LG Phenom Express review

It just isn't fair: no matter what it is, we in the UK always seem to get the cool stuff after everyone else. Whether it's movies, games or computer technology, Japan and the US are invariably given the first shot. And technology in particular often never makes it here at all.

For instance, NEC's large format Windows CE portable, the MobilePro 750c, has yet to appear, even though it's made quite a splash in the US. Nor are there any European plans as yet for the similar Vadem Clio. Finally, however, some things do seem to be filtering through to the UK, first up being HP's excellent Jornada (reviewed issue 52, p176), and now the LG Phenom Express.

Like the MobilePro 750c and the Jornada, the Express belongs to the new breed of larger form factor Windows CE devices. This new breed, together with the latest craze for subnotebooks, is blurring the distinction between full Windows 95/98 notebooks and those running Windows CE. In fact, you could well mistake the Express for a subnotebook. Sit it it next to the Fujitsu LifeBook Biblio (reviewed p158) and you'll see there's little difference in terms of physical size: the Express is lighter at 830g and about a centimetre shorter from back to front, but it's roughly the same width and thickness.

The differences between the two become more apparent when you open them up. The Express plumps for the stylus and touch-screen approach, unlike the Biblio and HP's Jornada, which both employ a touchpad pointing device. The Express' 7.6in, 640 x 240 screen is also considerably smaller and can only display up to 256 colours, but it's perfectly adequate for the standard array of Pocket Office apps included with the unit. On the down side, though, I did detect a strange yellowish tinge running along the bottom of the screen.

Since the Express doesn't need to make room for a touchpad, however, its keyboard is actually bigger than the Biblio's. It's very usable, boasting large key tops, a good solid feel and a positive action. This has to be the most usable keyboard on a Windows CE device yet, along with the Jornada's, and after a little bit of practice I was close to my normal typing speed. Although the Express is being marketed as the 'ultimate mobile email device', with a keyboard this good it's also well suited to more intensive word processing tasks.

In terms of connectivity, the Express has another ace up its sleeve. As well as the usual PC Card slot, infrared and serial ports, there are also parallel and VGA ports. These are hidden by the battery compartment at the back, which pulls out and folds underneath. Using these ports, you can print directly from the Express to any PCL 3- or HPLJ II-compatible printer and display PowerPoint presentations using the supplied Pocket PowerPoint software. You'll also find a telephone line-out socket, belying the presence of a V.90 56K modem. Providing your ISP is compatible, you'll be able to use your Express to pick up email and browse the Web independently of your desktop PC. Setup is a little tricky, however.

It's when you turn on the Express that the real differences between it and subnotebooks are revealed. Despite its appearance, the Express can't match the Biblio in terms of sheer power. It's fine for word processing, simple spreadsheet work, emailing and calendar functions, but for anything more ambitious you'd be better off with a fully-featured Windows notebook. That said, synchronisation with Outlook for email, calendar appointments, contacts, tasks and files is both seamless and continuous, allowing you to keep up to date and in contact when away from your desk. You don't have to wait for it to boot either.