Official Toshiba e750/e755 Information Posted

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/tais/pc/pc_prodList.jsp?comm=CS&plin=Toshiba%20Pocket%20PC&pfam=Toshiba%20Pocket%20PC%20e750%20Series' target='_blank'>http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-bin/...20e750%20Series</a><br /><br /></div>"Featuring the power-saving Intel PXA255 processor, the Pocket PC e750 delivers added performance to quickly access your files and programs while consuming less power. Whether indoors or outdoors, Pocket PC e750 users can view their favorite images or Web sites with the large, crisp 3.8" diagonal transreflective color display. Providing a generous 96MB (64MB RAM/32MB NAND) of storage capacity, Pocket PC e750 users can easily access data and multimedia files with the touch of a finger. For added peace of mind, critical files stored in NAND memory will remain intact even if the PDA battery runs down."<br /><br /><img src="http://www.csd.toshiba.com/images/ui2/pocketpc_e750_350x350.jpg" /><br /><br />Well isn't this interesting! 96 MB of RAM, but only 64 MB of that is user-accessible. It looks like more and more OEMs are switching to NAND memory to save costs. Too bad - 96 MB of RAM on a Pocket PC would be great! I looked at the specs for the 750/755 and couldn't seem to find a difference - they're both $599 US.

[Janak Parekh]

I think the idea of the NAND RAM is to provide a large "Safe Store". That's what the website implies. So, it's 64MB, with a potential 32MB of it being kept between hard resets, which sounds pretty cool.

--janak

[guinness]

Found it over at InfoSync: http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/3185.html

400 MHz PXA255, 4" screen, 128 Megs of ram, detactable camera, SDIO and CF II slots, about $650 US, but only available in Japan right now.

[bdegroodt]

I've never liked the look of the Toshiba (But the specs have been pretty impressive with pretty much everything you could want built in.) so I've never paid much attention to the product line. So, for my own education, what's the difference here on this device versus the previous? Seems to be a run of the mill PDA for the Toshiba line. What's the delta between this and whatever model it's replacing?

[Janak Parekh]

Found it over at InfoSync: http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/3185.html

400 MHz PXA255, 4" screen, 128 Megs of ram, detactable camera, SDIO and CF II slots, about $650 US, but only available in Japan right now.
We already posted on it (http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=9659) :)

This does have the integrated WLAN, though, which is pretty cool, and in some ways more useful.

What's the delta between this and whatever model it's replacing?
It's replacing the e740. The key items are a bigger, better screen; faster XScale processor; "more memory" to work with (sort of). It's not the revolution that the Genio 550C is, but it's a nice update. If the battery life is improved over the e740, it'll be a great unit.

--janak

[entropy1980]

I want benchmarks... let's see if the 200Mhz bus changes XScales fortunes....

[Sslixtis]

Well isn't this interesting! 96 MB of RAM, but only 64 MB of that is user-accessible

I didn't read it that way at all, Providing a generous 96MB (64MB RAM/32MB NAND) of storage capacity to me reads 64Mb Ram/32Mb ROM with an undisclosed amount of the RAM user accessible. Remember when the Viewsonic V35 first came out and it was listed as 64Mb RAM/32 ROM as well.

I guess we'll have to wait and see. :?

[Ziad.T]

The only difference I noticed between the E750 and E755 is the ArcSoft® PhotoBase™ for Pocket PC software for the E755....[/i]

[Janak Parekh]

Providing a generous 96MB (64MB RAM/32MB NAND) of storage capacity to me reads 64Mb Ram/32Mb ROM with an undisclosed amount of the RAM user accessible. Remember when the Viewsonic V35 first came out and it was listed as 64Mb RAM/32 ROM as well.

I guess we'll have to wait and see. :?
Indeed, we will. The site explains that you can use the 32MB as a safe store of some sort, which implies it's not ROM. I'd be really surprised if they're cutting back on free RAM from the e740. Then of course, I've been surprised before...

