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Fujitsu Pocket LOOX

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Pocket PC handhelds featuring Intel’s new XScale processor are now starting to surface, and Fujitsu’s Pocket LOOX is among the first wave. The Pocket LOOX is innovative in the choice of processor, but springs a few other surprises too.

The Pocket LOOX uses Intel’s PXA250 processor running at 400MHz. This is the top end as far as XScale is concerned, with Intel’s other chip in the range, the PXA210 (designed for cell phones and a step beneath the current StrongARM range), capable of 133MHz and 200MHz. One of the promises for the PXA250 is that its on-board LCD and expansion controllers will help to minimize power consumption, as will its ability to slow down when less processing power is required. Another potential benefit is that the chip’s power will open up new usage possibilities--the PXA250 can be up to 60 percent faster than the current generation of StrongARM processors.

The speed gains are currently something of an academic issue. We certainly didn’t notice any performance boost from the Pocket LOOX--an observation that’s consistent with previews of early XScale devices. Microsoft and Intel have both expressed views on the new chip, the former saying that it doesn’t currently intend to optimize the Pocket PC operating system for it, and the latter encouraging software developers to rework their offerings. Whatever the outcome, it may be a while before users see much benefit in terms of faster applications. Battery gains don’t seem phenomenal either--Fujitsu quotes up to 10 hours of usage between charges, which is not significantly better than the current generation of Pocket PC devices. You can add an optional second Lithium-polymer battery, however.

On other fronts, the Pocket LOOX is something of a mixed bag. The device can potentially be a converged handheld/cell phone combo, but it isn’t connectable out of the box. Instead, you’ll have to buy an add-on module that will enable GPRS and GSM connectivity--and this is scheduled for release by the end of the year. Our review sample was running Pocket PC 2002, but we understand that once the GPRS module is available, the Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition will be installed on all units sold. This is a real boon, as the Phone Edition of the operating system has a separate dialer application as well as a range of features that integrate communications capabilities with Pocket PC applications.

Elsewhere, Bluetooth is integrated, which opens up the possibility of wireless connectivity in the office or within a public-access ‘hot-spot’. You could also opt to use a Bluetooth-enabled mobile phone for wide-area connectivity rather than the add-on module. Wi-Fi, if preferred, can be added via the Pocket LOOX’s Type II CompactFlash slot. There’s also an SD/MMC slot, which allows you to augment the device’s 64MB of RAM without sacrificing your Wi-Fi connection or other hardware expansion module. Type II CompactFlash support means that IBM Microdrives--currently available in capacities up to 1GB--can be used with the Pocket LOOX.

The display is a transflective TFT touch-screen with the usual 240 by 320-pixel resolution and 16-bit color depth. There is a built-in light sensor that dims or increases the backlight depending on the ambient light conditions, which works well.

As far as hardware design is concerned, the casing is reasonably neat, but it lacks the sleek appearance of devices like the xda and Toshiba’s e740. We definitely don’t like the spring loaded stylus slot--springs have a habit of breaking after a while, whereas a simple push-in/pull-out stylus slot is consistently reliable. There is a thumb-operable scroll button, a Bluetooth on-off switch and a voice record button, plus, on the front of the case, four application shortcut buttons and a four-way navigation button with a "depress to click" option. The device comes with both a docking cradle and a USB cable connector.

At 175g, the Pocket LOOX is a neater and lighter than some Pocket PCs, such as HP's iPaq H3970. Its built-in Bluetooth connectivity will be a plus point for some, while support for SD/MMC and Type II CompactFlash expansion is a definite benefit. The XScale processor may eventually prove its worth too, but that will require OS and application optimization.

The Pocket LOOX is to be released by the end of the year. Pricing details are not available.

 
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