There aren't too many Windows Mobile devices that can be connected to an external monitor, but the Ultimate 6150 from i-mate is one of them, as is its slightly differently designed sibling, the Ultimate 8150.

The 6150 will output to a resolution of 1,024 x 768 pixels thanks to a special graphics chip inside the device, and can send both sound and images to a monitor. You need to use the supplied cable because there is a proprietary connector on the right-hand edge of the Ultimate 6150, but the cable is not too cumbersome to carry around.

In a business context this facility means the ability to deliver presentations without the hassle of carrying a laptop. For the consumer; well, if you've got the right software on board then all you need is a Bluetooth keyboard and you can work anywhere there is a monitor. For some people this could mean they won't need to carry a laptop quite as often as they may have done in the past.

This is an amazing feature for what looks and feels like a rather last generation device. The Ultimate 6150 is chunky considering it houses a screen that measures just 2.6 inches corner to corner. Its all-round black colour scheme is a bit on the dull side. And the button arrangement is a little bizarre.

There is a mini joystick for controlling cursor movement. This is not unusual in itself, but it is not, as is the norm, centrally located under the screen. Instead it is offset to the right, which makes it a little awkward to use both right- and left-handed. At least i-mate has offered an alternative in the shape of a scroll wheel which sits on the left edge of the casing, and the screen itself is, of course, touch-sensitive.

This is a SIM-supporting device and there are shortcut buttons for Call and End features on the same row as the mini joystick, as well as the usual Windows Mobile Start and OK buttons. We mentioned the Ultimate 8150 earlier: this shares the same design as the 6150 except that it has a numberpad underneath the screen.

Communications runs to quad-band GSM with 3G and HSDPA, and there is a front-facing camera for video calls. There is an FM radio, Wi-Fi and a 2-megapixel main camera whose lens is on the back of the casing alongside a small flash unit and self-portrait mirror. In fact, in the gamut of features that can potentially be crammed into a Windows Mobile 6.0 Professional device, all we can think of that's missing is GPS.

If you need output to an external monitor from a Windows Mobile Professional device, this is the way to get it. But i-mate could have paid a little more attention to the design of this device to increase its appeal.