Inexpensive, compact, efficient handheld computer

Evgenie Rudometov

http://www.rudometov.com

ASUSTeK corporation on the basis of the processor of Intel PXA250 of microarchitecture of Intel XScale with clock rate has developed of 400 MHz and has released the pocket personal computer of handheld computer ASUSMyPal A600 which differs in the small weight, a convenient construction and wide functionality, and also the rich software.

The rapid progress in the field of solid-state technologies has provided appearance in the market of chips of superhigh complexity with wide functionality. Using them, designers of computer equipment have developed wide gamma of the supercompact programmed processing circuits known as pocket personal computers — a handheld computer (Pocket PC) or as it is accepted to name them all over the world, PDA — Personal Digital Assistant — the Personal Digital Assistant.

Personal computers of this class are characterised by small weight and dimensions. Representatives of the given arrangements easily are located in a palm (them, by the way, therefore often name nalodonnikami) hands. They are easy, functional and capable to work some hours without a recharge: some models — more than 10 hours. Computing power of such arrangements exceeds similar possibilities of the big desktop systems, released all any about five-ten years ago. Thus the architecture of accessories and a handheld computer as a whole are permanently perfected, that promotes release of more and more perfect products possessing still the big functionality. Really, to the standard set including standard office operations and leisure with usage of built in audio and video resources, in the newest products various newest interfaces are added. These interfaces quite often provide wireless access to the information by means of the appropriate built in hardware-software resources.

However, despite development and constant overgrowth of release of superadvanced models of a handheld computer, it is necessary to recognise, that in many cases have not lost the attractiveness and earlier created variants from known computer manufacturers. Such compact processing devices of the information are quite often characterised by the big functionality and rather considerable productivity, sufficient for performance of a considerable part of office and multimedia tasks. For the score of constant reduction of price and the stored system and applied software, the given compact arrangements possess high attractiveness for many experts. Especially it concerns those users who does not aspire to purchase of expensive, modern products and is anxious by saving of the financial resources put in means, promoting intensifications of their operation linked to information processing.

As an example of such arrangements it is possible to result handheld computer ASUSMyPal A600 of ASUSTeK corporation. A basis of this model of the pocket personal computer is the processor of Intel PXA250 of microarchitecture of Intel XScale. It is necessary to mark, that handheld computer ASUSMyPal A600 even after rather long time after its announcement remains to one of the most efficient and popular arrangements created on the basis of Intel PXA250.

Structure of a package of handheld computer ASUS MyPal A600

Fig. 1. A package of handheld computer ASUS MyPal A600

Pocket personal computer ASUSMyPal A600 is delivered in two variants of a complete set. The first variant — standard, the second — Deluxe.

The structure of a standard package of handheld computer ASUSMyPal A600 includes following accessories:

·       HANDHELD COMPUTER ASUSMyPal A600,

·        the Pen — stilus, 1 piece,

·        the Adapter of power supply of handheld computer ASUSMyPal A600 with a network cord and a set of plugs-converters (an input terminal — 100~240 In / 0,5 And / 50~60 Hz; an output — 5 In / 3 ),

·        the Cable of synchronisation USB (40-pin), used for hooking up to the PC,

·        the Protective cover,

·       Microsoft Companion OF CD-ROM,

·        the User manual of handheld computer ASUSMyPal A600 in Russian,

·        the Quick reference guide of handheld computer ASUSMyPal A600 in Russian,

·        the Guarantee coupon.

Into structure of a package of handheld computer ASUSMyPal A600 Deluxe enter:

·       HANDHELD COMPUTER ASUSMyPal A600,

·        an USB-support — kredl for handheld computer MyPalA600,

·        the Pen — stilus, 2 pieces,

·        the Adapter of power supply of handheld computer ASUSMyPal A600 with a network cord and a set of plugs-converters (an input terminal — 100~240 In / 0,5 And / 50~60 Hz; an output — 5 In / 3 ),

·        the Cable of synchronisation USB (40-pin), used for hooking up to the PC,

·        Minicable USB for the holder,

·        the Protective cover,

·        the Fabric for rubbing of is liquid-crystalline display screen of handheld computer MyPalA600,

·       Microsoft Companion OF CD-ROM,

·        Additional CD-ROM with the software,

·        the User manual of handheld computer ASUSMyPal A600 in Russian,

·        the Quick reference guide of handheld computer ASUSMyPal A600 in Russian,

·        the Guarantee coupon.

