Customer Reviews

Dell Axim X5 400 MHz Pocket PC

5 star:		(41)
4 star:		(13)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

I bought a Dell Axim after owning a Palm Vx for two years. I shopped around a lot, especially comparing the differences between the Palm OS and Pocket PC OS. I knew I wanted a color screen. The ability to play songs through headphones and 802.11b Wi-fi connectivity would be pluses.

I bought the Axim because it is the best PDA option right now. The color and design of the Axim and cradle are beautiful. I was glad to learn that I can input text in four ways: with the on-screen keyboard, by writing regular print letters, by writing Graffiti letters (perfect for old Palm users like me), or with a special transcriber that lets you write anywhere on the screen and then converts your handwriting to text (and it works fairly well.)

Another big selling point for me was the Compact Flash slot, which allows me to add hardware peripherals. I already ordered a Linksys 802.11b Wi-fi card so I can get on the Internet at home and on campus, and the Axim and Linksys card together will be much less expensive than the Toshiba e740 or any other wireless PDA. The Axim also has a Secure Digital memory card slot like most other PDA's.

I can sync my Outlook contacts, calendar, tasks, memos, and e-mail inbox, plus Microsoft Money. When the Wi-fi card arrives, I won't even need to put the Axim in its cradle to synchronize; I'll be able to synchronize over the wireless network. I have also installed Adobe Acrobat reader and an e-book reader.

I'm thinking about making my next computer a Mac, so I was glad to find out that there is third-party software to synchronize a Pocket PC with a Mac (pocketmac.net).

I don't like the feel of the Axim's buttons. The circular dial-pad seems flimsy and just doesn't "click" well. The scroll button on the left side of the Axim is also flimsy. The record button is kind of small.

I have never liked Microsoft Outlook, but in anticipation of the arrival of the Axim, I have been using it for the past couple weeks just hoping that I could bear it once my PDA arrived. In my opinion, Outlook is too complicated and its Pocket PC counterparts are too simple. For instance, on the Pocket PC you can't add all-day appointments to your calendar - you have to do it on the PC and then synchronize. Also, you can only sort your task list by one attribute (date, or priority, etc.) instead of two (date then priority, or category then date, etc.) like on a Palm. You can't filter the task list to show only the tasks due today. (To Pocket PC's credit, you can classify each task with more than one category.) You can't mark memos as private.

The Pocket PC also brings with it some headaches we often associate with Microsoft products: the bloat of numerous operating system files, and occasional error messages like "such-and-such program is not responding...." I never saw any of that on my Palm.

Palm products are superior in the PIM (Personal Information Management) department. I will miss Palm's calendar, contacts, to-dos, and memos. However, since I was in the market for a PDA and I wanted "multimedia" functions, the price difference between the Axim and the Palm Tungsten steered me towards the former. And Pocket PC's really are ready for multimedia right out of the box. Finally, the Axim's Compact Flash slot put it above all the other Pocket PCs for me.

I'll be delighted if I can find a good, third-party PIM software package. Further, the idea of being able to add, for instance, a GPS card and track my current geographical position on a map, or any other useful Compact Flash card, makes me glad I bought the Axim. In the meantime, I'll have plenty of fun with what I've got.

I finally got my Axim X5 from Dell recently and I simply love the thing. It met and surpassed every expectation I had. The price is incredibly low, and there's almost no trade off what so ever from devices twice the price. It's an incredible deal. The size doesn't bother me one bit, and it fits very well in my jacket pocket.

The Dell runs just about anything I can throw at it, and it does it at an incredible speed. Having used only a Jornada 525 previously, I'm amazed at the 400mhz Xscale. Pocket TV plays video so smooth it's plain incredible. Video easily plays 3x faster than my Jornada. Games run fast and smooth, not even a hint of frame skip. The buttons are responsive, easy to use, and support multiple presses at once. This is wonderful, as so many in the past have failed to listen to what gamers really want. Dell listened, and they did it right.

The screen is bright and clear, not a hint of anything less than perfection. Using headphones, the sound is loud and completely static free. It could easily replace my Nomad II MP3 player if need be. Too many people whine about the size... get over it. If you want an ultra thin device, this isn't for you. So simply move on and go whine to someone else. I myself am just fine with the Dell's size, it's price and specs more than make up for it. Anyone willing to pay more to get much less is missing something in my book. Size can be important, sure, but only to a point. The Dell is no bigger than the high end Ipaqs and is in fact much smaller than an Ipaq with a CF sleeve. What more could you possibly ask for.

