Dell launches it's PDA starting at $199

Just in time for the Christmas season, Dell has decided to go all out on it's new line of PDA's, starting at $199.

Both new PDA's sport a Brilliant 3.5" QVGA TFT color 16-bit touch sensitive Transflective display, Integrated CompactFlash Type II and Secure Digital / MMC card slots, and a choice of either an Intel XScale processor at 300MHz with 32MB SDRAM / 32MB Intel StrataFlash ROM or an Intel XScale processor running at 400MHz with 64MB SDRAM / 68MB Intel StrataFlash ROM. Both new PDA's run Microsoft Pocket PC 2002 Premium.

Dell's new PDA, the Axim X5 provides a stylish design and superior features at an outstanding low price. These multifunctional devices offer everything you expect from a high quality handheld, including calendar, e-mail, and address book synchronization with your computer. The Axim X5 also provides extras so you can:

- Access the Web with wireless technology*

- Read Acrobat PDF files, read or edit Microsoft Pocket versions of Excel, Word, and PowerPoint files, and use Microsoft Internet Explorer*

- Record voice notes or listen to audio files

The major difference between the $199 and the $299 models (apart from the processor speed and the memory) is that the $199 version comes with a USB cable, whereas the $299 version comes standard with a sync/recharge cradle which has an extra battery charge slot that accommodates either a spare standard battery (1440 mAh) or the available high-capacity (3400mAh) battery.

As John Medica, vice-president and general manager of Dell Client Products said at Comdex Fall 2002 show said earlier today "Until today, handheld users have either had to pay a premium for a full-featured system or live with some compromises. We've learned a great deal about this market by listening to customers and waiting for the relevant technologies to standardize, and everything we've learned has gone into the Axim X5. We're pleased to be able to deliver a new level of value and accessibility to the handheld marketplace."

News source: Dell's New PDA, Axim X5, for Home and Office