Both new Pocket PCs run Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition, but only the LOOX 720 takes advantage of that platforms support for 640 x 480 pixel resolution or VGA displays. The LOOX 710 features a more traditional, for a Pocket PC, QVGA or 240 x 320 pixel screen resolution.

The handhelds measure about 4.8 x 2.8 x 0.6 inches and weigh 6.3 ounces. As with the other high-end Pocket PCs coming this fall from Asus, Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Toshiba (see VGA Back in Vogue with...Handhelds), the LOOX 710 and LOOX 720 feature Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless networking.

Each Pocket PC supports the Bluetooth 1.2 specification, which promises better performance and power management than Bluetooth 1.1. Bluetooth 1.2 is also backwards compatible with Bluetooth 1.1, which is a good thing, as most Bluetooth peripherals only support the earlier specification.

In addition to dual wireless, you get two types of expansion slots—CompactFlash and Secure Digital—with the Pocket LOOX 700 series. With these slots you can greatly expand memory and use a wide variety of peripherals, such as GPS, scanners, and even a GSM/GPRS card.

Even though each of Fujitsu-Siemens new Pocket PCs use Intel's PXA272 XScale processor, the LOOX 710's runs at a slower 416 MHz while the LOOX 720 uses a more powerful 520 MHz CPU. The LOOX 710 also has half the amount of memory, 64MB, as the LOOX 720's 128MB of RAM.

Another nice feature of the LOOX 720—shared by only one other upcoming VGA Pocket PC, the Asus MyPal 730—is a 1.3 megapixel camera for up to 1280 x 960 resolution pictures and video. Both models also have a 3.5mm headphone socket, as well as a speaker and microphone, so that, with the proper software and service connections, the devices could serve as VoIP phones.