--janak

[Pony99CA]

Well isn't this interesting! 96 MB of RAM, but only 64 MB of that is user-accessible

I didn't read it that way at all, Providing a generous 96MB (64MB RAM/32MB NAND) of storage capacity to me reads 64Mb Ram/32Mb ROM with an undisclosed amount of the RAM user accessible. Remember when the Viewsonic V35 first came out and it was listed as 64Mb RAM/32 ROM as well.

I read it like Janak, thanks to the following:


For added peace of mind, critical files stored in NAND memory will remain intact even if the PDA battery runs down.

That seems to imply the user can store files in the NAND memory, but probably only data files, as programs can't execute from NAND.

The More Information link didn't give any help, though.

Steve

[Jason Dunn]

Well isn't this interesting! 96 MB of RAM, but only 64 MB of that is user-accessible

I didn't read it that way at all, Providing a generous 96MB (64MB RAM/32MB NAND) of storage capacity to me reads 64Mb Ram/32Mb ROM with an undisclosed amount of the RAM user accessible. Remember when the Viewsonic V35 first came out and it was listed as 64Mb RAM/32 ROM as well.

I guess we'll have to wait and see. :?

Hmm. I thought that the 32 MB of NAND RAM was the area of execution for the NAND ROM - ie: you have 96 MB of RAM total, but 32 MB of that is earmarked for executing applications that are in ROM by copying them into RAM.

If it's 96 MB of completely user accessible memory, why would they differentiate? :?

[dh]

Well isn't this interesting! 96 MB of RAM, but only 64 MB of that is user-accessible

I didn't read it that way at all, Providing a generous 96MB (64MB RAM/32MB NAND) of storage capacity to me reads 64Mb Ram/32Mb ROM with an undisclosed amount of the RAM user accessible. Remember when the Viewsonic V35 first came out and it was listed as 64Mb RAM/32 ROM as well.

I read it like Janak, thanks to the following:


For added peace of mind, critical files stored in NAND memory will remain intact even if the PDA battery runs down.

That seems to imply the user can store files in the NAND memory, but probably only data files, as programs can't execute from NAND.

The More Information link didn't give any help, though.

Steve

From the spec sheet:
http://cdgenp01.csd.toshiba.com/content/product/pdf_files/detailed_specs/pocketpc_e750.pdf

Memory:
64 MB SDRAM
32 MB Flash Rom
32 MB NAND

If this has a nice screen and good battery life it could be a good competitor.

[Cracknell]

From their spec page, I got the impression they are pulling a Viewsonic. It's 64RAM/32ROM NAND. It doesn't say 64/32/32.

[Sslixtis]

Hmm. I thought that the 32 MB of NAND RAM was the area of execution for the NAND ROM - ie: you have 96 MB of RAM total, but 32 MB of that is earmarked for executing applications that are in ROM by copying them into RAM.

Well if you go to the Detailed Specs. on the link you provided on the main page it lists the Memory Specs as 64Mb RAM/32Mb ROM not 96Mb RAM with 64Mb user accessible.

Could just be my naturally suspicious nature, but I don't trust OEMs when they "imply" anything anymore! :twisted:

[dean_shan]

Looks impressive. I think I'll hold off on the upgrade. It's pretty much a e740 with a Transreflective screen. If there were more features added I would consister the upgrade.

[Janak Parekh]

Well if you go to the Detailed Specs. on the link you provided on the main page it lists the Memory Specs as 64Mb RAM/32Mb ROM not 96Mb RAM with 64Mb user accessible.
It's weird. As dh points out, there seems to be two ROMs in this device, one of which is 32MB NAND flash (note it's called a "Flash ROM disk", which makes me think the safe store bit), the other being 32MB CMOS (NOR?) flash. If that's the case, it's not a Viewsonic(TM). ;)

--janak

[Pony99CA]

It's replacing the e740. The key items are a bigger, better screen; faster XScale processor; "more memory" to work with (sort of). It's not the revolution that the Genio 550C is, but it's a nice update. If the battery life is improved over the e740, it'll be a great unit.
Another apparent change is that the e750/755 has a "Stereo headphone/Microphone port (Stereo; 4 ring jack 3.5mm)". Presumably, that's to compete with the iPAQ 5450. :-)

The spec sheet said the battery was 1000 mah, which is the same as the e740.

