Amazon.com Review

The Cassiopeia EM-500, Casio's follow-up to its E-100 series of personaldigital assistants, closely mirrors the E-115 but offers a few changes. Thebiggest change is the move to using MultiMediaCard (MMC) memory over the morestandard CompactFlash memory slot. The postage stamp-size MMC cards offer neededmemory expandability (as the EM-500 comes with only 16 MB of internal memory,compared to the 32 MB of the E-115), especially if you plan to use the EM-500 asa portable MP3 player--one of its many multimedia capabilities.

While MMC over CompactFlash limits the ability of the EM-500 to use many PocketPC peripherals, we were willing to overlook that once we got a peek at the EM-500'sgorgeous TFT screen. This very bright, very colorful (65,536 colors, to beexact) display shines beautifully when you're playing games or watching mobilevideo player clips, which run along at a respectable 15 to 20 frames per secondwith the EM-500's 150 MHz MIPS processor.

The thick EM-500 (about twice the thickness of the Palm Vx) offers standardCasio programmable buttons to bring up the menu, calendar, and contacts, as wellas a navigational D-pad, which is great for gaming. In addition to functioningas a stereo MP3 player (when using the included headphones), the EM-500 alsoworks as a voice recorder, allowing you to dictate reminders for yourself orvoice messages to send with e-mail. Casio promises six hours of battery life,but we often were able to get seven or more as long as we left the backlight onmedium brightness.

With its IrDA port, the EM-500 can communicate with wireless devices, and itsUSB connection provides speedy data transfer--even installing programs largerthan a megabyte took only a few seconds.

Despite the limited memory and the lack of CompactFlash support, the powerfulprocessor, excellent display, and long battery life make the EM-500 acompetitive entry into the Pocket PC market. --J. Curtis

Pros:

• TFT color screen
• USB connection
• Good battery life
• Expandable using MultiMediaCard memory

• Only 16 MB of internal memory
• No CompactFlash support

Features

• Color screen with 240 x 320 display in 65,536 colors
• Includes Microsoft Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, Pocket Money, and Pocket Internet Explorer
• 16 MB of internal RAM, expands up to additional 64 MB with optional MultiMediaCards
• Play MP3 audio files with built-in speaker
• What's in the box: Cassiopeia EM-500, Stylus, USB Cradle, AC Adapter, Lithium-ion rechargeable battery pack, CR2032 lithium battery, Connector cable, Pocket PC User's Guide, Hardware Guide

Reviews (34)

Excellent PDA
I love PDA's (and computers in general, for that matter) and this is an excellent device. There was a time when I swore by Palm's pda's, but while Windows CE (now known as Pocket PC) has evolved to near-desktop power, the Palm has remained virtually unchanged. Of the Pocket PC's available, this unit is the best compromise of size and power. It packs a 150mhz cpu (more powerful than the HP Jornada, less than the Ipaq), 16mb of ram, and an amazing screen capable of displaying 16bit color. The Ipaq and HP Jornada can both only do 12-bit color at best. All of that is packed in a comfortable, small device that feels extremely solid in the hand.

While I do believe the EM-500 is probably the best unit available, it does have a few draw-backs. The miserly 16mb of ram is hardly enough... if you buy this make sure to get a 32mb or 64mb memory card to go with it. My other complaints are minimal: lack of hardware volume control, location of IRDA port... but none of these minor issues really impact the usefulness of the unit.

Definitely a great PDA, and well worth the money.

Great multimedia Pocket PC
The Cassiopeia EM-500 looks like a pretty sweet deal. It can do almost anything the E-115 does, and it's smaller and faster. If you compare the EM-500 to the E-115, you'll notice that the E-115 has 32MB of memory, where the EM-500 has 16MB. Also, the EM-500 offers the multimedia card memory system, so memory can be easily expanded.

The EM-500 seems targeted at a younger market, with great multimedia capabilities (MP3, 240 x 320 TFT 65,536 color screen, excellent gamepad).

Its main competitor, the Compaq iPaq, offers more memory and speed, but less colors, and, most importantly perhaps, the keypad of the iPaq cannot register simultaneous clicks, which limits its gameplay capabilities.

If you want a good Pocket PC for both "serious stuff" and games and multimedia, the EM-500 seems the way to go. A fine product by Casio, with more memory I would have given it 5 stars.

Three years old
I've had mine for three years. I did buy it new, though. I have been eyeing the Dell Axim, but since there is nothing wrong with my Casio, I can't find any reason to switch.

