Dell Axim X5 400 MHz Pocket PC

The Axim X5 is equipped with Microsoft Pocket PC 2002 Premium and pre-installed with familiar applications like Pocket Word and Pocket Excel, along with a calendar, contacts database, voice recorder, and a number of other built-in features.

With an integrated Type II CompactFlash card slot and a Secure Digital/MultiMediaCard slot, the expansion capabilities seem endless. And with its removable, rechargeable battery, the Axim X5 is never tied to its cradle--simply leave a spare battery charging in the cradle, and swap your battery when it's low.

The Dell Axim X5 features a backlit, 3.5-inch, 16-bit, touch-sensitive, transflective TFT color LCD display capable of displaying 65,536 colors at 240 x 320 resolution.

The Axim X5's audio capabilities include 16-bit stereo, full duplex record and playback, and an integrated microphone and speaker. The Axim also features a headphone jack.

The Axim X5 comes with a rechargeable, removable 1440 mAh lithium-ion battery. A rechargeable, removable 3400 mAh lithium-ion battery is optional.

What's in the box

• Axim X5
• Stylus
• Sync cradle
• AC Adapter
• 1440 mAh Lithium-Ion Removable, Rechargeable battery

The Dell runs just about anything I can throw at it, and it does it at an incredible speed. Having used only a Jornada 525 previously, I'm amazed at the 400mhz Xscale. Pocket TV plays video so smooth it's plain incredible. Video easily plays 3x faster than my Jornada. Games run fast and smooth, not even a hint of frame skip. The buttons are responsive, easy to use, and support multiple presses at once. This is wonderful, as so many in the past have failed to listen to what gamers really want. Dell listened, and they did it right.

The screen is bright and clear, not a hint of anything less than perfection. Using headphones, the sound is loud and completely static free. It could easily replace my Nomad II MP3 player if need be. Too many people whine about the size... get over it. If you want an ultra thin device, this isn't for you. So simply move on and go whine to someone else. I myself am just fine with the Dell's size, it's price and specs more than make up for it. Anyone willing to pay more to get much less is missing something in my book. Size can be important, sure, but only to a point. The Dell is no bigger than the high end Ipaqs and is in fact much smaller than an Ipaq with a CF sleeve. What more could you possibly ask for.

Basically the Axim will run just about the same as any other 400mhz Xscale out there, which will run just about the same as any 300mhz Xscale out there, both of which will probably run about the same as any 200mhz ARM out there... which all means you're not gonna notice a big difference in anything at all. Some programs will run better than others, it's a case by case thing. The vast majority will run 98% the same.

Now, to really notice a difference you'd have to be doing like me... going from a 133mhz Jornada 525 to a 400mhz Axim. There's a nice speed boost for ya. I've went from 6 fps on Pocket TV to 24 fps. From 2-3 fps on large video with no landscape support, to 18 fps full screen landscape. I'm sure with time and tweaking I'll have that at 24 easily.

See, the big joy of the Axim is what it offers that so many others don't. Dual slots are a wonderful thing to people like me. The screen is lovely. The sound is crisp. They come with a 1yr VERY fast replacement warranty. That's unreal. Incredibly long battery power, longer life ones to come, replaceable battery, spare charging slot, coolest sync cradle ever... the list is huge. Toss in $... worth of free software in the form of the top selling Rosco Picture Viewer and IA Presenter (PowerPoint viwer). All for a price that's half of what the Ipaq owners paid.

I simply love my Axim. I admit, I don't do much mobile computing and I would never make full use of a laptop. I'm simply never far enough away from a desktop computer to need a laptop. The Axim however, fits the need perfect. I've got a small device to store every bit of information I could ever need, and it's completely portable. It doesn't replace a PC, it enhances it. I can do things with my Pocket PC I would have an incredibly hard time doing with even the smallest of notebook computers.

A typical usage of the Pocket PC for me is while waiting in lines, or just waiting in general. I've got several amazingly fun games stored to play, ebooks to read, music to listen to, websites to read (news, weather, tech, stocks), and much more. I also use it to keep track of all my tasks, appointments, assignments, notes, and alarms. The Dell comes with Rosco Picture Viewer, so I store photos of friends and family. (I'm not the type to carry pictures in his wallet) I also carry my entire art gallery. Sometimes I use it to reflect, sometimes to use as reference, sometimes to show. For whatever reasons, it's there when I need it.

Basically Pocket PC's have filled a deep need in my day to day life for mobile information. I always longed for a laptop, but now that I've used Pocket PC's I no longer believe I need one. I love Pocket PC's and the Dell is by far the best one I've owned, and in my opinion, the best deal on the market today without question.

