Should I buy an e830

[PatrickD]

Has anyone purchase an e830? I live in Canada so the e830 is available here. In fact the Compusmart down the street has one in stock. I am trying to decide between the Toshiba and the Dell X50v, but I have yet to see an in depth review of the e830. So far I have eliminated the HP 4700 based on price and the touch pad. The Dell is $689Cdn and the Toshiba is $699Cdn, so the prices are comparable. The Toshiba has a bigger screen, 128mb of actual RAM, and USB host. The only thing that bothers me about Toshiba, is the fact they have pulled out of the US market, so I wonder about support. But now that I write this, I wonder how much this matters. Any thoughts? I would particularly like to hear from anyone who has purchase an e830.

[Ripper014]

If you make a journey over to Brighthand in the Toshiba forum you can find a few owners that might be able to answer any questions you have. I have the same concerns... or thoughts... I have also eliminated most of the new units... with the exception of the the Toshiba e830 and the Asus a730w...

The Asus will cost more... but depending on how much the final total is... I may spring for it. But I am still waiting for feedback on both, especially the Asus "W" model... seems there are a few disappointed users that own the Hx4700 and Loox 720... hard to say about the others... there is no feedback from the yet to be released Dell x50V, Asus a730w, Loox v70 and little from the Toshiba e830 and Asus a730...

Yes there are reviews... but I like to hear back from actual consumers... with day to day issues... loading in who knows what and doing who knows what. I like seeing sample data from much broader spectrum of not so capable users...

[SteveHoward999]

Personal opinion ... I would take the 830. Just becuase Toshiba are restructuring their PDA market does not mean they will withdraw support for the device. It is a great machine from what I read.

[jasondearyou]

i have narrowed my selection to either a dell or a loox 720, now i'm going to have to think about the toshiba, but I dunno, what's this thing about having problems with the loox 720? if you could help me find the thread where they are commenting about the downfalls of it, i'd like to know before I make a mistake.

[Ripper014]

The Dell only has 64mb of ram... which is why I took it off my list of possibilities...

If you want more on the Loox try this site...
http://www.firstloox.org/

[Mitch D]

Has anyone purchase an e830? I live in Canada so the e830 is available here. In fact the Compusmart down the street has one in stock. I am trying to decide between the Toshiba and the Dell X50v, but I have yet to see an in depth review of the e830. So far I have eliminated the HP 4700 based on price and the touch pad. The Dell is $689Cdn and the Toshiba is $699Cdn, so the prices are comparable. The Toshiba has a bigger screen, 128mb of actual RAM, and USB host. The only thing that bothers me about Toshiba, is the fact they have pulled out of the US market, so I wonder about support. But now that I write this, I wonder how much this matters. Any thoughts? I would particularly like to hear from anyone who has purchase an e830.

Personally I would go with the E830, the more I play with it at work the more I like it. And with a program like SE_VGA you get a really good honest to goodness 640 X 480 display and a nice 4 inch screen.

But then again that's just my 2 cents worth...

[PatrickD]

well I am really leaning toward the e830 right now. I really like the big screen. I was playing around with a demo unit today. The one thing I noticed was that the battery seemed to flex abit when squeezed. Maybe it was just the demo unit. Mitch does the one you have at work have this problem? Not a big issue, just something I noticed. It really is a nice unit. I can't understand why they would sell it in Canada and not the U.S.

[Kati Compton]

If the 830 were available in the US back when I ordered my X50v, I probably would have gotten it instead. I really wanted a 4" screen, but want a d-pad even more that that, so no 4700 for me.

[Deralict]

The e830 is a gorgeous unit and good value--it's identical to the e800 except for integrated Bluetooth and a faster CPU, so there are lots of reviews to read about the e800. Toshiba are selling many in corporate and verticcl markets (where I work) so it's unlikely they would pull support for it anytime soon.

[Ripper014]

The e830 is a gorgeous unit and good value--it's identical to the e800 except for integrated Bluetooth and a faster CPU, so there are lots of reviews to read about the e800. Toshiba are selling many in corporate and verticcl markets (where I work) so it's unlikely they would pull support for it anytime soon.

I believe the other major difference is that it no longer uses the ATI Graphics Controller... other than that... it does seem like a great deal when you compare it to the other units currently selling. Here in Canada it is less expensive than any other unit... other than the Dell x50V and thats only by a few dollars.

It is unfortunate that some things are not compatible from the e800 such as the host cable... but all in all... it seems like a nice product.

Any additional comments/insite from owners are always welcome...

[Ripper014]

If the 830 were available in the US back when I ordered my X50v, I probably would have gotten it instead. I really wanted a 4" screen, but want a d-pad even more that that, so no 4700 for me.

You could probably order one through a Canadian company... and you could have it in a few days rather than waiting... not to mention our dollar is pretty cheap compared to yours... but thanks to your President it is getting stronger everyday... :)

Handheld Canada had it listed for $667can... roughly $533us... but they have never shown any stock. I know that locally I can get one from a brick and mortar for $699can. I am sure you can find a unit on the net in that range... and unlike the Dell you would gain an extra 64mb of ram. Which is the reason the Dell does not interest me... I have enough of a problem now keeping ram available on my HP2200... I'll even help you shop... ;)

[Ripper014]

This is for Katie...

I just looked at Handheld Canada and it looks like they still have "one" in stock being held for "KATIE".... they do ship internationally... but unfortunately... any warranty work would need to be done in Canada.

[Deralict]

It is unfortunate that some things are not compatible from the e800 such as the host cable... but all in all... it seems like a nice product.


What makes you think the e800's host USB cable is not compatible? All e800 accessories are perfectly compatible.

That's partly why it's such a good unit...the extended battery pack gives you a solid 8 hrs., and it's the only Pocket PC that you can plug a standard USB keyboard into.

[SteveHoward999]

[quote]and it's the only Pocket PC that you can plug a standard USB keyboard into.

I hate to do it but ...


