Dell X30

Strengths: very fast and easy to use. wireless features required no configuration changes. just turn on wireless instantly acccess the web when near access point. very solid.


Weaknesses: not many that i can see. maybe barely audible speakers.


In conclusion, I highly recommend this guy! For the price, you can't beat it for this great piece of equipment. i love how easy it is to get online with the wireless feature. i can go to most places and be able to get online and chat or check email. bluetooth makes it great and connects to my desktop very easily. it's quite small and fits nicely into my pocket and i don't leave my house without it these days. it is a high quality pda and very cheap compared to other pdas that are slower.

A high quality unit that is easy to use.
I wanted a lot of memory which this product has. I didn't care for the case that was supplied but there are some excellent after market cases available.
One complaint is that if you have questions and call Dell be in a comfortable chair since you are likely to be on the phone waiting for a long time.
Overall, would recommend this product highly.

My PDA upgrade journey has taken me from Palm to Sony clie', from Toshiba's, to Ipaq's, to the DELL AXIM X30. I've also just tried four smartphones over the last four months trying to replace my Cell & my Dell. I can't do it! SmartPhones can't compare because they usually expect you to accept some type of compromise. Loading multiple apps/multi-tasking slows them down to a crawl. Loading em up with software quickly fills their 32 to 64mb memory. So I tried 128mb phones! Again, large programs and/or multi-tasking slowed down their 196 - 300mhz processors to the point that you needed an appointment to see their next screen. Tradeoffs: No flash memory (Requires mini/micro SD memory vs reg. SD mem.). Can't edit in Word/excel. But you get a camera you can't use while running larger programs. I now use my Cingular Blackjack just for a 4000 contact cell phone, camera and voice recorder. Is my X30 Reliable??? Had it in my shirt pocket. Bad move! Suddenly, it dove into my pond while I was cleaning the filter. HEART ATTACK!!! SNATCHED IT OUT QUICKLY -but DEAD!!! Luckily my SmartPhone barely got me by. 2 days later the x30's screen came on looking real funky. 2 more days later - WORKING! 3 months later -still works FINE! You'd never know my X30 went for a swim! That experience reflects the quality, reliability and performance of my x30. PDA's are too flimsy to resist screen or internal circuit board torque (bending). The x30 has Heavy-Duty construction. Combined with a hard case, the x30 is UNSTOPPABLE!!! - well...unless you take it for a long swim :) With my 2 Gig SD card, I listen to dozens of mp3's, show off family and travel pic's I keep with me, I record/playback client testimonials. I have two bibles, 12 user manuals, numerous text articles, spreadsheets and databases loaded - and still have 1 Gig left!
The X30 has 64mb Main Memory and very GENEROUS 32mb built-in flash memory to protect apps and files if main memory fails! Its 624mhz processor makes the x30 more like a laptop - Fast and Portable. Adjustable backlight for day or night use. 3 Adjustable power modes for large applications or battery savings. Battery life is very good in energy saver mode. Spare x30 batteries are dirt cheap starting around $8.00 on ebay. You can't run out of power! The cradle recharges both the x30 and the spare battery at the same time. Plus, X30 batteries recharge extremely fast! approx. 1% every 10 secs! THAT'S 30% EVERY 5 MINUTES! THAT'S FULLY CHARGED IN 15 MIN.! All PDA's lock up sooner or later. My x30 hardly ever locks up and it recovers without problem. For a PDA, the x30 does a pretty good job of surfing the net. Worried about Wi-Fi battery drain? Buy an extra battery or two! Or use your A/C or car adaptor and surf forever. The X30 runs all apps except "Win 5.0 exclusive" apps. Not a real big deal.. Most of the latest apps work with 5.0 and earlier PDA's. I just purchased another Dell Axim X30 off ebay to replace my current one. I accidentally forced the recharge connector in backward and crushed the connector pins (I suggest CLEARLY marking the connector for use in the dark). Even though my x30 no longer SYNC's in the cradle, it still RECHARGES by cradle and connector. It also sync's wirelessly via infra-red. STURDY, RELIABLE, FAST & FEATURE PHAT! Why pay twice as much for a new Pocket PC or Palm with fewer features and less reliability?

