Toshiba e755 Pocket PC with Windows Mobile 2003

[Archived in $300 - $400, Music, Productivity Software, Products, Toshiba, Toshiba Handhelds und PDAs, Wi-Fi (802.11b)]

Manufacturer: Toshiba
Price at amazon.com: $348.88
This item is not stocked or has been discontinued.

Product Features:

• A powerful wireless Pocket PC packed with multimedia features
• Super-sized memory: 64 MB RAM, 32 MB ROM, plus a 32 MB Flash disk
• Integrated Wi-Fi wireless connectivity
• Crisp 3.8" transreflective color display
• What's in the box: Toshiba Pocket PC e755, USB Cradle, 10W AC Adapter, 1-Stylus, Soft Slip Case, Quick Start Card and Warranty Card

Product Description:

An impressive update of the Toshiba, e740, the e755 offers better display, faster processor speed, and more memory, plus wireless capability and a host of multimedia features. Memory The e755 has 64 MB of RAM and 32 MB ROM, plus a 32 MB Flash for an impressive total of 128 MB of built-in memory. The e755's Flash disk can easily be used to store applications and data that will then survive a hard reset, making it an ideal resource for backing up your most important information. Controls and Casing The front of the unit has four application buttons and a five-way directional pad. On the left side is the "record" button for audio input (the mic is on the top of the unit) to make it easy to record voice notes), a scroll wheel, and the infrared port. On the top there are two expansion slots (for Compact Flash and Secure Digital cards), stylus holder, stereo headphone port, power button, and and two LEDs (for the battery, alarms, and wireless communications). On the bottom of the unit are two switches (one to turn on and off the wireless radio and the other to turn on and off the battery), plus the DC-in socket and the cradle connection port. Applications Built-in advanced applications include IA Presenter, IA Mirror, ArcSoft PhotoBase software for viewing and editing images, and a data backup app. Processor The e755 uses Intel's PXA255 XScale-based processor, operating at 400Mhz, which is able to launch applications an display lists with blazing speed launch quickly. You can also adjust the CPU's speed down to extend battery life. Display The e755 has a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels, and a 16-bit, 64,000 colors display for crisp image viewing on its 3.8" transflective screen. Multimedia The e755 can play MP3s, either through the front-mounted speaker or the 3.5 mm stereo jack, and also play videos using Windows Media Player 8.5 for Pocket PC. Communications There is an integrated 802.11b radio, turned on with a switch at the bottom of the unit. You can easily connect to a wireless LAN or to a T-Mobile Wi-Fi network. Included also is Wireless LAN Utility software to make it easy to connect to wireless networks, and to create and retain profiles for different networks. Expansion The e755 comes with two expansion slots: There's a Compact Flash Type II slot and a Secure Digital/MultiMediaCard slot capable of SDIO. There is also an Expansion Pack that clips to the bottom of the unit, and provides a USB port and a standard 15-pin RGB port. Power The unit uses a rechargable 1000 mAh lithium ion battery that can be charged either in the cradle or straight from the AC adapter. What's in the box Toshiba Pocket PC e755 USB Cradle 10W AC Adapter 1-Stylus Soft Slip Case Quick Start Card Warranty Card Additional software: Pocket Word Pocket Excel Pocket Outlook Pocket Internet Explorer Microsoft Reader for Pocket PC Media Player 9 for Pocket PC File Explorer MSN Messenger File Explorer Microsoft Transcriber Microsoft Active Sync 3.7 IA Presenter IA Screen Mirror ArcSoft PhotoBase for Pocket PC

Description from Manufacturer:An impressive update of the Toshiba, e740, the e755 offers better display, faster processor speed, and more memory, plus wireless capability and a host of multimedia features.

Memory
The e755 has 64 MB of RAM and 32 MB ROM, plus a 32 MB Flash for an impressive total of 128 MB of built-in memory. The e755's Flash disk can easily be used to store applications and data that will then survive a hard reset, making it an ideal resource for backing up your most important information.

Controls and Casing
The front of the unit has four application buttons and a five-way directional pad. On the left side is the "record" button for audio input (the mic is on the top of the unit) to make it easy to record voice notes), a scroll wheel, and the infrared port. On the top there are two expansion slots (for Compact Flash and Secure Digital cards), stylus holder, stereo headphone port, power button, and and two LEDs (for the battery, alarms, and wireless communications). On the bottom of the unit are two switches (one to turn on and off the wireless radio and the other to turn on and off the battery), plus the DC-in socket and the cradle connection port.

Applications
Built-in advanced applications include IA Presenter, IA Mirror, ArcSoft PhotoBase software for viewing and editing images, and a data backup app.

