Toshiba pocket PC e310: slim and lightweight, the e310 answers the question, "is 'small' just a gimmick?".The Toshiba e310 is an ultra-thin, lightweight, Pocket PC that fits well in the hand, sports a bright TFT (Thin Film Transistor) The term typically refers to active matrix screens on laptop computers. Active matrix LCD provides a sharper screen display and broader viewing angle than does passive matrix. See LCD and thin film. TFT - Thin Film transistor color display, and has a remarkably long battery life. The amazingly thin (less than half an inch) device slips easily into a shirt pocket and at just under five ounces, it travels well. Out of the pocket, the satin-silver metal case and clean design conveys "precision instrument." The Toshiba's long battery life and small size have finally kept a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) A handheld computer for managing contacts, appointments and tasks. It typically includes a name and address database, calendar, to-do list and note taker, which are the functions in a personal information manager (see PIM). in my pocket and out of my desk drawer. Two months of daily (read that, constant) use have proven it indispensable. A voice recorder A digital, handheld device that is used to record short reminders. Very lightweight and typically using AAA batteries, such devices use flash memory to hold up to 100 messages and more. Messages can be retrieved sequentially or by direct access by message number. See microcassette. , Microsoft Word A full-featured word processing program for Windows and the Macintosh from Microsoft. Included in the Microsoft application suite, it is a sophisticated program with rudimentary desktop publishing capabilities that has become the most widely used word processing application on the market. and Excel and calendar, contacts, and task applications help me track dozens of vendors, appointments, bids, and projects. The e310 gives you both an on screen keyboard and handwriting/print recognition; it "learns" your writing style instead of requiring you to learn a PDA-specific shorthand. Training the device is a one-time, five-minute process. Another input option is the voice recorder. Don't discount this; it's likely to turn out to he one of the most used features. I find the voice recorder invaluable as I go through my day. When I'm too busy to take a note or make a to-do entry (or don't have two hands free), I simply press record and leave myself a voice message. On the lighter side, this device offers a MP3 and MP4 player A handheld device that plays video in the MPEG-4 format. See portable video player. with stereo headphone See headphones. jack. Pocket PCs multi-task, so the music doesn't stop when you switch applications. In addition, SDA SDA abbr. specific dynamic action Serotonin dopamine antagonist (SDA) The newer second-generation antipsychotic drugs, also called atypical antipsychotics. memory modules let you store hours of music. I do have some criticisms of the e310. First, it should have shipped with 64MB of RAM (as the e740 does--but that device also comes with a $599 price tag) instead of 32MB. With 32MB, programs and storage compete for base memory. You can add external (SDA) memory, but not base memory. I'm guessing, for another $10 cost, Toshiba could have doubled the base memory and paved the way for more third-party programs. This would also simplify file storage and backup. Backing up to external memory is easy until you have to juggle data externally to make room for programs. You should also remember that external memory is outside the scope of most backup utilities. Although I can't complain about the battery life, the battery charge state indicator isn't reliable (the manual reflects this). Battery warnings pop up with more than 50 percent remaining indicated. Worse, the e310 doesn't offer a backup battery Backup battery is the name given to a secondary power supply, usually a direct current battery, to provide power in the absence of the main power supply. An electronic device which utilizes a backup battery will normally get its power directly from a sustainable alternating . If your battery dies, so does your onboard memory and data! Ditch the carrying case that ships with the e310; it offers scant protection and doesn't facilitate one-handed removal or use. A flip-open wallet case--better, one with a thin-film solar cells built in--would offer better protection, a smaller footprint, and trickle-charge the batteries. Toshiba should have included a spare stylus and a dozen protective screen films. The manufacturer's cost for a stylus might be 15 cents and a dozen screen films to prevent scratching a too-soft screen surface, perhaps another 50 cents. Here, Toshiba sticks it to you. Lose your stylus? They come three to a pack for $10. Screen films to protect the too-soft surface from their own stylus? Another $20 per 12! After shipping and handling, less than a dollar's worth of parts cost me more than $40. My wish-list reflects shortcomings A shortcoming is a character flaw. Shortcomings may also be:
* A back-up battery to avoid data loss in the event the main battery fails * 64MB RAM (or better), rather than 32MB base memory * Software option to rotate screen (portrait to landscape)--especially for documents/spreadsheets Decent calculator (trigonometric, scientific, financial, base converter, etc.) * Basic on-screen on·screen or on-screen adj. & adv. 1. As shown on a movie, television, or display screen. 2. Within public view; in public. charts in spreadsheets (my HP95 back in early 1990s had this!) * Microsoft PowerPoint viewer Microsoft PowerPoint Viewer is a program developed by Microsoft to watch PowerPoint presentations directly from your hardrive, without opening PowerPoint and running it from there. On balance, the Toshiba e310 offers most of the features I need, without adding the size, cost, and weight of those features I don't. Months after purchase (and always with an eye on the latest), I'm still satisfied with my choice. BUSINESS BENEFITS Small isn't just a gimmick. The Toshiba e310 offers a lot of Functionality in an ultra-portable Package. (+) Size can't be beat (+) Voice recording (+) Excellent battery life (+) Choice of on-screen keyboard An on-screen keyboard, or virtual keyboard, is a graphical computer keyboard that enables people with physical disabilities to use a computer. If a person is not able to push the keys on an ordinary keyboard, he or she can push the keys on a virtual keyboard (picture) shown or handwriting/print recognition (-) Not enough RAM (-) No spare stylus or protective screens (-) Battery charge indicator isn't reliable (-) No back-up battery Toshiba America Inc. http://www.toshiba.com Toshiba e310 US$349 DIMENSIONS: 4.9" height, 3.1" width, 0.4" depth WEIGHT: 4.9 oz SCREEN SIZE: 3.5" RESOLUTION: 240x320 DISPLAY: 65k color reflective TFT Display BATTERY LIFE: 8-10 hours constant use, 3-5 days in moderate use BATTERY TYPE: Lithium-Ion OS: Microsoft Windows See Windows. (operating system) Microsoft Windows - Microsoft's proprietary window system and user interface software released in 1985 to run on top of MS-DOS. Widely criticised for being too slow (hence "Windoze", "Microsloth Windows") on the machines available then. Pocket PC 2002 PROCESSOR: Intel32-bit StrongARM RAM: 32MB EXPANSION SLOTS: SD PORTS: USB USB in full Universal Serial Bus Type of serial bus that allows peripheral devices (disks, modems, printers, digitizers, data gloves, etc.) to be easily connected to a computer. , cradle connector, stereo headphone jack, 5v DC in, microphone, and speaker INPUT DEVICE: Stylus, on-screen keypad, handwriting recognition VOICE RECORDER: Yes INTERNET: E-mail, Web APPLICATIONS: Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, IE, Reader, Media Player 8, File Explorer, MSN Messenger, Transcriber, Active Sync, Outlook 2002, Acrobat Reader SYNC: USB cradle, optional Bluetooth adapter INFRARED: Yes |
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