PDAfrance reviews the Toshiba e310

[Andy Sjostrom]

<a href="http://www.pdafrance.com/articles/article.php?cat=machinesppc&id=125&p=1">http://www.pdafrance.com/articles/article.php?cat=machinesppc&id=125&p=1</a><br /><br />If you understand French or just enjoy looking at some great device pictures I recommend visiting PDAfrance's new review of the Toshiba e310. There's an interesting <a href="http://www.pdafrance.com/articles/article.php?cat=machinesppc&id=125&p=3">benchmark table</a> even I can understand, so you should too!<br /><br />I have just one complaint. Look at the picture below. Why, why, why design yet another brick? Must Pocket PCs be squarish looking? The design awards won by the iPAQ Pocket PC must mean something, must they not?<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/e310review.jpg" />

[Take1]

Looks great, but without CompUSA, Circuit City actually HAVING the device to buy, this will totally FLOP as a PDA. Toshiba really needs to get the retailers to stock this thing -- it's a shame since I'm reluctant to go out and buy this thing without having seen it first hand.

[gmelfissg]

no the design of IPAQ doesn't mean anything because i don't like the IPAQ design because it is design to take money of you and believe me the genio is much bettter looking than any IPAQ and even my wife think's so. Stop beign shallow ? Is it a sweden think ? and use the best pocket pc device brand, toshiba, trouble free !!!!! not like the IPAQ that everybody pray and i don't know why !!!

Giuseppe Melfi

[Andy Sjostrom]

How about a Pocket PC that works AND looks great? I am not saying I don't care about whether or not the thing works. Of course I do.

But to disregard design in a high-end luxury market this still is, is a major mistake -- the iPAQ Pocket PC sales is proof of that.

[gmelfissg]

sorry andy,

but the IPAQ has tons of quality problems, dust under screen, freeze problem, ... non of them are in the toshiba. Looks can be deceiving, i heard that in europe IPAQ is selling well but not as much here in north america where the audiovox maestro (toshiba e550) is making a killing.

So watch and learn, you'll see that there will be more toshiba sold in the world this year and from now on because toshiba is a respected name and comes with trouble free device and that's what People need, not good looking PDA that broke often.

Giuseppe Melfi

[Andy Sjostrom]

I am NOT saying quality does not matter. It does! I agree with you.
I am saying that looks matter.

[gmelfissg]

how is it that looks matterf in a device that you use to be more productive, wouldn't prefer to have a more efficent device tan a nice looking device that broke all the time ?

Giuseppe Melfi

[Andy Sjostrom]

The short answer is that users are human beings. Most human beings care about looks and design.

The longer answer is:
People use cars to be more productive. There's a market for nice looking cars.
People have houses to have somewhere to live. There's a market for nice looking houses.
People have clothes for all sorts of good and practical reasons. There's a market for nice looking clothes.
... and so on!

The market for "nice looking XYZ" generally is the high-end of that market. Since Pocket PCs are the high-end of this market, I expect them to be nice-looking.

Please, please, please note that I also, in 100% agreement with you, require them to work and be of top quality. :D

[gmelfissg]

let stop it here,

because i think andy that you still say that a high end device has to be good looking and i don't but i respect your opinion because i do not need look but i can see why somebody else would prefer it.

have a good day. :lol:

[disciple]

A brick look ... if you don't care about that fact or maybe like it ... you are lucky because it is a very nice small device. :D I am not :cry:

[fundmgr90210]

This is one of the funny threads I've ever read.....

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

let stop it here,

because i think andy that you still say that a high end device has to be good looking and i don't but i respect your opinion because i do not need look but i can see why somebody else would prefer it.

have a good day. :lol:


I really think you're missing Andy's point here. While he may prefer a good-looking and you may not, the fact is that, in the market, the looks sells. Toshiba may have a solidly designed unit, but unless they can create a case design that has "sex-appeal", it's likely the suffer the same fate as the Casio E125/EM500's which were rock-solid units but second in sales behind the ultimately QA-flawed iPaqs. Those Casio's were often described unflatteringly as "bricks" which is really what this new Toshiba is shaped like.

Great device? Sure, I'll buy that... and I'm sure it will work great for you and anyone else who chooses to buy it... But the fact is that Toshiba won't steal marketshare unless they can come up with something that looks good as well.

Ekkie

[Foo Fighter]

I'm confused by this statement (translated through Babelfish):

The screen points out besides to me that of Sony T625c, a pledge of quality.

Is this guy saying the e310 is using the same display type as the Sony T615c? Or that it looks as good?

Me no understands....

:?

