Pros: Small, stable, excellent screen, large memory, well made, cheap.
Cons: Lack of expansion options. Useless cover.
The Bottom Line: While this doesn't have all the bells and whistles of more sophisticated machines, it performs most of the uses most PDA users want and it performs them superbly.
kellynz's Full Review: Palm Tungsten™ E Handheld
I have been using a PDA since about 1998: first a Windows CE and then a Pocket PC machine. This is my first Palm. The Palm arrived in tacky looking blister pack packaging, with a minimal set of documentation, a standard USB cable, a wall charger with a variety of plugs for different countries and a CD. Oh, yes, and a laughable excuse for a cover: a flimsy plastic flap that might protect the screen somewhat, but will not protect anything else.
The computer itself is small, stylish, and made from plastic that looks for all the world like brushed stainless steel. Everything looks tight and clean. The overall impression is of quality and good engineering. It has a hefty, well made stylus in the slot not intended for attaching the "cover". The top of the stylus unscrews to provide a reset tool.
The power button is fitted next to the stylus silo so that with very little practice you get out the stylus and turn on the PDA with one easy movement: typical of the good design of this little computer.
Charging it up and getting it running is a breeze. Setup is certainly quicker and easier than with the Microsoft based machines I am used to, but it is also cruder and less sophisticated in the number of options and the customisability departments.
The screen is much cleaner, clearer and brighter than any PPC handheld I have ever seen, and it works flawlessly and responsively all the time: which is, again, more than I can say for any Pocket PC screen I have ever used. I use it on about 1/4 brightness which is plenty bright for me.
The included CD of software is most comprehensive, and I particularly liked getting the DataViz Documents to Go software, which allows me to edit MS Word, Excel and Powerpoint files on the Palm. Although integration with desktop Microsoft files is built into the Pocket PC machines, and the Tungsten E is using a third party work-around, I have found the editing capacities of the Palm to be the equal of the PPC computers. In the case of Power Point files, the Palm is actually superior.
For data entry, I miss the sophistication of Calligrapher, the third party handwriting software I had on my PPC, but find that Graffiti 2, inbuilt into the Palm to be as reliable and accurate. And it is faster because the screen on the Palm is more reliable and you don't have to stop every line or two because the screen has stopped responding, as happens with my Toshiba.
Where the Palm is behind is in desktop integration. Whereas the PPC is constantly and automatically synchronised as long as it is connected to the desktop PC, the Palm goes through quite an involved little process with the Palm's inbuilt HotSync software to synchronise data. But while Microsoft's Activesynch software for the PPC is easier and more flexible than Palm's Hotsync, HotSync is more stable and reliable. Make that MUCH more stable and reliable.
It is annoying that the Tungsten E does not come with a cradle for desktop charging and synching. There are plugs on the bottom for the power cable and the USB cable, which are easy enough to use, but messy. In fact, as long as the USB port is plugged in to a powered Desktop PC, the Tungsten E trickle charges through the USB cable, so I have stopped using my wall charger.
I have found that with a moderate amount of use, I can get 2-3 days between charges, which is OK by my standards, and compares favourably with most PPC machines, except those with extended batteries. The battery on the Tungsten E is not user replaceable, which might be a problem when the battery fails in what? 2-3 years? But by then I will probably be welcoming the excuse to by the new Tungsten E5.
I have found apps for Palm to be far less sophisticated than their PPC equivalents. On the bonus side this means that they are generally easier to use and more stable. On the negative side they are usually less powerful and detailed. Overall, I find data entry on the Palm faster and easier than on the PPC, but I do miss the range, subtlety and general "look" of many of my old PPC apps.
While I was initially worried about moving down from the 400 mhz processor I had on my Toshiba E740, I have found in practice that the Palm is just as fast, and in many applications, much faster than the apparantly more powerful PPC machine.
Given the scruffy little excuse for a cover that came with the Tungsten E I bought a fitted hard cover. I bought the dedicated unit made by PalmOne. It is by far the best looking of the cases available. It is brushed aluminium, with a hard plastic lining. It is expensive but it does look sharp.If fits easily into a shirt pocket and gives excellent protection. The PDA is fitted by sliding a purpose built rail into the slot on the left hand side of the Tungsten E and the case fits like a Saville Row suit. The lid folds completely back for easy handling. It does have three very large faults though. 1) there are no holes for plugs. That means that the earphones, power cord and USB cable cannot be fitted if the case is closed. This is very awkward. 2) there is no way to get at the on switch or the stylus with the PDA in the case. After a few weeks, I have perfected a sort of flip action to hinge the PDA forward from its case far enough to get at the switch and stylus. Alternatively, I carry a pen/stylus combo as well. 3) the PDA rattles inside the case,meaning that you can't carry it in the side pocket of trousers without announcing your presence wherever you walk. There are more functional cases around, but probably none that look as good.
There is no universal connector on this PDA. I couldn't care less, personally as I have no need to read email on my PDA and don't need a modem, and in the unlikely event that I ever want to use a keyboard with it, I'll buy one of the many Infrared ones available. I had Wi-Fi on my last PPC machine and never used it, so won't miss the lack of wireless connectivity on the Tungsten E. Apart from the clunky third party Infrared GPS unit, there is no easy way of rigging GPS to the Tungsten E which is something I might regret. The one expansion slot is SD, which I have used for a 128mb expansion. The MP3 capabilities of the Tungsten E are good and I will fill that card with music.
But really, if I'd been after GPS and wireless connectivity I would have bought something else. This is a basic PDA. It has an excellent screen, has so far proven to be extremely reliable, stable and easy to use. It is small enough for any pocket, even inside its add-on metal case and looks good. For my uses: data management, contacts, diary, a few notes and some games, it is about the best choice out there. And I get a fairly good Mp3 player as well. What more could I ask for?
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 150 Recommended for: Students - Stylish and a Best Value
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