ASUS MYPAL A730

PDA manufacturers are enticing more consumers to leave laptops and gadgets at home, with improved screens, multimedia tools and wireless capabilities. Asus is right on target with its latest offering, the MyPal A730 Pocket PC (£352 inc. VAT). It's a flashy follow up to the utilitarian MyPal A716, and it features a high-resolution camera and 3D graphics. The MyPal A730 incorporates a 1.3-megapixel camera with camcorder function - a high enough resolution for providing decent 4 x 6- inch prints. Asus also has added a flash, which greatly increases the usability of the camera. The face of the MyPal A730 is a unique shade of dark grey with a hint of purple while the back cover is silver. Rounded edges on the bottom provide a comfortable grip. A spare stylus and docking cradle are included in the box, along with a protective carrying case.

After the camera, the most outstanding feature of the A730 is its gorgeous display. The 3.7- inch screen takes advantage of the flexibility of its Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition operating system, which allows for larger displays. The 65K colour screen is 480 x 640-pixel (XVGA) resolution rather than the standard 240 x 340 pixels. You can also switch between portrait and landscape modes, handy for viewing images and working on spreadsheets. Text is exceptionally crisp and readable, while 3D icons complete the pleasant visual experience. The design is clean with only the application buttons and four-way navigation pad on the front of the device. The power and camera buttons are located along one side, and the headphone jack is placed pragmatically on the top. Fortunately, the buttons are readily programmable - the camera button triggered the voice recorder until we reassigned it. The camera lens and speaker are on the rear, and the stylus is tucked away on the bottom of the unit. The awkward placement of the stylus means it can't be accessed while the handheld is in the dock- ing cradle, but the cradle has a stylus-holder to resolve this. Measuring 118 x 73 x 17mm and weighing 170g, the A730 is a reasonable size for slipping into a pocket.

DUAL EXPANSION
For connectivity, the A730 is equipped with Bluetooth and Infrared. Infrared still comes in handy for no-fuss data beaming. Its predecessor, the A716 (£316 inc. VAT), incorporated both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The A730's dual CompactFlash and SD expansion slots allow you to add Wi-Fi with room to spare, but it's a costly solution setting you back £50 to £75. The MyPal A730 is powered by the latest Intel XScale processor, the PXA270, in this instance running at 520MHz. This chip has enough muscle for multimedia applications and supports PIM functions with ease. We found video play- back to be smooth. Memory takes the form of 64MB RAM, with 48MB user accessible. This is the minimum we would expect for the price. The 64MB of flash ROM allows you to upgrade to future versions of the OS.

One of the drawbacks of the MyPal A730 is battery life. It lasted only three hours and 50 minutes when we looped MP3s at full volume and brightness with wireless turned off, although Asus gives an estimate of nine hours. You can expect more life when running office applications, but the A730 is being touted as a multimedia companion. Wireless functions are also a major drain. The battery is removable so it might be wise to carry a spare for long journeys away from mains power. The lack of dual wireless and a limited battery life are the Asus MyPal A730's primary shortcomings. Buyers should also look at the HP iPAQ rx3715 (£369 inc. VAT), which has a 1.2-megapixel camera, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi for around the same price. Users looking for a stylish handheld with vibrant graphics and a high-resolution camera will enjoy the MyPal A730. Asus has created an elegant organiser that can double as a mobile media machine.

RATING 7
PRICE £299/£352 (EX/INC. VAT)
PROCESSOR 520MHz Intel PXA270
OPERATING SYSTEM Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition
MEMORY 64MB RAM (48MB user accessible), 64MB Flash ROM
EXPANSION SDIO, CF
CONNECTIVITY Infrared, Bluetooth
SCREEN 3.7-inch VGA, 640 x 480 pixels
SIZE 118 x 73 x 17mm
WEIGHT 170g
CONTACT 01908 518 000 www.asus.com