I've had the device for over a year and bought it because of its amazing functionality and endless capabilities. I think the X30 works better than the X50! If you're looking for a great deal and top of the line product to for a starter or upgrade PDA - Get a Dell Axim!!

gths: very fast and easy to use. wireless features required no configuration changes. just turn on wireless instantly acccess the web when near access point. very solid.


Weaknesses: not many that i can see. maybe barely audible speakers.


In conclusion, I highly recommend this guy! For the price, you can't beat it for this great piece of equipment. i love how easy it is to get online with the wireless feature. i can go to most places and be able to get online and chat or check email. bluetooth makes it great and connects to my desktop very easily. it's quite small and fits nicely into my pocket and i don't leave my house without it these days. it is a high quality pda and very cheap compared to other pdas that are slower.

Overall, I think the X30 is a nice pocket pc ! Sync's easily with home computer, and does a nice job overall. The wireless really drains the battery, so you need to be careful though ! Only issue we are all having is none of us are able to beam anything ??!! We have all had units before ( pc and/or palm ) and beaming was very simple - unfortuneatly, we can not even beam X30 to X30 ?! The unit is starting to get a bit dated with the size, many new HP's are more powerful and much more compact - might think about changing over soon. All in all though, if you can get one in mint shape under $ 200 ( don't pay more than that ) it is a nice unit !!

This has helped me a ton in college. I bring it to classes and use the wireless keyboard to type notes. After a professor assigns a paper or readings, I can just put it in my tasks folder and it will remind me that its due. I really enjoy the fast internet connection too. By pushing a button on the bottom right-hand side you automatically connect to the internet. Also, if I want to type a paper I can use microsoft word moblie and when I'm done, the axim converts it to a regular document on my desktop computer. I highly recommend this device to any college student.

Very good pocket PC. the wifi connection is a plus as well as the blue tooth. the windows based OS makes it easier to navegate.

I recently purchased the Dell Axim X30 PDA (312Mhz, WiFi, Bluetooth). It works so much better than I expected. It's super quick and snappy. Surprisingly, it has the ability to work with software that is supposedly non-compatible with it.

I picked up a copy of TomTom Navigator 6 with a bluetooth GPS receiver, and the X30 works very well with the software. However, you do have to have it plugged into the 12V adapter plug in your car to get the system to work at it full performance level. I tested the GPS around town, and it keeps up with the car no problem, it doesn't have any lag and also accurately shows the speed that you are traveling at. The Bluetooth works pretty well, and holds a connection to the GPS receiver even being 6 feet away.

The WiFi in the Axim X30 also works very well. It connects to the network very quickly. It takes less time for the Axim to connect to the WiFi network than my Sony laptop with Vista. Surfing the internet takes a little to get used to, because the screen is so tiny (compared to my laptop). The WiFi on the X30 can pick up on networks very easily, so it's pretty easy for me to go around and find open networks in my area.

The battery life is not super long on my X30, however, it is quite old and does have the original battery so I wasn't expecting it to last all day. The standard battery that comes with the Axim X30 is 950mAh. I did find high capacity ones on eBay that are rated at 2000mAh for under $15. With the current old battery in it, I can get 2-3 hours on a single charge. If you are running the WiFi and Bluetooth at the same time, it will reduce the battery life.

I have found an easy time finding different themes for it and various games for it. One of the nice things about this is that since it uses Windows Mobile 2003 SE, a lot of the programs that you would want are free downloads now. It doesn't always do well with the programs that are for Windows Mobile 5 or 6, but some of the programs can work on it such as the TomTom Navigation 6 software as mentioned above.

This was my first real PDA in a very long time, and I'm impressed with all of the cool things that I can do with it. It is also nice that it does not cost a whole lot to get one. I scored mine on eBay for $43.

Overall, I would say that this is a very well designed PDA and I would recommend it for anyone who wants a PDA but doesn't want to spend hundreds of dollars.

