8. Benchmarks And Battery Life, Continued

As a benchmark, we used the latest version of Sisoft Sandra Pro (2004.8.9.131), which now also permits performance measurements of hand-helds. We conducted these measurements using every possible CPU mode of the three test systems.

If no MMX commands are used, the new CPU proved superior to its predecessor only because of its higher core speed. With a nearly identical core speed, a PXA270 is just as speedy as the older PXA255.

Things look different when MMX commands enter into the equation.

In that case, the faster-clocked 520 MHz CPU in the Mypal A730 leaves the competition far behind. Even at identical core speeds, a PXA270 processor is far zippier than its predecessor, the PXA255.

Asus says the standard 1100 mAh battery should hold out for about nine hours. Yet the sample from the preproduction run didn't exhibit all that stamina: with the backlight deactivated, we were only able to squeeze not quite 8 ½ hours out of the battery. With the backlight activated, and depending on the brightness and processor speed settings, the battery life is reduced to a mere two to three hours before the battery benchmark shuts off the unit - as the maker says it should - leaving you with about 30 percent of the juice.

Thus, the Asus engineers still have a fair bit of work ahead of them before the device is ready for mass production.