The screen is a standard 3.5-inch TFT display with 65,536 colors and a 240x320-pixel resolution. Just below it are the five-way navigational keypad and four traditional shortcut keys to your calendar, your contacts, your in-box, and your home page, all of which are user programmable. As a bonus, you'll find two labeled buttons on the outside of the shortcut keys; one is for the voice-record function, while the other enables and disables Wi-Fi. The latter is particularly handy, as it lets you access the Web with one click rather than having to navigate multiple menus. Turn the device over, and you'll find a speaker and the user-replaceable 950mAh battery. To disengage the cell from the handheld, you have to hold the unlock key while taking out the battery--but at least it's removable.

Lining the X30's left side are a standard headphone jack and a jog wheel that allows you to scroll through menu items and to easily navigate with one hand. These features cause that side to protrude slightly--not a major inconvenience but a bit of an eyesore. The right side houses the flat-shaped stylus, which never felt comfortable in our hands. We prefer the traditional round form.
Sitting on top of the device are the IR port, an expansion slot for SDIO/MMC expansion slot, and the antenna nub for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The antenna glows green and blue when Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, respectively, are on, but it adds a bit of bulk to the device. By comparison, many models with the wireless combo, such as the iPaq H4150 and the Toshiba e805 , have a wireless radio seamlessly built in. Fortunately, Dell throws in a nice, soft protective case (with belt clip) that covers the antenna and allows for easy transport. We were disappointed Dell doesn't include the desktop cradle that comes with the high-end model, but the company bundles a USB sync cable, an AC adapter, and a power cord.