business person on the move, offering a good balance of performance and battery power such as dell Inspiron 9300 battery, dell Inspiron 9400 battery, dell 310-6321 battery, dell 310-6322 battery, dell D5318 battery, dell G5260 battery, dell G5266 battery, dell Latitude CPi battery, dell Inspiron 8200 battery, dell Inspiron 8000 battery.

Dell has recently refreshed its Latitude series and new D620 sits in the middle of the range.

Our review sample came with an Intel T2500 Core Duo processor clocked at 2.0GHz; Dell currently offers the T2600 (2.16GHz) or T2400 (1.83GHz) as alternatives.

Backing this up is 1GB of PC2-5300 memory, although once again Dell offers other choices.

Clad in its matt silver and black finish, the D620 looks good, but weighing 3kg including the power adaptor it will start to tug on your arms if you carry it around all-day.

The screen is a 14.1in widescreen model and has a native resolution of 1,440 x 900, which provides plenty of desktop space.

This is a business notebook, so graphics performance is never going to be top of the agenda.

Having said that, the integrated Intel GMA950 chipset is perfectly adequate for all the usual business applications you might use.

The keyboard is comfortable to use with the keys having a good, solid feel when typing. Both a trackpoint and trackpad are built in with two mouse keys provided for each.

Disappointingly, the Trackpoint doesn't have a scrolling facility.

In between the two mouse buttons, below the trackpad, is something that's becoming more commonplace on business notebooks of late – a fingerprint reader.

This is joined by an integrated smartcard reader that will be welcome should security be a major concern.

Our review system had a strange, rubber-finished protuberance sticking out of the front. On closer inspection, this turned out to be the extended battery. In most cases, batteries tend to jut out of the rear of the chassis.

This battery includes a useful level meter, which saves you having to boot up the D620 to find out how much juice is left.

Wifi in the form of 802.11a/b/g and Bluetooth are both built in. We also liked the wireless on/off switch that also doubles as a Wifi detector so, once again, you don't have to boot the system up to find out whether there are any local hotspots available.

There's no DVD writer, but the DVD combo drive is able to read DVDs and burn CDs.

The D620 also has an integrated 3G module built into it, something that Dell is planning to roll out across the whole of the Latitude range soon.

But, while the module is there, there are no drivers or software to control it at present – we're told these should be available soon.

In Sysmark 2004 SE, the D620 clocked up a score of 207, while the integrated graphics predictably restricted Far Cry to just 8fps (frames per second) and 632 in 3Dmark05.

The battery life of the D620 is worth noticing. In our tests, it achieved an impressive five hours and 10 minutes in Mobilemark 05's Productivity Test and four hours and 38 minutes in the DVD Playback Test.

For full performance results, check out our Reportlabs site.

If fast graphics performance isn't a concern, and for most business users it won't be, the Latitude D620 from Dell would be a good choice.