Basically the Axim will run just about the same as any other 400mhz Xscale out there, which will run just about the same as any 300mhz Xscale out there, both of which will probably run about the same as any 200mhz ARM out there... which all means you're not gonna notice a big difference in anything at all. Some programs will run better than others, it's a case by case thing. The vast majority will run 98% the same.

Now, to really notice a difference you'd have to be doing like me... going from a 133mhz Jornada 525 to a 400mhz Axim. There's a nice speed boost for ya. I've went from 6 fps on Pocket TV to 24 fps. From 2-3 fps on large video with no landscape support, to 18 fps full screen landscape. I'm sure with time and tweaking I'll have that at 24 easily.

See, the big joy of the Axim is what it offers that so many others don't. Dual slots are a wonderful thing to people like me. The screen is lovely. The sound is crisp. They come with a 1yr VERY fast replacement warranty. That's unreal. Incredibly long battery power, longer life ones to come, replaceable battery, spare charging slot, coolest sync cradle ever... the list is huge. Toss in $... worth of free software in the form of the top selling Rosco Picture Viewer and IA Presenter (PowerPoint viwer). All for a price that's half of what the Ipaq owners paid.

I simply love my Axim. I admit, I don't do much mobile computing and I would never make full use of a laptop. I'm simply never far enough away from a desktop computer to need a laptop. The Axim however, fits the need perfect. I've got a small device to store every bit of information I could ever need, and it's completely portable. It doesn't replace a PC, it enhances it. I can do things with my Pocket PC I would have an incredibly hard time doing with even the smallest of notebook computers.

A typical usage of the Pocket PC for me is while waiting in lines, or just waiting in general. I've got several amazingly fun games stored to play, ebooks to read, music to listen to, websites to read (news, weather, tech, stocks), and much more. I also use it to keep track of all my tasks, appointments, assignments, notes, and alarms. The Dell comes with Rosco Picture Viewer, so I store photos of friends and family. (I'm not the type to carry pictures in his wallet) I also carry my entire art gallery. Sometimes I use it to reflect, sometimes to use as reference, sometimes to show. For whatever reasons, it's there when I need it.

Basically Pocket PC's have filled a deep need in my day to day life for mobile information. I always longed for a laptop, but now that I've used Pocket PC's I no longer believe I need one. I love Pocket PC's and the Dell is by far the best one I've owned, and in my opinion, the best deal on the market today without question.

- Rirath_com

Before you buy the Dell Axim PocketPC, be sure to ask the seller what operating system it runs and what ROM version it has. Avoid getting one that runs Windows Mobile 2003 OS and has a ROM version of A04, which, according to many users including myself, is a defective configuration that causes tremendous slowdown. If you get one with WM2003, be sure it has a ROM version of A05, which is the fix Dell provided in Sept '03 to eliminate the slowdown. If you still want to buy a WM2003 A04 unit, be sure to contact Dell to send you a ROM update to A05 on CD (you can only get this update from the CD, and not via download). Dell also automatically sends this CD update to those who bought an A04 unit. So, ask your seller if he or she already got this CD from Dell. Of course, you can always order a new Axim directly from Dell, because as of now, Dell is only shipping the fixed, WM2003 A05 units.

After updating to A05 ROM, everything runs faster on the Axim. Programs like MS Reader and certain games like Hexacto's Bounty Hunter Pinball, which ran very sluggishly with A04 ROM, are much faster and much more usable. Browsing in File Explorer and contact list also no longer takes an eternity.

PocketPCs have become increasingly versatile the last few years. They are no longer just electronic address and appointment books, but devices that can run a variety of add-on software -- book readers, music players, video players, networking utilities, web browsers, GPS viewers, database viewers, etc. Their biggest advantage AND disadvantage, however, is their small size. Although much easier to carry than laptop PCs, their small screen size sometimes makes it difficult to view or to key in material. The miniature batteries that they use also are unable to generate long-lasting power. The Dell Axim PocketPC, which has one of the better battery packs, only can offer about 8 hours of continuous use. It uses significantly more power while running Wi-Fi or multimedia applications. It also uses a little bit of power while turned off in order to retain memory content. If the power runs out, all your data will be lost.

One inconvenience in WM2003 is that, to check battery status, you have to tap the screen a few times to go into the Power Settings screen. Some third-party utilities show you an on-screen battery indicator. You can also use the Dell "Switcher Bar" utility, pre-installed on the Axim, to quickly switch to the Power Settings screen.

The Dell Axim 400 MHz PocketPC and the cheaper, earlier 200 MHz model are the only two PocketPCs Dell has made, but they have surged in popularity because of their low prices. The Axim 400MHz has an admittedly "bare" configuration out of the box. It does not come with Wi-Fi nor Bluetooth connectivity, and includes only a few full-version software titles: Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, MS Reader, Internet Explorer, Pocket MSN, Windows Media 9, a terminal service client, a picture viewer, and a few simple games.

