Toshiba e330 Review

[Jason Dunn]

<a href="http://www.ppcsg.com/pages.php?page=Toshiba+e330">http://www.ppcsg.com/pages.php?page=Toshiba+e330</a><br /><br />The Toshiba e330 is a souped-up version of the e310 that was the first Pocket PC to make a big splash at a lower price point. If you already have an e310, is the e330 worth getting? Check out this review to find out.<br /><br />"As more and more X-scale Pocket PC from other manufacturers hit the market, the Pocket PC e330 is Toshiba's attempt to keep up with the competition. Toshiba's Pocket PC e330 looks very much the same as its predecessor, the e310. Not surprising as it is an improved model to replace the older, but still competent e310. How does the Pocket PC e330 stack up to the competition? Let's find out."<br /><br />The e330 can be purchased for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00007A27H/qid=1037142485/jasondunn-20">$324 after rebates</a> from Amazon.com (affiliate link).

[bdeli]

I got an e330 yesterday though this unit is extremely thin when compared to my iPAQ 3850 with CF+ sleeve I was somehow disappointed with Cleartype. Cleartype just sucks when it is enabled!

The screen is fine - though my 3850 is much better. Battery is good - I played some mp3 files with Windows Media 8.5 with backlight on and got the first battery low alert 4 hrs later.

Still need to install some apps and games to see how they perform.

And for Canadian customers i got mine for $652 shipped + taxes in Canada. Not as good as what those in US can get it (see Jason's Amazon link) - but still cheaper than what Futureshop sells it for!

[ThomasC22]

The e330 can be purchased for $324 after rebates (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00007A27H/qid=1037142485/jasondunn-20) from Amazon.com (affiliate link).

and there lies the problem...

My problem with the e330 is simply that it isn't that much of an improvement over the e310 and Toshiba made the mistake of selling the e310 for ultra-cheap. Add that to Dell's $199 device and you get a unit that looks too expensive for what it offers.

[shawnc]

Great review! This sounds like the Viewsonic, only a little heavier with a slightly lower quality screen and a moderately higher price.

Guess which one I'm getting.

[Foo Fighter]

If only it had a......oh never mind.

[ThomasC22]

Great review! This sounds like the Viewsonic, only a little heavier with a slightly lower quality screen and a moderately higher price.


Ouch, truth can be painful sometimes (boy, Toshiba really fell from the top fast, didn't they?)

[Sslixtis]

All I can say is...Yawn :wink:

[TomB]

Jason, you really cracked me up! "A souped up version of the e310?" I did some side by side comparisons a few weeks ago and souped up is definitely not the word I would use! :)

[bdeli]

Toshiba Canada seems to have lowered down their price of the e330 to $549 CAD.

[Jason Dunn]

Jason, you really cracked me up! "A souped up version of the e310?" I did some side by side comparisons a few weeks ago and souped up is definitely not the word I would use! :)

Well, uh, "souped up on paper"... :lol: :lol:

[MooseMaster]

which paper would that be? The Global Star? Which issue? The one with the picture of the President negotiating with aliens on an unknown island off the coast of Washington State? Or maybe the one with the Ginna Trump sex scandal.

[xbalance]

Yet another over priced Pocket PC to choose from, woopeeee. Aren't the marketing people at Toshiba paying attention to the announcements from Dell and View Sonic. This unit should be selling for $225.

Isn't it the 18th yet! I feel like a kid again waiting for Christmas :D

[Jonathon Watkins]

If only it had a......oh never mind.

I'l miss you doing that Foo when all PPCs come with those screens (or better ones). :wink:

[Janak Parekh]

If only it had a......oh never mind.
I think we can abbreviate "transflective" to "Foo-compliant" :lol:

Seriously--from what I've heard and seen, the e310 had one of the best reflective displays on the PPC market. I'm sure the e330 is nearly identical. However, unless the Viewsonic doesn't get out of the gate, I'd agree with everyone in saying that there's little motivation to get this.

Dell + Viewsonic are going to cause a serious shakeup in the PPC industry with respect to pricing. If you can get a Foo-compliant screen for $299, why get anything else? ;)

--bdj

[ThomasC22]

Seriously--from what I've heard and seen, the e310 had one of the best reflective displays on the PPC market. I'm sure the e330 is nearly identical. However, unless the Viewsonic doesn't get out of the gate, I'd agree with everyone in saying that there's little motivation to get this.


Who told you THAT? Toshiba's have the worst screens!

[Janak Parekh]

Who told you THAT? Toshiba's have the worst screens!
Quite a few people back in the PDABuzz days. The e310 had a much, much better screen than the e740 or the e570. I also saw it in person and was reasonably impressed. Of course, it's not transflective, but it's not typical Toshiba.

Addendum (if you don't mind old PDABuzz links): check out Wes's review here (http://www.pdabuzz.com/Reviews/Detailed/Toshiba_e310.html) and ensuing discussion about the unit, including display, here (http://forums.pdabuzz.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39143).

--bdj

[ThomasC22]

Addendum (if you don't mind old PDABuzz links): check out Wes's review here (http://www.pdabuzz.com/Reviews/Detailed/Toshiba_e310.html) and ensuing discussion about the unit, including display, here (http://forums.pdabuzz.net/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39143).


Well, not to diss ol' Wes or anything, but as someone who happens to have an iPaq 3850, e740 and e310 handy, I think the e310 is as bad as the e740 (maybe a little better) and worse than the iPaq.

But a lot is preference I guess

[enemy2k2]

:o I would be very surprised if the Viewsonic ends up being as sturdy as the e310 or e330, that would be amazing. All I know is that when I held the e310 I definitely got the impression that this is the smallest and lightest they could go while still retaining rock solid toughness. The viewsonic sounds great, but I definitely would want to hold one. I was just very impressed by the build quality of the Toshiba. Either way, Dell it is.

[ThomasC22]

:o I would be very surprised if the Viewsonic ends up being as sturdy as the e310 or e330, that would be amazing. All I know is that when I held the e310 I definitely got the impression that this is the smallest and lightest they could go while still retaining rock solid toughness. The viewsonic sounds great, but I definitely would want to hold one. I was just very impressed by the build quality of the Toshiba. Either way, Dell it is.

Well, and I think that's an important point, all these new PocketPCs are being manufactured VERY cheaply and that could be a problem down the road. Don't get me wrong, 85% will probably be fine, but those 15% are going to cause a lot of headaches.