Updated: Part2 of Review of the Asus MyPal 730

[bkbroil]

Updated: Part 2 of the review has been posted
I found this review while looking at PocketPCTools.com. I really like the look of this device... VGA, 520Mhz, smaller than the Toshiba, internal camera, bluetooth and wi-fi! This looks like an e800 killer! Not to mention, it's got a nice full sized stylus.
The device is weighty but not heavy. The new device, which weighs 170g, wasn’t felt in the inside the pocket of the coat, but felt in the pocket of the shirt. So, the dimensions of this handheld with two expansion slots are close to optimum. Today it is the smallest handheld with VGA-screen, taking into account Sharp Zaurus and the future HP iPaq hx4700 series.
The body of the model is rather controversial. The front edge of the screen is made of the qualitative dark-blue plastic, it is pleasant to touch, not slippery. The back cover and the sides are made of glossy silver plastic. There is no illusion of metallic surface and a little bit slippery. Probably the commercial version of the device will be made of a better plastic (we tested pre-commercial R&D sample), taking into account that plastic in the commercial Asus A620 was considerably improved compared to prototypes.

[Brad Isaac]

This MyPal is definately tempting. I was pretty impressed by prior ASUS models. It is becoming quite competative out there -- which is good for us since more competition = better devices for less $$$$.

[bkbroil]

For some reason I thought the Asus weren't available in the US....do they carry these in any of the brick and mortar stores?

[jkendrick]

Asus says the A730 will be available in the US end of July. First will be the Bluetooth model with the WiFi model appearing later in the year. This looks like a nifty device but I like the 4" screen of the HP 4700 better. It's also interesting that HP had posted on their support website a reference to the HP rx4700 TV Pocket PC but removed the link when some sites brought attention to it.

[staypuft]

Any idea how much?

[jkendrick]

I expect both the Asus and HP will be around the same $600 that the Toshiba runs. Biggest cost factor here is the CG VGA screen which is not cheap. Asus may be slightly less since it's screen is smaller than the others, although it has the camera.

[knelson]

Everytime I log on to the site I see the survey "Will you be buying a new PPC this summer... well summer is here and I want to change my vote to NO... Nothing is coming out this summer that I can find... I may buy in Fall.... have to wait for the new devices and then take my pick of the litter... I want VGA (see what you guys have started), WiFi, SDIO, and compact flash (for my Sprint Card), long battery life and lots of memory.

[noolly]

I want mini-pin firewire and a micro 40G hard drive in my ideal device so I can capture and edit digital video.

[bkbroil]

Nothing is coming out this summer that I can find... I may buy in Fall.... have to wait for the new devices and then take my pick of the litter

I hear ya'.....I think around Oct - Nov time frame is when you see the best devices being introduced for the Christmas buying season. I betcha there will a number of VGA devices available at that time...and if I can throw out my 2 cents, wait for a VGA device.

[Brad Isaac]

I watched some movies on the plane ride to Hawaii, and they were pretty good quality on the standard screen. I imagine it would be GREAT on VGA.

[bkbroil]

The movies on the VGA screen are excellent!

[bkbroil]

Part 2 of the review has been posted.

[jkendrick]

Originally Posted by Brad Isaac

I watched some movies on the plane ride to Hawaii, and they were pretty good quality on the standard screen. I imagine it would be GREAT on VGA.

Ever see that Sierra Mist commercial where the two monkeys build a catapult because it's so hot outside and use it to launch one of the monkeys over the wall into the icy polar bear pool? And then he shrieks with joy cause he's so refreshed?
Yeah, it's like that.