Toshiba e740 Pocket PC

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Manufacturer: Toshiba
Price at amazon.com: $299.88
This item is not stocked or has been discontinued.

Product Features:

• Lightweight, thin Pocket PC with 64 MB RAM and 32 MB ROM and blazing fast 400 MHz XScale processor
• Dual expansion capabilties: built-in CompactFlash and Secure Digital (SD) slots
• 240 x 320 pixel TFT LCD screen displays more than 64,000 colors
• Integrated Wi-Fi capability
• What's in the box: e740, USB cradle, AC adapter, stylus, soft slipcase, quick-start card, warranty card, software

Product Description:

Packaged in an attractive, sleek design, the Toshiba e740 Pocket PC features a familiar user interface and tools powered by Microsoft Windows Pocket PC 2002. It's the first Pocket PC to be equipped with a blindingly fast 400 MHz Intel XScale processor, vastly improving application switching and multimedia playback. The Toshiba e740 is equipped with built-in slots for both Secure Digital (SD) and CompactFlash (CF) memory and module cards. It also features integrated wireless Bluetooth and WLAN capabilities, and is Wi-Fi-ready. The Toshiba e740 is loaded with 32 MB SDRAM memory and 32 MB of flash ROM (for future upgrading). It's powered by a built-in lithium rechargeable battery that recharges via the included USB cradle. Operating System Microsoft's Pocket PC 2002 operating system, released in late 2001, offers many enhancements over the previous OS. You'll get improved handwriting recognition, more reliable synchronization, increased security, and the ability to chat using MSN Messenger. It also features new Pocket versions of Outlook, Word, Excel, and Internet Explorer. Display The Toshiba e740 delivers brilliant images with its 3.5-inch TFT display. It supports over 64,000 colors and has 240 x 320 resolution. Active matrix, also called "thin film transistor" (TFT), is the brightest, sharpest, clearest, and most expensive type of LCD flat-panel display that is practical for handhelds. Expansion Expanding your expansion possibilities, the Toshiba e740 features integrated slots for both Secure Digital and CompactFlash cards. With Secure Digital (SD) and CompactFlash (CF) memory cards, you can easily store and play your multimedia files and carry your important documents wherever you go. You can add functionality with optional CF cards, including wireless and land-line connectivity, Ethernet networking, bar-code scanning, and much more. You'll also be able to add more functionality using optional SD cards, which will become available soon. Multimedia Play digital audio (both MP3 and WMA) and video (MPEG-4) files using the Windows Media Player software. The Toshiba e740 is also compatible with audible.com files, for listening to audiobooks, radio broadcasts, and more. Record your thoughts with the built-in microphone and voice-recording software. You can play back using the small speaker on the front or via the stereo headphone jack. You also get Microsoft Reader e-book software. In the Box The Toshiba e740 comes with a USB cradle, AC adapter, stylus, soft slipcase, quick-start card, and warranty card. It is backed by a one-year limited warranty.

Description from Manufacturer:Packaged in an attractive, sleek design, the Toshiba e740 Pocket PC features a familiar user interface and tools powered by Microsoft Windows Pocket PC 2002. It's the first Pocket PC to be equipped with a blindingly fast 400 MHz Intel XScale processor, vastly improving application switching and multimedia playback. The Toshiba e740 is equipped with built-in slots for both Secure Digital (SD) and CompactFlash (CF) memory and module cards. It also features integrated wireless Bluetooth and WLAN capabilities, and is Wi-Fi-ready.

The Toshiba e740 is loaded with 32 MB SDRAM memory and 32 MB of flash ROM (for future upgrading). It's powered by a built-in lithium rechargeable battery that recharges via the included USB cradle.

Operating System
Microsoft's Pocket PC 2002 operating system, released in late 2001, offers many enhancements over the previous OS. You'll get improved handwriting recognition, more reliable synchronization, increased security, and the ability to chat using MSN Messenger. It also features new Pocket versions of Outlook, Word, Excel, and Internet Explorer.

Display
The Toshiba e740 delivers brilliant images with its 3.5-inch TFT display. It supports over 64,000 colors and has 240 x 320 resolution. Active matrix, also called "thin film transistor" (TFT), is the brightest, sharpest, clearest, and most expensive type of LCD flat-panel display that is practical for handhelds.

Expansion
Expanding your expansion possibilities, the Toshiba e740 features integrated slots for both Secure Digital and CompactFlash cards.

