Classroom and Lab Computing

Siemens SX56 Pocket PC

July 2004.   Chris Sacksteder, cjs<removethis>@psu.edu.

Received July 1 for evaluation.  This is an older model that we obtained to see what a Pocket PC/phone can do and get a basic understanding of the OS and user interface.  This model appears to be no longer supported by Siemens or AT&T.  Since I have not tried another Pocket PC or PDA, comparisons will be made with the Blackberry 6710, which I have had more than a year.

First Impressions

Looks nice, feels solid.  Easy to setup.  It comes with Pocket PC 2002, not 2003.  Wonder if it is upgradeable; yes found a link for a free upgrade, but is says "no longer available".  At Microsoft Windows Mobile site, the device is not listed.  Well, the Audiovox PPC4100 isn't either.

This page says why upgrades aren't available from Microsoft.  In asking around, we find out that Pocket PC 2003 can be found and put on the device, but that breaks something with the radio stack and reception becomes very poor.  Apparently Siemens isn't going to fix that and AT&T is now supporting the Audiovox PPC4100.

Otherwise, the SX56 looks and feels good, and works well.  Entering letters and numbers with stylus and on-screen keyboard is very easy; perhaps as easy as pressing keys on the Blackberry.  There is a word-completion feature that pops up a word that matches the letters you have entered thus far; if it is the right word, you can tap on it to complete the entry.  It's not clear to me how useful the navigation pad is.

Specifications

• Processor: Intel StrongARM 206 MHz
• Memory: 32 MB RAM, 32 MB ROM (there is an MMC/SD memory card slot)
• OS: Pocket PC 2002
• Size: 0.70 x 2.86 x 5.08 inches
• Weight: 6.93 oz
• Screen: 240x320, 4096 colors
• Bands: 900/1900 MHz GSM/GPRS
• Battery: 1500mAh Li-ion, external battery connector
• Infrared port, earphone jack, docking station with USB cable

Things Tried

Here is a log of things I installed and tried on it, and what works well and doesn't work.  It is a nice computer, but it doesn't do GPRS very well for me.  It does everything else fairly well, except the processors may not be fast enough for full screen video clips.  Battery life is limited.

Documentation

The small printed manual, with 12 pages of safety information in front, is actually quite good.  Support information and web pages from Siemens is sparse and hard to find.

Wish List

It isn't clear if these are deficiencies of Pocket PC 2002 or the hardware itself, anyway, it seems to me it needs:

• An option to show the battery indicator all the time (it displays on top only when the battery is low), so you can tell how much charge you have left of how much longer until it is charged fully.
• Low battery warning should disappear when you plug in the charger or when the battery is charged.
• Support for Windows Mobile 2003 Pocket PC Phone Edition (WM2K3PPPE for short?)
• Easier, faster connections to GPRS.
• Better battery life.
• Stereo headphone jack.
• Better case/belt clip.

Compared to a Blackberry

These are very different devices, so a direct comparison may not be useful.  The Blackberry is a phone with PDA functions and email; the SX56 is a pocket computer with a phone.  Pocket PC is easier to learn how to use because it is so similar to Windows.  The Blackberry is smaller and optimized for phone and GPRS functions.  We need to see what is new in the Pocket PC 2003 OS.

• Carrying: the hard case/belt clip a Blackberry comes with is ideal if you are going to wear the device on your belt.  The unit is easily slipped out of the case, which stays on your belt.   The SX56 doesn't come off your belt or out of its leather holder very easily, plus it is significantly larger. For frequent phone use, you would want to use the ear bud/microphone with the SX56.  For carrying on a belt, the Blackberry wins hands down.  If you are going to keep you device in a jacket pocket, then this doesn't matter, except the Blackberry is still smaller and lighter.
• Ease of Use: I like the stylus and menu interface on the Pocket PC more than the thumb wheel and icons on the Blackberry, but both have their merits.  The Pocket PC is more familiar.  Efficient use of a Blackberry requires memorizing many special key combinations, but you can get around with the thumb wheel fairly well.  I sometimes use a finger on the SX56 if a stylus isn't handy, and have found my self touching icons on the Blackberry screen (with no response!)  The QWERTY keys on a Blackberry might be a single feature that people like it for, but the Pocket PC's on screen keyboard works pretty well, and one of the 3 kinds writing recognition might be usable by someone who has more patience than I.
• Help: There is a modest amount help on Pocket PC's, virtually none on a Blackberry.
• Screen: the SX56 screen cannot be seen well without the backlight on, which draws significant power.  It is also difficult to see in full sunlight.  The Blackberry is very usable without the backlight on and in full sunlight.  I like the SX56's color display which is very sharp; I have not seen the newer color Blackberries.
• Synchronizing: I think ActiveSync 3.7 is considerably easier and faster than the Blackberry Intellisync.  It did, however, crash once and hang up Outlook once (apparently).  It certainly very easy to put all kinds files on the SX56 (just drag/drop), which I don't know how to do with the Blackberry.
• Memory: Plugging in and SD memory card is all you have to do to add storage to the SX56.  Applications can be reinstalled to live on the SD card.  I don't know if storage can be added to a Blackberry.
• Alerts: The Blackberry has a huge number of options for sounds in response to different events; each of 4 default profiles (more can be added) has settings for 6 objects; each of these has settings for vibrate, tune, volume, number of beeps, and repeat notifications for both in holster and out of holster.  I think that comes to 288 options.  The Pocket PC has "only" 4 options for 11 events; volume is not settable (it can't detect in/out of the holster, which is a very nice Blackberry feature).
• EMail: For best email synchronization with a Pocket PC, I think an addition to Exchange Server is needed, but the POP3 client works (with some problems) and web-based mail services seem to work.  The Blackberry's Desktop Redirector does a good job for me with email, except it sends the Blackberry spam before my spam filter gets a chance to move the spam.  That might also be a problem with a Pocket PC an the Mobile Messaging service unless the spam filter runs on the mail server.
• Connectivity: The Blackberry seems much more sensitive and can make a GPRS connection more easily when the signal is low, and it makes a GPRS connection whenever it can.  The SX56 loses it's GPRS connection easily and won't try to reconnect unless an application needs it, then it can take quite while, particularly if the signal is weak.  Although I set the "GPRS Suspend Mode" to "Keep GPRS Connection", it frequently drops the connection.  This is turning out to be really annoying, and I wonder if it is the hardware or the OS.
• Phone: I don't use either much for telephone functions, but I think they are similar in phone usability.  But, the SX56 has a speaker phone function (didn't try it).
• Web: The Blackberry is very limited in what kinds of web pages it can render.  The SX56 can display most, but not all, web pages.
• Applications: Pocket PC 2002 comes with 22 applications such as "Pocket" versions of Office applications (IE, Outlook, Word, and Excel), MSN Messenger, Windows Media Player, Image Viewer and Microsoft Reader.  Outlook's Notes feature includes a voice recorder.  Many more applications can be purchased and some downloaded for free.  The Blackberry comes with programs for PDA functions, but not much else.  There are programs that can be downloaded and/or purchased.
• Battery Life: When always on, the SX56 lasted about 12 hours, depending on how much it was being used.  With the default setting to turn it off after 3 minutes (the phone is still on and it wakes up when a call or SMS message comes in), I got about 48 hours with moderate use; it would last longer if you never used it (:-)).  The Blackberry does much better at about 4-5 days always on.

Which is "better"?  That depends on what you want to do.