Poor craftsmanship!
Sure the em-500 is great, while it works! I bought two units off ebay and they were like new when I received them. One worked fine for only about six months, then the internal memory died and left me with a 200 dollar paperweight. The second lasted another six months. Then it too, developed a case of the internal flu. It won't even work right long enough for me too get the information stored in it off! If it were just one unit I might think I were just unlucky, but two going bad tells me these aren't built to withstand even normal use! A paper and pencil would have been so much cheaper!

Too Cool
I purchased it 2 years ago. I used it just a little. Now I sell real estate, and I think it just great. I am learning how many wonderful features it has. The screen is a little hard to read in the sun, but what are sun-glasses for??? I wish that they had not stop making it. Most of my friends use the palm, and they are always saying how hard it is to use, this em-500 is a breeze. ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Extend your office everywhere you go and access corporate databases, your PC, and the Internet, all with Clio. The powerful combination of innovative design and the Microsoft Windows CE operating system makes Clio the ideal PC companion for a variety of business and corporate users. Clio represents a completely new way of interacting and communicating with your PC, your network, and the Internet when you're out of the office and on the go. Because Clio includes the essentials of the most popular Microsoft desktop applications, you can work and stay productive virtually anywhere. And, thanks to Clio's flexible design and communications capabilities, you'll always want it with you to stay in touch and up to date.

Why a PC Companion? A desktop PC works just fine in our primary place of business, but many of us need a mobile solution when business takes us elsewhere. Notebook PCs are often more than we need to carry and impractical for certain situations. And, while palm-size devices are very convenient for PIM updates and short bursts of communications, they aren't quite enough to perform meaningful productivity activities.

Enter Clio. Its compact size with the patented rotating SwingTop design, built-in applications, light weight, and long battery life make Clio a flexible companion to your main computer when you don't need full computing power. And Clio's large display, nearly full-size keyboard, and built-in communications solutions are conducive to getting real work done--in real time, on your own terms.

Clio's true power is not measured in microprocessing speed or hard drive storage capacity, but rather in the freedom and flexibility it allows the user to work, communicate, and stay productive while away from the office.

What's in the box

• Clio C-1050
• Lithium Ion Rechargeable Battery
• Backup Battery Rechargeable Lithium Coin Cell
• Serial cable
• Stylus
• RJ11 phone cable
• AC Adapter
• User Manual

Features

• 32 MB RAM
• 9.4-inch 640 x 480 DSTN display with 65,000 colors, backlight, and touch panel
• Built-in faxing, network, PC remote access, and Internet connection
• 3 ways to enter data: keyboard, touch screen, and CalliGrapher natural handwriting
• What's in the box: Clio C-1050, Lithium Ion Rechargeable Battery, Backup Battery Rechargeable Lithium Coin Cell, AC Adapter, Serial cable, Stylus, RJ11 phone cable, User Manual

Reviews (9)

Can't get it back from my wife
I bought the Clio C-1000 about 3 years ago and have yet to see a product of the same form and functionality as either model. I bought it to replace a dearly loved Newton 2100, and fell in love with it from the moment I opened the box. With a battery life of 8-10 hours and a key board, you can't beat the verisility of the machine. Once I purchased my Handspring Visor, my wife took the opertunity to start using the Clio for her job, and I yet to get it back from her. I am currentlt contemplating replacing my outdated laptop with a new C-1050 model. You can't beat this machine for it features, use of use, compatibility of file formats and the "WOW! what's that!?" factor when people see you using it. The only thing that would make these units better would be the addition of Pocket PC2002 (or even Linix).

I would highly recomend these for any company that has a mobile sales force. you can load powerpoint presentations onto it, email, transfere data between units (IR port), and the 8+ hour battery and sixe make it easy to use in confined areas such as on a plane. Try using a full laptop on a NYC to LA flight for the whole trip!

Maybe next time ...
The Clio was a good idea, but doesn't meet expectations. The passive matrix screen is difficult to read. The keyboard is small and curved making touch-typing difficult. The unit itself is a bit heavy and ackward to lug around compared to some of the latest (and smallest laptops). With a max resolution of 800x600, images and video look cheap. There are NO output ports on the unit itself - you have to hard-link to a computer even to print! No VGA-out for use with a projector. Not even a PS-2 or USB port! The handwriting recognizer works about 3/4 of the time. That is, in a page of handwritten notes, you'll have to manually correct about 1/4 of the page. It does slightly better on single words or sentences. My recommendation: Take the [amt] that you'd spend on the Clio and add to it the [amt] you'd spend on a Pocket PC and buy a decent laptop.

