Rating: 
Summary: I wish I'd known this about my e740: Insider tricks
Review: I've owned the e740 since September 2002, and I would buy it again today. But I wish I had known a few things about it when I bought it. (All devices like this have issues like these, it's a matter of finding them, and that's my goal in this review.) You'll love the e740, especially with these "insider" tricks. 1. Get the update to Pocket IE from the MS web site. Otherwise, SSL sites (those that start with https:// instead of http://) will not work, and the error messages will send you astray. That stops you from using this site, LapLink Everywhere, T-Mobile, and other useful SSL services. The update enables the encryption methods used by this and other e-commerce sites. 2. Wi-Fi is great, but you need to know what you're doing to configure it. Toshiba tech support won't help you configure your network connection. When you get it working, back it up! Once it's configured, you will be addicted to the speed. (Also see #7 & 8.) 3. Back up often. It doesn't go whacky often, but when it does, everything goes at once. All data, configs, programs, everything. So, get a memory card that matches the size of the onboard memory (64MB) so you can restore everything, anywhere, any time. Get SD instead of CF, because you'll want the CF slot for something else, most likely. Also see #4. 4. SanDisk Secure Digital cards are not compatible with the e740. (Anybody want a cheap used SD card?) I now use a Delkin SD card, recommended by Toshiba. Why not CF? See #3. 5. Pocket Windows can't deal with multiple removable media (e.g., a Secure Digital and a Compact Flash card at the same time). It kind of works, then it goes wrong like Wallace's Trousers. Use one slot for memory, and the other slot for accessories. Store e-mail attachments on SD. 6. ActiveSync is terrible, and I haven't found a solution to that. For example, you can sync over Wi-Fi, but it fails, for one reason or another, about 1 out of 4 times, and you have to go to the desktop PC to resolve it. Sync will not work over the Web. ASync, and Windows itself, are the weaknesses of PPC. Could I get the same functionality from a Palm device? Sure, I primarily use e-mail, contacts, calendar, and tasks. I also use eBooks, games, web applications (especially LapLink Everywhere), and other stuff that's equally available on Palm OS (Palm, Handspring). 7. There's not all that much in the way of Wi-Fi hot spots yet. Starbucks has it in major metro areas, but it's a little expensive for frequent use. Their partner T-Mobile currently charges 20 US for 12 sessions, and a session is any connection of 0 to 10 minutes. Read the fine print. Their "Unlimited use" is limited to 300 minutes. Expect that to change radically by the end of 2003 -- more hot spots, competing services, better prices, even roaming. 8. Toshiba telephone tech support is really quite good, and it's free. Call them for help. 9. Serial numbers 72014641L to 92041620L were recalled for a rather serious problem. If you buy used, get the serial number first. You won't get one of the recalled units if you buy new. 10. If you set up a Wi-Fi network at your home or office, you'll love it, but do some reading about security. At least hide your SSID and reject "ANY," and consider using WEP or BSSID filtering. This applies only to an access point you add to your LAN; the e740 itself does not pose similar security risks. 11. Order the screen protective sheets and some spare styluses (styli?), currently available from Toshiba's web site. When you see how scratched up the throw-away protectors get, you'll see why you use them. Don't wait. 12. Want e-mail connectivity /anywhere/? You can connect most newer cell phones to the e740 using connecting hardware available from Socket Communications. Cellular internet speeds max at about 9.6 kbits (about 1/3 of a modem's speed). To wrap up, I really like stopping into a Starbucks and checking e-mail before I drive back to the office from a client meeting. I can be more responsive to clients, without the hassles of carrying and connecting a laptop. A few eBooks from this site, some good games from cnet, a French-English dictionary, and my e740 is indispensible.
Rating:
Summary: As handy as a PDA can be!
Review: Many of the reviews here seem to have been written prior to Toshiba's recall of this model for a back up battery defect. I've had no problems with data loss yet, but will be sending mine back for its recall work (all paid for by Toshiba, including the mailer). Setting up the wireless was a breeze with my home systems, a little bit more difficult with my work VPN based system. But all in all this has been a significant plus for this PDA. With the new thumbkey board coming in a few weeks, this unit gets closer to a 5 star rating. I have the expansion pack and every keyboard I have tried through the USB connection has worked just fine. Ditto for the ATI based video out and screen mirroring. I've been very pleased with this PDA, after having used many varieties dating back to the original Newton.