With the Expansion Pack attached to an E740 or E750 you can plug in a standard USB keyboard too.

But you miss a another cool thing ... with appropriate drivers you can plug in USB memory too ... like a USB Flash drive, or a USB card reader that can read Flash, MMC, SD .. etc memory cards. I already tested this with my E750 and had a total of 2.5 Gb external RAM added - and still had the internal SD and CF slots empty :D

[Rippeer]

[quote=Deralict]

Any additional comments/insite from owners are always welcome...

Me and my boss ordered e830's from handheld computers canada with overnight shipping.

They will be arriving at work at 12:30pm Monday. I almost always have to put in some OT on Mondays due to fresh inventory.

I'll try to come on here and anwser any questions and share my experince.



From what reasearch I have done on it seems as if it should be a very solid unit.

I'm really looking forward to the voice commands, it is one of the reasons I got it over the new high end Dell's (x50v).

[Ripper014]

Thanks Rippeer... looking forward to what you have to say.

[AVpro]

I just got one from Ebay as well. I'm very happy with my 800 unit, but realy need Bluetooth option.

Here a few links on Ebay. I should receive my product on Tuesday so I will keep you posted on seller and unit itself.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=5726717286


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38331&item=5726611881&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

[PatrickD]

[quote=Deralict]

Any additional comments/insite from owners are always welcome...

Me and my boss ordered e830's from handheld computers canada with overnight shipping.

They will be arriving at work at 12:30pm Monday. I almost always have to put in some OT on Mondays due to fresh inventory.

I'll try to come on here and anwser any questions and share my experince.



From what reasearch I have done on it seems as if it should be a very solid unit.

I'm really looking forward to the voice commands, it is one of the reasons I got it over the new high end Dell's (x50v).

I forgot about the voice command program provided by Toshiba. I am also curious how well this works.

The other question I have is the USB host. Looking at the demo unit I don't see anything that looks like a USB port. I assume you need some sort of adapter or dongle that plugs into the activesync port on the bottom. Does this come with the unit or is it an accessory purchased separately?

[Ripper014]

It is a cable that you need to purchase seperately...

[tinyau01]

I have the same question.
Should I buy E830 or Dell X50V?
It feels like the Dell are more powerful. (Especially the 16mb intel multimedia accelerator). Is it something that really affect the video performance?
But E830 has a bigger screen and better look.

[Kati Compton]

This is for Katie...

I just looked at Handheld Canada and it looks like they still have "one" in stock being held for "KATIE".... they do ship internationally... but unfortunately... any warranty work would need to be done in Canada.
Hehehehehehe. Yeah, it's the fact that I'd have to ship it back to Canada that keeps me from wanting to purchase.

I already went ahead and put in the order for the x50v, which is scheduled to arrive on the 19th of November. Since I'm so busy at work, I'm sure the ship date will arrive pretty quickly. ;)

[Kati Compton]

I have the same question.
Should I buy E830 or Dell X50V?
It feels like the Dell are more powerful. (Especially the 16mb intel multimedia accelerator). Is it something that really affect the video performance?
But E830 has a bigger screen and better look.

I'd say that the Dell doesn't really take advantage of the video chip... yet. I mean, there's the two 3D games that come with it. But most software isn't optimized for that chip... yet. The "yet" part is important, though. Keep in mind that the Dell systems sell like mad, and that would encourage software developers to START supporting the graphics chip.

[tinyau01]

I'd say that the Dell doesn't really take advantage of the video chip... yet. I mean, there's the two 3D games that come with it. But most software isn't optimized for that chip... yet. The "yet" part is important, though. Keep in mind that the Dell systems sell like mad, and that would encourage software developers to START supporting the graphics chip.
Just read this review.
http://reviews.cnet.com/Dell_Axim_X50v/4505-3127_7-31138229.html?tag=pdtl-list
They give the performance of X50V only 6/10.
I decided to go with E830.
Thanks Kati!

[Kati Compton]

I'd say that the Dell doesn't really take advantage of the video chip... yet. I mean, there's the two 3D games that come with it. But most software isn't optimized for that chip... yet. The "yet" part is important, though. Keep in mind that the Dell systems sell like mad, and that would encourage software developers to START supporting the graphics chip.
Just read this review.
http://reviews.cnet.com/Dell_Axim_X50v/4505-3127_7-31138229.html?tag=pdtl-list
They give the performance of X50V only 6/10.
I decided to go with E830.
Thanks Kati!

As long as you made the right decision for you, I'm happy for you. ;) But you may have missed my point, which is that I think the performance problems are temporary, and that more software will support the swanky chip pretty quick, and then the performance will probably outstrip most other devices.

[Rippeer]

:evil:
Well I spent a good couple of hours playing phone tag with my boss, handhelds canada, and UPS.

Time I could have used to more productively I'm sure, but thats bussiness :wink:

Anyways UPS was late today (1:30), and they only delivered the leather belt "holster". :roll:

Turns out theres a UPS truck driving around somewhere out there with two e830's just waiting to be delivered.

All information indicates they will arrive tomorrow, its been my experience with UPS that things arrive the day after you want them to. :wink:


So hopefully tomorrow evening I can share my experience with you guys and answer any questions.



I also read that cnet review of the Dell, if it doesn't feel quick, then whats the point?

Anyone remeber the Toshiba e740? It was another powerhouse before its time, which also had software/driver issues.

[tinyau01]

As long as you made the right decision for you, I'm happy for you. ;) But you may have missed my point, which is that I think the performance problems are temporary, and that more software will support the swanky chip pretty quick, and then the performance will probably outstrip most other devices.
I didn't miss that point.
Just that I don't think I would need those software.
Thank you again!

[Ripper014]

The problem with any swanky new chip is not how good it is... it comes down to who is going to support it. If you look into the past you will see that developers do not always support the best hardware... they support the masses... They are into making money and that means supporting the configuration that is most saturated into a marketplace. Make the most money with the least amount of effort.

