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O2 xda II
Price: £349 (with contract)

Features
Performance
Ease of use
Value for money
Overall

Reviewed By: Andy Shaw

This review updated: 05/01/2004
Featured in magazine:
Issue 72, page 34
Manufacturer Contacts:
Supplier: O2
Web Address: www.o2.co.uk


It's been over a year since O2's original Xda was launched. This mobile phone and PDA combo, running Microsoft's Pocket PC operating system, was a sophisticated proposition. Now it has a sequel, with more features, more power and more desirability.

The key features remain intact. You can use this device to make phone calls, surf the web, manage your email and organise your life. The main differences between this and its predecessor are the addition of wireless communication standard Bluetooth, a built-in digital still/video camera and the amputation of the aerial, removing any trace of lumpiness.

The device has also had its internals souped up and now features a 400MHz processor and 128Mb of memory. The first Xda was no slouch when it came to running Pocket PC applications but this device is really speedy, especially when you compare it to the kind of performance we've seen in Smartphones of late. With its GPRS connection, you don't have to wait too long for web pages and email to download either, though people who've got used to broadband might be in for an unpleasant surprise.

The operating system has been upgraded to Pocket PC 2003 and there's a slightly new O2 branded front end on display. This uses a menu system of popular applications so you don't have to go through the Start menu. This is a good thing as, slightly confusingly, it is now located just to the right of its old position and sometimes isn't labelled. This can be off-putting for someone used to older Pocket PC devices. Inputting data can be through a virtual keyboard, character or written word recognition and all work well.

Of course, all of this glamour comes at a price - in this case, £349 presuming you invest in a 12 month O2 contract. This is all very well since the device rolls a lot of different things into one, but it's worth remembering that, if you're not so bothered about integration, you could get a separate picture phone and a decent PDA for significantly less.

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