thanks, and more(if you had $250 to spend...)

[academicpc]

Thank you to everyone who posted answers to my question about a new Pocket PC in a hurry.
I have to make my choice today, and so far here's where I'm at. I'll check the forum once more in case anyone thinks I'm making a mistake or has a last minute suggestion.

I'm hard on small electronics, so I've found the best approach for me is to purchase gear that's just below the middle of the price/performance spectrum. That way, in 18 months when I've destroyed the thing, I won't feel too bad about shelling out another $300-350, since I use this stuff in my work.
With that criteria, the iPaq 2210 is too expensive, and so is the X3i.
So, if possible I'd like to stay in the sub$300 category. What's left? Well, why is a iPaq 1940 $100 more expensive than the 1935? I still can't tell. Is the Viewsonic line pretty good (well made)? What about the Toshiba e335? I've seen that as low as $149 (Tiger Direct). I don't mind letting my company buy me a wi-fi expansion card.
I sound confused, I admit.
Ok, if anyone has time to answer: If you had $250 in your pocket and HAD to buy a Pocket PC RIGHT NOW, which model would you buy?
Thanks for all your help, and I'm sorry if I haven't processed it well.
Jim

[GoldKey]

What about the x5 basic?

[Thinkingmandavid]

Toshiba e355 is a good choice and is around 170.00 online. It has a 300 processor, 64 ram, sd slot, and of course comes with the usual ppc stuff. If you want to use a wi fi card on it that wont work, but you can use a bluetooth card on it. This would be for wireless net access.

Ipaq 1940 is good and will come with 266 processor,64 ram, sdio slot, and bluetooth already built in. So you would only need the bluetooth phone to have net acees. Since it is sdio you would be able to use the wi fi sd card in it. http://www.shopping.hp.com/cgi-bin/hpdirect/shopping/scripts/product_detail/product_detail_view.jsp?BV_SessionID=@@@@1140311720.1068476730@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdiadcjlhimeiecfngcfkmdflldfjk.0&product_code=900970&tab=detailed_specs&browse_link=true&#defaultAnchor

Viewsonic v36 has a camera and may come in usefu and comes with 300 processor,sdio slot, 64 ram, pps stuffhttp://store.viewsonic.com/html/ibeCCtpItmDspRte.jsp?section=10822&item=72627 It is shown at 299 but can probably get with a rebate by checking different online stores.

[PetiteFlower]

The 1945 has bluetooth, the 1935 doesn't. It may also have more memory, I'm not sure.

[Cortex]

personally i would spend the extra 50 bucks and get the 2215 just to get the compact flash slot. compact flash memory is large and cheap so if you plan on using it as an mp3 player or anything that will require lots of memory go for the 2215.

if not, get the 1945. the other thing to consider is that if you are going to want wifi and are going to spend 80-150 bucks on a wifi card, you might as well try to get a device with wifi built in -- it will keep a slot available.

[David Prahl]

If you don't mind the size, get an Axim X5 Advanced. You can add wireless (wi-fi or bluetooth) easily, battery life is great, and it's got plenty of power.

Toshiba has been having customer relations problems lately (like abondoning them). The e355 is thin, but only has SD (IO?).

The 1935 only has a 90 day warranty, the 1945 has a screen with a yellowish tint.

If you don't care about size, get the X5. Otherwise, get the X3 (basic) or 1945.