Pocket PC features
Did I mention the display was spectacular? The 16-bit, 3.5" color transflective LCD display bright, vivid and crisp. The device is quick, sporting an Intel PXA-255 300MHz processor with 64MB of internal RAM. It's also got the SD slot mentioned above, and a nice, loud speaker, so you'll be able to hear the voice navigation instructions.

At $499, you probably wouldn't buy this just to get a Pocket PC, but for a device with built-in navigation and a GPS, that's a great price.

It's functional as a Pocket PC, but because it comes with a GPS, it trades off some of the other bells and whistles you might expect, like built-in Bluetooth or WiFi. That said, given the device comes with an SDIO slot, you can add those features pretty easily, should you need them.

If I've got any gripe, it's with the button array. Both the power button and the record button are located on the same side, right next to each other, as shown in Figure E.

FIGURE E


The power and record button are located very close together. Roll over picture for a larger image.

I think these two buttons are too close to each other and you might wind up opening a recording when you intend to toggle power, or toggle power when you intend to record a voice note.

While we're on the subject of tiny buttons, the front button array, shown in Figure F, is also pretty tight, especially the lower buttons.

FIGURE F


The front buttons can be pretty tiny. Roll over picture for a larger image.

One other glaring absence is a side scroll-wheel or toggle. On both the Jornada and the Axim, I've come to rely heavily on the side toggle for scrolling through Internet pages and for quick traversal of my address book.

Given that the main use of this device is for GPS navigation, where you're not likely to be pressing the buttons much at all once your trip begins, I don't think the button array complaints should be a major purchase concern. They're livable, but a bit annoying.

Goodies in the box.
When you get the PiN, in addition to the Pocket PC itself and the software, there are a bunch of goodies inside the box. These include:

• A small manual
• A leather-like case that nicely holds the GPS receiver hump
• Wall-plug power adapter
• Cigarette lighter power adapter, so you can keep the device charged on the road
• USB 1.1 connector cable for ActiveSync connections to your computer
• A removable window mount, so you can easily see the GPS while driving

Unlike either the Axim or the Jornada, the PiN does not have a removable, replaceable battery. However, the device does come with a nice in-car charger.

So where does this leave us?
Overall, if I were just looking for a Pocket PC, I'd probably go with an Axim or an iPAQ. Missing features like the scroll wheel and removable battery, plus the slightly annoying button array would push me in that direction.

Likewise, if I already had a Pocket PC, I'd probably look at Navman's add-on GPS devices (which we'll review in a future issue), rather than this device.

But, if you're planning on upgrading or buying your first Pocket PC and you travel a lot, this looks like a great device. Because it's all self-contained, there are a lot less cables to play with. Also, because it's portable, it's particularly interesting to hikers, boaters, and bikers (both the powered and unpowered variety). After all, you can stick this inside your coat pocket, and check your directions when you pull over to the side of the road.