However, in reviewing the user posted reviews on Amazon and a few other places, I note that many people are reporting problems including complete product mortality after 3-6 months use.

I am wondering if any of the people who posted here and were excited about the Tungsten E before have changed their minds?

I would appreciate reading follow-up comments from any of the posters who have previously responded to this thread, or from anyone else who has been using thier Tungsten E for a year or so.

Originally posted by jimlat
[B]Forrman…that was exactly my point….for those who the features are important…great. But the TE for its features and price point is a winner. Is the lack of the universal connector a pain?…yes, but a minor one. ….FOR ME. For others, it may be more of an issue. I got the faster machine with the better screen for only $200. That’s what I wanted, that’s what I got. If you want more, you’ll have to pay more.

Maybe the mini-usb was a mistake, maybe not. We’ll see.

I still think these things will fly off the shelves.

Lat

BTW…is the mini end of the USB standard or proprietary? I’ve never used one, so I’m not sure if the funky shape of the mini end is standard or Palm specific. [/B]

Yeah,i just wanted a replacement to my laptop which is too heavy, or a desktop when I’m not at home. there’s no wi-fi in my country yet, and bluetooth is just catching up. So the lack of these functions in the Tungsten E arent a problem.

anyway, mine has “made in China” at the back. is there a difference where it was made?

It also has a buzzing sound sometimes.

Ilike the usb ’cause it’s not bulky like a cradle. but this is my first time to own a PDA, and i don’t know the difference… As for the mini-USB question,i have a Nokia 5510,,and it has a mini-USB connector too. Works pretty well. It’s not exactly the best in technology but you get what you pay for.

Some comments:

* On the lack of UC: I honestly don’t think this is nearly as big a deal as so many people are eager to believe. The standard USB port’s Really nice; my audio player (a Neuros HD, which has been reviewed here) uses the same type of port, so that’s one less cable to carry around. And I found a second AC adapter (for work) at a Radio Shack down the street for under $10 – nowhere near the $30 I had to pay for another “Universal Connector” cable that wouldn’t stay hooked onto the bottom of my (dearly departed) m130.
(And before you claim I could have gotten a better deal online for the UC cable – I’m talking about walking down the street and picking something out of the store in both cases. If I ordered an AC adapter online, I prob’ly could have gotten a lower cost too. Having a nearby brick-and-mortar store to get spare parts from is MASSIVELY convenient.)
I used to be a nut for portable keyboards, but after having seldom ever had reason to use them ever since I started using a laptop frequently, they’ve begun to strike me as more of a way of chaining down your PDA rather than getting serious work done.
Oh, and as for certain trolls I could name who posit that this is some huge conspiracy by Palm to force purchases of more expensive hardware – dude, step back and take a few deep breaths for a bit; not every company out there exists to screw over their customer base. :rolleyes:

* On the collapsable Graffiti area – I honestly have yet to find a use for this, but (as I mentioned in the T|T3 thread) I have hopes that it’s finally going to be a stable feature of PDAs to come now that Palm’s starting to come out with it. Beyond that, how is this somehow something that makes this PDA “suck”? I suspect jealousy.

Short version of all of the above: Just because you are not part of the target market for a device <u>DOES NOT MAKE IT SUCK</u>. It just means it’s Not For You.

That said, I’m also waiting to see this hypothetical “Tungsten|ET” (as one poster put it), just so some of these folks will SHUT UP.

I would buy Z71 only because it has a better battery life, faster processor and UC (don’t really care about the camera). Z71 has better looks than T|E.

On the other hand T|E has 32 main mem and it is cheaper and with these 100E I could buy some nice peripherals…

Can you help me decide??

Originally posted by jnaazgul
[B]Julie,

Think you could post a picture comparison between the Tungsten E and the Palm V? Size is rather critical for me, and I would like to know about the subjective size comparison.

Measurements are one thing, look&feel is quite another.