Rating:
Summary: Almost, but not quite
Review: This is a very good Pocket PC. I have owned a couple PalmOS devices and a couple Pocket PC devices and I am a fan of the Pocket PC OS. Previous to this I had a Compaq iPAQ H3835, which I liked quite a bit. Unfortunately it was "borrowed" at a trade show about a month ago. As I began the quest for a new Pocket PC I read many reviews, professional and non-professional (like this one) and it seemed that the theme was consistent. First, if I wanted to stick with Compaq/HP, I should buy another 3835. The 3950, while offering better graphics, had limited if any performance improvements and was not worth the extra $$$ and neither was the new 5450. Second, if I wanted to look outside of Compaq/HP the Toshiba e740 was the device to beat. So as a previous iPAQ H3835 owner I noticed no performance improvements with the e740 over H3835. The screen quality is very similar though the iPAQ screen is larger. The pros of the iPAQ are the keyboard options (loved the thumbpad) and a much better integrated speaker (no difference w/headphones). The pros of the e740 are integrated wireless (though somewhat weak) and integrated Compact Flash. These options (add'l memory and wireless) are both requirements for me and on the H3835 add significant size and cost, more than making up for the $70 difference. It is also important to note that if you get the Toshiba expansion pack ($25-50) you can hook it up to a monitor and USB keyboard (sorry, no thumbpads). So in the end, I went with the e740 and am pleased overall.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Wireless Features, Poor Reliability
Review: I've owned the Toshiba e740 for several months now. I bought it to replace an iPAQ 3670 which needed an external 802.11b PC card to do wireless. (Very bulky.) The e704 is a reasonable attempt at a self-contained wireless PDA. With built-in 802.11b wireless (switchable in hardware and software to conserve battery life), it is a decent package. Much more compact than my Compaq iPAQ 3670 with an external 802.11b card. Unfortunately, the reliability is poor. The PDA kept loosing its memory forcing me to reinstall the backup software and restore the applications and PIM information. This was a major pain. Finally, the e740 stopped working all together. Push the power on button and nothing happens. The battery is fully charged, so it must be a failure in the PDA itself. Guess its back to the iPAQ 3670 for me!
Rating:
Summary: Great device, crummy OS
Review: Face it, Microsoft could not code their way out of a paper bag. The entire PC2002 OS is clunky, awkward, bug ridden, and just plain awful. I hate it. The device has to be rebooted at least once a day, if not more. Pocket PC 2002 is pure rubbish. However, the e740 is fantastic (if you ignore that Windows thing). I have no trouble with it except for one thing - the battery release switch. Whoever designed that should be kicked in the head. I can't begin to count the number of times that switch has gotten moved to the unlock position which kills power to the unit. It is a total pain and someone at Toshiba really should be spanked. Fortunately, you have to move the switch even more to get it to kill the memory power, so it ain't like you are loosing data. Just when you hit the power button it doesn't come on. The wireless works great. I get ranges that are close to what my Orinoco Gold card on my laptop gives. It just plain works. I would suggest, however, going with a PalmOS unit. Windows PC2002 just plain stinks, and totally ruins this unit. Yes, I still use it, but I hate Windows. As soon as the guys at handhelds.org get Linux running on this puppy, I will be upgrading my OS. Then it will be almost perfect.
Rating: 
Summary: Failed after recall "repair", had to return again
Review: ...I had to first return it for recall (it worked fine before the recall) and it came back with power management totally screwed up. When the power management crashes, it turns itself on and heats up unexpectedly (great for warming hands in Winter or warming a bagel.) Toshiba would not replace the unit - insisting on trying to fix it again - even after all of this overheating. The unit will barely play MP3 files and has terrible performance. The record button is so badly placed that every day I get home to find that little snippits of my day have been captured in wav files on the unit...
Rating:
Summary: e740, Garbage, Garbage, Garbage...
Review: This PDA is the garbage of all other PDA's I've ever had or seen. I'm writing to Toshiba requesting my money back so I can buy something more reliable. I can't agree more with those before me complaining about the memory loss, wi-fi, and memo recording function. 1. The memory loss is the worst, it's unpredictable, unreliable, and bad for those who are "road worriors" and depend such equipments for business; YOU CAN"T TRUST IT". 2. Wi-Fi is so complicated and never worked for me... 3. Memo Recording is in a bad place on the PDA, almost everytime you pull the PDA from the case you activate it and it starts recording. Bottom line, this PDA is not good idea for those of us that depends on them. I trusted the Toshiba name because they have awsome laptops, however, they really missed their target with this one and they owe us our money back or an imediate and permenant fix for the problems listed above. It's a complete failure, Bad, Bad, Bad...
SS
Rating:
Summary: More trouble than it's worth
Review: I ordered the e740 in August 2002 and I have never been satisfied with it. First, I simply cannot get the wireless function to work with my wireless network. I have even tried to get support from Toshiba but they just referred me to a 3rd party sponsored website. There was absolutely no help in setting this up to network. Next, this puppy loses ALL MEMORY AND DOCUMENTS if you run out of battery power, and you can do that very easily, especially by mistake. I recently loaded it up with memory for a trip, with documents which I needed. The darn thing turned on in my luggage, and when I arrived at my meeting I had no documents, no power, and no way to get them back without syncing to my computer at home. I am fairly sophisticated with electronics and computers, but this thing is beyond me. By something else. Anything!
Rating: 
Summary: Good for office productivity but not so good for multimedia
Review: I wish Toshiba would have given some more attention to the recording feature. I've a compaq Aero (very old model). Even the recording quality of that surpasses that of Toshiba e740.
Rating:
Summary: Love-hate relationship
Review: I love this machine since it is quite unbeatable in term of price/functionality. Unfortunately I also hate this machine! As lots of reviewers have revealed, the record button is really annoying-very difficult to avoid activating it by accident. And yes, it can lose all the data if battery is disconnected. Another problem is that the backup program fails to recognize the CF card from time to time, although there is a cure (deleting some files may help). This is a machine that users needs to learn the tricks to live with. The summary: good idea, bad execution.
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