[Kati Compton]

The problem with any swanky new chip is not how good it is... it comes down to who is going to support it. If you look into the past you will see that developers do not always support the best hardware... they support the masses... They are into making money and that means supporting the configuration that is most saturated into a marketplace. Make the most money with the least amount of effort.
And so if it were the Loox, I'd be concerned. But it's a Dell, which is pretty masses-y.

[Ripper014]

Perhaps but it is the only unit using this chipset currently... so time will tell.

[Rippeer]

The e830........

Where to begin?

It’s an amazing piece of equipment.


From the moment I opened the box I knew this was a high quality piece of equipment.

In the box is the e830, a bag containing a manual and various warnings in both English and French and quick start poster.

The manual is brief 56 pages long and goes over some of the more basic functions, such as removing and inserting CF memory and SD cards.

Also has a little bit of troubleshooting/FAQ for Wi-Fi that seems a little out of place among all the diagrams of how to plug your cradle into a laptop etc.

The cradle is very sleek design and glows blue when synced.

Also includes a companion CD with outlook 2002 and some software.



One major complaint I have with this device is the lack on any sort of basic case.

I thought that on a PDA of this bracket (extreme high end) and from a company like Toshiba, a name which is associated with quality design and build, that a case would be included.


Its like buying a high end luxury car, such as BMW, I expect the CD player to come standard.

So I'm not going to be able to actively use the e830 in till I can get a leather case to protect the screen.

Luckily I still have my e740 (which did come with a case!) but it really should have with some sort of case.



The screen is amazing, one of the best I have ever seen.
I almost forget that its 65k colours, I almost never notice.



Since this isn't my first PDA I already had outlook 2002 installed, and had an account set up. So I can't really comment what its like to set one up from scratch with the e830.

I unplugged my cradle for e740, and plugged in the cradle for the e830.

Activesnyc popped up saying I had inserted a new device, I clicked set up partnership and it began synching my entire contacts task etc.




Getting connected to my wireless network (wifi, b) was a bit of a pain using the built in windows software. I'm used to, and prefer, setting it up manually.

Toshiba has also included a wireless "config free" software program which is almost like a wi-fi radar. Very sweet, very simple and very quick to use.




I can not get over the screen, not only does it contain FAR MORE information, but it is easier to read then my Toshiba e740.
The colours are rich and vibrant, the text is clear and sharp etc etc.
It’s like when you switch from the drab windows 98 to the lush windows xp.


Its doesn't feel a lot more responsive or quicker then my e740 initialy, maybe even a little less for say start/settings but once I got going I quickly realized it extremely responsive and hard to bog down.

It’s like a truck verses a sports car. This thing just keeps it on flying along, browsing the web, listening to a song, msn messenger running, excel, I'm fumbling thorough speech recognitions and this thing is still responding like there’s nothing really running.



As for the speech-text-speech. So far I haven’t had much of a chance to memorize commands or customize it to my needs.

By simply clicking the record button and saying help, at any time, the help dialog comes up with a walk thorough of what you want to do.

I'm going to have to be able to memorize some commands before I can take full advantage of the speech-text-speech, but already I can tell its going to be a huge benefit.

To be able to simply say something along the lines of "contact James Smith" and then have it read me off his/her contact information is going to extremely useful.


I've heard a lot of people complain about the weight of these devices, (around 190-200g).

I've got to say, its lighter then my e740, which I didn't feel was heavy to begin with.



From my initial impressions these feels like its going to be one of most well designed products I've ever had the pleasure of owning.

And really owning a PDA should be pleasure, life enriching experience and not a pain in the ass.


I'll post more thoughts later, and answer any questions if needed. :wink:

[PatrickD]

The problem with any swanky new chip is not how good it is... it comes down to who is going to support it. If you look into the past you will see that developers do not always support the best hardware... they support the masses... They are into making money and that means supporting the configuration that is most saturated into a marketplace. Make the most money with the least amount of effort.
And so if it were the Loox, I'd be concerned. But it's a Dell, which is pretty masses-y.

I have to agree with Kati. This is an Intel chip marketed by Dell. I would have to say this gives it a better than average chance of being supported. On the other hand, HP and ATI are pretty powerful companies too. I wonder why Toshiba chose not to include an ATI chip in the e830 when the e800 had one, and the new HP 4700 has one. The price of the e830 is cheaper than the e800 was, so maybe Toshiba decided to save money and drop the graphics chip. In any case I don’t think it will make too big a difference in the short term, but it may be a big factor in selecting my “next” “next” PPC. After all it was awhile before anything was optimized for the xscale processor, but eventually we got there.

[PatrickD]

Its doesn't feel a lot more responsive or quicker then my e740 initialy, maybe even a little less for say start/settings but once I got going I quickly realized it extremely responsive and hard to bog down.

It’s like a truck verses a sports car. This thing just keeps it on flying along, browsing the web, listening to a song, msn messenger running, excel, I'm fumbling thorough speech recognitions and this thing is still responding like there’s nothing really running.



Thanks for the update Rippeer :D

When I was playing with a demo unit in the store it seemed very responsive compared to my X5. Then I remembered "Hey this is a demo unit. Demo units are usually bogged down by dozens of applications left running in the background". Sure enough when I checked, just about every application installed on the thing was running 8O Very impressive indeed :!:

[Phillip Dyson]

Where can I find some reviews of the 830?

[PatrickD]

The only one I have found is on a French web site.

http://trans.voila.fr/ano?systran_lp=fr_en&systran_f=1100276638&systran_id=Voila-fr&systran_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.pocketpcparadise.com%2Ftests%2Fmateriels_e830.htm

The english translation is pretty funny

"This switch makes it possible to decontaminate the external buttons of the e800 (except of course the On/off button) so that the PDA does not ignite inadvertently at the bottom of your pocket, a very good idea allowing to save the battery."

I definitely wouldn't want my PPC inadvertently igniting in my pocket :D

[Phillip Dyson]

I've been getting mixed signals about whether this sports a dedicated graphics chip.

