New to PDAs - Need help deciding

[sv_teen]

Hello everyone,

To get to the point, I currently own a Toshiba e310 (my first PDA) that I picked up a few weeks ago for $399. I must say it's a great PDA for the price, but I'm beginning to have doubts on whether it's right for me. (Side note: Has anyone heard rumors of any communication accessories like the one coming to the iPaq for the e310?)

You see, I like the idea of intregrated PDAs. Instead of carrying two devices, I'd rather have one device. I planned to pick up the Ericsson T68 with mMode on AT&T's service or possibly a phone on Verizon's service because any intregrated devices were not going to be launched for a while.

Or so I thought. The sudden launch of the Nokia 9290 Communicator a few days ago (at $599) and the Treo caught me completely off guard.

Basically, I'm asking whether or not I should stick with my e310 and get a phone seperately or return the e310 and pick up a Treo (hopefully in my price range) or the Communicator (in my price range).

Thank you for reading this (rather lengthy) message and for your help! :)

[Jason Dunn]

The Toshiba Bluetooth card would work nicely in your e310, and when combined with a T68 from AT&T for $199, you'd have the best of both worlds - a great PDA, a great phone, and GPRS speeds (the Treo still doesn't support GPRS).

[sv_teen]

Thanks for the suggestion, but one other thing. If I bought the bluetooth SD card, that would boost the cost of the e310 to right around $600. Would the e740 be more suited for me, in this case? With intregrated bluetooth, CF and SD slots, and rumored USB ports, it sounds a lot better than the e310 with bluetooth at that price. I'm willing to sacrifice the thinness of the e310 for the usability of the e740. So, any one willing to throw me a release date or if I should return my e310 and wait? I only have a few days left before the store won't accept it back. Thanks!

[Jason Dunn]

Although I've heard that the e740 is coming quite quickly, I've also heard about massive problems with the Xscale from Intel - delays, delays, delays - so I'm not sure that the stores will see the e740 as soon as they think they will...

So many questions, not many answers. :-)

[Bond]

I've heard great things about the Treo. Since the Toshiba was your first PDA, I don't see alot of pull toward either platform, and for what you need, the new Treo fits what you're looking for.

I'd get one, but I love the PocketPC platform ;)

[Macguy59]

Personally speaking, If the new Sony's (twist screen) had 802.11b built-in. . .I would jump ship in a heart beat ; ) Mind you I love my pocket pc, but that is THE slickest PDA I have ever had the pleasure of playing with.

[Martin I Pettinger]

My 2 cents

In the UK a integrated device has just been launched - the XDA. The price in the UK in a brick and mortar store is £500. Normally read US dollars for pounds.

I have had a play with this device and it is great. A colleague has also tried the device and was enthralled. It may be short of memory - only 32Mb RAM. But that is the same as the e310 I think.

What I do not know is whether this product is available in the US. I thought I read somewhere that it was but under another name - you could try ZDNet.com.

Martin

[Jonathon Watkins]

The LOOX from Fujitsu-Siemens might be a good idea. It has integrate bluetooth and an add-on GPRS/GMS module can be slotten on as well. This truly seems to be the best of all worlds. Oh and it has a transreflective screen, SD and CF slot as well :D

[PC Boy]

I don't think the e740 has Bluetooth yet. I know it has been released but with WiFi, not Bluetooth. I heard through the rumor mill that the e740 Bluetooth is not slated for US release.

[Jonathon Watkins]

I just found out that the LOOX has got Type 1 Bluetooth, whcih has a range of up to 100 meters! Not bad at all and certainly good for wandering round the & garden house with.

[Thinkingmandavid]

Just so everyone knows, the blue tooth model is not available in the U.S. as of yet, the WIFI model is and sells at BEST Buy for around 589.00
I have read the manual through on that one. I work for cingular wireless and when news models come into the store, the best buy employees let me play with pda in myhand read all of the materials.
The Fujitsu model is beautiful, I read at some website it will be around 599.00, it will be out this month but the date i dont remember.
HOw much did you pay for your Toshiba? I think you should start from there and then decide if it is worth it for you to pay more money, also how long ago did you buy it? Some places anythign past thirty days and no exchanges for any reason best buy being one of those places, of course thirty days is more than enough time.

[Dave Conger]

The Fujitsu model is beautiful, I read at some website it will be around 599.00, it will be out this month but the date i dont remember.

July 22nd in the US/Canada - www.firstloox.org

[Thinkingmandavid]

Has anyone seen the video on here that shows the loox and the ipaq against each other? it is the one where the two women are sitting at a table and the loox and the ipaq are facing one another. I am looking for site right now but cant find it.
If anyone else finds it please post it so we can all view it and have some fun:)