Toshiba e310

There's little doubt that PDAs based on Microsoft's Pocket PC operating system have made quite an impact in the market, especially the Compaq iPaq.

Toshiba's latest offering, the e310, is a slim silver unit, packing a 206MHz StrongARM chip, 32Mb of memory and the usual complement of Pocket PC applications into a 12mm thick, 140g chassis.

Expansion is by means of a Secure Digital (SD) slot on the top of the unit, giving you the ability to add more memory, and other accessories and facilities such as Bluetooth.

The supplied cradle provides connection to the PC and power for charging. The bottom two and a half inches of the e310 slip in via plastic guides, so you can't just grab it and go. In fact, so snug was the fit that just lifting the top of our unit was sufficient to raise the cradle from the desktop.

The colour screen is often touted as one of the benefits of PocketPC over Palm, but the one on this Tosh just doesn't cut the mustard. It lacks contrast, and doesn't have a great viewing angle.

It also didn't seem that responsive to the stylus. Playing Solitaire was fiddly and handwriting recognition seemed worse than it should have been.

Mobile data users will be unimpressed too; sure, the e310 will talk to your Irda-equipped phone but, if you have the battery saving auto shut-off feature enabled, it'll switch off in the middle of a lengthy download.

So forget fetching a new spreadsheet with Explorer, or the papers with Avant Go, unless you either turn off the power management before you connect, or keep fiddling with buttons or stylus while the download's going on.

Thin and shiny it may be but, just like dating, a little while spent in the company of this PDA will convince you that looks aren't everything.

Price: £369 (£314 ex VAT)

Specifications:
206MHz Intel StrongARM processor
32Mb of memory
Pocket PC operating system
Smart Digital card slot
3.5in screen
Resolution: 320 x 240
Dimensions: 123 x 78 x 12mm (h x w x d)
Weight: 140g.

Contact: Toshiba 0870 444 8944
www.toshiba.co.uk/computers