The 805 apparently had an ATI but only with 2MB of memory.
The Dell has 16MB.

I've been reading 805 reviews and I'm trying to determine if this 830 is an improvement. Other than the faster processor.

Why aren't there more reviews than this 1 French site? Are there any dedicated Canadian sites that may review it?

[PatrickD]

I have been looking for more reviews as well. As far as I can tell the e830 has a faster processor and bluetooth. I don't know why they didn't include a graphics chip. At this point in time I don't think it makes much difference, but in the future who knows. It really is a nice machine, and it seems to have the x50v beat in most respects other than the graphics chip. I am having a tough time deciding myself. :? Are you in Canada? I live in Toronto and have been able to compare the e830 and HP4700 at the local store. The only one I haven't seen yet is the x50v.

[PatrickD]

BTW here are the specs on the Toshiba Canada website.

http://www.toshiba.ca/web/specifications.grp?lg=en&section=1&group=22&product=3690&part=2632

[Phillip Dyson]

Nope. I'm in the US.
Which is actually a minor concern. Not the US part. :wink:
But the part about ordering International. I guess that why I want to see more reviews before I decide.

I read somewhere (this thread perhaps) that the Toshiba did in fact have a graphics chip and that the official spec were wrong.

I certainly won't put in any money on that, but am hoping to see more reliable discussion about it. Like in reviews.

I want to see benchmarking. And references to the quality of the display. The quality of the included software. I'm waiting for a few sites to give it the once over.

Even if they're Canadian. I can always run it through the google translater. :wink:

I'm not a heavy gamer, but it may be handy for movies and the like.
I just don't want to find myself behind the curve when the g-chips become excepted and apps start optimized for them. Which could put more of a burden on a device without the g-chip.

Maybe i'm just being paranoid.

I just need to see more information. I've got it on my list very close to the Dell.

[Phillip Dyson]

Okay ...
I feel like I'm on the verge of a decision between the Dell X50v and the Toshiba.

But one more question...

For those of you that have had it awhile, do you find it to be portable.?
I know that its bigger than than Dell and some dimensions are bigger than the 4700.
Do you find it easy to just stick it in your pocket and go? I don't want to make the mistake of buying a PDA that I wont carry because of its size.

thanks

[Ripper014]

I finally saw one in person last weekend... and I must say.. that it is quite a bit larger than my Hp2200... it reminded me of my E-125... but it was light. And with the corners rounded it did not nearly feel as big.

After viewing Pocket Excel on it... with the fonts set at the lowest setting Tahoma 8 and the zoom at it's lowest 50%... I would say that I would not want the screen any smaller... personally I would put this device as one of three devices I would purchase at this time... along with the Asus a730w and Loox 720.

I would not choose the Dell or the HX4700 strictly because of the relatively small amount of ram... the usb host I could live without. If you want a little more info... check this.

http://discussion.brighthand.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=281

There is also a good French site dedicated to the Toshiba... but I can't read it... even with Babelfish...

http://www.ppccool.com/

[Phillip Dyson]

Okay,

so now i have pretty much decided to buy it.

now I can't find a website that has it in stock.
Any suggestions?

Also, I work with a guy that lives in Canada. But doesn't know much about PDAs.

Are there stores that I could point him to when he's home? Or is it pretty common in computers stores?

[Ripper014]

If he lives in Vancouver... he can find it at London Drugs and some Staples locations....

[Mitch D]

Okay,

so now i have pretty much decided to buy it.

now I can't find a website that has it in stock.
Any suggestions?

Also, I work with a guy that lives in Canada. But doesn't know much about PDAs.

Are there stores that I could point him to when he's home? Or is it pretty common in computers stores?

Actually you can go to our company website and order it from there:

http://www.londondrugs.com/Cultures/en-US/Product+Detail/Computers.htm?CatalogNavigationBreadCrumbs=Computers;Computers;PDA;PDAs;Toshiba%20e830%20Pocket%20PC&CS_Catalog=Computers&CS_RootCategory=Computers&CS_Category=PDAs&CS_ProductID=1012715&ProductTab=1

Hope this helps

[Phillip Dyson]

Actually you can go to our company website and order it from there:

http://www.londondrugs.com/Cultures/en-US/Product+Detail/Computers.htm?CatalogNavigationBreadCrumbs=Computers;Computers;PDA;PDAs;Toshiba%20e830%20Pocket%20PC&CS_Catalog=Computers&CS_RootCategory=Computers&CS_Category=PDAs&CS_ProductID=1012715&ProductTab=1

Hope this helps

Thanks. But apparently they only deliver to Canada. According to the website.

Plus ezgotrend.com is a little cheaper.
Ever heard of this company? Is it reputable?

[Ripper014]

Don't they have Staples in the States... I know that when I want something special, Staples in the past will special order it for me... Maybe they can just do a special transfer from a Canadian store for you...

;)

[Craig Horlacher]

...and I love it!

I live in PA, USA and had a very hard time buying one. Thanks to froogle a buddy of mine managed to find a company in NY that sells them - don't ask me how. I got it for $700.00 US (yeah, I know that's too much). Do be very carefull when you order though. If you get the on with the part number ending in "CA" it's in English. If the part number ends in "CF" it's French. They sent me the French one first.

I love the pda. SE_VGA works great for most applications. The wireless is great. I use the 802.11b on my home lan and the bluetooth with my laptop for activesync and the bluetooth to transfer files with my sony ericcson mobile phone.

My only real complaint so far is I can't find a bluetooth keyboard that works with it. So far I have tried ThinkOutside's and HP's. Apparently it's hard to make a hunan interface device driver that works with toshiba's bluetooth stack which I don't understand at all.

One other dissopointment is that I bought the presentation pack and the vga out doesn't work with it. I figured it would because of the fcc pictures but it's a no go. I hope there will be a software update for it. On the bright side the the USB port does work! I found some beta mass storage device driver and installed it and it works great! This is sweet because now I can stream video off my 40GB iriver mp3 player - and use it for any other storage of course.

