Dell Axim X50v

We were also impressed by the build quality of the X50v, with a solid feel that inspires confidence. Another nice touch is the Hold button, allowing you to shove the Axim into a pocket without accidentally switching it on (also useful when listening to music on the new Windows Media Player 10 Mobile).

Where Dell's designers could have done better was the navigation button. We actually found this quite irritating; even when we tried to press down very carefully on the central button to activate a program, we often accidentally pressed one of the directional buttons too. If you're easily irritated, you might also choose to disable the Wireless on/off and Record buttons that sit on the left of the unit, as these are all too easy to press when picking up the Axim.

It's a little disappointing that Dell doesn't include any extra software to take advantage of the extra screen space (unlike HP, which bundles Pocket Informant), but as always Dell has one key factor in its favour: price. The Axim X50v is the cheapest Pocket PC around with a 480 x 640 screen, undercutting both HP and Fujitsu Siemens by around £50. And if you just want to take advantage of the X50's new design, a plain 'X50 416MHz' costs £237 (£278 inc VAT).

The Axim X50v certainly deserves to be recommended: it offers great value for money, is the only high-resolution Pocket PC that fits easily into a pocket, and boasts that unique graphics chip. However, the HP retains its place on our A List thanks to its gorgeous screen and software bundle, which take full advantage of the 480 x 640 resolution.

Author: Tim Danton