I've been using the 838Pro for nearly 1.5 years, and i have to say the switch to X7510 was not an easy task. First, you need to get used to its form factor, and it is the big form factor that is a love and hate affair. However, we have to understand that HTC is trying to create a variant of a Windows Mobile device that is closer to a mini-laptop, with instant-on capability and longer battery life. In this case, we should see it as a strength of the X7510 - Laptop first, phone comes second.

HTC manages to sport a 5" VGA screen and attach to it is a nicely designed magnetic keyboard that can snap on easily under the screen. Pictures above give you an idea on the size of X7510 - start from back are a 15" laptop, 7" Eee PC, 5" X7510, and the right photo shows it next to the Motorola MPx.

For the first time, the Advantage comes with HTC Home with multiple tabs for quick access. The TouchFLO experience on the 5" VGA screen is great However the VueFLO engine was removed. To alternate the orientation, the user can set to portrait and it will go back to landscape mode once you attach the keyboard. So once you gotten used to using the keyboard to trigger the landscape mode, you don't really need to access the screen orientation panel. After installing RealVGA and setting the resolution to 96dpi, this hack makes full use of the 5" VGA screen and provides a much larger screen real estate especially with the Mobile Excel spreadsheet.

The first thing I tried when I got the X7510 is connecting back to the office. Although I did not manage to get a Outlook to display properly in full screen through Citrix, I had to soft zoom a few times before I was able to resolve this while the output remains very readable. The 5" VGA screen looks great and now it's getting closer to the primary function of my Eee PC.

Since the debut of the U1000, the Advantage has not stopped evolving. The 5-way navigation button on the top left has been removed. Could it be due to conflict of interest with the TouchFLO navigation? The ports on the left side remains as compared to the X7501. Besides eliminating the VueFLO and 5-way navigation button, the major upgrades from its predecessor are the internal 16GB flash memory and the haptic keyboard.

The term haptic refers to the sense of touch. In this case, it provides the user feedback through vibration and sound when typing. Although it takes a while to get used to the flat keyboard, the user will soon like it and won't turn the haptic feedback off although there is a shortcut to do so. The only thing I wanted to improve is for me to have the haptic vibration feedback without the sound. Soon I realized that there is no way to turn it off and the sound basically appears to be generated through the haptic mechanism. When the keyboard is attached to the unit, a portion of the screen turns into an auxiliary display and it's blocked by a transparent plastic on the keyboard. Perhaps HTC should get rid of the plastic to provide the user quick access to some incoming data such as reading short messages or muting the speaker. There is no backlight on the keyboard, but luckily the light from the 5" screen is just sufficient for you to differentiate the keys and type in the dark.

The HTC proprietary cable that bundles with the unit is very useful. Other than the VGA-Out/TV-Out, the USB-host port is capable of multiple mounts with USB hub, such as a card reader, keyboard and wireless mouse, but not directly to DSLR. Anyway the X7510's internal 16GB flash memory can be a good travelling companion to backup digital photo as long as it works with a card reader. It also functions well as a portable media player on the go, not forgetting the large display would be useful for GPS navigation. In summary, it is an awesome device for the frequent traveler!

X7510 is a two piece device - the screen and the keyboard - but the bundled leather case keeps both parts together. I've been trying to use it without the case or leaving the keyboard apart, but it's still far more convenient with the case. Otherwise I'd have nowhere to put the keyboard. From the first time, I find myself fully using the case that comes with the package and actually find it useful.

It is a little lacking when using the X7510 as a phone. I missed some basic things such as a phone button and the non-handsfree speaker. I don't mind to hold it out and talk in the public but sometimes I need privacy during my conversation. Thus, I have to either use it with the wired headset or get a bluetooth headset. I'd prefer a bluetooth headset that is able to store multiple numbers and can dial directly from the headset itself, such as the i-Tech Clip D or the Jabra BT8010. It's less hassle without taking out the X7510 to reply or make call.

Classified as a mobile computer, the X7510 coupled with WM 6.1 is able to deliver most of the laptop experience and becomes a necessary tools and hardware solutions for corporate users who heavily on Exchange. At the same time, its identity is also being challenged by the recent hype of mini-laptops, which is much cheaper, although has less features compare to X7510, but provides full-fledged PC capabilities. It's going to be tough competition when more and more Atom-inside devices start to surface but clearly the X7510 still has its competitiveness as a convergence device with more integrated wireless and instant-on features, and the design of X7510 could potentially suitable to become a future MID that running with embedded Menlow that designed for low-power.