The Dell Axim runs on a rechargeable and detachable main and backup batteries. The included cradle is able to simultaneously recharge the Axim and another battery (if you ever decide to buy another battery pack). You can also recharge the Axim with the included DC power cable.

The cradle is also used for transferring and/or synchronizing data between the Axim and your desktop PC. You need to install the provided ActiveSync 3.7 and Outlook 2002. ActiveSync 3.7 is required for WM2003, and it can be downloaded on the Microsoft web site. It allows you to view the content inside the Axim in an Explorer view, lets you drag and drop files to or from it, and lets you synchronize content between Outlook and the PocketPC. Outlook 2002, the desktop personal organizer software, is a commercial product and cannot be downloaded on the web. And it needs to be activated to be used, and cannot be re-activated on the same PC without contacting Microsoft. If you buy the Axim from a seller, make sure he or she hasn't already activated it.

The Dell Axim is rather heftly. It weighs about 7 ounces, and almost 3/4 inch thick. So it may be difficult to put it in your shirt pocket or in your trousers.

Regarding the brightness of the Axim's color screen, in an office with strong fluorescent light sources, it is barely adequate, in my opinion, even at the highest brightness setting. Under direct sunlight, it is nearly impossible to see. If you use the Axim outdoors a lot, this may be a problem. The screen looks best under incandescent lights or low-light conditions. (Those who have used old Palm devices with monochrome displays will find this amusing: monochrome displays look best under bright lights and worst in low-light conditions, and color displays are just the reverse.)

To make data entry easier, the Axim includes hand-writing recognition ability and Graffiti recognition for former Palm users. You can also use the on-screen qwerty-style keyboard. A stylus is also included.

If you use the stylus to poke and scratch on the screen a lot, consider getting a screen protector. The screen is a vital and fragile part of the Axim or any PocketPC and is prone to damage. You can buy professionally-made screen protectors, or you can make your own like I do -- I use an Avery transparent laminate and slide it into the little openings at the edges of the screen.

The Axim has a built-in clock and alarm, but one annoyance is that the alarm doesn't always ring, even after the A05 ROM fix. This is reportedly a bug in WM2003 (i.e. a Microsoft problem). However, I found a freeware alarm called "StopTime" that does the job nicely.

I bought an Axim 5 performance 2 months ago, about when they were first available. It replaced another pocket pc (I won't name the brand, but they are listed as a cutting edge maufacturer.)
It arrived in a large unmarked brown box with everything packed inside in smaller boxes. I also ordered the High Capacity battery with it, which proved to be unnecessary (I should have just got the extra regular capacity battery at no cost, as the battery life is phenomeninal.) I gave it it's first charge, and since I had Active Sync 3.6 already installed, I hooked her up. Problem number 1: no connection. Had to delete partnership and establish new partnership.
With everything sync'ed, I tried her out. Good form factor: the Axim has a rep as a "brick" but I thought it had a good hand fit (I didn't really want the smallest pda on the block anyway, I wanted something a little more substantial.) It has rubber grips on either side of a silver colored case that feels like metal. Large well-lit TFT screen (not quite as bright as an IPaq's, but then what is?) the regulation program buttons and a D-pad. The D-pad was kind of mushy but it worked pretty well anyway. The speaker is off to the right and covered by a metal grill. I have used it now for 2 months at work and home (I'm a pharmacist and have 2 drug databases loaded and I'm an avid reader of eBooks, having purchased over 260 titles at Fictionwise.com) it has proved to be a rock-solid performer and I have had to soft reset just 2-3 times in those 2 months. I had to hard rest once, because I use a stong alpha-numeric password that I forgot once. The hard reset is the only way to clear the unit if you forget your password.
The Axim performance uses the Intel XScale processor with stepped tech to raise or lower processor speed according to use.
This conserves battery power. I leave mine at 200mh most of the time, increasing to 400mh if playing a game or two. Usually I just leave it in automatic mode which adjusts the processor speed accordingly.
The mushy D-pad has a fix which I just downloaded from Dell's site. It is a rom upgrade (incredibally easy to implement) which also allows further refinements on the adjustment of processor speed and speeds up the power on function and the battery light.
I am something of a pda geek having owned 3 palms and 2 pocket pc's and can say that this is one of the best I've ever owned. I read reviews on new products constantly and haven't found anything that offers the same features and performance for this price, even on reviews of items that were rated much higher.

