Dell Axim Xw9

02-22-03, 03:01 PM

Dated: February 22, 2005

Well, unlike some of you, I had to wait a while for my Dell Axim Xw9 to come. Of all the great things that Dell does, their customer service and shipping still needs work...

However, I got the my Axim yesterday and it is awesome.

Thankfully, Verizon Wireless supports this model or I would have had to transfer my cell phone service.

First off, I have to commend Dell on the size difference between the X7, X3, and even the regular X9 compared to the Xw9. The Xw9 is smaller than both the 7 and 3 and only slightly larger than the 9. It is so much cooler looker than any PDA Dell has ever made. Even though it is slightly larger than the X9, I will deal with it because it works on the Verizon CDMA network.

PocketPC Phone 2004 is awesome. It is integrated perfectly in with the OS. Everything is as seamless as I wanted. Integrated Bluetooth, 802.11g (even 802.11m compatible with the xD card), USB on the go, Mobile FireWire, - Wow... this thing has everything. Although the X9 clocks in at 2 GHz, having the phone makes me accept the Xw9 1.6GHz processor without reservation.

I am also amazed at the UXGA screen. The resolution makes my old X5 (remember those) look like it is black and white. Further, the 1 Gig of Internal memory is a nice to have. The Compaq Ipaq 9000 only comes with 512MB. In fact, I do not know who would pay the $1100 for that model when they could purchase either an X9 or an Xw9.

The keyboard is pretty cool as well. Michael Dell is a genius. Not only does it slide out from the back of the unit, it also acts as a stand as well as a PC keyboard using the Bluetooth connection.

My only complaint is that I heard there is a possible X11 coming down the pipe in the next month. If Dell comes up with something that much better, I will be bummed that I just spent $599 on this model (I know, I know - there is also the $50 rebate and the free 1 GB CF card).

Anyway, that is my take on the Xw9. I will post another message on the site when I get my CF 3D Presenter.

02-22-03, 04:34 PM

We can only hope !!

Actually, just about everything you predict is quite feasible in a 2-3 year time frame. I would add the following:

- Only 1 GB internal mem or CF cards...nuh-uh! CF/SD cards should be up to 4-5 GB by then, internal should easily exceed 1GB.

- PPC2004...possibly, but for 2005 I bet it's WinXP for PPC, since they will have the memory capabilities by then...

Chris...

DennisFranz · 02-22-03, 04:39 PM

Hey, can you lookup the lottery ticket for March 1 2003 ?

What is Microsoft stock doing?
What are the LCD TV prices at now?
What was the outcome of the Bin Laden/So Damn Insane conflict?

Racer X · 02-22-03, 05:01 PM

Give my regards to President Schwarzenegger!

Fritz · 02-22-03, 05:06 PM

LOL, thanks for a funny, and creative post!

:D

Cheers.

02-22-03, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by DennisFranz
Hey, can you lookup the lottery ticket for March 1 2003 ?

What is Microsoft stock doing?
What are the LCD TV prices at now?
What was the outcome of the Bin Laden/So Damn Insane conflict?

I am keeping the lottery numbers to the 3/1/2003 Mega Millions to myself. :Þ

Microsoft is trading at $55

a Sony 42 inch LCD TV (HD-ready) is approx $1500

Bin Laden was killed in 2004 from an Ear Infection that developed after eating bad cheese. Sadaam Hussein became President of France in 2005 and was killed that summer when the US nuked Paris. :)

ARM Hacker · 02-23-03, 02:10 PM

Sadly, from the stuff I know I believe your post is extremely optimistic. :(.. atleast for the timeframe you are talking about.

Norco · 02-23-03, 06:46 PM

Lol, pretty funny post. I was reading all this going what on earth?? I knew it had to be a joke by all the bogus model #'s and the blown up specs, but you could easily fool some newbies on here.

02-23-03, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ARM Hacker
Sadly, from the stuff I know I believe your post is extremely optimistic. :(.. atleast for the timeframe you are talking about.

I disagree. Most everything he listed is available now, is expected to be available by this time next year, or has been announced as in the works (except for the 2 Ghz processor...the latest I've read about is around 1.1 due for release Q104 or so.
Texas Instruments has OMAP processors coming out with BT, WiFi, GSM/GPRS, CDMA/1X onboard very shortly. 1 GB CF cards
are here and up to 4 GB is expected by the end of '04, IIRC.

Could it all be integrated into one PDA for $599....well, maybe not yet. Oh, but we can dream!!! :love:

Chris...

ARM Hacker · 02-24-03, 12:55 AM

The higher res screens, won't be happening that soon.. Maybe 640x480 at best or something, not UXGA resolution. OLED is the answer to that, and its not in '04. Sure there may be some ARMv5 1ghz processors available then, but these cpus are available even now. The reason they're not in PDA's? two issues, cost, and power consumption. Polomer battery technology will help there, but again, not in '04 at any price point we can afford. As for faster memory and/or more peripherals, its just a matter it being too costly and too much power consumption.

The price of PDA's is being driven downwards, and unlike other commodity markets the volumes are just not there. Any real push these big companies are making is in the area of cellphone technology. And while this 'vision' seems to incorporate some of that, I don't think there will be a PPC convergence device on the market, or very popular in '04.

So just because the stuff is available, it doesn't mean it will make its way into a particular device.. Going back over the last 3 years, there have been SO many cool chips/technologies developed, and even many cool refernce designs (IBM's linux in a wristwatch for example).. Blame the sucky economy or lack of demand, but its just not moving as fast as PC stuff..

Hopefully at some point thing will ramp up, like they did around the time of the 486 for pc's, and we'll start seeing cooler stuff in the PDA market. For now I think we'll have to look at the PDA's smaller and less useful cousin, the cellphone for that.

02-24-03, 07:37 AM

Quote:

So just because the stuff is available, it doesn't mean it will make its way into a particular device.. Going back over the last 3 years, there have been SO many cool chips/technologies developed, and even many cool refernce designs (IBM's linux in a wristwatch for example).. Blame the sucky economy or lack of demand, but its just not moving as fast as PC stuff..

All very true. I don't "expect" to see a PPC as listed in the first post by 2005, I'm just saying that a device like that is possible by that date. And certainly not at a $599 price tag.

Chris...

02-24-03, 12:23 PM

This is why I love posting to this site. The responses by the members are really interesting and help to gauge where we are going. I am picking up a lot of cool info on technology in general not only my AXIM. This is awesome.

As for all you naysayers, say whatever you want... I am using my new Axim X11 which just came yesterday.

By the way, is anyone else having trouble ejecting the Hydrogen fuel cells from the back?

Racer X · 02-24-03, 02:35 PM

Quote:

By the way, is anyone else having trouble ejecting the Hydrogen fuel cells from the back?

Yup. Three city blocks had to evacuated for a day after I forgot to enrich the cells for the mandatory 4 hours. Boy, was the EPA pissed.

Norco · 02-24-03, 02:56 PM

Geez, so your the idiot that forgot to enrich them! Sheesh, first you guys forget to insert more fluid into the fusion pump, and now this. Im sick of having to leave my house, if you can't do it on your own, bring it to your fuel cell engineer to fix!

Pepsi_blue · 03-12-03, 10:09 PM

Why did you bring up Pocket Pc Phone 2004? Is the xw9 going to be a pocket pc phone?

What is the prossesor type x-scale? and how fast is it?

How much internal memory will it have?