iPhone vs x50v/x51v

[JJ_Braddock]

First impressions, more later when I get back from work...

Screen ---------------------------

Iphone: 3.5in, 320x480

x51v: 3.7 in, 480x640

Winner -- Axim

Yes, Landscape may end up helping some, but I love the x51v's landscape mode. As much video as I currently watch, it would be hard to imagine settling for less resolution and a smaller screen.


Memory expansion -------------

iPhone: Only 4 and 8g models available, with no upgradable slots?

x51v: I have an 8gb CF and a 4gb SD that I can easily transfer to my PC's card reader and upgrade as the cards get bigger and cheaper.

Winner -- Axim

Battery ---------------------------

Iphone: 5 hrs talk/vid/browsing but **non-removable**?? wtf were they thinking??

x51v: 3+ hours doing anything I want with the standard battery, a lot longer playing mp3s with the screen turned off. I've never bothered with getting an extended bat, because I always have a charged standard battery with me just in case and it has been invaluable.

Winner -- Axim

Processor

Iphone: ?

x51v: Intel 624 MHzXscale

"Winner" -- Axim, only because with everything else, it's difficult to imagine the iphone being faster than the Axim here.


Oh sure the thing's a phone and browser, but tethered to a smaller 'real phone' and bluetooth headset, so is mine. I mean, who doesn't have a phone already? The browsing experience will no doubt be as good or better on the axe, and since putting an HBH-300 on my ear 2 or 3 years ago, I haven't looked back. Who even wants a device to play with in your hands when 90% of the time it's just the thing on my ear and the person I'm talking to? Had the iPhone had video calling capability I might have been even slightly interested, but "forward-thinking" Jobs didn't even have the forsight to include that

With the few things in this post and a lot more knocking around in my head, in my mind, the axim wins hands down. So this whole announcement, huge Apple stock surge, and overall buzz is frankly, much ado about not much. Call me back Steve, when you have something really worth trading my Axe in for. Until then, any geek worth his salt already has you one many times better -- and that's an x50v/51v custom-tailored, just the way they like it. Stop by here at aximsite and learn a little something if you are game. But since your friggin' device already looks a hellva lot like our axims, I guess you already have...

[Howard2k]

You seem pretty sure of yourself.


I'm going to go out on a limb and say that sales of the iPhone will absolutely spank sales of the Axim this year. Even if it's not released until June.

Just remember that what might be right for you may not be right for everyone.

[Martin]

Of course, in the US at least, the tie to Cingular may have an impact on the iPhone's initial sales potential.

But, were I a betting man, I would probably go with Howard's prediction: the iPhone will outsell the Axim. Substantially.

[radimus]

Hell, people will buy it just because it is an I____

[frenchie]

It's a really cool and I would love to get one, but if it becomes as common as the iPod then I'll be buying another Motorola feature phone!

[Howard2k]

I don't buy that at all Radimus.

Although the "I don't have an iPod, I don't understand an iPod, I don't want an iPod" crowd like to use the "sheep factor" a great deal, I think it's a bit of a reach to say that it has a significant impact on the sales.

Really, who knows someone who bought an iPod because it was an iPod? I don't. I know a bunch of people with iPods and they might have bought them because of the fantastic user experience of iTunes and iPod. Or because it's aesthetically pleasing. Or whatever. I've yet to meet someone with the sheep mentality.

Conversely - so many times, and it's been seen on this site all the time, the anti-iPod crowd tend to have no experience with the iPod at all. Or "their friend has one" etc. These are the guys that use the "sheep" cry, I think because that's all they have. There are people who have genuine reasons for not liking the iPod too. But typically they're more objective than the "sheep" callers.

[New2PDA]

You seem pretty sure of yourself.


I'm going to go out on a limb and say that sales of the iPhone will absolutely spank sales of the Axim this year. Even if it's not released until June.

Just remember that what might be right for you may not be right for everyone.

You may be right but but it's an iPod Both my sons have iPods now and personally, I can't stand the things. Too much hype and money. Can't stand the whole iTunes thing.
Everyone used to complain about M$ controlling the software market. Look what Apple is trying to do with iTunes

[Jumbie]

I think the iPhone (what we've seen of it so far) looks pretty cool but it absolutely disgusts me to read some of the posts I've seen on it (following the announcement on Engadget which is where I've been following CES 2007).

I am not anti-Apple or anything but people are such sheep that think Apple can do no wrong and this thing will be great just because it's made by said company. By the way, the whining about how much Cingular sucks and why Cingular and not X phone company is a whole other story. So is the "wow, this thing is so awesome I'm going to have to switch carriers".

Give me a break.

I have no doubts that this thing will sell well simply because it's an Apple product but, as has been mentioned on Engadget by several posters, Apple is entering an established market here and not "revolutionizing" anything like they did with the iPod and DAP market. They have to contend with some big boys. And the US is pretty far behind in the phone market compared to the Asian markets and Europe.

For myself, like the OP said (even though I think he's way too early in trying to compare anything and seems to have a bias IMO) I want a phone that does what it's supposed to do and does it well i.e. make and receive calls. I've been considering getting a smartphone for convenience but none of them (that I've seen) are as powerful as my x50v and they're all a hell of a lot bulkier than some of the slim phones available out there. Great for when I'm at work perhaps, but not so much if I want to go somewhere and not have a huge bulge in my pocket or something attached to my belt.

So I'll keep my separate devices that are all good at what they do:

Axim for a PDA
Meizu M6 for an audio player
[undetermined] for a phone (on the market for one)

PS I think if Apple takes this technology and makes it into an iPod (video iPod) they'll have a real winner on their hands with the touch screen, wifi, bluetooth, etc.

