palmOne Tungsten E2 now official - first review

Alexander Turcic · 04-13-2005, 03:32 AM

Last but not least the Tungsten E2 is official - and it certainly doesn't knock my socks off. It still runs Palm OS Garnet (v5.4), is powered with a Intel 200MHz Xscale processor, has a 320x320 display, 32MB RAM (26MB actual storage capacity), and Bluetooth support. Price: $249 USD ESP.

BargainPDA is probably the first who has already written a review about this new palmOne device.

[via PalmAddicts]

Jeff Kirvin · 04-13-2005, 03:41 AM

Cobalt wouldn't really do a darn thing for this device. This is going to be a bigger hit with the E's target market than the E was. Remember, the E class isn't about power, it's about a good PDA at an affordable price. This is a LOT of PDA for $250. And with twice the battery life of the E and wireless options, it's a lot more capable.

Alexander Turcic · 04-13-2005, 04:41 AM

Jeff, I agree with you that Cobalt would be probably not a good option for this device (not at 200MHz). My question is if low-budget PDAs are still viable nowadays when smartphones are gaining momentum.

As a power user I am not satisfied with the functionality offered by current smartphones (I also have a Nokia Communicator 9500, but it won't replace my Axim X50v in the short-run). On the other hand, if you are the mainstream tech guy mainly interested in keeping your datebook organized, a smartphone might be more benefitting than a low-end PDA. I am arguing that the niche for low-budget PDAs is coming to an end.

Colin Dunstan · 04-13-2005, 05:41 AM

What's very atypical from a marketing point of view is that the Tungsten E2 is more expensive ($249) than its predecessor ($199). Also, on average, prices for PDAs have gone down. Perhaps palmOne belives to have some leverage to raise prices for the Tungsten E2 given that the E model was its best-selling device in the past.

gadgetguru · 04-13-2005, 01:46 PM

It's good that the E2 has a better screen, it's probably the reason why E owners will upgrade. Bluetooth may be useful, but I doubt many people really uses it. Geeks like us maybe, but not the masses that makes the E (and previously, the Zire) PalmOne's best selling product.

It really should have been $199, since the lower the price point, the more of an 'impulse' buy it is. At $249, you are competing with some PPC right there (given Dell's aggressive pricing). But maybe, that's PalmOne way of making a few extra, and then lowering the price to $199, once they introduce their next handhelds...

Speaking of next handhelds....what? No Lifedrive announcement?

Jeff Kirvin · 04-13-2005, 02:45 PM

Life Drive will be announced mid-May, according to cNet

TadW · 04-13-2005, 04:14 PM

I am on Jeff's side regarding the pricing. Perhaps $250 isn't exactly cheap, and yes there are Pocket PC alternatives with faster CPUs. But you have to keep the plus side in mind: the great screen of the E2 and its long battery life. Pocket PCs are not exactly known for either of the two (well you can at least get a good PPC screen, but that will cost you!).

Alexander Turcic · 04-13-2005, 05:07 PM

Btw here are two more reviews of the E2:
CNET
MobileTechReview

Colin Dunstan · 04-13-2005, 05:49 PM

And even more reviews (via PalmAddicts and Engadget):

PC World
Forbes
PocketFactory
Brighthand

04-13-2005, 03:32 AM	#1
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,175 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	palmOne Tungsten E2 now official - first review Last but not least the Tungsten E2 is official - and it certainly doesn't knock my socks off. It still runs Palm OS Garnet (v5.4), is powered with a Intel 200MHz Xscale processor, has a 320x320 display, 32MB RAM (26MB actual storage capacity), and Bluetooth support. Price: $249 USD ESP. BargainPDA is probably the first who has already written a review about this new palmOne device. [via PalmAddicts]

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04-13-2005, 03:41 AM	#2
Jeff Kirvin Member Posts: 20 Karma: 2271 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Aurora, CO Device: Sprint Treo 650	Cobalt wouldn't really do a darn thing for this device. This is going to be a bigger hit with the E's target market than the E was. Remember, the E class isn't about power, it's about a good PDA at an affordable price. This is a LOT of PDA for $250. And with twice the battery life of the E and wireless options, it's a lot more capable.

04-13-2005, 04:41 AM	#3
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,175 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	Jeff, I agree with you that Cobalt would be probably not a good option for this device (not at 200MHz). My question is if low-budget PDAs are still viable nowadays when smartphones are gaining momentum. As a power user I am not satisfied with the functionality offered by current smartphones (I also have a Nokia Communicator 9500, but it won't replace my Axim X50v in the short-run). On the other hand, if you are the mainstream tech guy mainly interested in keeping your datebook organized, a smartphone might be more benefitting than a low-end PDA. I am arguing that the niche for low-budget PDAs is coming to an end.

04-13-2005, 05:41 AM	#4
Colin Dunstan Is papyrophobic! Posts: 1,926 Karma: 1009999 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: USA Device: Dell Axim	What's very atypical from a marketing point of view is that the Tungsten E2 is more expensive ($249) than its predecessor ($199). Also, on average, prices for PDAs have gone down. Perhaps palmOne belives to have some leverage to raise prices for the Tungsten E2 given that the E model was its best-selling device in the past.

04-13-2005, 01:46 PM	#5
gadgetguru Addict Posts: 214 Karma: 6370 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Asia Device: Tungsten T5	It's good that the E2 has a better screen, it's probably the reason why E owners will upgrade. Bluetooth may be useful, but I doubt many people really uses it. Geeks like us maybe, but not the masses that makes the E (and previously, the Zire) PalmOne's best selling product. It really should have been $199, since the lower the price point, the more of an 'impulse' buy it is. At $249, you are competing with some PPC right there (given Dell's aggressive pricing). But maybe, that's PalmOne way of making a few extra, and then lowering the price to $199, once they introduce their next handhelds... Speaking of next handhelds....what? No Lifedrive announcement?

04-13-2005, 02:45 PM	#6
Jeff Kirvin Member Posts: 20 Karma: 2271 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Aurora, CO Device: Sprint Treo 650	Life Drive will be announced mid-May, according to cNet

04-13-2005, 04:14 PM	#7
TadW Uebermensch Posts: 2,583 Karma: 1094606 Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Italy Device: Kindle	I am on Jeff's side regarding the pricing. Perhaps $250 isn't exactly cheap, and yes there are Pocket PC alternatives with faster CPUs. But you have to keep the plus side in mind: the great screen of the E2 and its long battery life. Pocket PCs are not exactly known for either of the two (well you can at least get a good PPC screen, but that will cost you!).

04-13-2005, 05:07 PM	#8
Alexander Turcic Fully Converged Posts: 18,175 Karma: 14021202 Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Switzerland Device: Too many to count here.	Btw here are two more reviews of the E2: CNET MobileTechReview

04-13-2005, 05:49 PM	#9
Colin Dunstan Is papyrophobic! Posts: 1,926 Karma: 1009999 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: USA Device: Dell Axim	And even more reviews (via PalmAddicts and Engadget): PC World Forbes PocketFactory Brighthand

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