Is there a cheap pocket PC?

Microsoft defines Pocket PC as "a handheld device that enables users to store and retrieve email, contacts, appointments, tasks, play multimedia files, games, exchange text messages with Windows Live Messenger (formerly known as MSN Messenger), browse the web, and more."

Furthermore, to be classified a Pocket PC it must:

Run Microsoft's Windows Mobile, Pocket PC edition Come bundled with a specific suite of applications in ROM Include a touchscreen Include a directional pad or touchpad include a set of hardware application buttons Be based on an ARM version 4 compatible CPU, Intel XScale CPU, MIPS CPU, or SH3 CPU.

Five years ago there was no such thing as a cheap pocket PC. Major manufactures such as HP, Toshiba Acer, ASUS, Dell, Fujitsu Siemens, HTC and Viewsonic produced them and prices ranged from $300 to $800.

Newer features have been added to increase popularity of the pocket PC. One of the first additions was mobile telephony. More recently GPS has been added.

Today a cheap pocket pc will start somewhere in the neighborhood of $150.00, Manufactured by Dell the Axim X5 Pocket Pc comes with a 3.5" high resolution display screen, four application keys an navigator button, scroll dial, record button and a mini-jack for headphones. Inside is the Intel Xscale TM processor at either 300MHz or 400Mhz, 32Mb or 64 Mb of SDRAM and either 32MB or 48 MB of Flash ROM.

For a few dollars more, but still within the cheap Pocket PC range is the Fujisu Siemens Pocket Loox 600 Pocket PC. It has the Microsoft Mobile Pocket PC 2002 Operating system. The process is a 400 MHZ Intel XScale PXA250. The display has a screen resolution of 240 x320 and 16 bit (64k colors). It comes with USB, Bluetooth, or infrared interface technology and the expansion slots will take Secure Digital (SD), MultiMediaCard (MMC) and a CompactFlash card. One of the features of this cheap pocket pc that is appealing to the business community is a built in voice recorder and speakers. Wireless capabilities are with Bluetooth or Infrared. It comes complete with a USB Synchronization Cable, stylus, protective bag and AC adaptor.