Dell Axim

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The Axim Family of personal digital assistants is Dell's line of Windows Mobile-powered Pocket PC Devices.

1 Background
2 See also
3 External links

[edit] Background

[edit] The Dell Axim X5 Family

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 (at 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The Dell Axim X5 was superseded by the Dell Axim X3, a follow up to the Dell Axim X5 boasting a more compact design and with lighter weight.

[edit] The Dell Axim X3 family

The X3 family were a follow-up to the Dell Axim X5 with a smaller size form-factor, lighter weight, and the first dell pocket PC with Windows Mobile 2003, 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.

[edit] The Dell Axim X30 family

Dell Axim X30

The Dell Axim X30 was the first Dell Pocket PC to include Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition on all models . 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 cost was $349.99. The mid-level X30 cost was $279.99. The low-end X30 cost was $199.99.

Dell discontinued sales of X30's in January 2006.

[edit] 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)
Built-In Compact Flash expansion slot
Built-In Secure Digital expansion slot
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 at the time of release. (The x50's going price on EBay is around 150 as of 12/2006.) In 2005 Dell Axim X50 series received Red Dot Design Award as a recognition for its design.

The latest ROM build for the Axim is A05 and is located at Support.Dell.com

[edit] The Dell Axim X51 family

Dell Axim X51v Pocket PC

The Dell Axim X51, released late September 2005, 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 Dell Axim X51 family is also available in three models, which have the following features:

3.7" VGA LCD screen with 16-Bit Color and Portrait/Landscape Support (X51v only)

3.7" VGA is around 2.22" x 2.96" = around 216.2162 pixels per inch

3.5" Quarter-VGA LCD screen with 16-Bit Color and Portrait/Landscape Support (X51 Low & Mid)
Intel 2700G 3D multimedia accelerator with 16MB video RAM (X51v only)
Built-In Compact Flash expansion slot
Built-In Secure Digital expansion slot
Available Built-In 802.11b Wi-Fi Certification (X51 Mid & X51v only)
Standard Built-In Bluetooth 1.2 Compliance
Up to 256MB Intel StrataFlash ROM with 64MB on-handheld RAM
Microsoft® Windows Mobile 5.0 software with Windows Media Player 10 Mobile

Currently, the low-end X51 has an Intel XScale processor running at 416MHZ, 128MB flash ROM, and has a list price of $299. The mid-range model also has 128MB flash ROM, a 520MHz processor, and retails for $399. The high-end X51v has a VGA screen, a 624MHz processor, 256MB flash ROM, and has a list price of $499(from dell.com). Overall the dell axim 51 series is top in its class and will please any potential buyer.

[edit] Criticisms and concerns

Handheld aficionados centrally criticise the Dell Axim family in a few key areas:

Longer-than-usual shipping times, has improved over the years
Price discrimination practices at certain locales
Unimpressive technical support

Along with these concerns, a number of problems have appeared during the lifespan of the Axim family.

A number of X30 users report that their PDA's screen turns white with colored stripes. Dell has no solution to this problem, suggesting that users instead buy a new unit.

With the release of the X51v many users reported problems with batteries overheating, the battery losing charge while in standby mode, the device not powering on after standby, unstable wi-fi, the "white screen of death" (WSOD), synchronization problems, poor Bluetooth support including the absence of a headset profile, disappearing CF and SD cards, false battery latch errors, and screen corruption similar in appearance to TV static.

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 another user concern. The unit's Dell Wifi driver works with WEP, however many users on Axim fansite Aximsite have reported that the only way to enabled WPA encryption is with the Odyssey driver, which Dell began including on later shipped versions.

Many have pointed their fingers at Dell, but this criticism should also be aimed at Microsoft and Windows Mobile 5.0. A rush release, it was incomplete and featured a poor implementation of the Bluetooth stack. In response to these complaints, Dell released Flash ROM updates for the affected units (Version A04 in late November, 2005; Version A06 in early January, 2006; and Version A12 in July, 2006). Users performing the upgrades have found that some of the problems have been resolved. While an improvement, many users were concerned by confusing upgrade instructions, often leading to data loss and Operating System failures. Dell maintains however that ROM upgrades are out of the scope of standard support, and has not provided help to these users. Currently Dell has not resolved the battery latch errors or screen corruption.