Windows Phone Thoughts: The Dell Axim X3i Review

Battery Power
The X3 performs similarly to the X5 when used for day-to-day activities: (keeping track of homework, a few games, a little music and Web surfing), but loses power like it's going out of style when you turn on the wireless transceiver. I did a combination of my own personal tests and Spb Benchmark tests, the results of both are below:

Personal Tests (only to 25% battery warning)

• Full Brightness, 400 Mhz CPU, Wireless On (just sitting there)
  1 hour and 10 minutes;
  
• Full Brightness, "Auto" CPU, MP3 looping through headphones
  2 hours 6 minutes;
  
• Full Brightness, "Auto" CPU, sitting at Today screen
  2 hours 28 minutes.
  

Spb Benchmark- AUTO CPU (to 0%)

• No backlight, zero utilization
  15 hours 56 minutes;
  
• Maximum Backlight, Standard Use
  3 hours 26 minutes;
  
• Maximum Backlight, WiFi Enabled
  3 hours 34 minutes
  [color=blue][/color].
  

As you can see, the X3i performs fairly normally under light to moderate use, but does poorly when using wireless. Not sure why it did better in the Spb Benchmark tests with the wireless on. :| I can't really blame Dell for this - they probably included the battery with the highest mAh in the size they needed. When the device gets smaller, the battery needs to as well. Dell offers a larger capacity battery, but it protrudes from the rear of the device. If you're considering getting an Axim X3i, I would strongly recommend getting a second 950mAh battery for another $50 USD. When charging the X3i, it seemed to take a very long time getting from 99% to 100% charged. The charging light will even turn orange if I unplug the charger for a few seconds and plug it back in when the device is fully charged and off. Another strange thing was the light turning green when Spb Benchmark still indicated 99%.


Figure 13:Battery removed.


Figure 14:The 950 mAh unit is smaller than a box of matches! 8O

Removing the battery is kind of awkward - it almost requires the use of a third hand. Although the battery release is simple, it's quite difficult to remove the battery with the remaining free hand. Unlike the X5, I found it impossible to remove the X3's battery without first setting it on a flat surface. Dell should've included an easier mechanism, because power users will need to replace their battery fairly frequently.

Under The Hood
Dell included a decent software package with the X3i, but I would still like to see a few more full versions of applications. Besides Microsoft Outlook 2002 and ActiveSync 3.7, owners can install the following applications from the Companion CD:

• AvantGo;
  
• CityTime (Trial);
  
• eWallet (Trial);
  
• TripTracker (Trial);
  
• Microsoft Pocket PC Games (Minesweeper, Reversi, Hearts);
  
• Total Remote (Trial);
  
• McAfee VirusScan PDA (Trial);
  
• Jeode™Java Virtual Machine (link to Web site);
  
• Adobe Acrobat Reader for Pocket PC;
  
• Resco Picture Viewer and Screen Capture;
  
• Resco File Explorer (Trial);
  
• WordLogic Keyboard (Trial);
  
• HandyZIP (Trial);
  
• IA Presenter;
  
• TinyStocks Stock Manager (Trial);
  
• Agenda Fusion (Trial);
  
• ListPro (Trial).
  

As you can see, the only Pocket PC applications Dell included that aren't free are IA Presenter and Resco Picture Viewer. Although many people feel that a nice software package isn't important because they'll buy the applications they need, I would have liked to see a few more full versions of application included on the disc.

When it comes to the ROM, however, Dell left nothing out. Building off the applications they included with the Axim X5, the X3's ROM is a very nice example of what all Pocket PC manufacturers should be doing. Dell includes a simple but robust backup utility, application switcher program, a "Home" program that allows users to make their own custom menus, and has made little adjustments to many of the Settings menus that make Pocket PC life a little more easy. You'll also find the usual bunch of applications that Microsoft included in Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC.


Figure 15:The included Backup utility is really solid.


Figure 16:Battery life can be your best friend or worst enemy. At least the menu looks cool.


Figure 17:I like my backlights bright and my CPUs fast.


Figure 18:Users can map any of the front six buttons, including the wireless power button.


Figure 19:With an XScale PXA263, the X3 can really 'pute when it needs to.


Figure 20:The Dell "Home" app lets you make your own custom menus (like the Palm OS).


Figure 21: The Switcher Bar closes apps and controls settings very nicely. I like the 2002 version better, though, because it includes a little battery meter on the task bar.

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When it comes to memory, the X3i is second only to the HP h5555 and Toshiba e805, which include 128 MB of RAM. Because Dell upped the ROM to a full 64 MB, owners will enjoy having a total of 92.92 MB of storage right out of the box. During my review I would often have two backup files stored in this "Built-in Storage", so I could easily switch back and forth between benchmarking the X3i and using applications on it.