Samsung i730

The new crown for the world's fastest wireless PDA belongs to the Samsung i730, a sleek but somewhat frustrating gadget that's the first to mix Wi-Fi and high-speed, long-range EV-DO networking. Our initial impression of the device is quite positive, though we'll reserve our rating until our battery tests are complete and Samsung is given a chance to address our frustrations.

Sliding down the bottom half of the device reveals a keyboard that contains long, oval-shaped keys. It's far superior to the membrane keyboards on some other Pocket PCs, and is at least as usable as the Treo's. The 320-by-240 screen is gorgeous—rich, sharp, and viewable in sunlight.

The i730 is the best-looking Pocket PC phone yet. At 5.2 by 2.8 by 0.6 inches and 6.7 ounces, it's bigger than the palmOne Treo 650 but smaller than behemoth Pocket PCs like the Audiovox XV-6600, and it's slim enough to fit in your pocket. Side buttons control volume, voice recording, and voice dialing. They're easy to press, almost too easy, so it's good that there's also a key-lock switch on the side.