LisaG
Head Honcho
Reged: 07/11/02
Posts: 6664
Loc: Texas
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After much anticipation, the ASUS A730W is finally out! This Pocket PC has a VGA display, CF and SD slots, Bluetooth and WiFi 802.11b wireless networking. And let's not forget the integrated 1.3MP camera!
We reviewed the ASUS A730 several months ago. The A730W adds WiFi and has 128 megs of RAM rather than 64. Not bad, and performance has been very good as well. The price is very compelling at $569. When ASUS provided us with the review unit, they told us that a second battery and USB Host cable are standard accessories included in the box. Nice! The HP hx4705 will definitely get a run for the money with the A730W. Look for our review in the next week.
Quick Specs:
Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition OS
transflective VGA display
520MHz Intel XScale PXA270 processor
128 megs RAM, 64 megs ROM
1100 mAh Lithium battery (two included)
WiFi 802.11b
Bluetooth 1.1
1.3 MP digital camera
USB Host capability with cable included
Charger and sync cradle included
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Da Editor
http://www.mobiletechreview.com
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ballantine
junior member
Reged: 12/30/04
Posts: 2
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Please hurry and post the Asus a730w review...my life depends on it!!
Any better idea when it will be out?
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LisaG
Head Honcho
Reged: 07/11/02
Posts: 6664
Loc: Texas
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Should be out by Monday-- you know how the holidays get in the way 
Is there something in particular you'd like to know about the A730W? Feel free to ask questions.
Overall it's a great unit- compact by VGA standards, responsive and the dual wireless have been good so far. The battery life could be better, but they do give you two. . .
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Da Editor
http://www.mobiletechreview.com
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LisaG
Head Honcho
Reged: 07/11/02
Posts: 6664
Loc: Texas
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We're a little ahead of schedule-- our ASUS A730W review is posted at http://www.pdabuyersguide.com/ASUS_A730W.htm . Enjoy and Happy New Year to all  .
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Da Editor
http://www.mobiletechreview.com
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NigelD
junior member
Reged: 01/13/05
Posts: 1
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I have had my 730W for about a week, but I'm new to PocketPC. Used Palm for years. It's a lovely unit but, unfortunately, it "crashes" (freezes and requires soft reset) every day, once or twice. Is this normal with a PocketPC device (it is Windows, after all) or have I got a lemon?
By the way, regarding screen brightness, it can be adjusted in the settings and made much brighter than default. I guess that's one feature that does work. I agree, the camera is a joke. Video playback looks great, however, with imported videos.
Nigel
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LisaG
Head Honcho
Reged: 07/11/02
Posts: 6664
Loc: Texas
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It really shouldn't crash that often. Have you installed any 3rd party software that might have a conflict?
FYI: All Pocket PCs have adjustable screen brightness .
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Da Editor
http://www.mobiletechreview.com
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kl1660
junior member
Reged: 01/25/05
Posts: 4
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I own a A716 and just got a A730W, I don't know if you test the WiFi speed but on my A730W the WiFi speed is too slow, I use the WiFi on my A716 (Betaplayer) to load DVD Movie (Pocket DVD Studio AVI format)from my desktop and it works perfect, Tried doing the same thing on my A730W it plays but will stop every few seconds to load the movie file, I then load the video into my SD Card and try again and it works perfect so I thought it must be the WiFi performance problem.
So I went to the www.3dgamers.com to download a 30MB file for test, A716, A730W and my Desktop system all start to download at the same time, the result: A716 and Desktop System finished almost at the sametime while A730W only at 10%.
Already install the latest firmware and no help, I don't know if I just got a bad unit or all of them does the samething if any others experience the same problem like I do.
Thanks.
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LisaG
Head Honcho
Reged: 07/11/02
Posts: 6664
Loc: Texas
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Sounds like you got a bad unit or your WiFi router isn't playing nicely with the WiFi chip in the ASUS. Our A730W had average transfer speeds for a Pocket PC.
Generally Pocket PCs have slower transfer speeds and narrower data buses that desktop PCs, so it's very impressive that your A716 and desktop machine got close to the same download speeds!
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Da Editor
http://www.mobiletechreview.com
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kl1660
junior member
Reged: 01/25/05
Posts: 4
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Quote:
Sounds like you got a bad unit or your WiFi router isn't playing nicely with the WiFi chip in the ASUS. Our A730W had average transfer speeds for a Pocket PC.
Generally Pocket PCs have slower transfer speeds and narrower data buses that desktop PCs, so it's very impressive that your A716 and desktop machine got close to the same download speeds!
Have you try download files with both unit at the same time?
I am sure it's not the router, I got a Linksys wireless router and I also tried it on Asus's WL330 Pocket AP at my office, the results are all the same.
I already sent back the A730W from the vendor and waiting for a new unit, I'll try it again, I really like to keep A730W but if the WiFi speed is the same as the other one then I'll give it up.
I agree with you that PPC has slower WiFi speed but not the case with A716, me and my friend both own a A716 and it's download speed is as fast as desktop system.
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kl1660
junior member
Reged: 01/25/05
Posts: 4
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In A716 and A730W, it's just like when you have a broadband you can't go back to dial-up.
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LisaG
Head Honcho
Reged: 07/11/02
Posts: 6664
Loc: Texas
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We no longer have the A716 but we have many other WiFi enabled Pocket PCs and the A730W gave similar transfer speeds. We tested it over WiFi for a variety of tasks for 5 hours and it always worked normally.
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Da Editor
http://www.mobiletechreview.com
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kl1660
junior member
Reged: 01/25/05
Posts: 4
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Quote:
We no longer have the A716 but we have many other WiFi enabled Pocket PCs and the A730W gave similar transfer speeds. We tested it over WiFi for a variety of tasks for 5 hours and it always worked normally.
Thank you for your information, do you have information on download speed?
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