Steve

[Janak Parekh]

The spec sheet said the battery was 1000 mah, which is the same as the e740.
Yes, but the transflective display should consume less power, and perhaps the WLAN chipset is more power-efficient. No guarantees tho.

--janak

[Ziad.T]

I asked Toshiba France minutes ago, there is 64 MB RAM + 7 NAND MB usable..

[etalianstallion]

Looks like a good device to me. I've always been a fan of the Toshiba E740 but did not purchase it for 1 main reason: lakc of a transflective screen.

Now that they offer a sweet 3.8 transflective, this is looking to be one great device. Integrated WLAN keeps both the CF and SD slots free.

This basically has all the trimmings I'm looking for EXCEPT for the price. Let's see what Dell comes up with in the near future, possibly the X7?

[donkthemagicllama]

I'm thinking the speed may be significantly improved...

For memory bus intensive operations (e.g. video), I remember reading (I think it was in a BH thread by the creators of PocketTV, but I could be mistaken) that old SA devices beat current XScales by around 3%...

That 3% is equivilent to the bus speed advantage the SA's had over the XScales (103MHz vs 100MHz).

If that is indeed the case, memory intensive applications should greatly benefit from the 200MHz bus that the new XScales have. I'm not saying they'll be 100% faster, but it seemed that the memory bus was a big bottleneck before, and shouldn't be now.

[Cracknell]

The spec sheet said the battery was 1000 mah, which is the same as the e740.
Yes, but the transflective display should consume less power, and perhaps the WLAN chipset is more power-efficient. No guarantees tho.

--janak

the PXA255 itself also consumes about 20% less power in average.

use babelfish
http://www.wince.ne.jp/snap/ceSnapView.asp?PID=1237

[donkthemagicllama]

Another random thought, will we ever get a PocketPC that does better than 320x240 and a thumb-board??? PalmOS and Linux devices are really beating PocketPC in these areas.

[dh]

Looks like a good device to me. I've always been a fan of the Toshiba E740 but did not purchase it for 1 main reason: lakc of a transflective screen.

Now that they offer a sweet 3.8 transflective, this is looking to be one great device. Integrated WLAN keeps both the CF and SD slots free.

This basically has all the trimmings I'm looking for EXCEPT for the price. Let's see what Dell comes up with in the near future, possibly the X7?

I agree with this completely. I always liked the feel and size of the 740 (although not the styling) but compare the screen to an Ipaq and it was just yuck!

With a good screen, small size (especially for a two expansion slot device), WiFi AND the new processor, this might well be a winner.

[David McNamee]

The specs look good, but did they fix the darned problem with text on the Today Screen turning white? :evil:

[rapjo]

Perhaps the 750/755 naming convention is for the same reason that HP/Compaq had the 3850 and 3835 iPAQs, one for online, and one for retail...

[mar2k]

I would want to know whether it will be flashable to the next version of the Pocket PC OS (2003?).

All indications are that there will be an upgrade to the OS this year with the release of .NET development tools etc. How bad would it stink to lay down $600 and find out Toshiba will not provide an upgrade path?

[Bob Anderson]

The specs look good, but did they fix the darned problem with text on the Today Screen turning white? :evil:

Hey, I've got a better question... did they fix ActiveStink? :lol:

Just kidding... I couldn't resist bringing that up, in light of the huge issues people have been complaining about the past couple of days on these boards... see http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=89319

[Ziad.T]

I would want to know whether it will be flashable to the next version of the Pocket PC OS (2003?).


Microsoft will announce that @ CeBIT. But I think that it will, it's based on Windows CE 3.0, so it should work..

