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Explaining Disappointing XScale Performance In Pocket PCs
JYD writes: "I found this new article on a Pocket PC web site where Microsoft talks about why XScale Pocket PCs aren't as fast as people thought they would be. Is it the OS? The CPU not supporting ARM4 properly? I wonder if the Linux port would run faster on 400 Mhz ... or did Intel screw up the CPU?"
The Amulet group has been working for year to make a low power yet high speed asynchronous ARM processors.
The Amulet 3 runs at 120 MHz and consumes very little power. Most of all its asynchronous so when you dont have mych processing to do it just sits there consuming "no" power.
They take a hell of a beating and still run. I connected one to a hamster wheel and you can see it here running despite the power fluctuating madly.
The only reason it only goes at 120MHz is because the memory isnt fast enough.
Its a little strange that only three ARM production lisences were given out. One to intel one to motorola and one to Amulet group.
Mouse powered Chips, Open source Processors and Lego
Umm... right, that's why my PocketPC 2000 Cassiopiea E115 is now as useful as a doorstop as it has a MIPS chip in it.
When I got my PocketPC, MS touted that 'software matters' - even in their publicity. Suddenly, they ditch all the SH3 and MIPS users and just support ARM in PocketPC 2002. Not only that, but applications like Terminal Services and Messenger they won't release for the older machines. I see a lot of people saying that this is becasue PocketPC 2002 is based on CE.NET - that's not correct. PocketPC 2002 is just another revamp of PocketPC 2000, which are both based on CE 3.0. So when it all boils down, it's just Microsoft playing marketing tricks. Net result of their decision - my £450 PDA became obsolete in 18 months.
I now own a Palm.
Well I found it and the performance is NOT 50-75 percent slower then an iPaq. From the numbers on pocketnow.com, the Toshiba e740 is actually ahead in most categories with exception of graphics. There's the real kicker. I don't think it's the Xscale so much as it's the ATI imageon graphics chip in it. This is also a new chip, and as the benchmarks prove, it's driver has a problem or so it would seem. I actually heard that it's kind of operating in a emulation mode of sorts (kind of like standard SVGA on a desktop). ATI should provide driver code to Toshiba and it can then be fixed in a flash. I have a e740 and love it so much. The Xscale is a nice chip and will indeed improve in peformance as it's flashed up, but in my book, the other features are worth more. The wireless works well, the dual slots are a godsend (WE DON'T NEED NO STEEEKIN SLED! ;) ) and the price is GREAT for what you get. All in all, I would buy another one or an updated one (like the Toshiba e550 coming out soon!). One thing I am looking for is the availability of the 3000 mah high cap battery. The standard is fine for day to day use, but when you use the wireless alot you hear a giant sukcing sound coming from the battery. The other accesory I would look for is the 99 buck adapter that goes on the bottom. You add that and you can attach a USB keyboard and also drive a SVGA monitor or a Projector with it and have your handheld run your Power Point stuff on the road.
Gorkman
No onslaught here.
:(
The Newton 2100 kicks ass. I used Palm and Windows CE before finally trying out a Newton 2x00 series. The Newton made me swoon.
It's the best damn computing device out there, PC, PDA, or otherwise. I used to do my e-mail, my diary-keeping, my word processing, etc. on my PC in Linux, but now I even write my books and do 90% of my e-mailing on my Newton 2100 directly over ethernet. I read news on it, make travel plans on it, I have my household inventory on it (in Notion)... and I read BBC World News and Slashdot on it in Newt's Cape.
The PC only gets touched every few days. The Palm and CE devices are long gone. I only regret that Apple killed the Newton, so there won't be a color version.
STOP . AMERICA . NOW