- Rirath_com


Axim 5 Best Pocket PC for the money and more!   April 11, 2003
Thomas Sobieski (Elmhurst, NY USA)
30 out of 30 found this review helpful

I bought an Axim 5 performance 2 months ago, about when they were first available. It replaced another pocket pc (I won't name the brand, but they are listed as a cutting edge maufacturer.)
It arrived in a large unmarked brown box with everything packed inside in smaller boxes. I also ordered the High Capacity battery with it, which proved to be unnecessary (I should have just got the extra regular capacity battery at no cost, as the battery life is phenomeninal.) I gave it it's first charge, and since I had Active Sync 3.6 already installed, I hooked her up. Problem number 1: no connection. Had to delete partnership and establish new partnership.
With everything sync'ed, I tried her out. Good form factor: the Axim has a rep as a "brick" but I thought it had a good hand fit (I didn't really want the smallest pda on the block anyway, I wanted something a little more substantial.) It has rubber grips on either side of a silver colored case that feels like metal. Large well-lit TFT screen (not quite as bright as an IPaq's, but then what is?) the regulation program buttons and a D-pad. The D-pad was kind of mushy but it worked pretty well anyway. The speaker is off to the right and covered by a metal grill. I have used it now for 2 months at work and home (I'm a pharmacist and have 2 drug databases loaded and I'm an avid reader of eBooks, having purchased over 260 titles at Fictionwise.com) it has proved to be a rock-solid performer and I have had to soft reset just 2-3 times in those 2 months. I had to hard rest once, because I use a stong alpha-numeric password that I forgot once. The hard reset is the only way to clear the unit if you forget your password.
The Axim performance uses the Intel XScale processor with stepped tech to raise or lower processor speed according to use.
This conserves battery power. I leave mine at 200mh most of the time, increasing to 400mh if playing a game or two. Usually I just leave it in automatic mode which adjusts the processor speed accordingly.
The mushy D-pad has a fix which I just downloaded from Dell's site. It is a rom upgrade (incredibally easy to implement) which also allows further refinements on the adjustment of processor speed and speeds up the power on function and the battery light.
I am something of a pda geek having owned 3 palms and 2 pocket pc's and can say that this is one of the best I've ever owned. I read reviews on new products constantly and haven't found anything that offers the same features and performance for this price, even on reviews of items that were rated much higher.


Perfect Price and Functionality   April 25, 2003
44 out of 47 found this review helpful

If you compare the Dell Axim to other Pocket PCs and as well as to the entire handheld market, you will find that nothing else can top it. I bought my Axim X5 400mhz a couple of months ago and still have yet to wipe the grin off my face whenever I use it or even think of using it. Here are some things you can do if you have one:

1. Organize your life. The calendar, tasks, and email program as well as supplemental programs you can find for FREE on the Internet keep you on track whether you're a business person or a student (like me!). I have entered my class schedule into my Axim and it lists which classes and the times I have to take them every day (Pocket PC 2002 is smart enough to let you repeat items. For example, you can tell indicate that you have Roman Civilization every Tues. and Thurs. from 2:00-3:30PM from April 1st to June 10, and it will mark your calendar for you and remind you on each occurance if you'd like).

2. Entertainment. Buy a Secure Digital or Compact Flash card and you've got a working entertainment system. With the help of a program called Pocket MVP as well as the standard Pocket Windows Media Player, I have been able to listen to MP3s and watch Divx/AVI movies and trailers on my Axim. There are also many, many Pocket PC games you can buy online and many you can find for free.

3. Surf the Internet. Buy a wireless compact flash card (and you can find these for really cheap prices if you look for deals online) and find a wireless portal or use your home wireless router to do everything online that you can do on a PC. You can also download instant message programs to chat and IM with other people online.

The Axim lets you do this and more. It looks stylish and is a great toy and tool that you won't get tired of.


The Dell Axim X5 is a great deal.   November 28, 2002
Kurt (Indiana, USA)
23 out of 24 found this review helpful

The Dell Axim is one of the best deals for a Pocket PC I have seen in a long time. Not only is this Pocket PC powerfull, but it has two expansion slots which you can use for memory and accessories. The screen colors are brilliant, and I feel this is one of the best Pocket PCs on the market. The only downfall that this Pocket PC does have is that it is slightly large. However, it's rival Compaq which has the same specs (no Secure Digital/MultiMediaCard slot) is the same size, but nearly twice the price. So if you are going to be buying a Pocket PC, I think Dell is the way to go.


Awesome Price for an Awesome Product   March 2, 2003
Kevin Hudson (Lexington, KY USA)
16 out of 16 found this review helpful

Some people complain about the size of the Dell Axim, well i have had no problems with the size of it, and it is very close in size to the high-end Toshiba Pocket PCs. The only problem i have had with mine is that when i put the axim in its case, it is too large to put in my pocket. I love the fact that it comes standard with a very large capacity battery, and also has a compact flash slot, which the similarly priced Ipaq lacks. The Dell Axim's screen is also conciderably larger than the iPaq, and looks stunning because of the powerfull backlight. The Axim looks great even when its off, it is very easy to hold, and the rubber grips keep it in your hands rather than on the ground broken. Before i got the Axim, i was concidering buying the high capacity battery, but after i began using the Axim, i realized the battery lasts much longer than i expected. The speaker on the Axim is very sensitive, with the volume all the way up, it can be VERY loud, but since it is only mono and not the best quality you might hear some distortion. If you have a wireless network, i highly reccomend the Netgear MA701 Compact Flash 802.11b wireless card. It opens the door to the Axim, allowing you to access any website, use AOL Instant messenger etc.. If you use AIM, download the AIM for Pocket PC from the UK AOL site, on the USA one u have to pay for it.