[jpaq]

Honestly, I'm leary of anything with less than 48MB ROM for the OS. See, Pocket PC to Pocket PC 2002.

If they address any of the issues that we have all been complaining about, they will need more space for the OS.

This is a good looking device, but everyone (Makers, OEM's, etc.) seems to be just off the mark.

For those of you OEM's just getting to the game as well as the clueless veteran OEM's here it is kids:

- 400 mhz +
- 64 MB + ROM
- 128 MB + RAM
- 640x480 + Transflective Screen
- WiFi 802.11g
- Bluetooth
- USB Host
- CF II
- SDIO
- GSM/GPRS
- PPC2003 (With all of the expected enhancements)
- Fold Out Keyboard
- TV Tuner
- Radio Tuner
- Small Size
- Dell Price

Edit:
- IR Port On Top
- Integrated Cover
*Good ones JonnoB

Edit2:
- Supported and compatible 3D Graphics Adapter
* Another good one Pen Pen
:twisted:

OK. I got a little bit crazy with the Keyboard, TV, and Radio tuners, but the rest is feasible.

What do we all say? Memory is cheap? Bluetooth radio's are cheap. Obviously WiFi radios are ccomgin down in price (see any Sunday ad). What is so hard about the formula?

Sorry. Sorry. Sorry. :oops:
I ranted on. Jason is not the only one that caught the Dennis Miller bug.

The Toshiba is nice but expensive for what it is. How about that?
:D

[JonnoB]

I just wish they would have
1) put an integrated cover on like the new e550C (aka Jornada)
2) put the IR port on the top... who likes to turn their PDA sideways while beaming stuff?

[Jason Lee]

So i assume the 740 expansion pack and keyboards will work?

[WyattEarp]

According to the spec sheet:

Memory:- 64MB SDRAM
- 32MB CMOS FlashROM
- Aplication Memory: 32MB NAND Memory (FlashROM Disk)


So it should have 96MB accessible to the user, but we know how OEMs don't like to explain the specs. If it does have 96MB it will be a nice successor to the e740. But, I would still like to see Bluetooth built-in, a 4.0" screen and 128MB RAM/64MB FlashROM. I know that's asking a lot but that would make it near perfect to me. Maybe one day.

[Pony99CA]

I just wish they would have
1) put an integrated cover on like the new e550C (aka Jornada)
2) put the IR port on the top... who likes to turn their PDA sideways while beaming stuff?
I'd add GPS and the option of CDMA 1xRTT/1xEV-DV instead of GSM/GPRS.

Steve

[Reinaldo]

I carry what I think MIGHT be bad news. On the spec sheet, Toshiba has written that they still have the same battery of LiOn Advanced (I don't know how to write it, ok!) that the old Toshiba had and under the accesories of the e750 they post the old e740 batteries as compatible. :cry:

PA3197U-1BRL Toshiba Pocket PC e740 High Capacity Battery $129.00

PA3188U-1PRP Toshiba Pocket PC e740 Expansion Pack $99.00

PA3187U-1BRS Toshiba Pocket PC e740 Primary Battery $69.00
I wanted this device but battery life is a BIG issue when it comes to me. I had an e740, and the battery problems, back up battery problems, and WiFi meaning one hour drove me to shun the e740 away sadly. I settled on a 3975. If this device equals or at least gets close to the battery life of the 3975, I'll get it but from the specs it looks like it won't. :cry:

Someone PLEASE correct me and tell me that I am wrong on this one.

[pdagal]

It seems that Toshiba is claiming 96 megs of usable space. This is from the press release we received from Toshiba:

" Of the 96MB of memory available to the customer, 32MB is dedicated NAND flash memory. Applications, files or programs stored in NAND flash memory will remain intact even if the battery of the PDA runs down or if the unit needs to be reset, providing peace of mind when storing critical data on the Pocket PC e750."

[penpen]

what about the grphics-adapter? i remember the next gen toshiba to have a new ati imageon...

[GadgetDave]

Let's see what Dell comes up with in the near future, possibly the X7?

