Specifications
palmOne Tungsten T5
THIS MONTH: PDAs
Head2Head A showdown among natural competitors
I
t’s back into the ring for Palm and Pocket PC with the introduction of new flagship hand-
helds for both platforms. Palm OS PDAs used to be the no-nonsense handhelds for no-
nonsense folks who wanted a smart and efficient organizer, but the Tungsten T5 has gone
glam with a fast processor and an orgy of nonvolatile flash memory. Pocket PCs used to be
clunky slabs that boasted built-in compatibility with Microsoft applications, but the X50v
has devastatingly sleek looks and plays video better than some portable video players
we’ve tried. Ounce for ounce, which PDA serves PC power users better? Read on, pilgrim.
—LOGAN DECKER
MAXIMUMPC JANUARY 200522
Hardware: palmOne’s flagship packs a 416MHz Intel XScale proc and an
extremely generous 256MB of internal flash memory, of which 160MB is available
to the user. Cleverly, the T5 includes new Drive Mode storage, which allows
you to plug the PDA into any USB port on any PC and access the internal flash
memory—including the PDA’s SD card storage—just as easily as you would with
a USB key. There’s an SD card slot for expansion, and both the D-pad and the
buttons feel great, offering perfect resistance. The exterior is plastic with a metallic
finish, but still looks fantastic. The 320x480 screen is flawless, and at its maximum
setting appears very bright—at least until it’s compared side-to-side with the X50v.
Battery life clocked in at 4:15 (hours:minutes) playing looped video at 75 percent
brightness; unfortunately, the battery is not removable.
Winner: X50v
Software: The T5 would have made an ideal launching pad for Palm’s
upcoming OS 6, known as Cobalt. But no, it runs Palm OS 5 (Garnet).
It includes Documents to Go for importing and exporting your Microsoft
Office files (Word
, Excel and PowerPoint), and RealPlayer for media
playback, which doesn’t support
WMA tracks. There’s a smattering of
“productivity” apps for expense reports and what-not.
Winner: X50v
Ease of use: Surprisingly, the T5 crashed on us
twice during testing. The X50v never did. The Palm
OS still has the ease-of-use edge, but Dell has
thrown in enough improvements on the Windows
Mobile OS to make this one a tie.
Winner: Tie
Connectivity: The T5 ditches the T3’s “universal” connector in favor
of a new T5-to-USB “multi-connector” cable (a cradle kit is a $50
option). Only Bluetooth is integrated into the T5; for Wi-Fi, you’ll need
to purchase the optional SD-card adapter for $130, which will occupy
your only expansion slot.
Winner: X50v
Swift proc, tons of RAM, and unique “drive mode.”
PALM TREES
HAIRY PALMS
No Wi-Fi, and expensive for what you get.
$400, www.palmone.com
7
MAXIMUMPC
VERDICT
glam with a fast processor and an orgy of nonvolatile flash memory. Pocket PCs used to be
clunky slabs that boasted built-in compatibility with Microsoft applications, but the X50v
has devastatingly sleek looks and plays video better than some portable video players
we’ve tried. Ounce for ounce, which PDA serves PC power users better? Read on, pilgrim.
—LOGAN DECKER
extremely generous 256MB of internal flash memory, of which 160MB is available
buttons feel great, offering perfect resistance. The exterior is plastic with a metallic
finish, but still looks fantastic. The 320x480 screen is flawless, and at its maximum
setting appears very bright—at least until it’s compared side-to-side with the X50v.
The T5 ditches the T3’s “universal” connector in favor
option). Only Bluetooth is integrated into the T5; for Wi-Fi, you’ll need
to purchase the optional SD-card adapter for $130, which will occupy