XScale can make your handheld more powerful and yet longer-lasting. If you have no clues about what it is, here are answers to five commonly asked questions.

What is XScale?
XScale is the name of Intel's technology for its new handheld processors. First announced almost two years ago, XScale is a successor to the StrongArm chips that are used in Compaq and Hewlett-Packard handhelds.

Processors using XScale technology are available in two different lines. The PXA250 will come in speeds of 200MHz, 300MHz and 400MHz, and will be aimed at the handheld market. Clock speeds for the PXA210 will be 133MHz and 200MHz, targeted at entry-level handhelds and cell phones.

What's cool about the XScale?
The XScale processors come with 64KB of on-chip cache--allowing for improved performance-- as well as integrated components such as a memory controller, an LCD (liquid crystal display) controller and an expansion controller which reduces power consumption.

In contrast, the older StrongArm SA-1110 comes with just 24KB of on-chip cache and a clock speed of 206MHz.

The XScale PXA250 for handhelds also features a dynamic voltage management technique. This allows the chips to adjust power consumption based on the task being performed, similar to the SpeedStep technology on Intel's mobile processors.

Which handheld devices will harness the XScale?
Several handheld makers have committed to the XScale, including HP, Toshiba, Fujitsu Siemens and Acer. Toshiba has already launched its first XScale PDA, the e740, and HP wasn't far behind with its iPaq H3970. Both of these devices are based on the Microsoft Pocket PC operating system.

Are there alternatives to the XScale?
Intel's largest competitor in this arena is Motorola, which currently dominates the market for Palm-based devices. Palm OS 4 is a 16-bit operating system, so it is not compatible with ARM-based processors such as the XScale.

All that will change with Palm's next generation OS 5, which will support three families of processors:Intel's XScale; Texas Instruments' OMAP; and Motorola's DragonBall MX1.

This means Palm OS licensees, such as Sony and Handspring, will have greater scope to select processor manufacturers.

As a landgrab looms, Motorola has claimed that its MX1, which runs at 200MHz, achieves more computing power with a lower clock speed than the XScale. The MX1 integrates color graphics, MP3 and MPEG4 media processing, Bluetooth optimization and other features, according to Motorola.

Should I go get an XScale handheld now?
Although the first XScale machines are now available, observers say the new devices are not performing to their potential, but only as well as older Pocket PC-based devices.

Microsoft has revealed that the performance problems are due to a generational mismatch between Microsoft's Pocket PC 2002 operating system and the XScale PXA250 processors.

Microsoft added that it is unlikely to optimize Pocket PC for the XScale as this would either make previous versions of Pocket PC obsolete or require Microsoft to maintain two separate versions of the software. Microsoft did say it is working with hardware vendors to make some minor tweaks to Pocket PC for XScale, but did not expect this to substantially improve performance.

Although Intel is currently persuading software makers to release optimized versions of their software, clearly there are still some teething problems. Buyers looking for the promised speed boost may want to wait a little longer.