That unit will probably be cool ... but I've heard "rumors" that it's at least next Jan till it's out ...

[altden2002]

Another thing to add to wish-list: TV-out is a huge one for me. Imagine, with $200 1Gb CF card you can store your best pictures (the 640x480 version) and show them to your friends on nearest TV at any moment, or on the device itself when there is no TV around. You could also use PocketPC then to watch DIVX movies on TV, with USB HDD.

[dean_shan]

So i assume the 740 expansion pack and keyboards will work?

Yes they will work.

[Covert]

what about the grphics-adapter? i remember the next gen toshiba to have a new ati imageon...
It seems to be the same graphics adapter as the e740 has, according to the .pdf.

They clearly say there is 64 MB RAM/32 MB ROM/32 MB NAND ROM. It's nothing like the Viewsonic/1910 deal.

[R K]

Another thing to add to wish-list: TV-out is a huge one for me. Imagine, with $200 1Gb CF card you can store your best pictures (the 640x480 version) and show them to your friends on nearest TV at any moment, or on the device itself when there is no TV around. You could also use PocketPC then to watch DIVX movies on TV, with USB HDD.

It may not be quite the same, but you can always go and buy one of the CF presentation cards. Your CF slot will be used up but you can take still generally do what you wanted.

[Emike]

I am encouraged by the progress in hardward that Toshiba is making. I must say that the 550c series is certainly impressive and I really hope that it makes it to the states. The hardward specs for this model, the E750, are certainly compelling for the power user in me. It was the specs that drew me to purchase the E740 for myself, but I must say that I have been disappointed overall.
It is toshiba's lack of attention to the details of the E740 that has really made my overall experience less than perfect. While there is a workaround for the all too easily accidently pressed record button; just disable it, right . . . but that destroys the very purpose of the button in the first place. The fact that the application buttons sometimes power up the unit and sometimes don't, and when they do work, that they often double press causing some applications to just crash and others to open to a screen other than the one you were expecting, a stylus slot that eventually allows all stylii to fall out, and mondo active sync problems equals a lousy end-user experience. I know these issues have been brought up in other forums and cussed and discussed a number of times, but I can only hope that these problems are fixed in this new model. Based on the design similiarities, I have to believe that the stylus and record button problems will still plague even this latest of devices.
I think I'll wait this one out and hope that the 550c makes it over here.

[portus]

I am encouraged by the progress in hardward that Toshiba is making. I must say that the 550c series is certainly impressive and I really hope that it makes it to the states. The hardward specs for this model, the E750, are certainly compelling for the power user in me. It was the specs that drew me to purchase the E740 for myself, but I must say that I have been disappointed overall.
It is toshiba's lack of attention to the details of the E740 that has really made my overall experience less than perfect. While there is a workaround for the all too easily accidently pressed record button; just disable it, right . . . but that destroys the very purpose of the button in the first place. The fact that the application buttons sometimes power up the unit and sometimes don't, and when they do work, that they often double press causing some applications to just crash and others to open to a screen other than the one you were expecting, a stylus slot that eventually allows all stylii to fall out, and mondo active sync problems equals a lousy end-user experience. I know these issues have been brought up in other forums and cussed and discussed a number of times, but I can only hope that these problems are fixed in this new model. Based on the design similiarities, I have to believe that the stylus and record button problems will still plague even this latest of devices.
I think I'll wait this one out and hope that the 550c makes it over here.
I'd have to agree with you on waiting for the Genio e550C. My experience tells me that the Genio series PocketPC is one of the most stable and top performers of all the PocketPCs I've tried, including all flavors of Toshiba America's, Dell Axim X5, and iPAQ 3955/5455. The battery life and screen were the downsides but I'd think the e550GD/C will be great devices with improvements on both weak points - better transflective with low power requiremen.

[dilta]

I've been told that e750 will have built-in VGA-OUT, and can play full-screen video on the TV without jitter.

