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By John Chan, CNET Asia
Apr 05, 2007

Dopod calls its U1000 device (originally known as the HTC Athena) a mini-notebook, and looking at it, it's not surprising why. It features a 5-inch display, larger than most other Windows Mobile handheld devices. And when the keyboard is attached for use on the unit, it sits on the table just like a tiny notebook. There isn't another product out there quite like it, so it'll have to be judged according to its own merits. Let's see what these are, and also where it fails to impress.

Editors' note: This article has been updated after the MapKing application was installed to include the performance of the U1000's GPS feature. Additionally, Dopod has included a bonus pack with every U1000. This includes a car kit, GPS software and other utilities. Click here to read more about the bonus pack.

Design
Saying that the U1000 is large is an understatement. Compared with other handhelds, it is absolutely enormous. At 133.1 x 98 x 16mm, it is unlikely you can fit the U1000 into a pants pocket--at least not comfortably. Those dimensions make it just a little larger than the Dopod 900, the company's previous handheld with a VGA display. The U1000 weighs in at 375g which, by any standard, is very heavy for a portable phone device.

	The Dopod 900 side by side with the U1000.

Primarily colored silver, the U1000 is a handsomely crafted device. The metallic finish makes it stylish without being gaudy. Aside from silver, a single strip of white defines the area which houses the 3-megapixel camera lens and LED flash. The main distinguishing feature of the U1000 is certainly its 5-inch VGA screen, one that is very clear and bright. As a touchscreen, it is responsive and registered all our screen taps without problems.

When viewed in landscape mode, the directional pad is on the top left corner of the bezel. This is a joystick-like navigator which also acts as a selector when depressed. The front VGA camera is found in a similar position but on the right side of the screen. Various other shortcut keys are located in positions around the display and along the sides. These include an OK key, a camera shortcut key, volume control and also a small power button at the bottom of the right side.

The U1000's battery compartment is found under a flap on its base. This flap also hides the SIM card and miniSD slots. Also found on its base is a connector which is used to communicate with the detachable keyboard. This connector is exposed when the keyboard is not attached, so it might tarnish after a period of use.

	When not in use, the keyboard acts as a cover for the U1000.

What makes the U1000 look like a tiny notebook computer is the detachable keyboard, one that attaches to the handheld using magnets. The magnets are very strong and align the connectors on the U1000 perfectly with those on the keyboard. These magnets are not just found on the keyboard but also on the base of the U1000 as well. This creates a force strong enough for us to hold the keyboard upside down with the main body still attached to it. It may be a good idea to keep the U1000 away from items sensitive to magnets--like cards with magnetic strips and pacemakers.

When not in use, the keyboard can placed flat against the face of the device, doubling as a cover for the screen. It is held in place by the magnets on the keyboard. This is where the acrylic portion of the keyboard comes into play, exposing a small portion of the screen which will display vital information like network strength, battery life and time.

Typing on the U1000 takes getting used to. The keys are well spaced out, and typing with the device on a tabletop gave us decent speeds and accuracy. Don't expect the zippiness you will get on a Treo or Blackberry, though. The larger form factor of the U1000 just doesn't allow it. Furthermore, the keyboard is not backlit, so typing in the dark will be a challenge. Also, the fact that the backspace key is below the P key caused a few more typing errors than we liked, but it is a teething problem which most users will get used to after a few sessions with the keyboard.

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