Review by Katrina T. Rivere
Its all-silver finish is definitely a scene-stealer; what more if you turn the power on and flaunt its 3.5-inch, 240 x
320 pixel resolution, 65k-color screen? Trust me, everyone at let-me-take-a-look-at-that-toy range will drool over,
if not grab that Asus MyPal A620 from your clutches.
The A620 is slightly bigger than its predecessor, the A600, at 7.7 x 12.5 x 1.3cm, and it weighs in at 141 grams.
Still, it's touted as the world's smallest and lightest Pocket PC with a CF Type II slot. Which means you might as well
forgive it for the extra bulk.
Its nice transflective screen offers excellent brightness and contrast; a notable improvement over the A600's. When
I beamed a 640 x 480 picture from my Palm Zire 71 to the A620 though, it reduced the image to a measly 463 x 347
resolution. Awww.
The Voice Recorder is also a welcome feature, especially for quick note taking. However, the positioning of the Voice
Recorder button is quite problematic for two reasons. One, it's relatively easy to activate accidentally when taking the
device out of its case or cradle. Two, it's too easy to obstruct the microphone when holding down the button to start a
recording.
The A620 is also the first locally available Pocket PC with the 2003 OS. While it's not revolutionary, the Pocket PC 2003
introduces some changes in wireless connectivity, messaging, and applications for improved user experience. Too bad
the A620 doesn't have built-in Wi-Fi (or even Bluetooth), so it isn't really built for users to take full advantage of the
new OS. You'd have to add Wi-Fi and Bluetooth via an optional CF Type II card. The only thing I was able to get out of
the new OS was the new puzzle game called Jawbreaker where you pop a grid of colored balls with your stylus.
But what's actually great about the A620 is that it runs on the latest 400MHz X-Scale PXA255 processor. It sports a better
bus speed at 200MHz for blazingly fast and smooth rendering of video files. The PXA255 runs at the same speeds as the
PXA250 did (200 MHz, 300 MHz, and 400 MHz), except that the new processor has a faster system bus: 200MHz compared
to the PXA250 which runs 100MHz. Simply put, the CPU can talk to the memory and LCD controllers twice as fast! It also
comes with 32MB of ROM and 64MB of RAM, 58.7MB of which is available to the user.
The A620 also has the Asus Settings, which is basically a suite of tools that allows users to make various system changes.
It has a 255-step brightness control for the screen and full control of its audio properties including balance, bass and treble
adjustments. One menu also lets you alter the speed of the processor in order to save battery power, while another handles
microphone sensitivity and gain control. It's a wonderful feature for prolonging battery life.
Another appeal-enhancing utility in the A620 is the SmartKeeper option that backs up the 'system status' to an external CF
card. In other words, all 64MB of RAM are backed up to the card (provided there is at least 64MB of free space), replicating
the state of your device when the backup is made. You can even choose whether you want the software to do this on
command or automatically when battery power reaches a preset low level. After your PDA's battery dies, you can recharge
it, restore the 'system status' and carry on where you left off without losing any vital RAM data at all.
Overall, I'd say the MyPal A620 is a decent entry-level device with super PDA-strengths. Good handwriting recognition
complemented by the easy-to-handle stylus; loud audio speakers that audiophiles will love when listening to MP3s; superbly
fast processor; and other specs one wouldn't expect from a P19,900 handheld device. It ships with a cradle into which it fits
very snugly, plus a soft carrying case that offers plenty of protection. Sadly, the case adds to the device's bulk and weight.
If you're looking for a high-performance Pocket PC but are on a tight budget, the A620 may just be the perfect PDA for you.
Its compatibility factor with Microsoft Office applications and the Windows-like graphic user interface are user-friendly even
for first-time PDA buyers.
GRINS
? Fast processor ideal for multitasking
? Power saving features
? Thin and lightweight
? Good entry-level price given the specifications
? Voice Recorder feature
? Useful SmartKeeper and Asus Settings utilities
? Smooth video rendering
? Loud speakers
GRIMACES
? Not really pocketsize (read: too big)
? No built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth
? No built-in digital camera
? Awkwardly placed Voice Recorder button
THE LOWDOWN
A PDA for speed freaks and multimedia lovers who want top-notch multimedia experience. While it lacks wireless
connectivity options and a built-in digital camera, the mere fact that it belongs to the entry-level price range makes
the A620 a tempting choice.
