more handheld spam

[burntcopper]

Went into John Lewis and was mostly looking at the Toshiba E350 and e740, with possible forays into HP ipaq... any thoughts? and recs on decent keyboards for them?

I'm also seriously debating whether to get it from John Lewis/Dixons or online. Thoughts?

Comments

[joatamon]

I've heard that John Lewis are very good, computer sales wise. Apart from that, I know nussing.

[mingmerciless.livejournal.com]

I have a Tosh e740, the WiFi version. Overall, I like it a lot. Neat things about it:

• It's sleek, sexy and powerful.
  
• Has both Compact Flash and SD memory card slots on it
  
• The version I got has WiFi built-in, ISTR there is a Bluetooth version about too
  

It does have a few annoying traits though:

• it has no backup battery so if the battery is connected, kiss your data goodbye
  
• the above is compounded by there being a battery disconnect switch right next to the WiFi power switch. They look similar. Yes, I have flicked the wrong switch a couple of times...
  

Main thing is - do you need either Bluetooth or WiFi? If not, the cheaper Tosh would probably suit you better although there is also a e740 with no wireless connectivity built-in. If you subsequently change your mind, Bluetooth CF and SD cards are available, as are CF WiFi ones.

With the benefit of hindsight, I'd probably have gone for the Bluetooth version - I use that more than WiFi at the moment.

Re: iPaqs. I know quite a few people with various models and they all seem pretty happy with them. As market leading models, they'll be best served in terms of availability of accessories, inlcuding keyboards. Main drawback that I can see is that using CF memory cards requires a bulky jacket/sleeve for the iPaq. I like CF cards because they're the cheapest in terms of storage/money. Main reason I chose the e740 over an iPaq is that, at the time, the e740 was the only PocketPC offering built-in WiFi and both CF and SD slots onboard.

Re: keyboards - I know they are around but I've never used one.

Re: sources - as a matter of principle, I try never to buy from Dixons, with the possible exception of Duty Free at airports! Basically, online vendors like Dabs will be cheaper but dealing with them is always a PITA if you need to return things etc. Personally, I'd been buying the e740 in the UK, I'd have got it from Dabs or similar but I was in Singapore at the time and so went down to the electronics mall at Sim Lin Centre!