With its keyboard and desktop PC-like software array, the
Diamond Mako is a cost-efficient alternative to the $1,000 sub-notebook
PCs such as the HP Jornada 710/720. It's actually the American-marketed
version (by SONICblue) of the British Psion Revo, and comes
complete with some quirks left over from the transition--for
instance, the Mako's primary background screen displays "Revo"
instead of Mako.
The Diamond Mako features a horizontal touchscreen and keyboard
in a package only an inch longer than a palm-sized PDA. It offers
not only the usual array of PC-syncable address book, agenda,
and calendar functions (compatible with Outlook, Lotus, and
several other PIMs), but also includes software compatible with
Microsoft Excel and Word.
The Mako is designed for people with a limited PDA budget
who have spreadsheet and word processing work to do and little
patience for carrying a hefty and expensive notebook PC. With
accessory software and an add-on foldable keyboard, you could
convert a Palm handheld to act like a Mako, but it would be
a costly and clumsy conversion.
Since the Mako carries only 16 MB of RAM, the Mako's software
condenses your files, then converts them to full size in the
compatible PC-based Microsoft or Lotus format. Our Windows
PC treated the Mako as it would any other connected drive
(via serial port), making file access and transfer relatively
seamless via sync or Windows Explorer drag-and-drop. The Mako's
cradle allowed us to also connect the AC adapter, so we could
link and charge the Mako at the same time.
But you will pay for your portable penury. The Mako's one-quarter-sized
monochrome VGA screen (480 x 160) is not backlit--and screen
contrast isn't that fabulous to begin with. The lack of backlight
preserves battery power, but you'll need optimal lighting
conditions to work effectively.
The Mako's keys are proportionally tiny, which makes touch-typing
nearly impossible. As illogical as this sounds, we also found
the keys either too sensitive or not sensitive enough. And
as a consequence of necessary compact compromises, certain
keys are awkwardly placed--for instance, the "-"
(dash) key requires a combination-function keystroke. Considering
that most people have long-practiced keyboard habits, these
quirks are far more annoying than you might think.
And because of the Mako's horizontal design, it is less handy
than a palm-sized PDA. For instance, simply finding a phone
number or checking on the address for your 3 o'clock appointment
really does require two hands.
The Mako's software is based on the EPOC standard, the increasingly
popular European mobile-computing platform. Even though there
is a dearth of EPOC-compatible applications in the U.S., especially
compared with the thousands of Palm- or Windows-compatible
options, most of the major add-on application bases are covered.
However, the Mako's wireless Web and infrared capabilities
can be used only with a GSM cell phone, which is gaining ground
here, but is still a poor relative to more common CDMA and
TDMA phones.
There are people who swear by Psion-based products, but the
money saved here might only be worth it as a temporary and
low-cost transition between pen and paper and a real notebook
PC
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