Toshiba e405 Pocket PC with Windows Mobile 2003

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Manufacturer: Toshiba
Price at amazon.com: List price $299.99



Product Features:

• Intel processor at a blazing 300MHz
• Pocket versions of familiar applications like Outlook, Word, and Excel
• 3.5" transreflective color display
• Analog resistance sensitive touch panel
• Secure Digital slot for greater storage and expansion

Product Description:

With a blazing 300MHz Intel PXA261 processor, 64 MB of SDRAM and 16 MB of Flash ROM, the e405 is a powerful mobile solution. The 3.5 TFT Transreflective Color display offers 240 x 320, 16-bit resolution a back light, and 5 step brightness control. The intuitive touch panel uses the analog resistance sensitive system, along with a 5-way navigation button and 4 application keys (calendar, contacts, task, and menu) and a 3 function navigator. There is also a SDIO (Secure Digital) card slot (3.3V)... read more


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Average Customer Rating:

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Comment: Excellent Entry level PDA Rating:
After looking at virtually all PDA's in both Palm and Pocket PC format, I chose the latter and preferred the Toshiba to the IPAQ series due to a brighter screen, no yellow tint with off angle viewing, a nice proprietary voice recorder which is easier to use than the standard Pocket PC recorder, and a useful enhanced proprietary Home display which, amongst other things, shows the battery level clearly.

The unit has worked flawlessly for the two months I have owned it. Battery capacity is adequate and it can be recharged whenever desired since it is NiMH. Although the battery is not replaceable by the user, it can be sent back to Toshiba for a cost of about $125, according to the manufacturer, which estimates its life to be about 2 years with normal usage and proper maintenance. For those who don't want to take the risk of battery failure, or who plan to keep the same unit for many years, this would be an obvious major negative of this PDA.

The flagship E805 model has the best display(larger, brighter) out there, IMHO, as well as an easily changeable battery,but if you don't have the need for its larger internal memory, WiFi, or the hi res option(currently with limited applications available), I found it not worth the extra cost. It is also larger in all dimensions, and heavier than the 405, but not dramatically so.

The Microsoft ActiveSynch works very well with my computer, and is the way to go whenever possible for entering data, since punching the PDA's keyboard with a stylet is painful compared to a standard computer keyboard. Although this can be overcome by using a portable keyboard which can synch with the PDA, it is possible through the main computer to set up a folder hierarchy sychronizeable with the PDA which I could not do within the Pocket PC format alone.

Many reviewers have complained about Toshiba's stylus, but I have had no difficulties with it whatsoever. The E405's controls are well laid out. The off/on switch is slightly clumsy to use, but a very minor detraction from an overall excellent unit indeed.

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Comment: Really Nice PDA! Rating:
For those who wish to get a quick review; This is the best pocket pc in the $200 dollar price range. I bought mine in April and I absolutely love it, my best friend bought one two weeks ago and he loves his as well. I am completely satisfied.

Pros:

After trying several PDA's I've finally found one I really like, at the right price and with the combination of features I will use.

1. (...)this one clearly stands heads and shoulders above the rest in this price range.

2. The e405 is very fast and effective while using media player and running basic games and the like. I'm not what you would call a "power user" but I've compared this to several models in the HP line and it is every bit as fast and functional (or better) in the case of the 1945. This is also the first PDA I've not had to reset once in the first month of use.

3. The form factor (size/shape) of this unit is GREAT, it is the thinnest I've seen and fits well in a pocket. The attractive metal housing is another big plus for me, the buttons are well placed and functional, the screeen is very bright and clear also.

4. I was truly surprised by just how much I like this Toshiba PDA once I started using it, very nice.

Cons:

1. I haven't had to contact Toshiba support as of yet, so it's hard to rate them although I'd suspect it is lacking like most companies in this market today.

2. Battery is not replaceable, but I can live with that for the price range I'm in. Battery life is about the same as the HP models I've tried, I can go 2-3 days between recharging with moderate use.

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Comment: great buy for budget pda Rating:
I already own 1 hp jornada 548 and I gotta say, i love this pda! MUCH better. This thing stands up to horrendus abuse. I'm a delivery driver, and this thing lives in my car. Stands up to heavy weights put on it, baking in the sun for days on end, and I love the flash rom disk! The only bad side I see to it, is the single SDIO slot. I would have preferred a CF slot as well, but for $300, it's still a great value.

Posted at November 11, 2003 07:59 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)