PDA: Toshiba GENIO e550G

[metroplex]

Any reason I shouldn't go with this for a hand held PDA solution?

It's about $200 more than the Toshiba e335, but its got a 400 MHz Intel CPU with a 4" color display, as opposed to a 3.5" display. The 335 has a 300 MHz CPU but I understand Pocket PC 2002 can't take advantage of the 400 MHz CPU anyhow.

 

[metroplex]

BTW the reason I'm not looking at the Palms anymore is becuase at the same price, you get a 33 MHz CPU with a black and white screen.

The Toshiba's I listed above have 64MB SDRAM and 32MB ROM with color screens and Pocket Excel/Word.

I really need a handheld solution asap for a MBA class I'm taking. I need it for speeches (bulleted statements, etc) as well as Excel spreadsheets.

A laptop is too cumbersome and not cost-effective for this application. if i wait after christmas, the handheld wont be used at all until possibly mid February, so time is pretty important UNLESS the ones coming out after Christmas are less expensive with more useful features???

 

[vetteguy]

I have this PDA and it's awesome. I believe that NSF4 also has one. You won't be disappointed.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Speed doesn't matter... it's going to be used for notes and spreadsheets not games. I would, and did, get a used Cassiopeia E125 on eBay for $204, including a keyboard.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: vetteguy
I have this PDA and it's awesome. I believe that NSF4 also has one. You won't be disappointed.

Yep, it's pretty friggin' awesome Love the 4" screen, BUT..........

I just pre-ordered one of these recently:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00006RSK5/ref=pd_ecc_rvi_1/103-5608273-2731068

300MHz X-Scale, 64MB RAM, lightest/thinnest PocketPC, jog wheel, AND a TransReflective screen like the iPAQ 3900 series all for $299 This PDA makes the e335 look ridiculously overpriced considering that the V35 has better specs (especially the screen).


Viewsonic's $299 PocketPC...64MB, 300MHz, SD-slot, transreflective screen....**UPDATE** New pics...super thin & light

 

[Keego]

I'd get the $300 viewsonic that just came out ($250 at amazon)

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Keego
I'd get the $300 viewsonic that just came out ($250 at amazon)

It's not $250 anymore Amazon corrected their error.

 

[Keego]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Keego
I'd get the $300 viewsonic that just came out ($250 at amazon)

It's not $250 anymore Amazon corrected their error.

I didn't even see your post the first time Yeah, I just saw

 

[Utterman]

What about waiting for the Dell ones coming out like the end of this year? I thought they would be a pretty good value coupled with some coupons

 

[metroplex]

The V35 has the same specs as the e335, and its only $50 less - how is the V35 better? I can't find the actual specs.

The e550G has a 4" screen which I really like.

 

[Pliablemoose]

"Why you should wait for a Dell PDA"

The Genio looks pretty good though. I regressed after the nightmare of the e740 & will use a Visor Edge for a few months till Dell releases their new PDA's...

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: metroplex
The V35 has the same specs as the e335, and its only $50 less - how is the V35 better? I can't find the actual specs.

The e550G has a 4" screen which I really like.

1) The V35 is lighter (weighs only 4.2 ounces)
2) The V35 is thinner
3) The V35 has a superior screen technology (Transreflective vs regular reflective). Transreflective screens are brighter/clearer and have longer battery life
4) The e335 costs $399, the V35 costs $299
5) The e330 costs $249, but doesn't come with the e335's software bundle
6) The V35 comes with a much-need PowerPoint viewer


Any other questions?

What about waiting for the Dell ones coming out like the end of this year? I thought they would be a pretty good value coupled with some coupons

The Dell PDA is a relative brick. It weighs about 6.8 ounces and is about .67 inches thick. That's about 2.2 ounces heavier than the V35 and over .2 inches thicker.

 

[Utterman]

Originally posted by: NFS4

What about waiting for the Dell ones coming out like the end of this year? I thought they would be a pretty good value coupled with some coupons

The Dell PDA is a relative brick. It weighs about 6.8 ounces and is about .67 inches thick. That's about 2.2 ounces heavier than the V35 and over .2 inches thicker.

