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PRODUCT REVIEW
Are you a gadgethound or techno geek? The HTC Advantage might be for you.
By James Booth
Are you a gadgethound? A techno geek? Perhaps a road warrior of the digital age? If so, then you may be interested in HTC's Advantage mobile computer. With the exception of Apple's iPhone, I doubt any other handheld was more eagerly anticipated than the Advantage. Should you take Advantage? Read on to find out.
Overview
Called a "mobile computer" by its manufacturer, HTC's Advantage shown in Figure A falls somewhere between laptop and a PDA.
FIGURE A
 
HTC's Advantage mobile computer. Roll over picture for a larger image.
To some it may be a UMPC (ultra-mobile personal computer), but as it runs Windows Mobile it may not actually qualify as a "PC." Regardless of what its technical moniker may be, the Advantage was designed to liberate traveling executives from their laptop PCs. It's the next evolution of the PDA-phone.
The Advantage x7501 runs Windows Mobile 6 on a 624MHz Intel processor, with an ATI graphics processor. It has 128MB of RAM, 256MB of flash ROM, and an 8GB hard drive (that's right, hard drive). In addition, storage can be expanded even further via the miniSD expansion slot.
For its display, the Advantage offers an impressive 5-inch diagonal, 640x480, 65k color VGA touchscreen. And hang on to your hats... it has a VGA-out port for connection to a monitor or media projector, and stereo speakers.
It is an unlocked quad-band GSM/GPRS phone that is EDGE/HSDPA/UMTS capable, depending on coverage in your area. The Advantage also features 802.11b,g Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, IrDA, and will act as a GPS receiver with a Telenav subscription.
Additional features include a magnetically docked QWERTY keyboard that doubles as a screen cover, speakerphone with stereo output, 3.5mm audio jack, miniUSB audio/sync/charging port, and a 3MP digital camera.
Software includes Microsoft Office Mobile, as well as the typical stable of other applications that normally ship with most Windows Mobile devices. A recent update to Office Mobile has made it compliant with Office 2007 standards.
For Internet browsing, the Advantage gives you the choice of either Pocket Internet Explorer or Opera Mobile. HTC has also included their kinetic VueFlo browser plug-in, allowing you to scroll by tipping the device. And finally, it comes with a nice, fat, printed user manual. You gotta love a printed manual.
What's it all about?
I have to warn you straight off... the Advantage is not a device for the masses. It is a niche device; meaning it was created to address a very specific segment of the business-consumer market.
First off, it's expensive. At $900.00 it is one of the most expensive non-ruggedized Windows Mobile devices currently on the market. In discussing the Advantage with friends and industry associates, they all said the same thing. "I can get a pretty decent laptop for $900.00."
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