The Asus P505 was due for release at the tail end of 2004 but has been held over the 2005 for its eventual launch, similar in function to other windows smartphone devices the P505 is driven by the latest Windows mobile operating system but crammed into a much smaller footprint than the O2 XDA or IMate Jam. Based around a 416Mhz Intel processor the tri band mobile phone looks a bit like a walkie talkie and certainly more like a communications device than the more subtle PDA / GPRS phones. Measuring 108 x 60 x22.5mm its a large mobile phone but a fairly modest smartphone and the 170 gram device still managed to pack in a 2.8 inch TFT screen part hidden by a P900 style flap.

We must admit to being a bit nervous after a bad experience with an Asus laptop around 6 months ago, but the build quality of the P505 is very good, no creaking, rattling or gaps in the plastic case it feels as good as the competition and the extra weight makes it feel substantial. The flip works well in its folded position making the device function as a mobile, fold it down to reveal the bright screen which is far more PDA like than the Sony P910i.

Opening the flip takes you into the Asus menu and switched into full pocket PC mode, as the device runs on windows mobile 2003 second edition you get the normal bundle of readers and also email and browsing components that will be familiar to users of the desktop windows applications. Also being a windows based device there is a whole raft of 3rd party applications that can be run to enhance the usability of your device.

The main method of navigation is using the rather nifty side mounted joystick, this 5 way tool sits on the upper left hand edge of the device where some devices have a jog wheel, it takes a bit of getting used to but its easily driven with a thumb or finger and allows for quick action. Below the 5 way pad are two buttons, one for making voice notes and the second for capturing images via the rather unremarkable 1.3 mega pixel camera, its worth noting that the cameras performance in low light is not good and that you shouldn't really be buying the P505 if what you are after is top notch snaps.

The right hand side of the Asus P505 has a quick entry button for activating the voice command module, here you can speak the name of a contact to dial and even open certain applications by voice command, again this was a fairly average feature and one that although useful we could see ourselves never using.

Good points are the inclusion of a standard 2.5mm audio jack allowing use with a wide range of cabled headsets rather than some horrible proprietary plug system and there is support for Bluetooth allowing wireless headsets to be used plus it can also act as a data connection.

Memory is a bit scare within the device with only 53mb of useable available to the like of you and me, instead we'll all be relying on the supplied 128mb of flash memory or purchasing a SD / MMC card which seems like the obvious choice to get you up to 512mb.

The battery while being slim is only a 100mAh unit meaning a talk time of around 4 hours and standby of a couple of days, use the PDA fully and you could drain the battery in about 15 hours, in truth a combination is far more likely and with average mobile use plus a bit of PDA you'd need to be topping up each day. There is an extended 3000 mAh battery but it adds significant weight to the device.

Overall we liked the Asus P505 its a smartphone with almost all the features we want, the main omission is WiFi, it still amazes us that a serious smartphone can be produced without at least 802.11b. That said its a solid phone and PDA combo using windows smartphone which gives it an edge over the P910 and Palm Treo devices, sure its not the prettiest of devices but we like its techie looks, even the protruding antenna its got a Ronseal look, it looks like what it is.

On sale in the UK late summer its expected to be pricey at first around £500 with connection and maybe as high as £700 without, however this will soon drop to the same level as the rest of the smartphone market making the Asus P505 a worthy buy.

Published - 27/05/2005

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