Over all, the toshiba is a great, well made device. It's got the jog dial which is a requirement for me, the screen is amazing, it's fast, the sound is good (front mounted, decent sounding speaker, it has a hold switch and I think it just looks good.

[Phillip Dyson]

Thanks for the info on the part number. After checking my email invoice it looks like mine is making a round trip back.

Atleast I get to take a peak and see if I like the size.

[Phillip Dyson]

My only real complaint so far is I can't find a bluetooth keyboard that works with it. So far I have tried ThinkOutside's and HP's. Apparently it's hard to make a hunan interface device driver that works with toshiba's bluetooth stack which I don't understand at all.


I got an email from ThinkOutside who said there should be no conflicts.
They gave me a link to the latest driver.
http://www.thinkoutside.com/drivers.asp?ManufacturerID=11&ModelID=61

They said:
Ignore the manufacturer and device model mentioned on the web link.

[Ripper014]

So they are saying to use the Hx4700 drivers for the Toshiba e830 then...

[Phillip Dyson]

He did say to ignore the device model info.

There also seems to be a driver for the Toshiba 830. Though I'm not sure if they are the same driver.

I don't have the toshiba yet so I can't confirm anything. Mine is in the mail hopefully crossing the border as we speak. :D

Update:
Just got a second email from ThinkOutside.

The Toshiba on-board Bluetooth is not supported for Think Outside's Bluetooth Keyboard (or Bluetooth Travel Mouse), unfortunately, however, if you contact Socket Communications, they may have an external SD card kit that will make your device compatible. If you're using an SD card version of Bluetooth from Socket, you'll need version 1.4.3 or later of Drakar Bluetooth. Explain what you need to them and they can probably direct you.

Hope this helps.

Think Outside Support

Not sure what to think now. :(

[Ripper014]

Thats what I thought... the only drivers I could find at the site you supplied for the Toshiba e830 was for I/R drivers...

I think what ThinkOutside is telling you is that their keyboard does not work with the Toshiba... however if you want to buy a seperate Bluetooth card... it may work.

There are other alternatives out there now for a Bluetooth Keyboard... lets hope one of those is compatible with the Toshiba...

Maybe contact these people and see what they have to say...
http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,34947:dont_paginate,1

[Phillip Dyson]

There are other alternatives out there now for a Bluetooth Keyboard... lets hope one of those is compatible with the Toshiba...

Maybe contact these people and see what they have to say...
http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,34947:dont_paginate,1


Here's what I got from the Freedom Keyboard crew:
There is no reason at all to believe that the keyboard will not work. I would suggest downloading the updated driver first from our web site www.freedominput.com

The only thing you might have to do is "Bond" the devices, full instructions are given.

I have an old iPaq 3850 which I have had to buy a Bluetooth adaptor for it it works happily with the keyboard

Please feel free to contact me with any further instructions.


Doesn't fill me with confidence. :?
If only I could get details on why the ThinkOutside one doesn't work. I have the e830 now and may try it just for yucks.

Someone may have to take one for the team and just buy the Freedom keyboard. {sigh}

[Ripper014]

Well... just for those thinking about buying a Toshiba e830... this was posted by someone at Brighthand...

http://www.toshiba.ca/web/product.grp?lg=en&section=1&group=22&product=3690

Basically it says that it is $599can suggested retail... which for you Americans... is about $427us... this makes it one of the lowest priced VGA models available... and the lowest price unit with 128mb ram... usb host... large screen... rocker switch (something I have missed since my E125)... and large standard battery... In my opinion a very good buy...

[PatrickD]

Even better. I was at Staples in Toronto yesterday and saw the e830 for $549 after a $50 instant (none of this mail in crap) rebate.

http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Catalog/cat_sku.asp?CatIds=89%2C320,449&webid=584986&affixedcode=WW

This is a really tempting price :)

[Ripper014]

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooh... I saw that but I thought that included the rebate....Afterall it was only a few weeks ago they lowered the price from $699 to $649... what is going on...

Are you sure... because.. I put it in the basket on the Staples site... and the checkout price was still the $599... Maybe I need to go all the way through the process to get the final price... But if you saw it at your local Staples for that price I believe you...

What is going on...???

[PatrickD]

look at the bottom of the the link I posted. At the bottom it says to add the item to your cart. When you get to the checkout add the coupon code "84217". I tried it, and it works. Instant $50 rebate. :D

[Rippeer]

Thought I'd pop by and post some updated opions for those of you still on the fence.

I hear alot of people complaing/worrying about the size being an issue.

I love the size of this, I've played with the tiny HP and Dell's. I've always found them really small and found my self fumbling around with them.

The Size of the Toshiba is an asset, it feels very solid and comfortable in my hands, theres alot of screen realestate to play with compared to prevous generations.

Its quite simple, you have to realize what your needs/uses for a PDA are and figure out who a certain PDA is designed for.

The Toshiba PDA's are generaly not designed for consumers, they are bussiness PDA's designed for bussiness users/corpate enviroments.

So far my experince with e830 is that its a no nonsense, stable bussiness machine.


Right from the moment I opened the box this device absolutely screamed corporate.


I use mine alot for bussiness, both personal and work related.

I use spreadsheets to source parts, inventory, email, MSN messenger, etc.

I don't watch movies on it or listen to music, so I can't tell you what kind of mutlimedia device this is.

If your looking for a device that is a mini multimedia center/game then I suggest you look at the Dell's.


This device as far as I'm concerned is for bussiness, just look at the applications and the design of it.

It comes with producitivity apps. such as voice command, text-to-speech, etc.


The screen is incredible, I have alot of trouble beleaving that it's 65k colour, its one of the better LCD's I've seen.

[Phillip Dyson]

Thanks for the info.

Question. What 3rd party apps are you using?
Wisbar Advanced 2?
Netfront browser?
WebIS Mail?

[Rippeer]

Thanks for the info.