Maybe next time I should ask him to bring me the device as proof that all the announced features are in reality.

[MooseMaster]

I say they should put the IR port on the side of the device, that way the thing is still facing me while I'm syncing it with my laptop. Rarely do I have beam between PPCs, and even if I did then on the side would still work because when we're facing each other we'd just hold our PPCs out side by side and the IR ports would be aligned.

[portus]

Can't believe Toshiba still keeps the exact same form factor and design without a slight change. The most bugging one being the positioning of the replaceable battery latch - on the side of the device where every so often you can inadvertently release the latch and cause your device to loose everthing in the RAM. This is even more of a problem when used with a carrying case - everytime you take the device out of the case you need to take special care not to release the latch because the latch "release" direction corresponds to the direction you pull the device out of a carrying case. To me, that defeats the purpose of having a replaceable battery - what could be worse than finding out your data are all gone when you need them most?

[Emike]

Portus Wrote:

everytime you take the device out of the case you need to take special care not to release the latch because the latch "release" direction corresponds to the direction you pull the device out of a carrying case. To me, that defeats the purpose of having a replaceable battery - what could be worse than finding out your data are all gone when you need them most?


How true Portus.

Yet another gripe I forgot to mention is the E740's remarkably slow text rendering speed. I had expected much more from the inclusion of the Imageon ATI chip. The old 150mhz Casio EM500 that I replaced with the 740 was able to render Avantgo Internet Explorer pages twice as fast. If you check the benchmarks, the E740 is well behind even the old StrongArm models and every one of the new Xscales in text rendering speeds. I guess the Imageon was tuned specifically for game graphics which is odd when you consider that the E740 only allows you to press one button at a time making it a poor game machine. It's tough to play a game when you can't steer and fire at the same time.
I only hope that Toshiba has been listening.

[dean_shan]

This is even more of a problem when used with a carrying case - everytime you take the device out of the case you need to take special care not to release the latch because the latch "release" direction corresponds to the direction you pull the device out of a carrying case.

I havn't had a problem with this at all. They only time I had my battery fall out is when my friend dropped it (luckly it was in the case). I agree the lock placement is terrible but I can live with it.

[Jason Lee]

I hit that stupid battery switch all the time.. I am constatly checking to see if i might have moved it. I hard reset myself once that way. I don't mind where it is but i think that it should stay put better.

[Jimmy Dodd]

This is even more of a problem when used with a carrying case - everytime you take the device out of the case you need to take special care not to release the latch because the latch "release" direction corresponds to the direction you pull the device out of a carrying case.

I havn't had a problem with this at all. They only time I had my battery fall out is when my friend dropped it (luckly it was in the case). I agree the lock placement is terrible but I can live with it.

I haven't had this happen to me either, but I live in constant fear of it for some reason. I think it is because my finger always lays across the switch when I hold the e740.

Does simply moving the switch to the down position disconnect the battery or does the battery have to physically move to cause the data loss?

[Jonathan1]

Well hearing info on this new device is all well and fine how many are waiting with baited breath to see how the new CPU performs? This could possibly be a critical test to see how well the rep of the X-Scale will be in the future. Doubtlessly the fiasco with the X-Scale has to be on par with the floating point bug in the Pent 90's way back when. They made good on that. Hopefully they will do the same with the X-Scale.

[R K]

Brighthand has an article on the speed of XScale.
A 300MHz PXA255 is just as fast, if not faster than a 400MHz PXA250.

[Dr. Mike]

The e750 seems to be everything I am looking for. I have watch with interest the discussion and I must say that I am waiting to purchase my first PDA, hence I am a neophyte in this area. However my concern or question is this: given all the hype on the Genio e550c when you compare it to the e750 what do you really have. I can understand the camera thing and that is ok, but not essential for me. What about the other specs when you compare the two, does the e750 withits free SD and CF slots and inbuilt Wifi prove to the be the more functional especially when one of the same slots can take an additional memory card to boost it beyond 128MB? IS there another factor to the equation that I am missing?