ROUNDUP: VGA output solutions for Dell Axim x50v/x51v

[Menneisyys]

The Dell Axim x50v and x51v models have a really decent feature: an Intel 2700G Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), which not only means great 3D (gaming, modeling) and 2D (pixel smoothing, video playback), but also VGA output capabilities.

Note that you can’t directly have analogue (composite / RGB / S-Video) output, as opposed to, say, consumer video and digital cameras or the latest multimedia smartphones like the Nokia N93 (latest reports here). You must buy a, mostly, pretty expensive separate VGA -> analogue converter if you want such functionality. Also note that you can't have DVI output either. The latter isn't a big problem though - there are cheap converters and all projectors/monitors with DVI input have VGA input too.

Also note that in this article I only discuss the most optimal x50v/x51v-based solution. If speed isn't that important and/or you can also use a notebook/desktop computer, some kind of TCP/IP connection or you are willing to buy a CF/SD VGA out card to display the screen of your PDA, you may also want to read this, this and this.

Unfortunately, Dell doesn’t ship a VGA output cable with these two PDA's – you must purchase it separately (this is in stark contrast with Nokia’s approach with their latest flagship phone, the N93, where the analogue RCA output cable is bundled with the phone – see the above-linked N93 report for some sample shots of all this.)

Right now, there are three VGA out connectors for the Dell Axim x50v/x51v. In this roundup, I elaborate on all of them.

First, the most widely known one is Dell’s own



Presentation Bundle

The bundle also includes the well-known (it comes with, for example, the HP iPAQ hx4700 pre-installed on the ROM) Westtek ClearVue Suite, which can be purchased separately for $24.95. Note that the PDF viewer in the bundle is a bit weak (it’s not compatible with about 10% of current PDF documents) but, at least, it doesn’t have the CPU usage bug (described here) of Adobe’s own, free Acrobat Reader.



The cable, which costs (together with the Westtek ClearVue Suite) $49.00, has certain drawbacks:

1. it’s, officially (as far as its being listed on their homepage is concerned), only available for US and Canadian customers and for people in some other states (for example, Malaysia).. Note that you can’t register a buyer account on the related product page from outside any country. Some Axim users (for example, from the Netherlands), however, have reported success in giving Dell a call and asking them to deliver the cables to their local country. That is, if you don't find the cable in the online repository of your own country (in the URL http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/c...=6067&~ck=anav , (the German address of the “Accessories” page) change ‘de’ (in ‘c=de’) to the country code of your own country to see what Dell Axim accessories are available there.), make sure you call the local office of Dell to ask whether they are still able to give you the cable.
2. it’s the thickest and shortest of all solutions, which may put a bit more strain on the socket of the Axim than the other solutions
3. Westtek ClearVue Suite only allows for using the maximal resolution of XGA (1024*768), while the alternate solution, the fully WM5-compliant Nyditot (see Darius Wey’s article, linked below, for more info), offers external resolutions up to SXGA (1280*1024), which, with current middle- to high-end (SXGA, SXGA+ or even UXGA) projectors, may be preferred. Also, as has already been pointed out, some of the built-in software in the Westtek suite is sub-par; for example, the PDF viewer is definitely worse than that of Adobe (CPU utilization bug aside.)

You can’t have the cable without the bundled Westtek suite. If you don’t need the latter (because, say, you prefer Nyditot or don’t want at all to display Office stuff), it may become a bit more expensive than the PC-Mobile cable, even if you take into account that Dell ships the cable free in all the three postage modes, while PC-Mobile ships the cable via air mail (if that’s OK with you) for $5 and, with BoxWave, standard shipping costs $9 even in the States.

BoxWave VGA Presentation Cable

The BoxWave VGA Presentation Cable is unique in that it’s the only cable to have a USB connector so that you can hook it up to a desktop computer to be synchronized and/or charged via USB. The latter may be handy sometimes but, in my opinion, because of the sometimes really limited charging capability of USB ports, an inferior solution to that of the two other cables, which accept a standard wall charger (with its greatly superior amperage output capabilities).



It also has another point to consider: it has a male VGA connector, as opposed to the other two cables. This means you must remove the VGA cable from your monitor if you want to display the picture of the x50v/x51v. Needless to say, this just won’t work with a lot of (even quality!) VGA monitors (unlike with all projectors); for example, the LG Flatron series. In these cases, you may end up having to buy a VGA cable extender/changer.

If the male VGA connector, the comparatively large (in-travel) size and the lack of a “traditional” charger socket aren’t a problem, I recommend it, particularly if you need synchronization capabilities and/or prefer recharging your Axim through a USB port, as opposed to a (travel) charger.

I also recommend this article on the cable.

PC-Mobile's PX50VA

This cable costs $29 + postage. The postage fee (also see this page) depends on whether you’d like to receive your cable by air mail ($5; it’s pretty slow and only works for under-$100 orders) or through EMS ($5 flat rate + a rate depending on the country; it’s $15 to the States and $20 to Western and some of Eastern Europe. With other countries, it’s more expensive.)



If you cast a glance at their, well, to put it mildly, sub-par homepage, you can (rightfully!) be afraid of the quality of their cables (as was I before actually receiving one of their cables – I was afraid of even inserting it in my, then, super-expensive Pocket Loox 720 because of the plain unprofessional homepage). Will they fry / damage your Axim, you may ask. Don’t be afraid. I’m a happy long-time user of PC-Mobile's PF7U1 (USB Host Cable with power input for Pocket Loox 7xx/N5xx) and I can state their products are durable and remain reliable on the long run as well.