Ouch!

Looks like I'm going to look into the viewsonic

Thanks NFS4

 

[metroplex]

1) The V35 is lighter (weighs only 4.2 ounces)

ZzzZZzzz.... I'm a big boy I can handle 6 oz.

2) The V35 is thinner

I don't carry a purse so I have room to hold something 0.2" thicker.

3) The V35 has a superior screen technology (Transreflective vs regular reflective). Transreflective screens are brighter/clearer and have longer battery life

Its also smaller right? I hate small screens - makes me squint...

4) The e335 costs $399, the V35 costs $299

The E330/335 is $350.

5) The e330 costs $249, but doesn't come with the e335's software bundle

The e330/335 costs $350

6) The V35 comes with a much-need PowerPoint viewer

I just need Excel and Word (I need functions and stuff for Excel, bullets for Word). I can't see myself using PowerPoint on a Pocket PC for presentations... it'd be pretty pointless.


That article about Dell's PocketPC entry is like a pre-alpha statement on a MS Operating System... I need a Pocket PC within 2 weeks - that includes the time needed to familiarize myself with it and teach my dad how to use it - we're planning to share it for college (yep, we're both in college).

 

[Linux23]

oh yeah, and my Ipaq with 400Mhz CPU will kick all your PDA butts!

 

[metroplex]

The V35 piqued my interest...

Does it come with the USB cradle, power supply, and stylus?

I can't find anything anywhere that says it comes with these items, and the PowerPoint software does not appear to come with the V35.

 

[NFS4]

Don't bring a knife to a gun fight

ZzzZZzzz.... I'm a big boy I can handle 6 oz.

I was comparing the V35 to the e330/e335. After holding my e550G for a while, my hand does grow tired sometimes; especially when reading articles. And the lack of a scroll wheel doesn't help one-handed operation either. Even still, the V35 doesn't compete with high-end PDA's like the e550G.

I don't carry a purse so I have room to hold something 0.2" thicker.

Again, this is compared to the e330/e335. It slips easier into your pocket and is more comfortable to hold.

The E330/335 is $350.

WRONG! The e330 is $349. The e335 is $399. The e335 comes with more software, hence the higher price. You aren't going to get something for nothing. Need proof? Look here:

http://www.mysimon.com/isrch/index.jhtml?c=pda&pgid=shop&InputKeyword=toshiba+e335&_ttag=astg.mysimon.sp&v=2&pg=1&key=UC_20021031_073242_0951327509

http://shopper.cnet.com/shopping/resellers/0-205442-311-20537616.html?tag=st.sh.sr.pl.pr20537616

I just need Excel and Word (I need functions and stuff for Excel, bullets for Word). I can't see myself using PowerPoint on a Pocket PC for presentations... it'd be pretty pointless.

I use it to follow along with class notes in the classroom.

The V35 piqued my interest...

Does it come with the USB cradle, power supply, and stylus?

I can't find anything anywhere that says it comes with these items, and the PowerPoint software does not appear to come with the V35.

Yes, it comes with all of that stuff.

If you do any searching on the PocketPC websites, you can find lots of info on the V35 including the fact that it comes with Powerpoint software. Even ZDNET's article on the V35 states this:

http://www.zdnet.com/anchordesk/stories/story/0,10738,2884853,00.html

Things only got better when I turned on the screen. The V35's 3.5-inch display is noticeably brighter than the one on my iPaq--not surprising, really, considering that ViewSonic is best known for its monitors. Other specs were mighty impressive too: an Intel XScale processor (currently found only on higher-end Pocket PCs), 64MB of RAM, 32MB of ROM, and an SD expansion slot. ViewSonic also addresses one of the bigger--and mysterious--holes in Microsoft's Pocket PC 2002 software by adding a PowerPoint slide viewer.
ViewSonic's
Pocket PC V35

 

[metroplex]

I found NO mention of Powerpoint on Viewsonic's site.

