Toshiba's earlier e-series PDAs had some ground-breaking features—the e740 was the first to integrate Wi-Fi, for example. The new Toshiba Pocket PC e800 series retains the 802.11b capability and adds a raft of other impressive features, but the highlight is the 4.0-inch (diagonal) TFT display that lets you work with certain applications at 480-by-640 pixels. This high-resolution mode is terrific for viewing Microsoft Office files and images. Using the RGB port that comes with a $100 Toshiba Presentation Pack, you can connect the PDA to an external monitor or projector and show VGA or SVGA screens. Our test model, an e805 ($600 street), is the same as the e800, but includes ArcSoft's PhotoBase software for editing and managing digital images. This PDA is a clear winner for corporate road warriors and those who depend heavily on productivity applications.
The e805 measures 5.3 by 3.0 by 0.6 inches (HWD)—about the size of a large HP iPAQ—but it's fairly light (6.8 ounces), considering all it packs. The 400-MHz Intel PXA 263 processor is backed by an impressive amount of internal memory including 128MB of SDRAM, 32MB of ROM, and 32MB of NAND Flash ROM—nonvolatile memory that's dedicated for use as backup storage. The unit has CompactFlash II and SDIO expansion slots, a useful but rare combination currently found in only one Dell Axim and a few HPs. The built-in wireless networking already proved capable in earlier Toshiba PDAs, and the included Toshiba ConfigFree software makes it easy to use.
An ATI video controller with its own 2MB of memory drives the graphics. Switching from the normal 240-by-320 resolution to the cool high-res mode is simple: You just choose Screen Resolution from the Start Menu, and the PDA restarts in the new mode. Four included ClearVue applications from Wesstek let you work in high-res mode: ClearVue Document handles Microsoft Word files, Worksheet lets you manipulate Excel spreadsheets, Presentation works with PowerPoint presentations, and Image is, of course, for viewing images. On our tests, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents loaded quickly from an SD card, and the display resolution, brightness, and clarity were all so good that we found reading to be much more like what you experience with a desktop system than a PDA (which meant less scrolling).
No other Pocket PC vendor currently offers as large a display. The $650 HP h5550 comes close, with its 3.8-inch screen, and it does have internal Wi-Fi. Unlike the e805, it also incorporates Bluetooth, but it lacks the 32MB backup memory and integrated CFII slot. The e805 is unique because it has both types of expansion slots and Wi-Fi, but the display is what really makes it stand out.
With its fast processor, ample memory that includes backup storage, dual-mode expansion slots, internal Wi-Fi, and the largest display currently offered on a PDA, the Toshiba Pocket PC e805 vaults to the summit of road-ready PDAs for mobile professionals.
Spec Data: 400-MHz Intel PXA263; 128MB SDRAM; 32MB ROM; 32MB NAND Flash ROM; 4.0-inch, 640-by-480, 64K color TFT display; Wi-Fi; SDIO slot; CFII slot; Microsoft Mobile Software for Pocket PC 2003 Professional Edition
Pros: Wi-Fi; SDIO and CFII slots; backup memory; large, high-res display
Cons: Somewhat bulky
Bottom Line: A raft of features and a top-of-the-line display make this the PDA for mobile professionals and heavy users of productivity apps.
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