The Viliv S5 Net-Tablet PC
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In our holiday review of 10 Superb Travel Gifts we suggested a cool MID (Mobile Internet Device) with built in wi-fi, GPS and HD 720p video playback functionality, a 4.8-inch screen and a long battery life:
Tthe Viliv-S5 isn’t the only hand held device that lets people surf the web. Besides a plethora of smartphones there are several gadgets built wholly—or in part—for that purpose. Two worth mentioning here are the Archos Internet Media Tablet and the Apple iPod touch. Here’s how two models of the Viliv S5 Net-Tablet stacks up with them:
| Feature |
Archos 5 250 GB |
Apple iPod touch 64 GB |
Viliv S5 EXP |
Viliv S5 Premium 3GP |
||
| Approx Price | US$200 | $350 | $550 | $800 | ||
| Operating system | Proprietary | Proprietary | Windows XP | Windows XP | ||
| GPS | No | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| USB port on the device | No | No | Yes | Yes | ||
| Storage size | 250 GB | 64 GB | 32 GB | 32 GB | ||
| Screen size | 4.8 inch | 3.5 inch | 4.8 inch | 4.8 inch | ||
| Screen resolution | 800 x 480 | 480 x 320 | 1024 x 600 | 1024 x 600 | ||
| Battery life | 7 hours of video 22 hours music |
6 hours of video 30 hours music |
7 hours of video | 7 hours of video | ||
| Weight (with battery) |
10.6 ounces 300g |
4.5 ounces 115g |
15.4 ounces 435g |
15.4 ounces 435g |
||
| LEARN MORE & BUY | LEARN MORE & BUY | LEARN MORE & BUY | LEARN MORE & BUY | |||
| Feature |
Archos 5 250 GB |
Apple iPod touch 64 GB |
Viliv S5 EXP |
Viliv S5 Premium 3GP |
Notice that the Viliv S5 isn’t your cheapest option, or your lightest. But it does have two huge advantages:
First, the Viliv S5 has built in GPS. The iPhone and other mobiles have that feature too but GPS is uncommon in a MID. And even on an iPhone if you are traveling internationally you’ll need to either buy an expensive data package or map of your destination on the iTunes store.
Second—and more importantly—the S5 runs a full version of Windows XP. It is, in fact, the smallest consumer device we know of capable of running a full version of Windows.
Any program you can download and run on your Windows XP desktop at home you can run on a Viliv S5: the full version of Photoshop, the full version of Skype, the full version of MS Word and Excel, et al.
Like nearly every MID, the Viliv S5 has a touchscreen. (An onscreen keyboard pops up iPhone-like when you click on fields that require typing). Unlike most MIDs, you can also use a Viliv with an external mouse and keyboard either by pairing via bluetooth or through a USB port. The S5 also comes with a built-in old school stylus, a feature Spot Cool Stuff initially thought was needlessly redundant (and also superfluous) but eventually came to find useful when surfing websites with small buttons difficult to hit with finger tips.
We wish the S5′s screen was capable of producing a bit more brightness but the high pixel resolution makes it easy on the eyes. Of course, the screen only measures 4.8 inches diagonally. For creating large spreadsheets or playing first person shooter games you’ll be much happier with at least a 10-inch screen (like that on the fabulous Asus Seashell netbook). If you plan to use your MID primarily for music listening the iPod touch is superior; for watching videos we’d rather have Archos Media Tablet.
But if you want a device you that can carry around in your pocket that’ll help you find your way around and is capable of running a real version of Windows the Viliv S5 is brilliant.
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