PDA-phones for megahertz junkies

In the dark ages, way back in 2004, PDAs with 624MHz processors started becoming available. Three years on (a lifetime in consumer technology), nothing much has changed. The Intel XScale line has been bought over by Marvell, which has faster mobile processors available. But till now, not all handhelds sport the fastest chips out there, maxing out at 624MHz, just like in 2004.

Of course, clock speed isn't everything. Many factors contribute to the performance of a device. And with more connectivity options in PDA-phones these days, battery life is a big issue, too. But in the end, the numbers sure make you feel good. If you are one of those who enjoys the thrill of opening an Excel spreadsheet on your handheld a full 3 seconds faster than the average Joe, here's a list of powerful PDA-phones for you.

Click here for a feature comparison table.

	1.	HTC Advantage (X7510)   CNET Asia rating: 7.5 out of 10 The good: Screen; storage QWERTY keyboard; connectivity; battery life; good features. The bad: Price; practicality; camera; graphics performance. The bottom line: The cost will automatically put the X7510 out of reach for most buyers, but it does possess great qualities for business users. Processor: 624MHz XScale PXA270 Review | See full specs | Rate this
	2.	Samsung Omnia SGH-i900 (16GB)   CNET Asia rating: 8 out of 10 The good: Full range of wireless features; haptic feedback; improved text input methods; navigation software included; attractive design; excellent battery life; Opera 9.5 browser included. The bad: Some apps may not work properly; finger scrolling not consistently implemented; use of microSD slot requires battery removal; no stylus slot. The bottom line: The Omnia is a good alternative to the HTC Touch Diamond with a competitive price and a truckload of features, though Samsung does need to work on the interface to improve its consistency and usefulness. Processor: 624MHz XScale PXA312 Review | See full specs | Rate this
	3.	i-mate Ultimate 8150   First take The Ultimate series of handhelds from i-mate originally consisted of five devices. Only two from the original have been retained while two new ones have been added, making it a total of four devices in this lineup. The 8150 is one of the survivors, and has been given a new color--black, a definite improvement over the off-white shade of the original. Its availability has been announced for this region and we managed to snag a pre-release unit for a hands-on. Processor: 520MHz XScale PXA270 First take | See full specs | Rate this
	4.	HP iPaq 612 Business Navigator   CNET Asia rating: 7.2 out of 10 The good: HSDPA (up to 7.2MBps); GPS with bundled maps; 128MB RAM; good performance. The bad: Smart Wheel not all that smart; non-camera version not available everywhere; poor microSD slot position; lack of HP-specific UI and applications. The bottom line: You can't fault this iPaq for its extensive breadth of features, but it has some flaws which prevent it from being among the best in its class of Windows Mobile products. Processor: 520MHz XScale PXA270 Review | See full specs | Rate this
	5.	HTC Touch Diamond   CNET Asia rating: 8.2 out of 10 The good: Opera browser; YouTube application; TouchFLO 3D interface; sharp VGA display; compact and attractive design; 4GB internal storage. The bad: No microSD card slot; poor battery life; no dedicated audio mini-jack; occasional slowdowns in interface. The bottom line: The Diamond brings much innovation to the Windows Mobile platform and is a great handheld for both business and entertainment. Processor: 528MHz Qualcomm MSM 7201A Review | See full specs | Rate this