Estimating completeness of handheld computer ASUSMyPal A600, it is necessary to mark, that the computer in sale arrives in the English-speaking version of the menu of the operating system and the software. For russification of handheld computer ASUSMyPal A600 it is possible to use software products from the known Paragon corporation, delivered on CD-ROM.

The main technical parametres and pattern

Fig. 2. Handheld computer ASUS MyPal A600

Features of design and interfaces

Fig. 3. Basic elements of interfaces of a handheld computer

Basis of the architecture of handheld computer ASUSMyPal A600 is rather powerful processor of Intel PXA250 of microarchitecture of Intel XScale with clock rate to 400 MHz. This processor provides high efficiency in office and multimedia tasks, including audio and video information processing.

When high efficiency is not required, operation of handheld computer ASUSMyPal A600 in an economic mode with the reduced clock rate is possible. The processing technique low energopotreblenija, realised for the given processor at the expense of reduction of productivity of a handheld computer, considerably increases an operating time from the secondary generator built in lithium-polymeric.

In the same cases when for performance of tasks in view of productivity in a standard mode insufficiently, the increase in clock rate of operation of accessories is possible.

Fig. 4. Examples of customisation of handheld computer MyPalA600

The choice and installation of an appropriate functional mode of a handheld computer is carried out manually in corresponding to program menus. The choice of any of three possible variants is thus possible.

Productivity of handheld computer MyPalA600 in different modes

However selecting modes with productivity high levels, it is necessary to consider, that operation of handheld computer ASUSMyPal A600 in these cases is accompanied raised energopotrebleniem, that in turn reduces an operating time from the built in accumulator battery.

Built in lithium-polymeric (Lithium Polimer) the battery, size 1200 mach, provides according to assurances of implementators of handheld computer ASUSMyPal A600 more than 10 hours (on a site — till 15-16 o'clock) operations thanks to special firm processing technique energopotreblenija ASUS Smart Power. Accumulator battery additional charge is possible as through kredl (package Deluxe), and at direct hooking up of a handheld computer to an external power supply unit. LED indication of a degree of a charge thus uses: orange — there is a charge, green — the built in accumulator battery is charged and operation with the software loaded in memory can be carried out. 

The built in memory of handheld computer ASUSMyPal A600 is presented by two types of units: the working memory (RAM — the operative storage device) and the read-only memory (ROM — the constant storage device). Thus the working memory size makes 64 Mb, the read-only memory – 32 Mb. The big informational size of the built in memory allows to work with a considerable quantity of applications.

Fig. 5. Examples of the system software installed in handheld computer ASUSMyPal A600

Fig. 6. Examples of the applied software of handheld computer ASUSMyPal A600

The liquid crystal mirroring colour touch panel allows to output the map with the permission 0,22 dpi at 240х320 with a considerable quantity of colours which can reach 65536 (64 ) colours. Possibilities of the screen provide bright front highlighting and hand-written input.

Basis of the system software is the operating system of Microsoft Pocket PC 2002. As a part of this OS special menu FSC SpeedMenu — the menu of a quick start of applications is provided . It allows to open fast documents, handheld computer and folder programs with which regular operation is carried out.

Built in the architecture of a handheld computer of a resource of infra-red link provide wireless interconnection and data transfer with the various arrangements, incorporating similar resources that expands functionality of handheld computer ASUSMyPal A600.

In conclusion of the given short browse it is necessary to mark, that, of course, it is impossible to consider pocket personal computers as equivalent changeover to notebooks or desktop PCs. But handheld computers can and should be considered as addition to the enumerated types of computers.

Handheld computer MyPal A600 is given by the Moscow representation of ASUSTeK corporation