The unit is great, especially with the built-in wifi and its sleek design. However, be careful if you're looking for upgrades or updated PPC applications. The unit comes with PPC OS2003 and if you try using PPC applications made for any other version then 2003 then you may have some compatibility issues. You're pretty much stuck with what's available out there which means the unit is obsolete as it is since nobody wants to write applications for such an old version anymore.

Its a great pocket pc, I use it for a gps device and its great. If you looking for an inexpensive pocket pc this is the one to get.

I would give this tidy little unit an excellent except that I can't get the wireless to work. It finds my network at home and at work but I can't seem to get it to accept my WEP keys. It won't go online. I have tried turning my encryption off at home but that didn't work either. I know it should because it successfully recognizes any wireless networks it finds. I have to admit, I've used almost every type of electronic hardware except a PDA - I've never had a need until my recent job change. Now I find myself learning all about these things. Apart from that, it is very fast and seems to work without flaw. Again, learning how to write so that the letters are recognized is the toughest part but it's getting there. Support seems to be poor from Dell though. No one seems to be having wireless problems like me. I've set up all my own wireless configurations on my PC, laptop, wireless printer, router, etc but this little thing is driving me nuts. Maybe someone has hints?
Great little unit otherwise.

I cannot speak about the quality of the Axim X30, since the selleer failed to deliver after payment was made

I really like the fact that this PDA uses Windows software. I was required to have this for school, and it is perfect for the programs that I use. It is a practical machine, with great funcionality.

I was a devout HP IPAQ user. My latest IPAQ was a 2215. So, most of my comparisons in this review are based on my knowledge of the 2215.

I did some research on the AXIM and zeroed in on the X30 High. The High version includes the cradle, Bluetooth and WiFi. I felt that this model would best suit my needs.

After my online order was placed, it was received about 3-4 day later (kudos to Dell for fast shipping). Upon first viewing of the X30 in person, I must say I was somewhat shocked. The unit is much thinner than my 2215 and this was a major plus. However, I didn’t care for the squared off edges. I was very comfortable with the rounded feeling of the 2215. But I quickly got past that when I powered up the unit and starting playing.

The 64mb and 624MHz is probably more than I need, but who cares! This makes life so much better. The clarity of the screen is great. In fact I think it may be a bit cleaner/sharper than my 2215. The stylus, at first glance, didn’t seem practical. This flat stylus appeared as though it would be difficult to use. Nope, I was wrong. Although flat, it is quite easy to hold and stores neatly in the side slot.

The quick access buttons are a bit on the small side for my fat fingers. But, none the less, are useful and serve a purpose. You are able to program the buttons to do what you’d like. I was able to program one of the buttons to change the screen between landscape and portrait mode. In addition to the standard buttons there are two additional buttons. One is for the voice recorder. The IPAQ 2215 did away with this. You had to program one of the other buttons for that purpose. Having a dedicated record button is so useful. The other button is to turn on/off the WiFi and Bluetooth. On the left side of the unit, there is a scroll button (similar to the Sony units). I don’t have too much use for this.

The WiFi was easy to setup. I have WiFi in my house. When I turned on the WiFi it recognized the connection and I entered my WEP and off I was, surfing away. I thought this may have just been easy because it was my own WiFi. So, while at a hotel in Manhattan, I connected to their system and it was just as easy.

The X30 has a slot for a SD card. Although my IPAQ 2215 had both the CF and SD, I don’t miss the CF slot. I purchased a 1GB SD card and I’m all set. I can download songs onto this card and use the built in phones jack. Just don't use the built in speaker. It’s terrible.

The case is a nice leather (leatherette) slip case. The IPAQ slip case was too tight and cause scuff marks on the side grips. This case is tight but does not damage the unit at all. As far as the battery life, I haven’t really noticed the time on it. Perhaps it’s because I place it in the cradle every day.

As with any Pocket PC, there are a ton of accessories for the Dell. From cases and screen protectors to additional stylus, it’s limitless. I love this unit. I would recommend it to anyone.

