Toshiba e830 Now Available in New Zealand

[Jonathon Watkins]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.asp?contentid=3760' target='_blank'>http://www.geekzone.co.nz/content.a...?contentid=3760</a><br /><br /></div><i>"The Toshiba e830 Pocket PC is now available in New Zealand, distributed by Tech Pacific. The new Pocket PC is based on an Intel XScale PXA-272 CPU at 520MHz, a TFT LCD screen with VGA resolution (640x480 pixels) capable of showing up to 64k colours. System memory includes 128MB RAM and 64MB flash ROM. The flash ROM holds the operating system and provides a 24MB storage space. The Toshiba e830 dimensions are 135.0 x 77.0 x 16.7 mm (LxWxH), and it weighs 200 g."</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/toshibae830.gif" /> <br /><br />So, what exactly did you Kiwi's do to get the e830 launched in your country? :wink: Well, enjoy it and let us know how you get on with your early Christmas present. :)

[R K]

Hmm... the Toshiba E830 is a pretty interesting anomaly.
It has enough CPU horsepower to beat the E800, but lacks the ATI Imageon 3200 of its older brother.

This means that apps that take advantage of the ATI chip (video players, Betaplayer) will get better performance from the E800, but apps that don't (games) will get better performance from the E830.

Man, what a dilemna.

[mr_Ray]

Actually, the newest version of Betaplayer includes much optimisation for the new CPUs, and give very similar results on the Loox's 520MHz CPU (same as the e830) to the ATI equipped PPCs. Details here http://www.firstloox.org/forums/showthread.php?t=1943&amp;page=2&amp;pp=15&amp;highlight=betaplayer

So you lose the ATI GPU, but gain a more capable CPU with MMX...


Hope that helps.

[jasondearyou]

yeah its a catch 22. Also i wonder how this ppc would compare to the loox 720, do you think it's able to compete?

[jasondearyou]

sorry i take that back. I wouldn't be able to compete with loox 720. Sorry toshiba, try harder next time.

[mr_Ray]

yeah its a catch 22. Also i wonder how this ppc would compare to the loox 720, do you think it's able to compete?
Well it's no secret that I'm a Loox fan. ;-)

In terms of performance though, I can't see the Loox720 and the e830 being that different.

Shared specs:
520MHz CPU
128MB RAM
64MB ROM
No GPU

Also both have USB host, dual slots, VGA...

Key differences:
e830 - bigger screen :) bigger body :( smaller battery :(
Loox720 - camera :) that's no better than most builtin cams :(

[kiwi]

heh.. when I lived in NZ I had to always buy used PPCs from Ebay to get a decent price on them as they are reletively expensive compared to what we pay here in Nth America.

With the falling US $ these probably are good value there, but I doubt very cheap.

[Paula]

I did a search on pricespy (NZ's answer to Pricegrabber) here is what I found.

The first price is without the 12.5% tax The second price includes the tax.

Toshiba e830 Pocket PC Intel Xscale PXA-272 $839.84 $944.82 Digital Shop 6th Dec 18:15 no ID

Toshiba e830 Pocket PC Intel Xscale PXA-272 $985.22 $1108.37 C&amp;L 6th Dec 18:47 no ID

[Menneisyys]

Key differences:
e830 - bigger screen :) bigger body :( smaller battery :(
Loox720 - camera :) that's no better than most builtin cams :(

Loox720 is a better choice in some other respects too:
- CIR
- supplied USB host cable (even if it isn't the smallest)

[Phillip Dyson]

Reviews ! Reviews!

Please no links to the French site. :)

[Typhoon]

I wonder why companies keep deciding to chose the 520 MHz CPU instead of the 624 MHz?? These CPUs can automatically run at low speeds to save power...why not allow the 624 MHz for more advanced games, etc....especially since these companies have decided to make their models w/VGA screens...

[johncruise]

Also both have USB host, dual slots, VGA...


Can you clarify? I haven't seen any VGA in Loox 720's specs nor an expansion pack that will enable this. URL please... I'm interested and may convince me to wait for Loox 720 instead of Toshiba 830 (if it will ever see the light of day in US)

Thanks.

[Tari Akpodiete]

it's also available in Canada, at least in Toronto, ON at Staples Business depot. the flyer says it can be bought online as well. 699.95 minus 50 dollar in-store rebate for a final price of 649.95 plus tax. until Dec 29th.

[surur]

Also both have USB host, dual slots, VGA...


Can you clarify? I haven't seen any VGA in Loox 720's specs nor an expansion pack that will enable this. URL please... I'm interested and may convince me to wait for Loox 720 instead of Toshiba 830 (if it will ever see the light of day in US)

Thanks.

Loox 720 is the best! It certainly has vga (at least mine appears nice and high res :)

URL - http://www.firstloox.org/VGAppc.htm

You can compare all the VGA pocketpc's there. The site may be biased :), but Loox clearly comes out ahead.

Surur

EDit (or did you mean vga out, which the older toshiba had, but the loox not, but you can get compact flash cards to do this)

[johncruise]

EDit (or did you mean vga out, which the older toshiba had, but the loox not, but you can get compact flash cards to do this)

Aww shoot.. yes... you are right. I was too excited sending out that message and I didn't bother double checking what I typed :) I click the submit right away (bad hands! bad bad bad)

[Floodguy]

Did a short trip from Pocket PC to the Clie/Palm world this early this year,

Toshiba e400 --> Clie TH55 --> Clie UX50 --> Toshiba e830

and I'm now back to Pocket PC (Windows mobile) again (needless to say why I'm back, cause you all know it). And this Toshiba machine rocks. Really super fast! And with the ClearVue pdf viewer in VGA ,I have now really acceptable ebook readiness. Superb screen too. There are 2 version here at my place: the normal e830 and the e830W with BT and WIFI. The price gap is really huge between the 2 models, and, I got a wireless SD LANcard (cguys) as a present included for the normal model. Yes and the connectors are the same, so I could use my former accessories too. The battery may be small, but is not as bad as with my former e400. When it comes to batteries, Sony is unbeatable.
About the Loox, which I also considered: No model was in stock either (strange). Only a small product sheet was available.
Now, my wife, is considering the e830W model.
:D