Question. What 3rd party apps are you using?
Wisbar Advanced 2?
Netfront browser?
WebIS Mail?

lol, I don't have a clue what any of that software is, I'm using all the microsoft/toshiba apps that came with it.

[Ripper014]

Got mine last night... will not be opening it till Christmas... but not to worry... I will answer any questions I can after that... my PPC's are usually pretty loaded with software. Wisbar is always the first loaded... and PocketHackMaster will now be second... I hear there are some bugs for PocketHackMaster 2004 for the e830... but I think it has now been worked out... I guess I will soon find out.

[PatrickD]

Now that is will power :) I plan on buying one later today, and I definately won't be waiting until Christmas. I just sold my X5 to a friend half an hour ago, and already I am experiencing PPC withdrawal symptoms. :wink:

[Ripper014]

I know how you feel... In the last 8 years or so I have had a PocketPC of some sort in my possession... I had to send my Hp2200 in for servicing... for 2 days... and I went into withdrawl... I did not know what to do with myself... the good thing was I got a new one... and they extended the warranty.

Since you are getting the e830 first... you can tell us how good it really is... ;)

[equlizer]

Well i bit the bullet and bought one a few days ago. And let me tell you, i was shocked and amazed on the quality of the unit and the VGA screen.

Comparing it to my Toshiba E330 (yes loyal customer), there is no comparrison. :lol:

So far i have ZERO complaints about the unit. Lots of memory, can set the resolution to whatever you choose (Since its VGA)

Well i guess the cradle it comes with could have been a bit more sturdy like the older Toshibas (it rests on a plastic plate on the back) (going to be making one out of powder coated mettal :)

Pocket hack master works great with the unit. Ive had it up to 624\185bus\98ram\98lcd and totally stable. (too scared to go further)

Im still getting used to the WiFi thingy though (ill figure it out soon enough)

[Ripper014]

Congrats... it seems that you are one of the few not experiencing some kind of issue with PocketHackMaster and the Toshiba. I myself had not had a problem with the PHM and my Hp2200... but there seems to be a lot of responses regarding the newer devices...

Thanks for the update... I am looking forward to opening my new Toshiba e830...

[equlizer]

did you update to the latest version of PHM 2004? I had problems as well untill i updated mine. Ive got mine into the 800's but with low FSB and mem and LCD (not worth the trade off)

[Ripper014]

Actually I opened my gift early... the one thing that impressed me about VGA was oz_vga... after loading it into my device... it convinced me that I was going to keep it. I am having BT issues.. but I have been told that perhaps a new BT update will be released in the future.

As for Pocket Hack Master... I was using the new version for my Hp2200 and it runs fine... however when I left the Toshiba to run the gambit of settings it locked up... I have manually set it to run at 663mhz 221:111:55:T and it seems to be running fine....

[Anthony3000]

Just got one for christmas.. and all I can say is WOW.

Really. Its simply the best pocket PC I've ever used

[pcboy2003]

Hey guys, I am also a e830 owner. I had trouble convincing myself to get the830 at first, since Dell seems to offer better feature for the money. But I chose the e830 in the end, because I don't like Dell's customer support and 25% (accord to the dell rap I talked to) restocking fee in Canada, well and the 2 weeks wait.

When I use Beta Player to watch divx movies on the e830, I didn't expect it go super smooth, since it doesn't have a dedicated video chip, in fact no one can confirm what kind of chip it's on the e830. But the result is stunning, I can watch a full 700MB divx movie on a 1 GB sd card without any noticable jumps or pause. It's jaw dropping when I show it to people, I guess it's due to e830 have a more advanced process, since it has a PXA272 instead of a PXA270 on the Dell axim. Or maybe the software just more optimized for the e830 than the X50v.

After I got my e830, Dell had this big sale, an x50v was just 489 after I add my UofT discount on top of the sale. So I borrow my friend's x50v to see how well they compare. I didn't test the multimedia feature on the x50v, but based on the screen colour, e830 wins hands down. The Axim's 3.7 VGA is a lot smaller than e830's 4.0' VGA screen. The colour on the axim is more wash out, and e830 is more real and saturate. I don't know about the future, but the e830 seems to me a better unit than a x50v as of today.

[Menneisyys]

When I use Beta Player to watch divx movies on the e830, I didn't expect it go super smooth, since it doesn't have a dedicated video chip, in fact no one can confirm what kind of chip it's on the e830

There is none - no ATI any more, unlike with the e800. All processing is done by the CPU itself.

[PatrickD]

well it is nice to see that we have several new e830 users after the holidays. Sojourner753 is no longer alone. :D I have to say I am really pleased with my e830 so far. I just received the USB host cable that ordered. Time to go and see what I can get connected :D

[Phillip Dyson]

Wahoo!

I feel like I can again join civilization.

Where did you find the USB Host cable. I can't find it anywhere.

[PatrickD]

I found it here

http://www.handheldcanada.com/handheld/list_products_en.jsp

So far the only USB device I have tried is one of those USB keychain drives. When I plugged it in, the e830 asked me for a driver :( I don't know where to get a driver for that. I thought those USB drives were about the only things that do work. I'll have to do some more experimenting.

[pgm]

well, there's is a disscussion over at Brighthand, and i've recently bought an e830 and waitin for my 60gb HDD,host cable and then try the drivers mentioned at brighthand....

[Ripper014]

I think you want to do a search for the Ratoc Drivers... there is also some information I believe at FirstLoox...

[Phillip Dyson]

I found it here

http://www.handheldcanada.com/handheld/list_products_en.jsp
.


Did you buy part number PA3324P-1ETC? Does it fit in your device.

The part mentioned on the side of my box is PA3324U-1ETC.

By the way, I can't get to Toshiba.ca

[Menneisyys]

I think you want to do a search for the Ratoc Drivers... there is also some information I believe at FirstLoox...

There is - search for the word 'Ratoc'. I've posted there the URL's to download the USB drivers from; I can't find them myself now because the Search script doesn't work in PIE. (Writing from a PL720.)

