Power-packed to make life easier

State-of-the-art smartphones, mobile phones, PDAs, laptops, mobile technology¹s moving at breakneck speed

A little computer that can do almost all the main functions of a PC while you're on the move and can fit into your pocket or handbag ‹ the Pocket PC, the handheld or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) has quickly become a necessary tool for professionals and business executives the world over. The variety of PDAs on offer is vast and buyers can choose one according what they expect from it.

Those who want a PDA can buy one with all the features they want, or opt for a mobile phone with PDA functions called the Smartphone so they have only one gadget instead of two to carry around.

Most manufacturers such as PalmOne, HP-Ipaq, Fujitsu-Siemens, Sony, Everex, I-Mate and others, offer PDAs with advanced and convenient features.

If the user intends to do a lot of writing on the PDA, such as emails, small reports, accounts, etc., then one with a touch screen, stylus or a mini keyboard would do. In case more features such as camera, more memory, GPS navigation systems, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Palm or Microsoft Pocket PC operating systems, integrated expansion slot, USB HotSync Cradle, infrared, radio, MP3 Player, etc. are required, different models incorporating such features are available.

The Palm One Zire 72 is reasonably priced and user-friendly. It has 312 Mhz processor, 32 MB RAM, Palm OS 5.2.8, a 1.2 mega-pixel digital camera, SD expansion slot, and Bluetooth. PalmOne Tungsten C has Intel Xscale 400 Mhz processor, 64 MB memory, backlit TFT screen, Palm 5.2.1 OS, built-in Wi-Fi, infrared and built-in keypad. Both models come with one-year warranty.

The HP-Ipaq H5450 has a beautiful screen with 65,000 colours and TFT display. It is fantastic at wireless connectivity with Bluetooth as well. It also has a biometric fingerprint reader and uses the Microsoft Pocket PC 2002 operating system.

Two PDAs from Fujitsu-Siemens LOOX 610 and LOOX 420 are no-nonsense business machines packed with useful and sturdy features such as 400 Mhz processors, 64 MB RAM, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi etc. They come with two-year warranties.

The I-Mate Smartphone 2 is a PDA and a mobile phone in one and comes with a vast array of features and functions. 132 Mhz processor, 64 MB ROM and 32 MB RAM, 2.2-inch LCD screen, Infrared, Bluetooth, USB docking station and built-in camera are just some of the features that make the Smartphone 2 a delight to use and own.

Siemens offers the Smartphone Siemens SX1 with most of the above features and using GPRS system. Sony Ericsson P900 is also a Smartphone with attractive features, including a camera that captures stills and video pictures.

Mobile phones

Smartphones are smart no doubt but there are mobile phones, which are not only smart but also stylish, beautiful, user-friendly, fun and truly hi-tech. While Nokia is still ahead and other brands are quickly catching up, there's keen competition among manufacturers to bring in newer models with better features to lure consumers. Names such as Samsung, Sony Ericsson, LG, Motorola, Pantech, Siemens, Alcatel, Treo, Haier and others, are contenders to capture a slice of the burgeoning mobile phones market.

Nokia, which offers mobile phones to satisfy customers from the lower to the higher end of the market, is the most popular brand in the UAE. Many swear by the phones' sturdiness, reliability and user-friendliness. Nokia 7610 has a mega pixel camera with standard and night modes and self-timer that brings forth print-quality pictures and can record video for up to 10 minutes. The Movie Director application facilitates automated fun video production. The phone also allows users mobile Internet browsing. Nokia 3220 is a fun phone with integrated camera, Xpress-on fun shell, MIDI ring tones, Tri-band, and allows messaging, browsing, gaming and connectivity. Nokia N-GAGE series made for serious gaming is a hit with youngsters and the young at heart.

Samsung mobile phones cater to the middle and high-end segments of the market and are stylish, feature-filled, light and easy to use. The new SGH-E800, a creative and cool handset outfitted with a soft-touch slide design and a camera with a distinctive hidden flash, has all of the most powerful features available in mobile technology. This GPRS phone utilises WAP for web surfing, and MMS technology for messaging.

Taking and saving vivid pictures with the Samsung SGH-E600 is easy as it actually boasts a high-resolution camera! This tiny camera phone features dual TFT colour displays, video clip recording, tri-band world roaming, Java, infrared, voice memo, and MMS.

The SGH-P730 is a perfect combination of function and design. With a mega-pixel camera and swing folding style, the SGH-P730's unique and convenient design allows the user to rotate the LCD screen horizontally for shooting.

Video-calling enabled phone

Sony Ericsson Z200 and Z600 are stylish clamshell type mood-enhancing phones that come in a variety of colours customers can choose at will. Z1010 is a new 3G video-calling enabled phone that allows you to see the person you call in full colour and in real time movement, with the person at the other end able to see you too! It has full-speed video messaging and MP3 player that make it entertaining. Connecting to the Internet is also easy.

Pantech G600 claims to be the smallest clamshell type phone with built-in VGA camera with flash, messaging, 260 K colour evident in the main and external display screens.

LG was the first mobile phone company ever to launch a phone with Mecca indicator. LG F7100 is a slide-down type phone with an inbuilt Mecca indicator and Azaan function in addition to WAP, Java, messaging and other functions. It alerts Muslim users when it is time for prayer.

Haier P5, a new phone in the market, is a dual band pen style phone that weighs just 66 grams and is compact yet rich in features such as digital voice recorder, laser pointer, polyphonic ring tones and blue LCD panel.

Notebook computers

Laptops or notebook computers are becoming so popular that sales of the PC are actually going down. Everyone from school and college students to senior managers, directors, deans and professors has a laptop that allows them to carry their work with them wherever they go. With Wi-Fi hotspots or areas where wireless Internet connection is available, increasing in the region, connecting to the Internet from the notebook is going to be the norm. Manufacturers have already enabled several notebook models with wireless Internet capability for users to take advantage of the convenience of Wi-Fi hotspots.

Acer has one of the largest offerings of notebook PCs available in the Middle East, catering to both the corporate and consumer market. Acer TravelMate 3200 features Intel Centrino wireless technology, a 14.1" TFT LCD screen, integrated DVD-CD Rewriter drive, integrated gigabit-LAN for fast network connection, and weighs just 2kg. The Aspire 1680 offers superior wireless performance with Intel Centrino, a 15.4" panoramic display and a DVD-dual drive for Small Office Home Office, SMB and home market users.

While the TravelMate 3200 is ideally suited for the busy working professional, the Aspire 1680 will appeal to fun-loving users who want both computing and gaming capabilities.

Both have the user-friendly eManager interface, which allows people to optimise their power management as well as change their PC settings at the touch of a button, and an ATI Mobility Radeon graphics card. Acer's SignalUp technology which creates an omni-directional signal providing advanced connectivity, also comes as standard on