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 View: On equal terms at last
By: Jørgen Sundgot, Friday, 04.10.02 16:23 GMT
This week, Sony unveiled the first Palm OS device that measures up to the hardware specifications of Pocket PCs. Jørgen Sundgot ponders similarities - and differences.
Now that Sony has finally unveiled details about the first Palm OS 5 device (most likely to Palm's great dismay, since they're keeping a close lid on details about its Palm OS 5 Tungsten line), I think it's a safe bet to anticipate that the Palm OS versus Pocket PC debate will once again rage among enthusiasts and in general IT magazines alike. Always eager to create a bit of ruckus, I've decided to ponder this issue myself.
The specification list for the Sony CLIE PEG-NX70V lists a 200 MHz processor, 16 MB RAM, 16 MB ROM, an infrared port, a Memory Stick expansion slot and a CompactFlash Type I expansion slot which has been modified by Sony to only support Sony's WLAN accessory card for this particular device (if it's only a software block, expect hacks to appear faster than greased lightning). In addition, the NX70V sports a 16-bit reflective TFT display with a resolution that kicks Pocket PC butt; 320 x 480 pixels. Add to that an integrated VGA resolution digital camera and thumbboard, and you'll quickly notice that the NX70V packs a punch.
In comparison, a high-end Pocket PC like the Toshiba Pocket PC e740 offers a 400 MHz Intel XScale processor, 64 MB RAM, 32 MB ROM, an infrared port, a CompactFlash Type II expansion slot, an SDIO capable SD Card expansion slot and integrated Bluetooth or WLAN. Its display is a 16-bit reflective TFT as well, with a resolution of 240 x 320 pixels.
As is evident, the Pocket PC sports more RAM - a necessity due to the way the operating system is constructed without delving into further detail on that subject, a lower resolution display and offers standardized expansion and integrated wireless connectivity. It does not have an integrated digital camera, nor a thumbboard, however.
Now, comparing these devices directly is a complex task since their hardware specifications differ somewhat, and since they use different operating systems. So, I'll look at the points that can be compared right away; size, battery life and price. In terms of size, the NX70V is in size comparable to most high-end Pocket PCs with similar integrated functionality. As for price, the NX70V will according to sources retail for $600 USD, whereas the Toshiba e740 WLAN retails for $670 USD. The Bluetooth version is $720 USD, for some reason unknown to this editor. Battery life? Well, the e740's battery life lasts at best 5 hours with backlight on and WLAN off (I know, because I have one), and sources say the battery life of the NX70V will be similar - with its backlight switched off.
All in all, it seems as though the point of Pocket PCs being more powerful is growing mute - the only major complaint yours end-user truly has about OS 5 is that it doesn't utilize a hierarchical folder- and file-based system that allows unrestricted file management without the need for, say, coding a word processor application so that it's capable of retrieving e-mail attachments directly from the specific e-mail application you're using. I'm not intending to start a debate on which file management solution is the right one, but not being able to manage and open files freely in whatever application the user prefers is just plain stupid. Stupid, stupid stupid.
There's more though. Sony loves proprietary standards, and I don't (and I think the rest of the world is with me on that). Thankfully, other Palm OS licensees seem bent on using open standards, and if the NX70V just had a CompactFlash Type II and an SD Card expansion slot I'd have much more of an urge to get an NX70V than I do now - although that hi-res screen is admittedly gorgeous. Oh well. Which one would you choose, a NX70V or a similarly specced Pocket PC? |
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