If you compare the Dell Axim to other Pocket PCs and as well as to the entire handheld market, you will find that nothing else can top it. I bought my Axim X5 400mhz a couple of months ago and still have yet to wipe the grin off my face whenever I use it or even think of using it. Here are some things you can do if you have one:

1. Organize your life. The calendar, tasks, and email program as well as supplemental programs you can find for FREE on the Internet keep you on track whether you're a business person or a student (like me!). I have entered my class schedule into my Axim and it lists which classes and the times I have to take them every day (Pocket PC 2002 is smart enough to let you repeat items. For example, you can tell indicate that you have Roman Civilization every Tues. and Thurs. from 2:00-3:30PM from April 1st to June 10, and it will mark your calendar for you and remind you on each occurance if you'd like).

2. Entertainment. Buy a Secure Digital or Compact Flash card and you've got a working entertainment system. With the help of a program called Pocket MVP as well as the standard Pocket Windows Media Player, I have been able to listen to MP3s and watch Divx/AVI movies and trailers on my Axim. There are also many, many Pocket PC games you can buy online and many you can find for free.

3. Surf the Internet. Buy a wireless compact flash card (and you can find these for really cheap prices if you look for deals online) and find a wireless portal or use your home wireless router to do everything online that you can do on a PC. You can also download instant message programs to chat and IM with other people online.

The Axim lets you do this and more. It looks stylish and is a great toy and tool that you won't get tired of.

The Dell Axim is one of the best deals for a Pocket PC I have seen in a long time. Not only is this Pocket PC powerfull, but it has two expansion slots which you can use for memory and accessories. The screen colors are brilliant, and I feel this is one of the best Pocket PCs on the market. The only downfall that this Pocket PC does have is that it is slightly large. However, it's rival Compaq which has the same specs (no Secure Digital/MultiMediaCard slot) is the same size, but nearly twice the price. So if you are going to be buying a Pocket PC, I think Dell is the way to go.

Some people complain about the size of the Dell Axim, well i have had no problems with the size of it, and it is very close in size to the high-end Toshiba Pocket PCs. The only problem i have had with mine is that when i put the axim in its case, it is too large to put in my pocket. I love the fact that it comes standard with a very large capacity battery, and also has a compact flash slot, which the similarly priced Ipaq lacks. The Dell Axim's screen is also conciderably larger than the iPaq, and looks stunning because of the powerfull backlight. The Axim looks great even when its off, it is very easy to hold, and the rubber grips keep it in your hands rather than on the ground broken. Before i got the Axim, i was concidering buying the high capacity battery, but after i began using the Axim, i realized the battery lasts much longer than i expected. The speaker on the Axim is very sensitive, with the volume all the way up, it can be VERY loud, but since it is only mono and not the best quality you might hear some distortion. If you have a wireless network, i highly reccomend the Netgear MA701 Compact Flash 802.11b wireless card. It opens the door to the Axim, allowing you to access any website, use AOL Instant messenger etc.. If you use AIM, download the AIM for Pocket PC from the UK AOL site, on the USA one u have to pay for it.

To start out, the Dell Axim X 5 is fantastic! 90% of the negative reviews for it have to be from people who shouldn't have gotten a pocket pc in the first place. I ordered my X5 on a Thursday, and received it the following Tuesday with regular ground shipping. After charging it for the required four hours before turning it on, I had it up and running and synced with my desktop without any problems. I've been using it for a week now and am loving it.
The display is bright and easy to read, the battery life is everything it's supposed to be and I've been perfectly happy with the included software. I'm actually writing this review on my X5 using pocket word!
The touchscreen feels sturdy, yet requires only a gentle tap to make an entry. I find the screen easy to look at, and usually keep the brightness level set at 50%. In direct sunlight the colors on the screen do appear washed out though.
I can't say whether or not Dell customer service is any good or not, but then I don't know that I've ever had a good experience with any companies customer service. I was impressed with how quickly I received my ppc, and how quick and easy it was to start working with it.
I've run several high-end multimedia programs on it without any hitches, and highly recommend downloading the free divxmvp program for running videos.
In CNET's review, they complained about the protector case which comes with it being too large to fit in your pocket. The thing is, it's not made to be put in your pocket while in the case, it's a hip case with a sturdy, removable belt clip that holds my Axim securely and protects it from even moderate bumps, as I'm an engineer who has to do a lot of climbing in and around a lot of equipment.
The X5's shape makes it a pleasure to hold, being slightly tapered at the bottom makes it feel more natural in my hand than a unit which is completely squared off. The rubber grips along the sides of the unit makes it feel very secure while holding it.
On the downside though, I can say that the X5's navigator button is mushy as others have reported, making it nearly useless for gaming. The sound quality from the single speaker on the face of the unit is only adequate, but what can you expect from a mono speaker? The unit does include a standard 1/4 inch stereo headphone jack which provides excellent sound even with a pair of cheap headphones.
The record button on the left side of the Axim is very tiny, and has to be pushed in with the corner of my thumbnail, which is very hard to do, especially while moving or driving. I suppose on the plus side it does make it virtually impossible to accidentally press the record button.
I've found it a little difficult to slip the unit into the syncing/charging cradle, the receptacle on the bottom of the unit doesn't quite line up as well as it should with it's male counterpart in the cradle, making me nervous that I could accidentally damage it.
The included documentation, while adequate does seem sparse, mostly consisting of warnings about what not to do with the unit. More tips about what could be done with it would have been nice.
Overall though, the X5 is a great value for the price, which was $269 including shipping and handling direct from Dell. I wouldn't get rid of it for anything and can't wait to start getting some of the great accessories available for it. I highly recommend this pocket-pc to anyone in search of powerful windows computing in a compact package.