[entropy1980]

Now if we could only get dual slot in this form factor we would be complete...oh and xscale, I know this is targeted at newbies to PPC but don't forget us oldtimers would like to not lug a huge handeld around if at all possible :)

[jpzr]

If you understand French or just enjoy looking at some great device pictures I recommend visiting PDAfrance's new review of the Toshiba e310.

I understand 1: it will cost in Europe 599 Euro - roughly the same price as iPAQ 3850, so what is the point of buying it? In USA it will be (is?) significantly cheaper than iPAQ and there is a point. Why prices had to be so high in Europe?

[Andy Sjostrom]

Thanks ekkie! :wink:

[Will T Smith]

Looks great, but without CompUSA, Circuit City actually HAVING the device to buy, this will totally FLOP as a PDA. Toshiba really needs to get the retailers to stock this thing -- it's a shame since I'm reluctant to go out and buy this thing without having seen it first hand.


Sometimes it takes a while to get things in the supply channel. If the device is popular and inventory is available, CompUSA and Circuit City will begin selling it.

[Will T Smith]

http://www.pdafrance.com/articles/article.php?cat=machinesppc&id=125&p=1



I have just one complaint. Look at the picture below. Why, why, why design yet another brick? Must Pocket PCs be squarish looking? The design awards won by the iPAQ Pocket PC must mean something, must they not?

http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/e310review.jpg


When a brick becomes thin enough, it becomes a slate. It's like those things that Jean-Luc carried around in his ready room.

The corners are rounded, that is good. Tapered ends would be even nicer. However, count your blessings. This device is thin, thin. There is probably little room for for tapering the device at this point.

Regarding the price, it has been reported that it will be $399 US. At this price it will be a great buy for general purpose users who just need a Pocket Computer with minimal expansion capability.

If you want a brick, add an expansion pack to an iPaq. Hey it has curves.

:-)

[mar2k]

Looks great, but without CompUSA, Circuit City actually HAVING the device to buy, this will totally FLOP as a PDA. Toshiba really needs to get the retailers to stock this thing -- it's a shame since I'm reluctant to go out and buy this thing without having seen it first hand.


Sometimes it takes a while to get things in the supply channel. If the device is popular and inventory is available, CompUSA and Circuit City will begin selling it.


CompUSA, Best Buy, and Circuit City will all carry the e310. It is in Circuit City's computer as well as CompUSA. In fact, a couple of people have already bought one at a CompUSA in California. CompUSA SKU#290828

[Foo Fighter]

Two questions:

1. Does the e310 have a metal shell..or is it painted plastic?

2. Is the display a standard reflective LCD, like an iPaq...or is it a Transflective LCD, like the Sony T615c?

[leximaea]

I was in CompUsa this afternoon (Oxnard California USA) and theToshiba was available list price $399. Nice teensy unit, thin and light with a nice display. I didn't see any of the 'special' utility programs that my iPaq has for task managment...Seemed rather plain Jane... but I liked it!

[lynneblack]

I went to CompUSA on Friday to get an Audiovox Maestro - while there I spotted the clerk unpacking a Toshiba e310- it is much thinner and has an all metal case. They had a "trade in your old PDA offer for $50 off", so I went home and retrieved my broken Palm III and got the Toshiba e310 for $350 ($50 more than the Audiovox). Nice software package, great display, CF and SD slots, I'm delighted with it. The Toshiba site has a spec sheet on the e310, I found it under support/downloads

[jade408]

I picked one up yesterday at Compusa. Well the first unit I had was defective. But AS a side not for everyone complaing that the e310 is expensive or not featured enough. Remember a few years ago when the Palm V came out. It was only a prettier Palm III that was way more expensive. It was like $450 with 2 MBs of RAM, twice as much as the regular palm. The e310 is a steal at $399, small package, fairly good amount of features.

If you are looking for a small ppc (aero 1530/1550 users looking for an upgrade) Check it out. The creen is great, perfect size, and there is the nifty "home program" (Check out the home icon, you can launch programs and close programs in a flash, i lot like the compaq q-menu.

[jpzr]

I picked one up yesterday at Compusa.
...
If you are looking for a small ppc (aero 1530/1550 users looking for an upgrade) Check it out. The creen is great, perfect size, and there is the nifty "home program" (Check out the home icon, you can launch programs and close programs in a flash, i lot like the compaq q-menu.


you guys have no idea how good you have, out there, in USA, here in Europe people earn in avarage less money than in USA and PocketPCs are significantly MORE EXPENSIVE!

[Jason Dunn]

Anyone who things "looks don't matter" must be living on a different planet. Many people marry someone based on how they LOOK and not how they FUNCTION. People shop for PDAs in the same way! :lol: I don't mind the design of the Toshiba myself...