Posted by Mia in 
Construction and Design
RoverPC G7 looks like a rather massive machine, which can hardly be carried in a shirt pocket. However, such a feeling is entirely due to the impressive thickness of the shell (17 mm), while the other two dimensions (110×60 mm) and the weight of the device (116 g) are small. The black matte body is completely covered with a soft and pleasant to the touch soft-touch plastic. The cut side edges and the smoothed corners give the new model some elegance, but, in general, the G7 is designed without sophistications.
The front surface of RoverPC Pro G7 has a traditional appearance. Much of it is the display laid flush (for the convenience of managing your fingers), with a transparent mirror glass. Above the screen there are LED indicators of operation, the openings of the dynamics for conversations and a video telephony camera.
Buttons of control unit of the new model are few – just below the display there are two standard buttons of acceptation and call cancellation, and the trapezoidal navigation key with a confirmation function. By the way, these solutions are found in the Communicator HTC. They look cool and stylish, but are not very functional, alas.
But additional control buttons in RoverPC Pro G7 are not few.
The jack for headset or headphone is done separately from the interface and the miniUSB port is calculated for a standard connector minijack 2,5 mm. Thus, the users can always connect their headphones to the communicator, through the adapter of course.
At the left end there is a connector TV-Out closed with a rubber plug, intended to connect a cable from the device to the monitor (via the interface D-Sub) or any home video devices, equipped with a composite video input connector RCA.
The pride of the new model can be considered the telescopic stylus, the case of which is located at the lower end. The pen length is 11 cm and the large diameter of its metal body, allows to work a long time, not feeling any discomfort.
Despite the fact that, the manufacturers clearly saved on the development of the design of G7, the quality of construction and materials is very high.
Productivity
RoverPC G7 is the leader in line communicators by Rover Computers that is why its performance is given maximum attention. The Management, as always, is done by the operating system Windows Mobile 6.1 Pro.
The new Marvell PXA310 processor with a clock speed of 624 MHz has been selected as platform. This powerful processor is sufficient for any task, available in modern handheld computers and communicators based on Windows Mobile. In addition, the new platform is good for yet another reason: it has a built-in hardware video accelerator, which must affect in a most positive way on the video playing, videophone, games and, of course, tests the video subsystem. And to save energy, which such a powerful platform consumes with a large appetite, it is equipped with the technology Intel SpeedStep, successfully used in desktop PCs and laptops.
Interestingly, for the operation of a radio module (particularly for 3G) the main processor is not used, but an additional – Qualcomm 6280. Such a decision should lead to greater productivity, coupled with additional energy savings.
But the memory on board is not so much to modern standards: 128 MB RAM and 256 MB ROM of which are respectively available 176.5 MB and 111 MB. True, the user is left with even less: only 171.7 MB and 64.1 MB and the rest are occupied by various system utilities and pre-ON. So, without an additional memory card microSD, alas, nothing can be done; it is good that the device works with high-capacity cards SDHC.
The overall performance of the original by its stuff device, has been evaluated using the package Spb Benchmark 1.6, and for comparison the communicators Toshiba Portege G810 and HTC 3G.
Well, by its productivity G7 definitely takes a leading position among the latest generation of communicators. At first glance, it cannot even be guessed that such a modest exterior may hide a very productive nature.
Another big impression was left after testing video system of the new model, using benchmarks Core Player, in which we alternately ran three videos of different qualitative characteristics: 320×240 / 550 Kbps, 640×480 / 784 Kbps, 640×480 / 1320 Kbps.
If we recall that the ideal is a figure of 110%, it becomes clear that uncompressed video for the new model is not a problem. The device is easy to cope with almost any video.
Display
RoverPC Pro G7 has the usual TFT-display with a diagonal of 2.8 inches, and VGA-resolution of 640×480 pixels. The matrix does not include any special features, however, the image is not to be criticized. Viewing angles are sufficiently large, the range of five levels of brightness adjustment is wide, clarity and color temperature is normal. Watching movies and photos on display is pleasing, but it would be more desirable to see not 65 thousand colors, but 262 thousand.
Camera
Despite all expectations, the autofocus sensor camera with 3 MP, was of very, very good quality. But before turning to the results of surveys, let us have a brief look at its capabilities. Its main drawback, together with the absence of mirror for self-portrait shooting, is the «forgotten» flash, even if LED.
Regards to the management of the camera, it is actually all done in an unusual style. Semi-opaque Russian interface is designed in light blue colors and is suitable for the management with a finger. Standard settings: the quality of shooting, white balance, choice of preset scenes, etc. The camera makes photos with the resolution of up to 2048h1536 points. During the recording, the image on the display changes quickly, without delay, and the time after pressing the shutter button until the appearing of the new frame is also minimum – to miss the shot accidentally is rather difficult.
