Need to make up my mind about x51v or Imate JAMin

[TheLearner]

Hi everyone (esp the techies ),

I am assuming that you guys have heavily used Dell Axim x51v.

Can you tell me how good is this device? How about the support/ROM upgrades/application compatibility/languages packs like Arabic and arabizers etc?

So far, this is among the fastest devices (624MHz) with highest ROM (256MB)

It is thinner than JAMin, bit taller and bit wider. It doesn't have camera which is not too useful in Imate devices.

Please provide technical details to convince me

Thanks

[ericem]

well I have mine running the latest firmware and runs just fine. I use it with a 4gb sd card to listen to music video 3d games and as u said there is a lot of built in memory. I would definitly recommend it.

[cng]

I had the same decision, after I bought the Dell X51v though. If it was prior, I might have gone with the Dopod 818Pro (still HTC Prophet).

Dell Axim X51v
624 Mhz Intel Bulverde
Wifi 802.11b
Bluetooth 1.2
256 MB ROM
64 MB RAM
3.7 inch VGA screen
Intel 2700g
SDIO/CF Type II slot
1100 mAh user replacable batteries

This spells the best dedicated PDA - best of everything.

HTC Prophet
TI OMAP 850 195 Mhz
GSM Quad-band/EDGE
Wifi 802.11 b/g
Bluetooth 2.0
128 MB ROM
64 MB RAM
2.8 inch QVGA screen
2.0 MP high quality camera
1250 mAh battery

This spells connected mobility - world phone with best reception and EDGE speed with g wireless and latest BT. Though QVGA, the pixels are tightly packed because of the screen size. The camera is best I've seen in any PDA/phone. The battery life is superb thanks to the TI chip.

So what made me stay with the X51v? I realized that the $600 CAD difference was not justified. The wireless and camera did not worth $600 to me. If I wanted, I could get a superb cellphone with the money or maybe a good cellular phone with BT and a digital camera. I never minded carrying many devices and its part of who I am, the gadget guy. I carry multiple phones to school everyday already. If it was a 1 for 1 trade, I would jump on it right away because I would be trading not money for the wireless, camera, and pocket space and would be trading PDA power of the X51v.

With BT dialing and everything so easily connected, there is no reason, for me at least, to get a convergent device.

[blurabbit]

Get an x50v with 2003se.

[cng]

I should have included this in my post above but there are other things to think about too: 2.5 mm stereo headphone jack to me is very annoying and thats another negative against the HTC Prophet. Also, where are you going to find 8 GB SD cards for $200 USD? The only way for mass storage is with microdrive. After hearing the Skype cannot be ran smoothly on the TI processor, that really discouraged me and though it runs everything else good, Skype is an important application for me in the future as the world moves to VoIP. The HTC Prophet would become my dream budget phone in a year or so and thats when I plan to get it, when the price is right. For now, I rather enjoy a phone that is worth the price difference and also enjoy everything WM5 has to offer with my beast of a PDA, X51v.

[TheLearner]

guys thank you very much for the prompt response.

I have three questions from the posts above:
1- Why do I need x50v 2003se and not why not wm5. Is there a major difference? If I decide to buy x50v, is it worth to upgrade to wm5?

2- "BT dialing and everything is so easy.... " What kind of BT? Does it support stereo and A2DP? What kind of BT stack does it have? Can I install differen profiles on BT stack?

3a- 8GB SD card for $200?? It means you are using something else that has a capacity of 8GB and it worths $200? What device is it?

3b- Can you connect mass storage to it?

Last thing, if money is not an issue, will you still recommend x50v/x51v?

Million thanks

[dvmed]

I find the X50V w/2003SE more reliable than my X51V.
X51V doesn't support A2DP or audio gateway, nor does is support bluetooth PAN. X51V carries the microsoft crippled bluetooth stack while the X50V w/2003SE uses the tried and tested Widcomm stack with a more robust bluetooth manager. You cannot just install different profiles on the BT stack, Dell must supply it to you by means of a ROM update.
I think when they said 8GB, they are referring to a CF microdrive.
I personally would recommend the X50V.

[TheLearner]

I was under the impresseion that x50s have phone functionality. but I was not correct. Does anyone know any PPC with Phone edition that has 624Mhz CPU and 256MB RAM/ROM?

Thank

[chong67]

I say go with USA.

[cng]

I was under the impresseion that x50s have phone functionality. but I was not correct. Does anyone know any PPC with Phone edition that has 624Mhz CPU and 256MB RAM/ROM?

Thank

Closest thing is the HTC Universal
520 Mhz Intel Bulverde
64 RAM
128 ROM
UMTS/Tri-band GSM
keyboard
2 cameras
4 inch VGA screen

[ericem]

You kno WM5 is pretty stable but compatibity is the real problem.

[Menneisyys]

Closest thing is the HTC Universal

4 inch VGA screen

It's 3.6" only

[Menneisyys]

What I would do is actually getting two devices: a x51v AND a decent PPC phone. Unfortunately, converged devices mean a lot of compromises.

The HTC Universal is indeed a cool device but nowhere as powerful as the x51v (520 MHz only; no 2700g). As a PDA, its usability is also hampered by its weight (almost 2 times more than that of the x51v! Not really suited for bedtime reading.) and lack of front-side buttons.

It's not the best phone either - has a LOT of annoyances.

(BTW, this is why I also went for getting two WM5 PPC's - one "powerhorse", the x51v, for serious gaming/PDA stuff and one - HTC Wizard - for phoning. The latter is MUCH more suited for being used as a phone as the HTC Universal.)

[SilasBannook]

Learner, I encourage you to review this forum and do a search for ActiveSync. You will see an exhaustive list of issues. I had my x51v working just great, replaced it after my son dropped it and now can't sync. The Axim line X50/51 has had problems since their release. I personally cannot recommend these devices. I wish I did not purchase mine but I am invested in it now. I wish you luck.

[cng]

Everyone has a different experience with any pocket pc and I can say there are as many X51v users as there are frustrated X51v users.