OS provided:
Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0
Installed RAM:
64 MB
Processor:
Intel 312 MHzXScale
Wireless connectivity:
IrDA,
IEEE 802.11b,
IEEE 802.11g,
Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
Dimensions (W x D x H):
2.8 in x 0.6 in x 4.6 in
Input device type:
Stylus,
Touch-screen,
4-way navigation button
Description:
The Asus Mypal A626 is a Pocket PC-based, consumer-oriented handheld device.
Compared to other consumer-oriented handhelds on the market, it is relatively inexpensive at around $270.
You can expand the memory of this unit using Secure Digital (SD), or MMC media.
The Microsoft Windows mobile 6.0 operating system comes installed on this handheld.
Pros:
Offers IrDA, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, and Bluetooth 2.0 EDR wireless capability, which is considerably better than some similarly priced handhelds.
By way of comparison, the average cost of a product with a comparable set of wireless capability is $395.
Also, this handheld runs on the Microsoft Windows mobile 6.0 operating system, which is somewhat more advanced than some similarly priced handhelds.
Cons:
Since this device runs on Pocket PC, it will work only with Windows, not with Linux or Macintosh operating systems.
Suitability:
A consumer-oriented handheld, suited for every-day use.
Also, its display, supporting 64,000 colors at 240x320 resolution, makes it adequate for viewing color images.
However, this handheld supports the Bluetooth private area network protocol, which means that it can wirelessly connect with other Bluetooth-enabled devices within about 30 feet to synchronize data, access e-mail and the Internet, exchange files, and print documents.
The Asus Mypal A626 supports MP3 playback, meaning you can listen to audio tracks that are stored in memory.
This PDA includes Wi-Fi (802.11b) compatibility and can be used to access the internet at various wireless enabled "hotspots".
Value:
In view of its relatively inexpensive price, this handheld has great features for the money.
Suggestions:
(1) If you plan to enter large amounts of data, consider purchasing an
external portable keyboard
for your PDA.
(2) To see how this PDA stacks up against our Editor's top picks, check out
the Handhelds Feature on CNET Reviews
.
CNET's Product Briefs are generated by a software tool that combines
product specifications with knowledge of our editorial experts. They do
not reflect hands-on assessment or labs testing. For more information
about how we create Product Briefs,
contact us.