The quality of images is very decent. The working out of the details and perfect focus pleases the eye. Color transfer in most cases is quite good, but occasionally the device swamps the white balance in blue spectrum. Most often this occurs when shooting in night-lit streets. However, this is fixed by several takes.
Communications
An important feature allowing not to attribute RoverPC Pro G7 to budget class devices is its support of networks of third-generation UMTS (850/1900/2100 MHz) and data transfer on HSDPA. In addition, the novelty, of course, works in networks GSM (850/900/1800/1900 MHz), and Internet access is provided via GPRS / EDGE. Wireless data transfer between the G7 and other devices is realized by using modules Bluetooth 2.0 + EDR and Wi-Fi 802.11 b / g.
For all communication modules the corporate manager, featuring a pleasant interface and unique virtual buttons-sliders is responsible.
The device keeps perfect communications – no problems while testing were observed. In the city limits the signal is received with sufficient confidence. Connecting to other devices via Bluetooth and the subsequent transfer of data with this interface also caused no reprimands. In the process of testing the new model was connected to Motorola E398 phone and a PDA HP iPAQ 4700. With all this the data transfer was carried out in both directions.
Additional features
Like the vast majority of modern communicators, G7 can boast with the presence of FM-radio. As an antenna, as always, acts the headset cord, but the sound can be output through headphones or through an external speaker. Notably, the switch to sound mode is done by clicking just one button on the main page of the virtual interface of the FM-radio. By the way, the interface is simple, but comfortable. The sensitivity of the FM-receiver is very high – most of the stations were received without interference.
The second important feature of the novelty is an embedded position sensor (G-Sensor), with which only the top models are usually equipped. The sensor is beyond criticism – it instantly recognizes, how you hold the device in your hands – horizontally or vertically, and, accordingly, expands the image on the screen.
And for the work with TV outing there is a special tool, which is responsible for the choice of TV system.
Time of autonomous work
Under the cover of the battery compartment there is a battery of 1500 mAh capacity. This is a pretty big tank, but one must take into account that the device we have in hands is a very productive one, and therefore spends a lot of energy.
With an average daily load of the communicator (20 min. conversation daily, work with address book and the Internet), the gadget works without charging two days. This rate can be considered, although not perfect, but quite acceptable. If you choose to watch a film on G7, the unit will not upset you with a discharged battery during the most interesting part of the film, because battery can last without recharging approximately 4.5 hours.
GPS-navigation
In the line of communicators by Rover Computers, the RoverPC Pro G7 model is a mast-head device, and naturally equipped with a built-in GPS-module. The manufacturer is silent about on how chip the navigation unit is, but the testing revealed commendable possibilities. Thus, the time of «cold» start is about five minutes, and the «hot» start up takes a few seconds. The navigator determines the position fairly and does not lose connection even in the woods (along with a test of efficiency in the city, and such a test was conducted).
It is a pity that the manufacturer has not taken care of a preset small utility, accelerating the «cold» launch GPS via loading of the current situation of the satellites over the Internet. But instead there has been another pleasant surprise prepared for all car enthusiasts, and pedestrians, too. In the set with G7 comes one of the best local navigation packages Auto satellite, with one of the available cards to choose from.
We tested the work of the navigator both with the program Auto satellite, and with a simple non-cartographical application VisualGPSce. Nothing to criticize!
Software
Rover Computers communicators, as a rule, do not have a rich set of preinstalled software, and the G7 in this case is not an exception. And with the tools that come with the innovation, you have already got acquainted, for example, in the review of the communicator RoverPC X7, and therefore to describe them in detail once more is not necessary. It is the utility SmartToday, which provides quick access to all programs and settings of the device, the original recorder, as well as the replacement of the standard interface of Windows Mobile.
The above-mentioned program is a stylish and user-friendly interface (with easy finger management) with large buttons on the main menu, covering a full range of tasks, which a user can perform in a communicator. Here are the work with office applications, and calls, and settings, and notes, and much more.
Conclusions
The declared value of RoverPC Pro G7 was much for a communicator of this brand. In justification of G7 can only be recalled the high-performance, full range of communication tools, GPS-navigator with the package Auto satellite in one set, and position sensors.
Unfortunately, the unit cannot boast with excellent design, and it is often inconvenient to work with the navigation unit. However, these can be attributed only to minor shortcomings.
Well, ultimately, it’s up to you to decide for the purchase, of course. It should only be added that if a powerful processor is not the most important for you, to find other worthy competitors of the novelty is quite simple.