I've had one of these for over 2 years and it has never given me a problem. The wireless has always worked fine and if you want to shut it off to save battery life, there is a button on the side to do that. My only complaint (and it's minor) is that the wireless indicator light blinks when Wi-Fi is active and that can be irritating. I haven't figured out how to turn it off. It does not have a camera, but I believe there is a camera adapter you can buy for it.

In a hard case it is a bit too big to fit in a shirt pocket, but you don't want it there anyways -- when you bend over, it will fall out. I'd recommend getting some kind of holder to wear it on your belt.

I especially like the rotating screen - you can view everything in landscape or portrait mode with a software switch. This is especially good when editing a document or viewing web pages. Its browser has options that let you look at just about any website. Some advanced graphics don't always display properly, however.

Battery life is good. You should probably expect to charge it every night with the standard battery, especially if you use the Wi-Fi a lot. Dell does make an extended life battery that I didn't buy. The charger has an extra slot for an additional battery.

It has a slot for a standard SD card which is accessed through the top of the device. With a 1gb SD card, you can keep a lot of songs or pictures on the device. I have heard that with the right software you can also convert DVDs to play on the media player. It has reasonable sound output, but you can plug in standard headphones to use it as an MP3 player (just remember to get a good sized SD card to hold the songs).

It is fully interfaced with MS Outlook 2002 and the sync works easily using the included USB cable. You can also sync via a wireless network. This works very well and is easy to set up. If you use a Mac, I believe that there is software to allow you to sync with your data as well.

I liked this product so much that after I got mine, I just got one for my son for Christmas. Right out of the box easy to operate, connected with our wireless router without difficulty. I would recommend the 64mb 624mhz machine to anyone. I am able to surf the web at my job and check my email. Also can IM or use instant messenger, watch movies, the choices are endless. I also have a dell computer and found that dell is an excellent product. So find one, buy one, and you will enjoy one!

I recently purchased one of these units and have been using it throughout the beginning of the semester. Let's just skip to the nitty gritty:

The good: The screen is bright. The wireless works fairly well. It also has an expansion slot for SD Cards.

The bad: The wireless itself can be fairly finicky about switching between networks. However, turning off the wireless then turning it back on usually fixes this. The other problem I have is that clicking the 'X' on programs does not seem to close them. Programs continue to run in the background unless ended under the 'Memory' menu in the System settings. The battery life itself is seems to be rather short, however, I'm taking into account that this unit is not new; it is used, and that having the wireless on drains the battery.

Overall, I'm very pleased with the Axim X30. It's a great PDA and the bad aspects are really fairly minor. Load your Axim with TCPMP and you can watch video encoded in just about every codec. Couple this with a 2gig SD Card and you have a very nice portable movie player.

This is a great pda in that it is fast, easy to view, has good sound quality and is a true multitasking machine. I use it daily and appreciate how easy it is to operate. I have been a dyed in the wool palm guy until this product. The only drawback to the pda in my opinion is that it is a battery hog. If you are listening to mp3's using the wifi and trying to study, or operate a spreadsheet --- look out because your battery will not last very long. I have purchased a long lasting battery for the pda and between the two, I have enough power. But if you are used to the palm's long lasting battery beware. My palm m500 I charge only about once a month. The dell must be charged daily or I will run out of battery. Of course I don't multitask with the palm and it has no wifi capability, no color screen etc. Also, there is a ton of freeware for the palm and not so much for the axim x30.

My old PPC died (a crummy IPaq) and I needed a replacement. The Axim 30 fit my needs perfectly. It arrived in perfect condition, with all that was promised by the seller. I am very happy with the unit. It is working flawlessly and performs exactly as promised. I am extremely happy with the unit, and very pleased with the seller.

Great pocket pc wireless works great calendar easy also. Alot cheaper than new with all the options I needed.

I can have with me a lot of ebooks...the battery is ok...I'm very satisfied with this Pocket pc. The price was excelent..and the quality the same. It is the fastest PDA, and is working very fast...big screen..light...fit perfect in my pocket..

This product was excellent. It was in great shape and is simple to use.Programs that were installed were really helpful. It needed a drug handbook and a medical dictionary.