Windows Phone Thoughts: The Dell Axim X51v: If it Were Software, It Would Be a Dot Release

Identical Hardware, Down to the Buttons
One of the big changes in Windows Mobile 5 is the introduction of soft keys. These are large software buttons that take the place of the toolbar in most Pocket PC applications. The concept comes from the Smartphone side of Windows Mobile, and the idea is that softkeys allow you to access all menu functions one-handed, without having to reach for the stylus. I'm still not sold on the concept, especially since when I'm using my Pocket PC, I actually want the more complex user-interface. I think this comes from the same group that decided the "X" button shouldn't actually close applications. ;-) The difference here is that the X51v doesn't have dedicated softkey buttons, which means if you want to use this feature you have to re-map two of the four buttons. This reduces the total functionality of the device, unless you get some third-party button mapping software that will allow you to use double-pushes to activate the original function of the button. I was very disappointed that Dell didn't alter its hardware to support this key Windows Mobile 5 feature.


Figure 1: Look ma, no softkey buttons!

The wireless is also the same - almost. WiFi remains identical, but in switching to Windows Mobile 5, Dell also switched Bluetooth stacks from Broadcomm to Microsoft's own stack. Since I avoid Bluetooth like the plague, I'm unsure of the implications - I've heard that it lacks stereo headphone and hands-free headset support, but that Microsoft is working to add this into their product. The lack of headset support is of minimal importance since this isn't a phone device, but Bluetooth headphones are becoming popular and it's a shame Microsoft's Bluetooth stack is still so lacking when compared to what Broadcomm offers.

Windows Mobile 5: Not All is Golden
I won't delve too much into Windows Mobile 5 in this review, since I'm focusing on the X51v itself, but I found Windows Mobile 5 very painful in two ways when I was setting up and using the X51v. First, after a hard reset I connected the X51v to my PC and set up a new partnership. ActiveSync 4.0 has a different partnership wizard if you have a Windows Mobile 5 device, and it's quite intuitive. I entered my hosted Exchange account information, then watched as basically nothing happened. The X51v synchronized with my desktop PC, but coughed up an 0x85020006 error when the device tried to sync with the Exchange server. ActiveSync 4.0 removes the option for Internet passthrough - I assumed that meant it was automatic, but after fighting with Connection Manager on the X51v for 15 minutes I gave up and disconnected. I turned on WiFi, and the X51v saw my access point - I entered my WEP key, started ActiveSync, and clicked sync. It worked! Within a few minutes I had all my data on the X51v - but why wouldn't the synchronization work in the cradle? I have no idea, but it's a serious problem.

Later, I wanted to see if a particular ActiveSync bug had been fixed: I've always had the problem where, after a backup and restore, the Pocket PC has been unable to synchronize against the Exchange server again. Only a hard reset would allow the Pocket PC to sync again. On the X51v, I did a backup using the included application, then hard reset and a restore. I restore the device, then after a soft reset I noticed the date was wrong. No matter, I fixed it and started a sync session. Much to my delight, the sync actually started, which is sometime that wouldn't have happened under Windows Mobile 2003SE.

My delight turned to disbelief, then anger as I saw what ActiveSync was doing: it duplicated 900 contacts, 50 emails, and 6 months worth of appointments! No warning, no "Replace, Remove, or Combine" dialogue box, simply a duplication. It will take me hours to fix this manually, unless I can find a tool to remove duplicates. I have memories of such a tool, but at this point I haven't had time to track one down. Any suggestions for one that will work with Outlook 2003 and an Exchange server? I'm unsure as to whether this is a problem with Dell's backup application, or with ActiveSync. The bottom line is that in this instance Exchange ActiveSync remains broken after a restore - and I'd rather have it break completely then duplicate all my data, so from my point of view it's actually gotten worse. I didn't think that was even possible!

Suffice it to say that while Windows Mobile 5 brings with it several key advantages - persistent storage is amazingly helpful - my experience with it so far has been mixed (WMP 10 Mobile retains its horrible library functions), and I have no shortage of feedback for Microsoft at the MVP Summit coming up in a few weeks. Windows Mobile 5 feels like one step forward and two sideways.