J. [/B]

You can see a comparison between the T/E and the m500 in this Brazilian forum thread:

http://www.palmforum.com.br/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=72

I don’t use Palm Desktop. The Calendar app on the Palm is updated, but I haven’t found out all the enhancements.
About multiday appointments, I have just made a test for you. I created an appointment in Outlook, from Monday 8 AM to Wed 10 AM. I got the following message in the Hotsync log:

[B]Outlook Calendar
The multi-day repeating appointment titled test app. beginning 11/17/2003 08:00:00 AM has been split into individual appointment on both Outlook and Handheld.[/B]

I then checked, and yes, I then had three appointments on both, with I could modify individually, but not as a whole.
I’m not sure if this answers your question, as there is no Palm Desktop in it.
Having said that, would anybody know of the main differences between the OUtlook and Palm Desktop PIMs, including compatibility with the Palm PIMs?

The power supply is 100-240 V, and that’s good. It has a changeable plug, as did the m515, but only came with the standard US plug and the UK plug. I am French, so I will need to add a US>France adapter when I go back (small and cheap). No big deal, but why this choice???
FYI: I live in Taiwan, so my model is a Chinese version for the Taiwanese market, and we use US plugs here. I don’t know what the TE comes with in US or European versions.

The shop told me the USB cable didn’t really charge, but it seems it does: although the battery icon doesn’t figure the lightning symbol in the launcher app (meaning “charging”), I have noticed that the charge level goes up when I’m just plugged on USB.
I is probably much slower than the charger, though.

I hope this ansers your questions, Mike.

BTW, about USB vs. UC: although I appreciate not needing the cradle when I’m moving around, I miss the cradle:
- one single and simple gesture and you’re ready to charge and hotsync
- only one cable on your desk
- no need to look for the cables under the mass of papers on my desk (maybe not a standard issue for everyone ) or on the floor, as it happens
- and finally, the cradle is a good stand for all these quick uses next to your PC.

Ben

Does the T|E ship with an updated version of Palm Desktop? (to handle multiday spanning appointments, larger memos and tasks with reminders)

Is there a 220v travel power supply? Or could I buy a standard power supply at the correct voltage? Does the USB cable charge the unit also?

Thanks,
Mike

The screen is good. It is difficult to read outdoors with the sun on your back, though, as the silver casing is then very shiny, whatever your angle. I also find that the contrast in a bright outdoors lighting is fairly poor (dark grey fonts on light grey background quite of effect). This might be also due to the protection screen I use, which lessens unwanted reflections, but takes a bit of the screen clarity.
Oh, and I heard lots of people complaining about screen more bright than others, but what about “too bright”? I like to read in bed, and I wish the lowest setting would allow me to do this comfortably. But it is a little bit too bright for this…

About the silver casing, it is a little bit too shiny, and like it has been said a lot, it is a shame it shows fingerprints very easily.

I have a problem with the down button. I have to press it from above to make it work, so it is a) unnatural and b) makes me press the middle button accidentally. I suspect this is a problem with this specific unit.
The other buttons feel a bit “cheap”, but fine. I miss the feel of the m515, though.

USB vs. Universal Connector: I would say that USB is bound to be more “universal” than the UC!?! However, I have a couple of charging/syncing cables from my m515, that I won’t be able to use with the TE.
Actually, the TE might only be a temp unit. I was actually thinking of getting the T3, and the TE would be for my wife. We will then have to carry to sets of charging accessories when we travel.
One last pro for the TE on the charging side: I hate to need a separate charger for traveling, or to carry the bulky desk cradle with twice the amount of cables (power + USB) in order to use the charger bundled with the m515. I guess the T3 will be the same…
I really think the USB connector would be the way to go, but what’s Palm’s long term decision on this???

All in all, I am very pleased with the TE’s specs. I am still considering settling for it. I am just greedy for the little extras the T3 promises…

By the way, I have crackling sounds when using the earphones. I’m still not sure if it comes from the software or the TE’s connector or the earphones themselves. Has anyone had this kind of problems?

Originally posted by helf
[B]jeez tthiel, stop trolling. If you don’t liek the darned thing, guess what, you DONT have to buy it!! wow! amazing, huh?

Anyways, This is what a lot of people have been wanting a m5xx/vx sized, no frills os5 pda. This might end up being my next palm. I’m still using a handera 330 at the moment. And whats the big deal with no UC? If you want to use the few decent accessories that use the UC then get a different palm model. [/B]

Think you could post a picture comparison between the Tungsten E and the Palm V? Size is rather critical for me, and I would like to know about the subjective size comparison.