With Secure Digital (SD) and CompactFlash (CF) memory cards, you can easily store and play your multimedia files and carry your important documents wherever you go. You can add functionality with optional CF cards, including wireless and land-line connectivity, Ethernet networking, bar-code scanning, and much more. You'll also be able to add more functionality using optional SD cards, which will become available soon.

Multimedia
Play digital audio (both MP3 and WMA) and video (MPEG-4) files using the Windows Media Player software. The Toshiba e740 is also compatible with audible.com files, for listening to audiobooks, radio broadcasts, and more. Record your thoughts with the built-in microphone and voice-recording software. You can play back using the small speaker on the front or via the stereo headphone jack. You also get Microsoft Reader e-book software.

In the Box
The Toshiba e740 comes with a USB cradle, AC adapter, stylus, soft slipcase, quick-start card, and warranty card. It is backed by a one-year limited warranty.Average Customer Rating:

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Comment: Toshiba e740: The Wave Of The Future Rating:
I've had one of just about every Windows CE device since day one (as well as PalmOS devices), so when I say that the e740 is a fantastic new Pocket PC you can trust me! I have a 802.11b network in my house; it took NO time to get the e740 working with it using the defaults. The design is a bit stark compared to the HP Jornada 560 series, but the e740 makes up for it in features. The two expansion slots (SDIO and CF Type II) make expansion sleeves a thing of the past and the ability to swap battery packs (unlike the iPaq) gives the e740 virtually unlimited battery life. Any of the XScale devices like the e740 will be MUCH faster once the OS and other apps are written to take advantage of the chip, but this is still a fast little machine. The final advantage is the price - for ... less than what you can get a Bluetooth enabled iPaq XScale Pocket PC for, you can buy a fully equipped e740. You still have to buy an expansion pack for the iPaq if you want to use a CF card, and you'd still need to buy a ... CF WiFi card for the iPaq. The Toshiba is a bargain and a wonderful Pocket PC.

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Comment: Great PDA ¿...if you don¿t have to connect to a PC. Rating:
First the good new. The Toshiba E740 is a great value. Compared to PocketPCs like the iPaq, you get dual storage slots and wireless connectivity all in a very nice sized package. An add-on wireless card would cost you about $100 and take up a valuable slot. Add to this an excellent Amazon price and I believe this is one of the best bangs for the buck.

Now the bad news. ActiveSync has serious flaws. I have had more problems in three weeks using ActiveSync with the E740 than I have had with by previous iPaq and Jornada over the past three years combined. Besides the ActiveSync connection going away a couple of times a day, the most frustrating problem is when I drag a file over to the E740 and ActiveSync disconnects in the middle of the transfer. Toshiba acknowledges these problems but does not have a date for a fix yet.

I give the E740 5 stars, but the frustrating ActiveSync experience 1 star.

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Comment: Get it if you can find it for a good price. Rating:
I brought the E740 1 month ago for a very good price. If you are looking for a wi-fi enabled PDA, but don't want to spend too much on it, take a look at the E740. I read most of the reviews on Amazon and other opinions site, most people have negative opinions on the E740. Their opinions are understandable, since they got it for a very high price, and the performance does not match its price tag. After I using it for over a month, here are some of the pros and cons in my opinion on the E740.

Pros:
Wi-Fi!!! You can't find a PDA with integrated Wi-Fi in this price range.

CF(compatible with both type I/II) and SD slot. It really offers you a lot of upgrade options with both the CF and SD slot. I personally use a 512 SD card and leave the CF slot for a 56K cf modem.

User replaceable battery

Cons:
Windows Mobile 2002, and Toshiba does not offer upgrade to the WM2003. THis is a big deal, since Microsoft change the database for WM2003, which means new programs will not be compatible with WM2002. Also, Windows 2003 is written to take advantage of the XScale processor in the E740, which supposingly will boost up system performance and increase battery life.

It crashes, but in my opinion is is acceptable. It doens't crash all the time, but occasionally.

THis is pretty much it. In term of battery life, I think most other Windows based PDA offer identical battery life. (Well, except some big PDAs like Dell X5, it offer better life, but it's very bulky) I think the PDA deserve anywhere from 50%-60%, since it does offer a lot of features, and at a relatively low price. So if you can find a E740 for a reasonable price, it will be a great gaget to have.

Posted at November 11, 2003 06:42 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)