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Review of the new Dell Axim X50s
bargainPDA writes "We have posted an in depth review of the new Dell Axim X50 line which includes three PDAs. The high end X50v features a 3.7" VGA display, CF and SD slots and dual wireless. Dell has done well to beat HP at almost every level and looks good considering palmOne's Tungsten T5 snafus. "
Actually that's a question to which the answer is interesting.
If you were thinking about running linux on your ppc, it's a good idea not to buy this. Dell hasn't released information about the hardware to make Linux on it feasable.
Etiquette is etiquette. He kills his mother but he can't wear grey trousers.
That hasn't stopped various hackers from getting a demo working for the X5. If enough people are interested in these models, the hardware will be reverse-engineered and Linux ported.
--- Hot Shot City is particularly good.
The question, "Does it run free software?" is not a joke, it's important to me.
As far as PalmOS devices go, the answer is yes. The PRC-Tools toolchain is all GPL and can take full advantage of PalmOS. Honestly, Palm has decently embraced open source while not actually using Linux on their devices. On the other hand, I'm not familiar with any way to get an app onto an Axim without using a Microsoft compiler. That is until they get Linux running on them and as quickly as the Axim target is moving, I wouldn't hold your breath.
LilMikey.com... I'll stop doing it when you sto
Another problem is that most Li-Ion cells are only good for a couple of hundred recharge cycles. Unless you are into MP3 from your PDA, you may not need to charge everyday.
The problem is that a device that fails after just two-hundred working days isn't very useful, even if the battery is easily replaced.
Actually, Li-Ion cells don't really suffer too much damage from discharge-charge cycles (as long as you keep them partially charged all the time). Full discharge/charge cycles are bad on Li-Ion cells, though.
*HOWEVER*, Li-Ion cells do age. For every day that the Li-Ion cell "lives" since the date it was put together by the battery factory, it wears out. They wear out faster if they're fully discharged (not significantly, though). So they'll last around 3-5 years since their manufacture. (Thus, buying spare batteries now to combat the effects of aging in the future is futile - i.e., a waste of money unless you need it now). Especially something to consider when buying refurbed items since the battery may have aged into significant loss of capacity while the device sat on the shelf.