Dell Axim
The Axim Family of personal digital assistants is Dell's line of Windows Mobile-powered Pocket PC Devices.
Background
The birth of the Dell Axim
Dell entered the personal digital assistant (PDA) market in 2002 with the debut of the Axim X5. The base-level Axim X5 boasted a 300 MHz Intel XScale PXA250 Processor, 32MB RAM, 32MB flash ROM, a Type II CompactFlash Slot, an SD/MMC Slot, a 16-Bit TFT display, speaker, microphone, Windows Mobile 2002 (that time called Pocket PC 2002), and a base price of $249 USD. A high-end Axim X5 came with a 400 MHz Intel XScale Processor, 64MB RAM, and 48MB flash ROM for only $349 USD. Although the Axim X5 was regarded as an affordable Windows Mobile Device at the time it was released, affordability came with a size penalty: The weight was 6.9 ounces and size was 5 x 3.2 x 0.7 inches. The Axim X5 came with a rechargeable battery that would last for about 8 hours.
The Dell Axim X5 was superseded by the Dell Axim X3, a follow up to the Dell Axim X5 boasting a more compact design and with lighter weight.
The Dell Axim X3 family
The X3 family were a follow-up to the Dell Axim X5 with a smaller size form-factor and lighter weight, including a high-end model with built-in Wi-Fi (the X3i). The high-end X3, the X3i, was the first Windows Mobile-based device with integrated wireless retailing at $400 or less.
The Dell Axim X30 family
The Dell Axim X30 was the first Pocket PC to include Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition. This was also the first Pocket PC to include the Intel XScale PXA270 Processors.
The High-End X30 includes a 624 MHz processor making it the fastest Personal Digital Assistant or PDA at the time it was made. The mid-level model includes everything the High-End X30 does with the exception of the cradle, and uses a 312 MHz PXA270 Processor instead. The features both the high-end and mid-level models had were built-in 802.11b Wi-Fi Certification, Bluetooth 1.1 compliance, 64MB of Intel StrataFlash ROM, and 64MB RAM. The entry-level model has 32MB SDRAM and 32MB Intel StrataFlash ROM, and no wireless capabilities. All X30 models include a standard SD/MMC/SDIO slot, replaceable/rechargeable battery, a 3.5" QVGA TFT 16-Bit color display, and Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition.
The high-end X30 costs $349.99. The mid-level X30 cost $279.99. The low-end X30 cost $199.99.
Dell discontinued sales of the mid-level and low-end X30s in July of 2005.
The Dell Axim X50 family
The Dell Axim X50 family is available in three models, and have the following features:
- 3.7" VGA LCD screen with 16-Bit Color and Portrait/Landscape Support (X50v only)
- 3.5" Quarter-VGA LCD screen with 16-Bit Color and Portrait/Landscape Support (X50 Low & Mid)
- Intel 2700G 3D accelerator & video decoder with 16 MB video RAM (X50v only)
- Dual Compact Flash & Secure Digital expansion slots
- Intel PXA270 Processor running at speeds from 416 MHz to 624 MHz
- Available Built-In 802.11b Wi-Fi Certification (X50 Mid & X50v only)
- Standard Built-In Bluetooth 1.2 Compliance
- Up to 128MB Intel StrataFlash ROM with 64MB on-handheld RAM
- Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition (Upgradeable to Windows Mobile 5.0)
The X50 low-end model uses an Intel XScale processor at 416 MHz, 64 MB flash ROM, and retails for $299 USD. The mid-range model has 128 MB of flash ROM, a 520 MHz processor, and is listed at $399. The high-end device, the X50v, has a VGA screen, 624 MHz processor, 128 MB flash ROM, and retails for $499.
The Dell Axim X51 family
The Dell Axim X51 (released late September 2005) is quoted as "the ultimate handheld device that delivers performance, connectivity and a brilliant VGA display at an affordable price." It features the same sleek design as the original X50, but replaces Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition with Windows Mobile 5 and also adds additional ROM. The current high-end model, the X51v, has the following features:
- Microsoft® Windows Mobile 5.0 software with Windows Media Player 10 Mobile
- Intel® XScale PXA270 Processor with speeds of 416MHz to 624 MHz
- 3.7" colour TFT VGA display with upto 640x480 resolution
- Intel® 2700G 3D multimedia accelerator with 16MB video RAM
- Built-In 802.11b (Wi-Fi) Certification and Bluetooth 1.2 Compliance
- 64MB SDRAM (equivalent to DDR RAM in a PC)
- Up to 256MB Intel Flash ROM (NAND) (eqivalent to Hard Disk in a PC)
- CompactFlash Slot with Type I and II support
- Secure Digital/SDIO Now!/MMC Support
- VGA-Out Support with optional VGA Presentation Bundle
- Removable Primary Battery (optional High Capacity Battery also available)
- 3.5mm Headphone/Headset Jack
- Built-in microphone and loud-speaker
- USB Cradle
The Dell Axim X51v retails for $458/£262 (dell.com)
Criticisms and concerns
Handheld aficionados centrally criticise the Dell Axim Family at the key areas:
- Longer-than-usual shipping times
- Price discrimination practices at certain locales
- Unimpressive technical support
A number of X30 users report that their PDA's screen turns white with colored stripes. Dell has no solution to this problem, besides an offer to buy a new Axim.
With the release of the X51V many users have reported a huge amount of problems from battery overheating, the battery losing charge while in standby, the device not powering on after standby, requiring a soft-reset, unstable wifi, the white screen of death (WSOD), synchronization problems, poor Bluetooth support including the absence of a headset profile, disappearing CF and SD cards, and more.
Many of these problems have been linked to the Axim's ActiveSync settings. A relatively simple fix is available and may resolve some or all of those problems.
Wifi support on devices with built-in 802.11b, such as the Axim X30, is problematic at best. The Dell Wifi client works with WEP, however many users on aximsite have reported that the only way to use WPA is with the Odyssey client, which Dell began including on later shipped versions.
Many have pointed their fingers at Dell, but this criticism is also shared by Microsoft for rushing the release of Windows Mobile 5.0, telling manufacturers to complete part of the operating system by themselves, and with regard to Bluetooth, Microsoft's extremely poor implementation of a Bluetooth stack. In response to all the problems, Dell has released ROM updates (Version A04 in late November, 2005, and Version A06 in early January, 2006). Users performing the upgrades have found that some of the problems have been resolved, however, the instructions for upgrade were misleading. It asked users to perform a backup of their data, only to find that the backup is incompatible for restoration after the ROM update. When challenged about the problem, Dell reads their policy to customers telling them that anything to do with data manipulation is not covered by their warranty or a problem within their responsibility to resolve. Many users report that receiving capable technical support from Dell on the Axim is extremely hit or miss.
Besides the three central criticisms, Dell has also been criticised for certain pricing errors with the X5 line of handhelds.