Asus MyPal A626

Description: The Asus Mypal A626 is a Pocket PC-based, consumer-oriented handheld device.Compared to other consumer-oriented handhelds on the market, it is midpriced at around $270.You can expand the memory of this unit using Secure Digital (SD), or MMC media.The Microsoft Windows mobile 5.0 operating system comes installed on this handheld.

Pros: Offers IEEE 802.11g, Bluetooth 2.0 EDR, IEEE 802.11b, and IrDA wireless capability, which is considerably better than some similarly priced handhelds.By way of comparison, the typical cost of a product with a comparable set of wireless capability is $430.Also, this handheld runs on the Microsoft Windows mobile 5.0 operating system, which is somewhat more advanced than some similarly priced handhelds.

Cons: Since this device runs on Pocket PC, it will work only with Windows, not with Linux or Macintosh operating systems.

Suitability: A consumer-oriented handheld, suited for every-day use.Also, this handheld should be adequate for viewing color images (given that it supports 64,000 colors at a resolution of 240x320).You can use the Bluetooth capability of this device to connect to cell phones and other devices that are similarly enabled.The Asus Mypal A626 supports MP3 playback, meaning you can listen to audio tracks which are stored in memory.This PDA includes Wi-Fi (802.11b) compatibility and can be used to access the internet at various wireless enabled "hotspots".

Value: Overall, this handheld has great features for the money.Nonetheless, take note that about $240 is the estimated street price of PDAs with similar processing power.

Suggestions: (1) If you think you'll enter large amounts of data, consider getting an external portable keyboard for your PDA.(2) To see how this PDA stacks up against our Editor's top picks, check out the Handhelds Feature on CNET Reviews.

CNET's Product Briefs are generated by a software tool that combines product specifications with knowledge of our editorial experts. They do not reflect hands-on assessment or labs testing. For more information about how we create Product Briefs, contact us.

• Manufacturer: Asus
• Part Number: 90A-S5A1002T

• General

• Dimensions (W x D x H) 2.8 in x 0.6 in x 4.6 in
• Weight 5.6 oz
• Features Anti-glare
• Packaged contents Car holder, Protection bag, Cigarette lighter adapter

• Operating System / Software

• OS provided Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0
• Software included Notes, Tasks, Calendar, Contacts, ActiveSync, File Explorer, Voice Recorder, Microsoft Word Mobile, Microsoft Excel Mobile, Microsoft Pocket Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint Mobile, Windows Media Player Mobile, Microsoft Internet Explorer Mobile

• Memory

• Installed RAM 64 MB
• RAM technology SDRAM
• Installed ROM 128 MB Flash

• Processor

• Processor Intel 312 MHzXScale

• Input Device

• Input device type Stylus, Touch-screen, 4-way navigation button

• Audio

• Digital audio standards supported MP3, WMA
• Audio input type Microphone
• Audio output type Speaker(s)
• Voice recording capability Yes

• Telecom

• Modem None

• Display

• Display type 3.5 in TFT active matrix
• Color support 16-bit (64K colors)
• Max resolution 240 x 320

• Expansion / Connectivity

• Wireless connectivity IrDA, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, Bluetooth 2.0 EDR
• Port / Connector Type:Interface 1HeadphonesOutput, 1USB
• Connector Provided Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm
• Expansion slot(s) total (free) 1 SD Memory Card
• Cable(s) included 1 x USB cable

• Power

• Battery installed (max) 1 Lithium ion
• Power supply device Power adapter

• GPS

• GPS System / GPS Navigation None

Asus

Manufacturer profile

• Website: http://www.asus.com/
• Address: 44370 Nobel Drive, Fremont, CA. 94538
• Phone: +1-510-739-3777
• Email: tmd1@asus.com
• Fax: +1-510-608-4555