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Top-of-the-line PDAs for students

By CNET Staff

These days, for a little more, you can get wireless connectivity, advanced multimedia functions, and other features that can help you in the classroom and even graduate with you to the boardroom. The Palm LifeDrive boasts a 4GB hard drive, so you can save plenty of classwork, photos of your friends and family, favorite tunes, and more. The new Dell Axim X51v shines bright with its VGA screen and solid performance; it also includes a graphics engine and gaming bundle--perfect for study breaks. The HP iPaq rx3715 may be the ultimate multimedia machine, with the ability to manage all your digital entertainment files. For those looking for something more handy and affordable, the HP iPaq rx1950 and Palm TX are worth considering, too. As a bonus, all five PDAs come equipped with integrated Wi-Fi to keep you connected in the campus.


Click here for a feature comparison table.
1.  Palm TX
 
CNET Asia rating: 7.7 out of 10
The good:  Slim and lightweight design; bright screen; Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity; Secure Digital (SD) expansion slot.
The bad:  Cannot be used as a USB drive; average battery life.
The bottom line: ThereÂ’s little to complain about this chic model that follows closely on the success of the Tungsten T5 except that it is not for those looking for the complete all-in-one mobile device as it does not have phone and camera features.

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2.  HP iPaq rx1950
 
CNET Asia rating: 7.2 out of 10
The good:  Lightweight and slim design; onboard Wi-Fi; removable battery; SD/MMC expansion slot.
The bad:  QVGA display; no Bluetooth, limited on-board memory.
The bottom line: The sub-S$600 rx1950 caters to people who prefer their mobile devices to be separate from their phones and cameras, and are willing to make do with reduced specifications.

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3.  Dell Axim X51v
 
CNET Asia rating: 7.4 out of 10
The good:  Gorgeous-looking device; superb display; dual expansion slots; well-implemented features, large internal memory, standard 3.5mm audio jack.
The bad:  Slightly bulky; sluggish video playback; buggy OS.
The bottom line: Despite minor flaws, the Dell X51v proves to be an excellent PDA combining the merits of its predecessors with the benefits of the new Windows Mobile OS.

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4.  PalmOne LifeDrive
 
CNET Asia rating: 7.5 out of 10
The good:  Large storage; doubles as a USB drive; easy drag-and-drop file transfer.
The bad:  Bulky; Pricey; poor display settings.
The bottom line: The LifeDrive gave a solid performance and more storage space makes it a great companion for mobile professionals.

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5.  HP iPaq rx3715
 
CNET Asia rating: 7.4 out of 10
The good:  Extralong battery life; impressive performance; integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth; built-in camera; user-replaceable battery.
The bad:  Complicated and immature Mobile Media software.
The bottom line: While the rx3700's Media Companion functions didn't inspire us, this PDA's features and top-notch performance make it well worth considering.

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