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Compared to similar machines we've tested, the Aero feels very nippy, although it's not as fast as the Casio Cassiopeia E-105. This is down to its specs, as at its core is a 70Mhz NEC MIPS R4000 processor, together with 12Mb of ROM and 16Mb of RAM. If you need additional memory, the RAM can be upgraded to 24Mb.
The screen is a TFT colour display with a resolution of 320 x 240, which is capable of displaying 256 colours. It performs quite well even in the dark, thanks to a backlight that is adjustable in two steps, depending on the light conditions. This also helps conserve battery life.
The Aero's stylus is a little heavier than most, but this helps give it a more sturdy feel and is very comfortable to use. It's stored in a spring-loaded compartment on top of the unit, which has a lockdown mechanism to stop the stylus falling out.
As with most handheld machines in this category, the 2130 comes with a docking cradle and a mains adaptor that doubles as a battery charger, but Compaq has been clever in allowing the unit to be charged independently from the docking cradle. The only minor worry we have with the cradle is that it is supplied with a built-in serial lead. If the cable gets damaged, you will need to replace the entire cradle.
Power is supplied by a rechargeable 1000mAh lithium-ion battery pack that fits in the base of the unit. According to Compaq, battery life is about 10 hours, which isn't bad for this type of device.
The 2130 is getting on a bit now, and there are newer CE models around with better screens and more memory, but it's still quite a capable machine and you can get plenty of accessories for it. For example, there's a deluxe leather case, an optional car charger and a Compact Flash V.90 modem available.
You'll find the CF slot at the top of the unit. But before you use the V.90 modem or a CF memory card, you'll have to remove a small 'dummy' card that Compaq has thoughtfully placed in the slot to protect it against damage.
Like almost all of the CE devices on test here, the Aero can act as a recorder, since it has a built-in microphone and voice recording software.
For ease of use, there's a quick access button for the voice recorder at the top left-hand corner of the unit. The quality isn't the best at the default setting, but it should be adequate for a quick memo. It also comes with an attachment that looks just like a mobile phone hands-free kit. This plugs into the top of the Aero and lets you listen to and record messages with a bit less background noise than the internal speaker and microphone.
This has a disadvantage, though, as the headset supplied is mono and plugs into a 2.5mm socket. This means you'll need an adaptor if you want to use a pair of regular headphones, but sound output will still be in mono.
The design of the Aero might not appeal to everyone as it's slightly boxy looking, but we thought the matte-silver front bezel gave the device a cool, futuristic look. From an ergonomic point of view, Compaq has designed the machine with most of the buttons in the right places (as long as you're right-handed), but the rocker switch is a bit hard to depress at times and tends to make an odd noise in use.
Portability is also an issue, and if you're looking to carry the Aero around in your shirt pocket you might have to think again. It's not the lightest of handheld devices, weighing in at 260g.
The unit comes with a set of useful software packages, but there are better bundles out there.
Applications include the Compaq Asset Viewer, CoolCalc, AudiblePlayer, VCA Finance and Zio PalmGolf. AudiblePlayer is an interesting tool if you have access to the internet, as it lets you download spoken word audio programs from the Audible website, including books, news and magazines.
MS Active Sync 3.0 is also supplied on CDRom, and it's very quick and easy to set up and use. You simply pop the CD in your drive, put the Aero in the docking cradle, select the sync option that you want and off you go. It worked flawlessly with Outlook 2000. But don't worry if you haven't got Outlook 2000 installed on your PC, as there is a copy of the software on one of the CDRoms that is supplied with the unit.
Overall, the 2130 is one of the better hand-held CE devices available on the market. As well as looking quite stylish, it is also a good little performer. Unfortunately, there is one thing that really put us off, and that's the price.
At more than £350 it can't compete with similar devices that we have on test here, even other CE machines.
Contact Compaq 0845 270 4000 www.compaq.co.uk
See also:
All Palm PDAs
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