[PatrickD]

The cable I got is PA3324P-1ETC. This cable fits the e830 no problem. When I plug in some USB device, I get a pop up screen telling me an unknown USB device has been connected please specify a driver. So it would seem the cable works. I have not tried installing any drivers yet. The manual says the host cable is for USB keyboards. Presumably this is the only driver Toshiba has included. When I go back to work I will try to find a USB keyboard to try. All the ones I have at home are PS2.

I have no idea what the difference (if any) is between a PA3324P-1ETC and a PA3324U-1ETC. The box my e830 came in also specifies PA3324U-1ETC.

BTW I haven't found any way to buy accessories directly from Toshiba Canada. They have a link that lists retailers. Most of the retailers listed may carry the e830, but they don't have any accessories. That is why I ordered through www.handheldcanada.com. When I ordered it, I got a note saying the part was out of stock, but would be ordered and shipped immediately from the warehouse. It took a little over a week to arrive, and that was over the Christmas holidays.

[equlizer]

IF you want to buy from Toshiba, its www.shoptoshiba.ca

From what i have been reading all over the net, both cables are compatable (i believe the same cable) with the E400/405/800/805/830

I ordered mine from there on the 5th and hopefully have it sometime next week. I plan to go to futureshop and bestbuy and try out all the keyboards to see which ones work :)

They also have some USB memory keys out on display i plan to try out.

[PatrickD]

Well I can confirm the USB keyboard works. I am posting this message using a fullsize USB keyboard plugged into my e830 via the host cable (part # PA3324P-1ETC). I have also been able to use PS2 keyboards by using an adapter that converts a PS2 port to USB. This works really well since PS2 keyboards are more prevelant these days. You can travel without a keyboard and use whatever is available.

I bought a cheap keyboard at Future Shop. A Cicero for $9.99 cdn. It is simple and works great. A cool thing is that the "windows" key will pull up the start menu. You can navigate around pretty good without having to use the stylus too much.

I have a USB flash drive, but it doesn't work right now. The e830 asks for a driver when I plug it in. I haven't tried installing any drivers yet.

[mtnbiker-13]

Hey Everyone,

Here is a link to be able to get the e830 plus free battery and case for $599 Cdn.

http://www.shoptoshiba.ca/webapp/commerce/command/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=421102&prmenbr=2071

I'm still trying to decide between the e830 and X50v. Can you get an extended Accidental warrantee with the e830 like Dell's 3 year Complete Care? The warantee covers if you drop it or spill water on it or any of those types of accidents. I think this is pretty important for such a device. For the number of times I've dropped my cell phone!

ANy other determining factors to help put me over the edge???

Thanks.

Jason

[Menneisyys]

I'm still trying to decide between the e830 and X50v. Can you get an extended Accidental warrantee with the e830 like Dell's 3 year Complete Care? The warantee covers if you drop it or spill water on it or any of those types of accidents. I think this is pretty important for such a device. For the number of times I've dropped my cell phone!

ANy other determining factors to help put me over the edge???

The e830 has a much more incompatible BT stack. This means no BT keyboard support and the latest Wid/Broadcomm BT upgrade (Wi-Fi headsets + keyboard, see http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?p=319797 ) can't be used either.

[Ripper014]

When I was buying mine from Office Depot for $499... the sales person was trying to sell me on an extended warranty that was suppose to cover me incase of accidental damage... such as a broken screen. I declined the warranty... but you can check it out... I would definitely read the fine print to see exactly what it does cover though.

I agree re: the bluetooth stack... I have struggled with it as well.. I even tried loading the old stack v4.1...? But I had no luck with my gps unit... I would think that the BT Headset should have better success... there is a profile for it in the options... and Toshiba is actually offering their own version... so I would expect at least that model would work.

Overall I still love the device... if we can correct the BT issue... I would love it as much as the Pirates of Penzance... if you know what I mean... ;)

The Dell has its own issues... though it has a faster processor... and dedicated advanced graphics chip... support is still unproven for it. It also lacks battery life... and the biggest issue for me would be the lack of ram... it only has 64mb. I believe it is also more expensive than the Toshiba... and the Dell may be backordered... at least several threads suggests it.

The Toshiba... is bigger but I like that... I realized it is the same width as my Hp2210 and actually thinner... the only dimension that is bigger is the length. I has 128mb of ram... I never worry about ram anymore... usb host capabilities... hard drives... keyboards... and of late... a Gravis Joystick...

For me it is a no brainer... don't get me wrong... I love the Toshiba... but I think that my first choice if the price was not so high might be the Loox 720...

[Dyvim]

I also was torn between upgrading to e830, Axim x50v, or HP 4700.
I wanted a faster VGA device than my e800 (which I loved).
The clencher for me was the RAM. I've gotten hooked on having 128MB of it, so 64MB doesn't really cut it for me. To tell you the truth I kind of thought that 2004 would see the release of a top-end PocketPC featuring 256MB of RAM and I would really have been drooling over that! But seems like things are going backwards in that regard instead of forward. Of course RAM requires power and so eats up battery life, but I was quite disappointed with RAM on Axim x50v and HP4700.

The other main factor for me over the Axim was screen size. Toshiba (and HP4700) have 4" screens. HP though has that horrid touchpad thingy.

BT is definitely one of Toshiba's weak points, so really depends whether that's important to you or not. I mainly wanted it for file exchange, which it does ok. Just don't expect to hook a BT keyboard up to it. But you can always go for Stowaway's IR keyboard which works well and is cheaper than the BT version with longer battery life. Plus it will work with any handheld with IR (basically all of them).

[Menneisyys]

But you can always go for Stowaway's IR keyboard which works well and is cheaper than the BT version with longer battery life.

I've been actively (at least 2-3 hours a day) using the TO SA BT keyboard for about a month now. The batteries that came with it are still OK. So, the news "only operates for 2 hours at continuous mode" (or something like that) isn't really true.

[pcboy2003]

Hi, another thing worth to noted is the screen quality, the dell vga screen sucks, it looks washout. It's looks nice when you don't place it along with a 4700 or e830.

