pocketnow celebrates birthday with Toshiba e310 giveaway

[marlof]

<a href="http://articles.pocketnow.com/content.cgi?db=articles&id=79">http://articles.pocketnow.com/content.cgi?db=articles&id=79</a><br /><br />First of all, a belated Happy Birthday to <a href="http://www.pocketnow.com">pocketnow</a>. On May 1, they celebrated their second anniversary! As a result they are having <a href="http://articles.pocketnow.com/content.cgi?db=articles&id=79">a contest</a> where you can win a Toshiba e310 among other things. All you have to do is to go to the pocketnow turns 2 <a href="http://discuss.pocketnow.com/showthread.php?threadid=8907">discussion thread</a>, and reply to the thread with a creative birthday greeting for pocketnow. (you must be a registered user). The winner will be picked on Friday May 10 2002.<br /><br />And if you want to know if you are going to like the Toshiba e310, make sure to read <a href="http://reviews.pocketnow.com/content.cgi?db=reviews&id=249">their extensive review</a>. Derek Snyder likes the product, but he sees the limited battery life, the unavailability of a "Safe Store" or "File Store" option in Flash ROM, the lack of WiFi connectivity due to the SD only expansion slot, and the limited bundled software as downsides. On the upside (next to the small size and price): Toshiba will bring out a SD Bluetooth card! I did like their pictures, comparing the e310 to a Palm V, the de facto standard in cool looking small PDA design.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/e310_palmv.jpg" /><br /><br />Derek's overall impression: "Overall, this unit is a real gem. For someone that wants a good mix between organization and fun, the Toshibe e310 may just be the device that he/she is looking for. It has all the features you'd come to expect from a Pocket PC 2002 device, along with some, but not all, of the expansion options. I would argue that this device would be an excellent alternative to people considering the Palm m500 series of handhelds. If you want a Pocket PC that truly is worthy of the name (that is one that can fit in your pocket), the Toshiba e310 may be a good fit (all puns intended). And for $399 street, its easy on your other pocket."

[Timothy Rapson]

This is a real breakthrough model for PPC. Palm's M5XX even with the minor fixes in the 515 is already being discounted to as low as $320. Not good. I don't expect to see that kind of panic selling with this e310.

Size, I don't think anyone will reject this on the basis of size.

The price is exactly right.

Features are the bare minimum, but that is what people would expect at this price so they will not hold off out of suspicion that there is something wrong with it....which leads to the last big feature:

A great brand name--Toshiba

As the reviews start rolling in and the product starts hitting shelves, this one is going to be the Ipaq of the Summer, 2002.

[Scott R]

This is a real breakthrough model for PPC. Palm's M5XX even with the minor fixes in the 515 is already being discounted to as low as $320.
Where can you get an m515 for $320?

Scott

[normaldude]

Good to see the PocketPCs are slimming down.

With only a SD slot, is there any way to surf the internet via landline.. like if I'm a hotel room? I know there are CompactFlash 56k modems, but are there SD 56k modems?

And a flip cover would have been nice..

[Jason Dunn]

With only a SD slot, is there any way to surf the internet via landline.. like if I'm a hotel room? I know there are CompactFlash 56k modems, but are there SD 56k modems?


No, there aren't any SD modems yet. This Pocket PC is very much an "offline" device.

[jeff]

With only a SD slot, is there any way to surf the internet via landline.. like if I'm a hotel room? I know there are CompactFlash 56k modems, but are there SD 56k modems?


No, but there are infared modems. There's a Psion branded one which works with anything.

[normaldude]

No, but there are infared modems. There's a Psion branded one which works with anything.


Ugh. That looks incredibly awkward. Can't hold the PDA in your hand while surfing. Can't use it sitting on a couch or lying in bed.

http://www.microsoft.com/mobile/pocketpc/reviews/psion56k.asp

[Scott R]

No, there aren't any SD modems yet. This Pocket PC is very much an "offline" device.

You could still connect to a cell phone via a serial cable, couldn't you?

Scott

[klinux]

Is Jason back? Welcome back!

[marlof]

I do suspect that the user this product is targeted at doesn't worry too much about connectivity. They want most of what a Pocket PC can do, in a small package, with a small price, and take the limitations that come with that for granted. Although, with the SD Bluetooth card, and a Bluetooth GPRS phone or a Bluetooth hub to your PC, there is some form of connectivity easily to be had. But... having only SD and no other options sure means your choices are more limited than with another device enabling you to use CF or even PCMCIA. But enabling that would probably only make this more expensive, and therefor be shooting past the goal.

[Jason Dunn]

You could still connect to a cell phone via a serial cable, couldn't you?


Yes, you could. I always forget about that solution because I find it a bit awkward, but you're right - it's viable. Also, with a Bluetooth SD card and a T68, you're golden.

The Pocketnow.com review was more negative on the lack of WIFI solutions, which is a fair criticism.

[Jason Dunn]

Is Jason back? Welcome back!


Uh, no, I've hijacked his account. 8)

I'm in "stealth mode" for a bit yet. ;-)

[Ed Hansberry]

This is a real breakthrough model for PPC. Palm's M5XX even with the minor fixes in the 515 is already being discounted to as low as $320.
Where can you get an m515 for $320?

Scott


http://www.essentiallyyoursdigital.com/palm.htm

www.pricewatch.com has several others under $350 too.