Owners, give me you opinions: Which PDA, Dell Axim Advanced or Toshiba e330/e335/e740

[CaptainKahuna]

Thanks for the advice guys, I've narrowed it down (reusing the thread):

So, here's what I want in a PDA (I have $360):

- Pocket PC OS
- SDIO slot and/or CF slot
- 3.5mm (normal) headphone jack
- Slimish form factor
- Good battery life
- Microphone

I've narrowed it down to the Dell Axim or Toshiba e330/e335 or the Toshiba e740. Which do you think is the best? I realize the Dell is faster and bigger, but will I notice it in day to day use? Also, is the Toshiba so small that it feels flimsy? Is the Dell too big to fit comfortably in my pants pocket?

I'd love it if people who own these PDAs would weight in with their opinions, especially on reliability of the two models. Here are the CNET reviews for both models I'm considering:

Toshiba e330/335: Review
Dell Axim Advanced: Review
Toshiba e740: Review

Thanks for the help.

 

[NFS4]

You're not going to find a "slim" form-factor PocketPC with CF & SD.

You either get slim w/ SD slot and "adequate battery life" which would give you the HP iPAQ 1910 (which has a 2.5mm headphone jack) and the Viewsonic V35

or

You can get hefty with CF & SD slots and "great battery life" which will give you the Dell Axim


Since all PocketPC's use the same operating system, their MP3 player functions are shared as well...along with the ability to turn the screen off when playing MP3's

 

[Boogak]

The Audiovox Maestro has both SD and CF slots and is slimmer than the Axim. Not sure how battery life compares though. Pocket WMP has an option where you can turn off the screen and just use the PDA buttons to control it.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Boogak
The Audiovox Maestro has both SD and CF slots and is slimmer than the Axim. Not sure how battery life compares though. Pocket WMP has an option where you can turn off the screen and just use the PDA buttons to control it.

Battery life on the Maestro is pitiful. Also the screen technology is MUCH inferior to the Axim, V35, and 1910.

 

[everman]

I didn't know you could turn the screen off while playing mp3s, I guess because I use a minidisc player for music. But I was wondering what the batterly life is like if you just play mp3s with the screen off? I have an ipaq 3765 I bought about a year ago I use to type things on etc.

 

[CaptainKahuna]

You either get slim w/ SD slot and "adequate battery life" which would give you the HP iPAQ 1910 (which has a 2.5mm headphone jack) and the Viewsonic V35

How long is adequate?

I wanted to go with the HP 1910, but using an adapter with the headphone jack turned me off. Otherwise, it's almost perfect.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: CaptainKahuna

You either get slim w/ SD slot and "adequate battery life" which would give you the HP iPAQ 1910 (which has a 2.5mm headphone jack) and the Viewsonic V35

How long is adequate?

I wanted to go with the HP 1910, but using an adapter with the headphone jack turned me off. Otherwise, it's almost perfect.

Well, I get about 4-5 hours normal use with the backlight on. That's enough for me to use it most of the day, then come home and put it in the cradle to charge overnight.

 

[majewski9]

Dell axim well under 360

 

[vetteguy]

NFS4 is right...there aren't any that are ultra-slim that have both slots. The Toshiba Genio e550G has both and is pretty slim (and has a 4" screen), but retails for almost $600. I can't speak to the battery life on any of the other devices because I've never used them.

 

[tigerwannabe]

i vote for the axim also--the advanced one is a nice model, but it's a bit bulky. check it out on dell's website

 

[CaptainKahuna]

Is it so bulky that you cant fit it in your pants pocket while it's in a case?

 

[CaptainKahuna]

upupup

Reused this thread

 

[CaptainKahuna]

ttt

 

[microAmp]

Originally posted by: CaptainKahuna
Is it so bulky that you cant fit it in your pants pocket while it's in a case?

In it's leather case, I can put in my back pocket of my blue jeans, but if you wear super tight jeans then it probably won't.

 

[Wingznut]

A lot of shopping malls have Dell kiosks (check here for locations) and they'll have an Axim for you to check out. You'll still have to order it from Dell, but at least you'll see what it's like.

NFS4 can (and I'm sure will) correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the Viewsonic the only one with SDIO?

 

[CaptainKahuna]

Sweet, I had really wanted to actually hold one. Too bad the nearest Dell store is like 1 hr away. Oh well, I'm goin anyway

 

[Wingznut]

Before you drive an hour, you probably ought to call them to make sure they have one.

The one near me has a couple, but I suppose there's a possibility that some don't.

 

[CaptainKahuna]

ttt

 

[CaptainKahuna]

Help me out PDA owners

 

[UncleWai]

I just got my Axim advanced, very nice for the price.
I got a couple pictures for you to see. I bought the leather carrying case for it.
The one that came with the Axim is an extremely crappy plastic bag.

length

thickness

 

[CaptainKahuna]

Thanks for the pics! Does it fir comfortably in your pants pocket? When you take it out to make a note, do you feel that it's like takin out your computer?

What I'm askin is, do you notice that it's kind of big at all?

Thanks.

 

[dangereuxjeux]

Anyone use the Toshiba e740? Right now I'm torn between getting the Toshiba (using the built in 802.11b around campus is appealing) and the Dell. If you've used the Wi-Fi on the e740... how did it affect your battery life? The e740 looks really nice and has a $100 rebate right now (with a price of around $445... so only $345), but I'd rather save even more and get the Dell if the Toshiba gets killed on battery life by its Wi-Fi. Thanks.

 

[CaptainKahuna]

I'd stay away from the e740, I just learned that they are havin major issues with the batteries not holding charge and erasing the entire unit (they even had a recall)

And BTW...with WiFi on, you'll get like 2 hrs, and about 5 hrs with it off (at least thats what I've heard)

 

[UncleWai]

Both cases should fit, but it will be pretty bulky.
The PDA itself is very comfortable to grip.
You should try to make a homemade case if you want to put it in your pocket.
me holding the axim
My hand is just able to palm a basketball, you decide.

 

[ed21x]

Originally posted by: CaptainKahuna
I'd stay away from the e740, I just learned that they are havin major issues with the batteries not holding charge and erasing the entire unit (they even had a recall)

And BTW...with WiFi on, you'll get like 2 hrs, and about 5 hrs with it off (at least thats what I've heard)

I heard that after the recall, they were able to remedy the problem for the most part. It wasn't that the battery wasn't holding a charge, but that the memory would reset itself when the unit ran out of electricity. They provided repairs free of charge, and all the newer units are fine.