I can only recommend this cable. If you don’t need USB synchronization capabilities and need the most bang for your bucks, go with it.

I highly recommend Darius Wey’s excellent review of the cable here. He also elaborates a lot on using Nyditot. Please note that the latest, 5.02 version of Nyditot supports the WM5 Dell Axim x51v as can also be seen in this screenshot taken on my x51v.

There is another review of the cable here.

Comparison chart

Sorry, because of the forum engine restrictions, can’t include – it’s available for example HERE.

Verdict

It’s all about personal preferences. If you’re in a country where Dell delivers the cable to, probably the easiest solution is the Dell Presentation Bundle. If you’re located elsewhere, you’re cost-conscious and would NOT prefer the BoxWave approach to cabling (male VGA out and USB as opposed to female VGA output and standard recharger socket), go for the PC-Mobile PX50VA with the cheap Air Mail postage mode. If you do need USB synching / charging, your only choice is the BoxWave cable, which also ships to anywhere in the world.

Recommended reading

Darius Wey’s review and tips

[Duke_Box]

Originally Posted by Menneisyys

I’d, personally, go with the PC-Mobile PX50VA cable because it has a recharger socket (as opposed to the no-charging solution of the Dell cable and the inferior USB recharging offered by the BoxWave cable)

You're wrong. The dell cable does have a charger socket, it's direct besides where the vga cable comes out of the connector. You can see it as a '8'-figure, one round is the cable, the other is the input plug.

So i have to disagree on your conclusion, in my opinion the original cable is better since it's cheaper and comes with dell warrenty.

edit:

abount the original dell cable;

it’s only available for US customers

Think i read over it, but that's not thrue either, if you call dell they can send it to you, without the clearvue suite it's 29€ + shipping and if you have an account manager you can get it probably for < 20€ incl. shipping. (I ordered 5 pieces fo only 70€ excl. tax)

it’s the thickest and shortest of all solutions, which may put a bit more strain on the socket of the Axim than the other solutions

I dont see this is a draw back.. thickest is only the vga cable that's comming out of the plug. The disadvantage is that it's nog so flexible, but the advantage is that you wont break any internal wires where the cable enters the plug.
Also that it's short is more an advantage, it's still small and portable and since mointors/beamers have there own cable i don't see why it should be longer (after all, the vga plug on your pc is also not extended with a cable).

[alexnvidia]

yeah, the dell vga output cable has power input socket for recharging. i own one n i think it's great. the only problem is that the cable is a little on the short side, but it should be ok, at least for me.

[Menneisyys]

Thanks for the correction; will fix it ASAP.

[gadgetnerd]

Yep, agree with them two. It doesn't really put strain on the connector, anyway. The Axim's connector is designed well enough to prevent this. The thickness is not neccesarily a bad thing; the westtek suite is crap, agreed; and the shortness of the cable is also not neccesarily a bad thing (chances are you'll need an extension cable anyway, and if you don't, then anything longer would not be good).

[MMXER]

It would of been nice if DELL created the X50/x51 with a tv type out. These solutions are for VGA screens ... What about for a standard TV?

[Menneisyys]

Originally Posted by MMXER

It would of been nice if DELL created the X50/x51 with a tv type out. These solutions are for VGA screens ... What about for a standard TV?

You must buy an external, rather expensive VGA -> TV converter. Unfortunately, there're a lot of issues involved in the signal conversion - simple cable-based solutions won't work. This is why, BTW, there are no composite / S-Video-out cables for the Axim.

[SolSie]

There is an alternative FREE solution posted HERE!
This is not for PowerPoint presentation, etc..But is is very practical to show your PocketPC to a large crown...You can project your laptop using LCD projector instead!

[Menneisyys]

Originally Posted by SolSie

There is an alternative FREE solution posted HERE!
This is not for PowerPoint presentation, etc..But is is very practical to show your PocketPC to a large crown...You can project your laptop using LCD projector instead!

BTW, did you read this, this and the old one here (the latter being more ActiveSync Remote Display-specific)?

[SolSie]

Originally Posted by Menneisyys

BTW, did you read this, this and the old one here (the latter being more ActiveSync Remote Display-specific)?

You're the MAN!
BTW, somebody pointed out this
Which does not require to install the client side (only the host PC side)...The date seems to be old..But .Net CF is required..Could you confirm?

[PocketBrain]

Oooo, a command shell.

If you don’t need USB synchronization capabilities and need the most band for your bucks, go with it.

Grammar-school police on the beat!

Menneisyys, do you know if anybody has made available a full breakout of the X5xV's connector? As in, all the USB, VGA, charger, serial port connection?


.

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[x51vuser2]

So DELL does not include that cable for $20 like Nokia does ? Please .....

Is there are Bluetooth to VGA adpater for that thing ?

[c1oudrs]

What I would like to do is use a Myvue personal media vewier with the axim. Alas, the media vewier appears to support only NTSC/PAL and not VGA out at this time. But imagine how cool it would be? I could have a large screen on glasses! Check it out here http://www.myvu.com/buzz.html But until we can get NTSC out, as near as I can tell the glasses won't work.

[firemann816]

Originally Posted by SolSie

There is an alternative FREE solution posted
HERE!

Worked great for me -
Wish'd cerdisp would get reworked to auto launch if wanted, and hide tray icon.

Thanks for the post - great for screen grabs!

[Menneisyys]

Originally Posted by x51vuser2

So DELL does not include that cable for $20 like Nokia does ? Please .....

Is there are Bluetooth to VGA adpater for that thing ?

There is - see my other, linked articles. It's very slow though.