After all, ViewSonic is the manufacturer - it would only make sense to check w/ them first and not ZDNet. I did not find any evidence that Viewsonic includes all the accessories with the V35 on their site, I just found "Optional: USB Cradle, 10W AC Adapter, etc"

As for the e300 vs e335 - the only difference, and the ONLY difference in the software department is the addition of ArcSoft's PhotoBase in the e335. Since I have no use for Photo software on a PDA, the $349 would make it a better deal.

ViewSonic's V35 is their first entry into the Pocket PC market, am I correct?
How do they fare in real world use? That's what I'm concerned about. I've gone the "first person on the block to own it" route before and every time I've ended up paying too much for something that doesn't work all the time.

The V35 definitely piqued my interest, but when is it shipping?

From their site

Do what you want to do.
Microsoft Pocket PC applications you already know from your PC come preloaded on your Pocket PC V35. You?ll get Pocket PC versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Windows Media Player, even Solitaire.

BUT check out the specs:

If you need it, it's got it. Preloaded software includes: Microsoft® Pocket Outlook® (e-mail, calendar, contact, notes, tasks); Microsoft® Pocket Word; Microsoft® Pocket Excel; Microsoft® Reader; Microsoft® Windows Media Player v8.0; Microsoft® Pocket Internet Explorer; Microsoft® ActiveSync®; AvantGo Sync Provider; Voice Recorder; Calculator and Solitaire.

Companion software for your PC is also included: Microsoft® Outlook® 2000; Microsoft ActiveSync®; ClearVue? Image; ClearVue? Presentation

Where's PowerPoint???

And I absolutely have ZERO faith in stores/magazines that list a bunch of stuff that comes with the hardware. Magazines test out products that come weeks ahead of a mass market release and the manuf could have cheaped out at the release.
Stores generally don't know jack sh*t about what comes with the hardware unless they're hardcore - I just don't want to end up spending $300 for just a PDA because ZDNet said it comes with everything along with PowerPoint, only to have spent 3 weeks waiting for delivery, where I could have spent $50 more for a faster delivery of a comparable PDA that has all the accessories sans ArcSoft Photobase and PowerPoint.

 

[NFS4]

Yawn!!

Clearview Presentation IS the Powerpoint viewer. It also comes with the Genio e550G. Microsoft doesn't make a PP viewer for the PocketPC; third party manufacturers are the ones that make them.

 

[metroplex]

Oh ok so I don't need that anyhow.

I found AutoGraph which allows for graphing using Excel spreadsheet data, which so far is the only must-need software that I found for PPCs.

How is Pocket Streets?

When I bought my Dell Inspiron 8100, it came with Pocket Streets for CE and Streets 2002, if the Pocket Streets works anything like Streets 2002 (just on a smaller scale) then it would ROCK.

BTW the e330 is 5.1 oz, vs the 4.2 oz for the V35.

The only cons I see for the V35 is a relatively unknown availibility date and whether or not it comes with the USB cradle and AC adapter. Yes i know most new PDAs come with it, but from experience you can't be too careful when laying down $$ for electronics nowadays.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: metroplex
Oh ok so I don't need that anyhow.

I found AutoGraph which allows for graphing using Excel spreadsheet data, which so far is the only must-need software that I found for PPCs.

How is Pocket Streets?

When I bought my Dell Inspiron 8100, it came with Pocket Streets for CE and Streets 2002, if the Pocket Streets works anything like Streets 2002 (just on a smaller scale) then it would ROCK.

BTW the e330 is 5.1 oz, vs the 4.2 oz for the V35.

The only cons I see for the V35 is a relatively unknown availibility date and whether or not it comes with the USB cradle and AC adapter. Yes i know most new PDAs come with it, but from experience you can't be too careful when laying down $$ for electronics nowadays.

- Pocket Streets 2002 rocks for PocketPC. I have maps of all the major cities in the US on an SD card that I use.
- You may think that you don't need a PowerPoint viewer (I said the same thing), but after using it the first time, I can't be without it
- Every PocketPC ever made has come with an AC adapter and a connection cable. For Viewsonic not to include one would be rather stupid.