PPS Despite what anyone says about this new multi-touch touch screen (which Apple bought and did not invent), no tactile feedback on a phone is really going to suck. Oh and despite the thinness, the size isn't that great either. Too bulky for a pocket (for me anyway).

[dc2]

Im not a huge fan of iTunes, at least with my rAzr itunes version I couldn't install iTunes on different computers to transfer songs, iTunes could only be installed in 1 computer is that the same for regular iPods?

[stormloader]

My questions about the IPhone... Will its wifi be faster than the Axim's 802.11b speeds? Also, can it run similar programs that run well on the Axim, especially for us Non-Apple users who aren't familiar with Apple software? That kind of question may seem silly to an Apple expert, but I've never cared to use Apple computers after trying them out a few times using other people's computers.

I'm curious as to how the multitude of reviews come out in a few months.

[Howard2k]

Im not a huge fan of iTunes, at least with my rAzr itunes version I couldn't install iTunes on different computers to transfer songs, iTunes could only be installed in 1 computer is that the same for regular iPods?

There's no limit to where you install iTunes. But the iPod will only sync with one computer. I think that's what you're referring to.

[Howard2k]

My questions about the IPhone... Will its wifi be faster than the Axim's 802.11b speeds? Also, can it run similar programs that run well on the Axim, especially for us Non-Apple users who aren't familiar with Apple software? That kind of question may seem silly to an Apple expert, but I've never cared to use Apple computers after trying them out a few times using other people's computers.

I'm curious as to how the multitude of reviews come out in a few months.

It's 802.11g. So yes, substantially faster.

Nope, it won't run Windows Mobile software. I believe it'll need iPhone specific apps. Just like you can't run regular Windows apps on an Axim.

[Jumbie]

Although the "I don't have an iPod, I don't understand an iPod, I don't want an iPod" crowd like to use the "sheep factor" a great deal, I think it's a bit of a reach to say that it has a significant impact on the sales.

Disagree. I know a ton of people who associate iPod with audio player simply because they don't know what else is out there.

Really, who knows someone who bought an iPod because it was an iPod? I don't.

I do. My sister, a very intelligent health professional, simply loves Macs because they are Macs and are cute. Of course she owns an iPod nano.

When I was looking for a MP3 player, she told me I should get a nano too. I informed her that:

1. There are much better players out there in terms of quality and features (although the nano thinness was its biggest selling point to me).

2. I absolutely despise players that tie you to their own proprietary software. Even though there are 3rd party options out there e.g. yamipod, anapod explorer, media monkey, without using those it's not possible to get anything onto the iPod (and most people don't know to look; or care perhaps). In fact, you cannot even upgrade your iPod's firmware without installing iTunes and therefore Quicktime. Pah!! Oh yeah, forget about getting music OFF of your player...

She told me I should get one "because everyone has one". Umm, I love my sister dearly and she really is (except for her blind love of Macs and all things Apple) a very intelligent person but she went down in my estimation a tiny bit because of that statement.

And I know many more people just like that.

I know a bunch of people with iPods and they might have bought them because of the fantastic user experience of iTunes and iPod.

I'm not saying it's a bad experience but if they knew what else is out there, they might not like the iPod so much. There really is much better.

I've yet to meet someone with the sheep mentality.

I think most of us have though.

Conversely - so many times, and it's been seen on this site all the time, the anti-iPod crowd tend to have no experience with the iPod at all. Or "their friend has one" etc. These are the guys that use the "sheep" cry, I think because that's all they have. There are people who have genuine reasons for not liking the iPod too. But typically they're more objective than the "sheep" callers.

I have experience with iPods and iTunes because I manage my father's music for him. I cry sheep on iPod and Mac users because that has often been my experience with them.

Please go to Engadget or some similar site and read comments about the iPhone's release and how much Apple is revolutionizing everything when, in reality, about the only thing revolutionary about this device is perhaps its form factor/appearance. Touch screen's been done before (despite this multi-touch tech), Edge is crappy technology compared to HSPDA, 2x camera phone, MP3 player, etc. Nothing new at all...

[Jumbie]

But the iPod will only sync with one computer. I think that's what you're referring to.

Which is retarded. My sister was home for Christmas and wanted to transfer some of the songs from her iPod onto my parents' desktop in order to make a CD for my mother.

Of course, impossible. I ran Yamipod which I thought would let us do it but then another roadblock - her iPod was formatted for her Mac and not visible on my XP Pro computer.

My Meizu, on the other hand, is a UMS device. Plug it into a USB port and drag and drop to your heart's content.

[dvmed]

Why do some people become defensive when a new product like this comes (or about to come) out of the market? Is it because some people already invested so much (software/hardware) with their Axim? Is it because they love the Axim so much that everything else is inappropriate? Is it because they think that pocket pc's are dying because of this? Or is it because they are full of themselves to think that only their opinion matters.

So what if this product is successful? If people are happy with it, that's the only thing that matters. If you don't like it, you don't have to buy it. If the pocket pc market is going to die, no smear campaign is going to save it. If the iPhone becomes successful, no matter how much you disagree with it, you cannot do anything about it.

I'm seriously doubting the purpose of this thread. The way it was constructed makes me think that it's intention is to start a flame war between the two products. And people are biting. There's not a hint of objectivity in it. The mere fact that the OP just considered the advantages of the Axim, then declaring the Axim as the winner, shows the OP's intentions. Why does his review have to come in two parts? Why not post the whole pros and cons thing all at once?

Just like what Howard2K said, what might be right for you might not be right for everyone.