ViewSonic recently entered the low-end Pocket PC market with its new V35, a 4.3 ounce, 300 MHz bantamweight with a simple but attractive design. The new device should give entry-level users more to choose from and help drive Pocket PC prices down further.
The Viewsonic v35 uses a less-expensive version of Intel’s PXA 250 processor
with XScale technology, but the performance of the 300MHz processor is still
snappy. The v35 comes with a substantial 64 MB of internal RAM memory, but only
36.45 MB of it is available to the user. Built-in programs are stored in 32 MB
of flash ROM, 5.2 MB of which is accessible to the user. You can use this “flash
disk” to store data, back up data, and install programs. And because it’s flash
ROM, you don’t have to worry about losing the files if your batteries run out.
The V35 has a nice 65 K color screen with good backlighting. It was very easy to read indoors with the backlighting on, and readable enough outdoors in direct sunlight.
The V35 weighs 4.3 ounces and feels incredibly light. You can easily carry this in a coat pocket, a purse, or even a shirt pocket. Just be careful not to let the smooth plastic case slip out of your shirt pocket if you bend over.
The device has the usual set of application launch buttons and a navigation pad below the screen. The voice record button and a "jog wheel" are on the left edge of the device. Voice record lets you record voice memos on the fly. The jog wheel enables one-handed use, allowing you to move up and down through menus or lists and to select items by pressing in on it.
The V35 has one Secure Digital I/O expansion slot. The "I/O" means that this slot will support the input/output cards soon to be available in the SD format. These will include modems, Bluetooth transceivers, 802.11b radios, digital cameras, and more. The card slot can also accept SD file storage cards, which are available in capacities up to 512 MB.
According to company specs, the V35 has a rather basic line of accessories. In addition to the USB data cradle and AC power adapter that come with the device, you will be able to purchase a foldable keyboard, screen protectors, replacement styli, a sync cable, and a travel kit (sync cable and power adapter).
Software and ClearVue suite
The ViewSonic V35 comes with the Microsoft Pocket PC 2002 operating system and
applications built in, including Pocket Outlook, Word, Excel, Internet Explorer,
MS Reader, Media Player, and more. Also included is a CD with a number of other
Microsoft applications, including ActiveSync, a desktop PC synchronization
program that lets your Pocket PC exchange data with your PC. (A description of
the Microsoft software that comes on every Pocket PC is available at
www.PocketPCmag.com/bg2003/MS_software.asp.)
Two additional utilities are built into the V35. Smart Battery, accessed in the Settings folder, lets you adjust the speed of the CPU. The Low Performance option uses a slower CPU speed, but improves battery life. High Performance does the opposite. There is an Auto option that lets the V35 select the appropriate CPU speed for the current application.
EBackup, a file backup utility located in the Programs folder, lets you back up PIM data and installed programs onto an SD card (Screen 1). You can back up everything found in RAM, or just specific data or files. The same application lets you restore all or selected parts of your backed up data.
Screen 1: The eBackup program lets you back up data to, and restore it from an SD storage card.
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