I forever shopped for a pocket PC. Never owned a palm, all I knew was that I wanted a color pocket PC. The price originally won me over compared against the IPAQ. However, with the advent of the HP IPAQ 1910 at [amount], the same price of the AXIM after rebate, I was torn. The IPAQ is incredibly small and light and has a slightly larger screen. However the process is half of the Dell and the battery life is not great from what I have read. I realize the Dell in larger in size, but I really had nothing to compare it to. The HP is so small that I am sure I would drop it. The HP also has less with it. For roughly the same price, the Dell is fully loaded with software, comes with a case, and includes a very slick and modern docking station. I even bought the extra battery just in case but that ended up being a waste money since battery life is so good!

I am very happy with this product as a new user. Overall design, price and performance cannot be beat. Enjoy!

The Dell Axim X5 Advanced is my first PDA. I researched PDAs for months before buying the X5. I've had it now for 2 months and I don't know how I ever lived without it.

Reasons I picked the Axim X5 Advanced:

1. The X5 comes with the Intel xscale 400mhz PXA255 processor. Play anything, Do anything.

2. The X5 advanced comes with 48mb rom. Most PDAs have 32mb roms. When the next version of PocketPC comes out your rom size will play a big part in if you can upgrade or not.

3. The X5 has both a CompactFlash slot and a Secure Digital slot. You can do a ton of stuff with a PDA with these two slots. See below for a list of stuff I do with mine!

4. The price. Nothing else on the market comes close to offering what Dell offers for the price.

Now let me tell you about the cons, just to be fair:

1. Dell customer service. Currently Dell customer service is routed to India. It very hard to understand the support people and that's a very bad thing when your trying to troubleshoot a problem that is preventing your PDA from working correctly. They have other issues as well, like when you do speak to someone that you can understand and they seem really helpful they don't always do what they agreed to do when they talked to you on the phone. Then when you call back no one seems to know anything about the one and a half hours you just spent on the phone last time.

2. The joystick type button is worthless for gaming. HOWEVER, I very much enjoy gaming on my Axim. You just can't play games that totally depend on the joystick button. See below for games I'm playing that work great on the Axim.

3. The speaker shouldn't even be included. It's really bad. HOWEVER, you do get a great sterio headphone jack. See below for how I use it!

Now on to all the stuff I use my Axim X5 Advanced for:

1. Gaming. I'm currently playing Everquest for the PocketPC which plays wonderfully on the X5. I'm also playing Age of Empires which also plays perfectly.

2. Wireless. I have a CompactFlash WiFi wireless card that I use to connect to the internet via my X5!

3. GPS. I have a CompactFlash GPS device I use with my Car mount to get around. All the maps are stored on the SD memory card since the GPS is taking up the CompactFlash slot.

4. Movies. I convert DVDs I have at home to work on my X5. Then I just put them on CompactFlash memory cards and play them at will.

5. MP3. The speaker on the X5 sucks but with headphones it rocks!

6. Money Management. I keep overdrafting my checking account because I refuse to update or carry my check book around with me. Microsoft offers Money 2004 for the PDA for free!

7. Alarms. I setup alarms for everything I want to remember.

8. Reading. I use my X5 to read ebooks which on a trip or bored.

9. Great community. There are some great places to get help with your Axim X5. wwww.aximsite.com has over 30K users and www.aximusers.com isn't so bad either. Searching around one of these two websites when having an issue or question with your X5 will normally leave you with the answers!

I could go on and on with this list! If you get the X5 I'm 100% positive you'll be happy with it!

Oh, and I gave the X5 5 stars based on the X5 itself, not Dell's support.