The Toshiba Pocket PC e750 series, while perhaps not the king of all PDAs, qualifies as at least a minor duke.
The Pocket PC, which runs Windows Mobile Software, includes calendar and e-mail functions, two highly addictive games, a pocket version of Word, and picture and media viewers. Its most impressive feature -- the one that sets the 750 apart from the lower-priced 350 series -- is Wi-Fi wireless Internet access.
I was amazed by how easily I could get online using the device at an access point. I used the T Mobile network available at Starbucks (access-point information is available at www.t-mobile.com/hotspot). After I registered for the network, I only had to do a one-step configuration, and I was online.
Of course, Web pages get squished into the tiny screen, making them somewhat difficult to browse. Still, I was impressed with how easy it was to use this Pocket PC. In just a few minutes, I figured out how to get started and sync up to my Windows 2000 desktop. I used the included CD-ROM, and I didn't even have to pull out the paper User's Guide, thanks to the "Quick Start" guide that came with it. Most of the functions are self-explanatory, even though it can take some time to find everything in this version of Windows.
The major drawbacks of this model are its battery life and its design. I thought the Toshiba Pocket PC's battery ran out of juice quickly, and my online research revealed that others had the same experience. The battery lasts for about two days of normal use, a couple of hours a day, before needing to be recharged. In terms of design, the power button and record switch are located so that it's nearly impossible to pull the unit out of its cradle or its leather carrying case without pressing them. The infrared port is located on the lower left side of the unit rather than the top, where you'd expect it to be. Additionally, though the unit itself is reasonably lightweight, the bulky, awkward cradle and power adapter would complicate any serious travel -- and you'd have to bring them along, due to the need for frequent recharges.
Users with an aversion to Windows, however, may find that they would prefer to go with another type of PDA that has its own operating system on board. Then again, you may think of Windows as a necessary evil, not unlike that ever-present coffee empire. If so, you'll find Windows' familiar icons (and that latte) comforting.
