Geek.com Reviews the TORQ P100 (E-TEN M500)

[Darius Wey]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.geek.com/hwswrev/pda/torq/index.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.geek.com/hwswrev/pda/torq/index.htm</a><br /><br /></div><i>"I have been playing with the TORQ P100 for a couple of weeks, and I am having a very tough time trying to decide if I want to purchase this at a price I can safely swallow or wait to purchase the HTC Wizard (JAM 2) device for about 33% more. The one concern I have with the Wizard is the likely 195MHz processor, compared to the 400MHz variant in the TORQ."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/wey-20050903-TORQP100.jpg" /><br /><br />Geek.com has just reviewed the <a href="http://www.soundsolutionsgb.com/torq/torq1.html">TORQ P100</a> - a rebranded version of the well-known E-TEN M500 Pocket PC Phone Edition. The review is very detailed and is packed with a whole collection of pictures, so if you've been eyeballing this device for quite some time now, be sure to check this review out. The device is expected to receive the Windows Mobile 5.0 upgrade at the end of the year.

[ricksfiona]

If it only had WiFi.

[jngold_me]

If it only had WiFi.

You mean like this one will? :)

http://www.mobile01.com/topicdetail.php?f=61&amp;t=82574&amp;last=577789

[KTamas]

Now this is something sweet. I've seen this in the real life, and compared to my PDA2K, it is small. If it would only have VGA and built-in keyboard...


(Oh wait, that's called HTC Universal.... ;) )

[ricksfiona]

If it only had WiFi.

You mean like this one will? :)

http://www.mobile01.com/topicdetail.php?f=61&amp;t=82574&amp;last=577789

Thanks! I keep forgetting about the M600! And it's supposed to come out this month!

I've gone over the M600 with a fine-toothed comb. Let's see:

Wifi: Check
Bluetooth: Check
128MB ROM: Check
SD: Check

It even comes in a great color and with Quad Band, which is nice.

Can it be improved upon? Hmm, faster processor? Mmmmm. Holographic display, neural control interface :wink:

Keep the price under $650 and this may be the only impulse buy err, I mean, business tool I will buy for the entire year!

[ricksfiona]

BTW, anyone make svelte carrying cases for these? I'm so serious about getting one of these :D

[saru83]

its cool, but UGLY :evil:

[Chris Spera]

BTW, anyone make svelte carrying cases for these? I'm so serious about getting one of these :D

Nope... not yet. Piel Frama is going to release something, but it isn't that great, unleass you really like flip cases. I don't...

[ctmagnus]

A flip case for a flip device? :confused totally:

[griph]

its cool, but UGLY :evil:
They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And I for one regularly comment hear on ugly machines (eg MPx etc) - but no way is this an ugly device - really NICE design! I'd have one tomorrow without hesitation WiFi or no!

[Phillip Dyson]

I've been using an m500 for sometime now. Its my first Phone Edition device and I'm pretty happy with it.

That being said, I'm expecting to buy a new device by the end of the year if one of the new ones really impress me. So far not. Except the m600.

Whether I buy a new device or not, I'm definitely looking forward to the WM5.0 upgrade.

[ricksfiona]

its cool, but UGLY :evil:
They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And I for one regularly comment hear on ugly machines (eg MPx etc) - but no way is this an ugly device - really NICE design! I'd have one tomorrow without hesitation WiFi or no!

Yes, I think it's cool looking too! Wow, Piel makes some really nice stuff!

[ricksfiona]

Okay, MAYBE it's not perfect... Does it support EDGE? Doesn't look like it.

[Chris Spera]

I'm really enjoying mine. Its a bit difficult without the keyboard on the BlueAngel, but its not bad. There are a few problems, that I know could be resolved with a ROM upgrade; but its pretty good.

My final opinion is still undecided; but a lot of people are claiming it to be better than the JAM. Are there any JAM owners out there that have seen, used, or own the M500?

[snayar]

Well, I've seen the JAM and the M500 in person (actually it was a friend's Torq P100), and both are really NICE and Small... Specially for me, considering that I currently own a massive MDAII witn WM5.0 but massive nonetheless... :lol:

However, I really look forward on the upcoming M600 because of the integraded WiFi, Black Casing, WM5.0 and better looks over the JAM.

Which one is better, the Jam or M500 you ask? The Torq P100/ETen M500 wins hands down over the Jam.

Why you ask?
- More memory (fact)
- better design (subjective)
- better battery (fact)
- native upgrade path to WM5.0 (fact)
- Includes Cradle (fact)
- less expensive (fact)
- better bundled applications (subjective)

My 2 Cents...

SNayar