6. The Yakumo Alpha Reigns In Running Time

The German microcomputer company Vobis has produced the first B-brand pocket PC, the Yakumo Alpha, which is also one of the cheapest devices on the market. However, the Yakumo Alpha doesn't offer any wireless technologies like Bluetooth or Wireless LAN. The plastic casing is covered in a silvery cobalt blue that makes it look like a poor cousin to the competition. The four quick-start keys on the front are a tad too small. The manufacturer has omitted a navigation key entirely, choosing instead to integrate a jog dial on the left side of the casing for scrolling. The telescopic pen for the touchscreen is a real eyecatcher: it's only two-and-a-half inches long pressed together; pulled out, it measures around four-and-a-half inches. The Alpha is expandable, with an integrated MMC/ SD slot and a Compact Flash expansion module that clicks onto the back.

On top: IR port, MMC/ SD card slot, headset and microphone jack.

It doesn't really matter that this PDA can only be charged in a cradle: after all, it ran a good eight hours off its batteries - there's no need to constantly recharge it. Don't go on a trip without the docking station and cables, though. The two other test candidates can be charged without the docking station. As if to compensate, Yakumo has designed the Alpha with a removable battery - a rarity in the PDA world. You can charge a back-up battery in the cradle alongside the normal one. If you don't mind the Yakumo Alpha's clumsy looks and aren't keen to having integrated wireless communication, this PDA is the one for you. No other competing device can beat it for high performance, low price and long battery life.