Acer N30 Pocket PC
Certain Pocket PCs are heavier and bulkier than handheld computers, such as the Palm series. Now, advances in technology have made it possible to expect slimmer versions of the PDAs. When one thinks of a PDA, the Dell Axim and the iPAQ come into mind. Acer is a relatively unknown entrant in the Pocket PC segment. It has recently launched the N30 and the N35, the latter comes along with integrated GPRS.
The company’s latest offering, the n30, is a Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC device, which suggests a level of commitment to Microsoft’s handheld OS.
Design:
Sleek and Stylus Navigation:
The N30 Pocket PC has a compact lightweight design which measures (H x W x D) 7.1 x 11.8 x 1.3 cm and weighs a measly 130g.The dimension is much sleeker than the Dell Axim X3i. The casing- a mix of silver and black seems solid and robust. The most noticeable design feature is the absence of a navigation button but the device has a stylus. This new idea seems to be effective as navigation buttons are usually fiddly and small. The stylus is poor- a problem that almost every handheld has.
Buttons and Ports:
Acer has used a minimalist approach in buttons and connectors. There are the application shortcut buttons that lie under the screen in bays, so that they protrude from the base. The scroll wheel is on the left hand side is recessed as far as it can be functionally viable. Certainly not a gaming phone! The front panel is surrounded by a dark grey frame which makes the large screen look a lot larger. There are 2 LED indicators at the top. One indicates state of charging etc. and the other indicates the Bluetooth activity.
On the top of the Acer N30 Bluetooth Pocket PC is a SD Card Slot and on the bottom side there are the soft and hard reset tools, at the left and right of the docking connector. The speaker on the device delivers surprisingly loud sound.
Features:
Connectivity:
The Acer site has referred to the N30 as the “Wireless wonder”. It neither has 802.11b nor the GPRS and hence the above term is perhaps an over-statement. Bluetooth is available on the phone, which allows you to connect to a suitable equipped mobile phone to be used as a modem.
Processor:
For the N30, Acer has preferred the Samsung’s S3C2410 processor at 266MHz over the Intel series. The same processor is used by HP in its iPAQ H1940. The processor works well, without a hitch.
Software Bundle:
The N30 Handheld PDA comes with a pre-installed Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC Premium Edition Operating System, which means it offers all applications from Microsoft, but only for your phone tools. Sadly, unlike the second edition, it does not offer enhanced features like easy screen upgrade. Beside the standard applications and a few applets, Acer provides only the Back Up Restore Utility. That enables you to prevent the loss of date by making it possible to back up everything or just the PIM data to a memory medium. It can also perform a backup when power levels fall below 30 % of total charge and restore data back.
The CD includes basic applications, such as Microsoft Outlook 2002 and ActiveSync 3.7.1, as well as a few bonus applications. Nevertheless, only one of these software (video viewer MpegTV Pocket TV Pro) can be considered as a true bonus because it is a commercial software free of charge.
Memory:
Out of the 64MB available, only 55MB is available for applications and data, whereas most pocket PCs manage to retain all the 64MB for the date and apps. This loss of about 10 MB could be an issue. The SD card lets you add extra memory, but on board memory matters a lot.
Expandability:
The N30 PDA Pocket PC has a USB host, which offers greater expansion possibilities than the SD/MMC Slot. When you connect a USB drive, a new folder called Hard Disk opens up in the Explorer. You can work with this folder like all other folder. If you want to try using a keyboard and a mouse with your Pocket PC, you will have to search for its drivers and download them. The SD/MMC slot allows you to connect an SDIO camera to the model. The card tends to stick out like in its predecessor the N10 and hence, prone to accidental ejection. The Bluetooth module makes it easier to connect to either GPS or any other BT enabled device.
Performance:
Acer N30 is slower than PocketPCs with a 400MHz processor but if you are downgrading from a more powerful device, the difference goes un-noticeable. The MPEG video playback is seamless and the excellent display makes it even more exciting. The Windows Media with 250 bitrate is smooth and the 500 kbps video is slightly jerky, however, it is still watchable. The memory card reading speed of the phone is on the slower side. The lack of a conventional keypad makes it impossible to play action games on the N30. Bluetooth worked well and was able to connect to other devices with ease.
Battery Life:
The battery life of the N30, as claimed by Acer, should be around 8 hours. But in reality, when looping music with the screen always on and at half its brightness level delivered a total of 4 hours only. Though most phones do not reach the 4 hour mark, there are handhelds which perform much better. However, the most irksome thing is the lack of a removable battery, which usually enhances its life away from mains power.
Accessories:
The Package contents of Acer N30 includes the device itself, Suede material cover, a brief user manual, CD-ROM, Synchronisation cable and a Charger.
Warranty:
The Acer N30 is provided with a warranty of 2 years from the day of purchase.
Verdict:
The Acer N30 Pocket PC is a slim designed phone with heaps of features. It improves efficiency for professionals and provides very handy applications. With a great LCD screen and clear images, it is good for someone looking for a cheap multi usage PDA. It is powerful enough with 64MB for a range of purposes. There is scope for expanding its memory using the SD/MMC slot. The Bluetooth support of the device is pretty good. It can synchronise wirelessly to a Bluetooth enabled device and allows you to access the Internet through your phone. Its lack of Wi-Fi and a scroll key will certainly affect its sales. But if you want something unique and at a cheap rate, the Acer N30 is a good choice.
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Acer N30 Pocket PC - Technical Specification Table
| Manufacturer | Acer |
| Model Name | Acer N30 Pocket PC |
| Display type | TFT |
| Display size | 3.5 inch |
| Native resolution | 240 x 320 pixels |
| Colour depth | 16 bits (64k colours) |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 7.1 x 1.2 x 11.8 cm |
| Weight | 130 g |
| Touch screen | Yes |
| Stylus | Yes |
| Operating system | Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC |
| Synchronisation software | Active sync |
| Desktop software | Outlook |
| Host PC system requirements | PC with Windows 98/ 98SE/ME/2000/XP |
| Processor | Samsung S3C2410 |
| Clock speed | 266 MHz |
| Software included | Pocket Outlook, Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, MSN Messenger, Windows Media Player 9.0, Calculator, Pocket Internet Explorer, Games, File Explorer, Microsoft Reader 2.0 for Pocket PC, Pictures, Backup/restore utility, Backlight Control, Power Control, Audio Control, Transcriber, Letter Recognizer, Block Recognizer, Destinator 3 |
| Memory | RAM: 64 MB ROM: 32 MB |
| Memory expansion | SD/MMC (+SDIO) |
| Audio input | Microphone |
| Audio output | Speaker, headphone jack |
| Wired connections | USB |
| Battery type | Lithium ion |
| Claimed battery life | 8hrs |
| Wireless Connectivity | IrDA, Bluetooth |
| Warranty | 2 years |
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