Processor
The e755 uses Intel's PXA255 XScale-based processor, operating at 400Mhz, which is able to launch applications an display lists with blazing speed launch quickly. You can also adjust the CPU's speed down to extend battery life.

Display
The e755 has a resolution of 320 x 240 pixels, and a 16-bit, 64,000 colors display for crisp image viewing on its 3.8" transflective screen.

Multimedia
The e755 can play MP3s, either through the front-mounted speaker or the 3.5 mm stereo jack, and also play videos using Windows Media Player 8.5 for Pocket PC.

Communications
There is an integrated 802.11b radio, turned on with a switch at the bottom of the unit. You can easily connect to a wireless LAN or to a T-Mobile Wi-Fi network. Included also is Wireless LAN Utility software to make it easy to connect to wireless networks, and to create and retain profiles for different networks.

Expansion
The e755 comes with two expansion slots: There's a Compact Flash Type II slot and a Secure Digital/MultiMediaCard slot capable of SDIO. There is also an Expansion Pack that clips to the bottom of the unit, and provides a USB port and a standard 15-pin RGB port.

Power
The unit uses a rechargable 1000 mAh lithium ion battery that can be charged either in the cradle or straight from the AC adapter.

What's in the box

• Toshiba Pocket PC e755
• USB Cradle
• 10W AC Adapter
• 1-Stylus
• Soft Slip Case
• Quick Start Card
• Warranty Card

Additional software:

• Pocket Word
• Pocket Excel
• Pocket Outlook
• Pocket Internet Explorer
• Microsoft Reader for Pocket PC
• Media Player 9 for Pocket PC
• File Explorer
• MSN Messenger
• File Explorer
• Microsoft Transcriber
• Microsoft Active Sync 3.7
• IA Presenter
• IA Screen Mirror
• ArcSoft PhotoBase for Pocket PC

Average Customer Rating:

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Comment: Good PDA for power user Rating:
This is a great PDA if you know your tech stuff and don't mind soft resetting the unit often.

1. WiFi works great even with WAP encryption tunred on. However, setting up wireless ActiveSync was painful even for someone who is familiar with networking. The configuration just isn't intuitive at all and is scattered in many different places.

2. The extra large screen is a big plus. 3.8 inch vs 3.5.

3. Media player works fine. I am able to stream live TV program to this unit without skipping frames. This is a pleasant surprise.

4. I was able to get ActiveSync to work with Outlook after several tries. I havn't tried synching with Exchange Server. Again, if you are none technical, you will most likely run into problems.

5. The built-in speaker sucks. Most other PDAs have better speakers.

6. Soft Reset will be your daily activity. I don't believe Toshiba is at fault. It is a built-in Microsoft "FEATURE".

7. There is no COM port built-in. If you want to use serial GPS, you will need to get the software driver that turns USB into simulated COM port. Even then, it is painful to use and requires lots of resets.

8. 32MB build-in extra FLASH storage means you probably don't need memory card soon.

9. No Bluetooth

10. The manual is pretty much useless except for telling you how to soft reset the unit.

11. Be careful with hard reset. You DO lose everything that's not in the flash memory.

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Comment: I returned it after 24 hours Rating:
This is the first Pocket PC I've owned, so I'm not sure what to expect in terms of workmanship and quality.

Pros:

- making the Wi-Fi connection could not have been easier. This was the main reason I bought the device, and I was able to connect to my home 802.11b network almost automatically

- PPC 2003 is so easy to use; I like the way the soft keyboard opens automatically when a form field receives focus in IE. Nice!

- The display is very bright and clear. Beats the heck out of my Handspring Treo!

Cons:

- The workmanship is inferior. For example, the AC adapter cord simply falls out of the back of my unit's base with the slightest jiggle.

- The recording button drove me nuts. I could not remove the unit from its base without accidentally pressing the recording button.

- The Wi-Fi connection drops without warning, even very close to the base station.

- Toshiba support is indifferent to customer queries. I called to see if I could buy an extended warranty for the unit and was first told they didn't offer it. Then when I told the customer service representative that I was looking at a warranty on the Toshiba site, she said they did sell them after all. She asked me to hang on a minute and then hung up on me.

I am not slamming the unit (three stars out of five). I think if you are willing to take a risk on workmanship, you get a very good list of features for the price. In fact, you have to compare the e755 to a high-end iPAQ to get a similar list of features. But for my first and only Pocket PC I want something that feels like its better made.

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Comment: Great product but.. Rating:
This would be a really great product if it didnt continually need to be re-set. Its annoying because it resets for seemingly no reason at all, and I lose all my information, and then have to re-synch with Outlook, which defeats the whole point of having the unit. Im trying to find an answer from Tohiba, or to find out if I have the biggest lemon in the world

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