Measurements are one thing, look&feel is quite another.

J.

Just a curious (and a little hopeful) mind.

Originally posted by PalmGeek
[B]Has anyone seen the new advertisement for the Splash Photo v. 4.0?

http://www.splashdata.com/splashphoto/index.htm

That’s the dream unit I was talking about. Looks like a Tungsten|E with a 320×480 screen, sleek looking unit without a slider!

Wonder why SplashData decided to use a photo of a unit not yet available on the market….unless they know something we don’t!!!!! [/B]

http://www.splashdata.com/splashphoto/index.htm

That’s the dream unit I was talking about. Looks like a Tungsten|E with a 320×480 screen, sleek looking unit without a slider!

Wonder why SplashData decided to use a photo of a unit not yet available on the market….unless they know something we don’t!!!!!

MUST HAVES:
A SOLID metal, brushed (non shiny) case
Good tactile feel to the 4 way button
Connector to their keyboards… I gather the IR one isn’t perfected yet.
Cradle
Long battery life – being able to turn off the backlighting
Remaining thin and using side mounted leather flip cover.

WOULD LIKES:
Voice recorder.
Some style. V’s and 500’s led the way and continue to have style other PDA’s don’t. Probably not enough to dissuade me if everything else was there though.

TO DISTINGUISH IT FROM T3:
No Bluetooth and other additional stuff.

Im a lawyer and I think most of my colleagues I’ve talked to agree about what is missing (many think style is very important, perhaps more than me). We all want to pull it out and enjoy using it (tactile, feel, heft, etc.) and the keyboard is very very useful. The cradle is one of the most useful things Palm ever invented for those of us who work by a computer. In and out. In and out…easily. Palm are you listening?

I’m going to wait a little longer to update.

I never did like the T form factor – I like to be able to use the PDA one handed & without having to opening anything else but maybe the protective case.

The E seems almost there – I just don’t like the non-metal (?) construction & the lack of vibrating alert (I’ve found this very useful & essential during meetings). I can live with the current screen & processing power (& the price!).

Here’s hoping that the E2 will get closer to the dream PDA.

As for the stylus, don’t know if it’s compatible with the m5x series but, knowing Palm, probably not.

The following are some of my thoughts.

Tungsten|T3 : The form factor for this unit is horrible. It is heavy and bulky. The sliding mechanism takes away from the “solid” feel of the older V or M5x series Palms. Yes, it has a faster processor, built-in Bluetooth and a great screen. But, really, I need to be able to carry my Palm around with me at all times. I usually carry it in the inside pocket of my suit jacket. The T3 would bulge out and be uncomfortably heavy. Yes, the processor is faster, the screen is beautiful and, oh yeah, built-in Bluetooth. Although Bluetooth sounds great, I would have to upgrade all of my hardware. Hmmm, only really useful option there is the ability to print direct to my printer. But hey, if you’re near your printer then chances are you’re near your desktop and you could print directly after a hotsync.

No way am I going to trade in a sleek, light M515 for a bulky T3 with a slider mechanism (although I would love to have that 320X480 screen and faster processor- damn it!)

Tungsten|E : Now you got my attention. Appears that Palm duplicated the form factor of the old V and M5x series when it manufactured this beauty. Problem is that beauty is only skin deep and this applies to the Tungsten|E. Palm forgot all of the guts. Where’s the universal connector? What is the point of calling something “universal” and then not including it in your most recent model! Also, where is the 320X480 screen with virtual graffiti area. As always, can’t judge a book by its cover. Palm got my attention and then lost it, quickly.

So all you Palm M5x series owners hold on a little longer. I strongly believe that the dream unit is just around the corner. What is the dream unit? Well, the dream unit is the Tungsten|E2 or Tungstent|E3. It comes with the form factor and lightness of the Tungsten|E but has the guts of the Tungsten|T3. That means universal connector, 320X480 screen with virtual graffiti, built-in Bluetooth, 64-128MB of RAM, along with the Palm essentials.

Hmmmm, maybe they’ll call it the Tungsten|ET – coming soon to your planet.

Those are my thoughts, I’d be interested to hear from others whether they agree with me or whether they think I should open my horizons and trade in my M515 at this time for something else on the market that would suit my needs.