Dopod U1000

It features a large 5-inch VGA display with 640 x 480 pixel resolution, making it easy to read large fonts on the go. The screen also looks very bright and is good for viewing graphics. The touch screen is effective at registering input through handwriting and a virtual on-screen keyboard.

Its only drawback is its size and weight. It is 133 mm long, 98 mm wide and 16 mm high. It weighs 375 grams, including its QWERTY magnetic keyboard.

The size and weight are forgivable if users regard it as a mini-notebook computer, as Dopod puts it. As a mini-notebook, the U1000 comes with sufficient memory and storage. It has 256 megabytes of ROM for storing applications and 128 MB of RAM with 8 gigabytes of MicroDrive. With the MicroDrive, you many not need to expand storage by using the MiniSD slot provided, which can use up to 4GB on a MiniSD card.

It also comes with many options for wireless connections, including 3G, 3.5G and EDGE as well as a wireless LAN connection. Motorists should appreciate the U1000's GPS system and the GPS navigation application.

The Dopod U1000 runs on Windows Mobile 5.0 for Pocket PC Phone Edition and is pre-loaded with all the necessary applications, including PDF and Opera browsers, apart from the applications which are included in the Windows Mobile suite.

The U1000 comes with a detachable keyboard which attaches to the handheld using magnets. The magnets are very strong and align the connectors on the U1000 perfectly with those on the keyboard.

When not in use, the keyboard can placed flat against the face of the device, doubling as a cover for the screen.

It requires much practice to touch-type with this tiny keyboard as fingers tend to be larger than the keys.

The Dopod U1000 has a suggested retail price of Bt49,900.

The Nation