[pcboy2003]

But you can always go for Stowaway's IR keyboard which works well and is cheaper than the BT version with longer battery life.

I've been actively (at least 2-3 hours a day) using the TO SA BT keyboard for about a month now. The batteries that came with it are still OK. So, the news "only operates for 2 hours at continuous mode" (or something like that) isn't really true.

DOnesn't matter, it might be longer than 2-3 hrs, but compared to IR, BT still drains a lot of battery. THe battery on your pocket pc will also drain much faster with BT on. I agree with the brighthand editor, there' no point to have a BT keyboard for pocket pc.

[Ripper014]

Well I don't agree with that statement... a BT keyboard is ideal... it should be universal... so when you upgrade to your next PPC it can go with you. I/R is ok... but having to lineup your I/R ports to the devices are an issue for me. A lot easier if you can just turn on both and get to the job at hand.

I doubt that BT and battery life is a very serious issue.

[pcboy2003]

But the battery dies a lot faster with BT on, first I thought BT would drain less batt than wifi, but in real life, they are the same. However, I see IR keyboard uses very little ( I don't feel it uses any battery).

So far, I am able to transfer files via bluetooth with my friend's axim x30 mid, and connected with a Z600 cellphone.

I have a question, say if I get a bluetooth cellphone, is this mean I can just use it to dail to a regular ISP and connected to the internet? Or do I have to pay extra to my phone company (fido)?

[Menneisyys]

But the battery dies a lot faster with BT on, first I thought BT would drain less batt than wifi, but in real life, they are the same.

It'll hardly be the same. Even the (BT power consumption-wise) worst, most BT power-hungry devices (e.g., according to several reviews, the Dell Axim x50v) consume considerably less power with operating BT than Wi-Fi. And, devices like the iPAQ 2210 consume almost NO additional power with their BT unit actively used.

For example, my second device, after the Pocket Loox 720, is an iPAQ 2210. If my wife actively uses MSN Messenger on it via a GPRS phone, placed some 4-5 meters from her because of GSM field strength problems and a TO SA BT keyboard,, used the PDA at the lowest brightness level, the battery level decreases at only 10% an hour.

My Pocket Loox 720 isn't much worse. Its battery level decreases at 10% too an hour in the above configuration. Of course, this also means abut 1.7 times more power consumption because it has a 1640 mAh battery, while the 2210 only has a 900 mAh.

So, if the host PDA is done well, then you won't run into vastly increased power consumption because of BT.


I have a question, say if I get a bluetooth cellphone, is this mean I can just use it to dail to a regular ISP and connected to the internet? Or do I have to pay extra to my phone company (fido)?

You most probably will have to pay extra, especially if you use GPRS and not just plain dial-in (9600/14400 bps normal mode or HSCSD).

[Ripper014]

The power consumption rate difference between your Hp2210 and Loox720 probably have less to do with BT than it does the hardware on the units... the Loox720 is driving a VGA screen as well as a much faster processor.

I have the same basic situation with a Toshiba e830 and Hp2210... my Toshiba I find a little sluggish... but I am willing to deal with that for what I gain in a VGA screen. It is strange using my Hp2210 these days... everything is so big... it is akin to using a 1024x768 desktop and going back to 640x480...

[Menneisyys]

The power consumption rate difference between your Hp2210 and Loox720 probably have less to do with BT than it does the hardware on the units... the Loox720 is driving a VGA screen as well as a much faster processor.

It's consuming about 1.7 times more power even when the screen is switched off (e.g., it's running NoteM).

[CESkins]

When it comes to BT vs IR keyboards and PDA battery life when using either, l find myself in agreement with Menneisyys' analysis. I own several IR keyboards, 2 serial KBs, and the TO BT KB. Personally I find the battery life of my Loox720 to be minimally affected by using the BT KB. The same can be said of my iPAQ 4150 when used w/the BL KB vs the TO serial KB (which draws power directly from the 4150) or the IR KB (which was a pain to get aligned w/the 4150 IR port on the bottom left corner of the PDA). Other parameters like processor speed and screen brightness affect the battery life far more significantly than BT. The TO BT KB has a number of power conserving features built-in which will extend the life of its batteries. I for one am glad that the TO BT KB firmware is upgradable. Also I now have a single KB that I use with all my PDAs and don't have to worry about buying a new KB when I get another PDA (unless TO refuses to support the new PDA)

[Ripper014]

The power consumption rate difference between your Hp2210 and Loox720 probably have less to do with BT than it does the hardware on the units... the Loox720 is driving a VGA screen as well as a much faster processor.

It's consuming about 1.7 times more power even when the screen is switched off (e.g., it's running NoteM).

All I am saying is that even with the backlight off... the ppc is still refreshing the screen with data... it is processing 4x the data with a faster processor... compared to your Hp2210...

CESkins... does this mean you don't agree with my assessments..?

[Menneisyys]

All I am saying is that even with the backlight off...

The screen is completely switched off, not just the backlight.

[Ripper014]

All I am saying is that even with the backlight off...

The screen is completely switched off, not just the backlight.

So your point is that in standby mode... your Loox 720 draws more power...??? Well in that case... what would you say is running... in standby mode in either of these devices...

[CESkins]

Hi Rip...I agree with your assessments as well. I was just addressing the question of BT vs IR when it came to power drain on the PocPC. Don't know what is running in standby that would comsume so much power on the Loox.

[Menneisyys]

All I am saying is that even with the backlight off...

The screen is completely switched off, not just the backlight.

So your point is that in standby mode... your Loox 720 draws more power...??? Well in that case... what would you say is running... in standby mode in either of these devices...

Nope, the PPC is actively working (playing / recording MP3's, waiting for new messages via MSN Messenger connected to a GSM GPRS phone via BT etc), it's just the screen that is switched off with, for example, PWMP's screen off functionality or with any of the numerous tools used to switch off the display (ScreenOff etc.)