Fabulous
The Clio is working great for me. I've been using it for about two weeks so far. First of all, it looks very small (and is light) when closed, but the 9.4" screen is great, wwaaaayy better than the Jornada's tiny screen. The folding arms are awesome and Tablet mode is cool too. The handwriting recognition actually works, it recognized most of my handwriting right away and I've further fine tuned it's settings since so it's even better. Recognizes cursive very well too. The C-1050 is twice as fast as the C-1000 and Mobilon Tri-Pad (by Sharp). There's virtually no delay in opening things. No booting up either, since it runs on WinCE and just suspends when you're done using it. Battery life is excellent! It isn't ten hours, but at least 6 on medium brightness & contrast. Synchronization worked without problems using the included software. It's definitely 10 times better than a Palm and in my opinion better than a laptop unless you need to be doing graphics or using Windows programs which don't come on CE as well. I highly recommend it.

Wow!
Originally, I was in the market for a notebook, but I ran into the HP Jornada. I figured that I didn't need a very powerful machine (for all the powerful stuff, I had my home computer); I just needed something portable that could do the basics when I had time between classes. While price searching for the Jornada, I found many PC companions- Vadem's Clio being one of those. The programs, screen size, lightness, battery life, and reasonable price convinced me to buy it. I never thought it would come in so handy as it has! Not only does it have the other attributes I mentioned, but it is very reliable!

Wow!
It took me some time to decide what I wanted, Palm Pilot, Pocket PC, H/PC, H/PC Pro, ahh! After deciding that the Handheld PC Pro was for me, it was time to compare the H/PC Pros and select the one which suit me the best. I ultimately chose the Clio mainly because of its fabulous form factor...the HP 820 has no touchscreen and the NEC's standard clam-shell design seems to pale in comparison to the Clio's ability to be used as a tablet (for web browsing, writing and jotting down quick notes). When I first began to synchronize data to and from my Clio I too experienced a little slowness with the transfer of my contacts and calendar items, but after talking with the suprisingly helpful folks at Clio support my data transfers are now much faster (apparently the default setting is slow to eliminate possible problems on your first data transfer)...furthermore I had no problems getting connected with my ISP (Earthlink).

The applications included with the Clio are great, I use the Vadem Viewfinder and Calligrapher handwriting recognition every day...

All in all, my choice to go with the Clio H/PC Pro has really paid off, all I needed was an extension of my desktop PC...but I actually got that and a whole lot more. I just can't wait until my wife (the CFO) lets me set up my Clio to be my wireless web-pad around the house! ... Read more

Features

• Expansion slots for CompactFlash and SD memory cards for additional storage and software capabilities
• 3.8 TFT touch-sensitive screen has a resolution of 240 x 320 with a maximum of 65,000 colors
• Built-in microphone, speaker and digital voice recorder
• Includes long-lasting Rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery
• What's in the box: Toshiba Pocket PC e755, USB Cradle, 10W AC Adapter, 1-Stylus, Soft Slip Case, Quick Start Card and Warranty Card

Reviews (21)

A Pocket PC with everything working right!
(Note: The only difference between the e750 and e755 is that the latter e755 comes with a photo viewer software title on the companion CD. In fact, the machine in the e755 packaging is labeled "e750," so I'll refer to it as e750 in this review.)

Featuring a new mobile processor, the most internal memory of any PDA (64MB RAM plus 64MB non-RAM for a total of 128MB), built-in 802.11b wi-fi, the best PDA screen from Toshiba so far. and good battery life, the e750/e755 is close to being perfect. The compact (0.6 inches thin) and attractive form factor is a huge plus, as well.

The new Intel processor (PXA255 running at 400Mhz) is without doubt the star of the new line-up. It's an updated version of the first-gen Xscalar processor, which wasn't getting good reviews due to lack of optimization options. The e750/e755 *is* optimized for the new processor, which results in speedy application launches and operations. Nothing gives a Pocket PC user more pleasure than seeing his/her favorite app come up instantly. The e750 also allows you to switch between two speeds, hence you can choose between higher speed or better battery life. Even at the lower speed, PPC apps feel quick and responsive. The LiIon battery is user replaceable, and an optional "extended" battery is available now from Toshiba.

What's left to improve for Toshiba is their lackluster customer support. Also, because their PPCs are made by an OEM in Taiwan rather than in their own plants in Japan, the build quality is still a bit lacking, but the e750/e755 seems to be better made than the error-prone e740.

Update with more details:

The e750 is indeed a joyful PDA! The high price and the lack of a built-in camera aside -- but who really needs the latter, right? -- it really comes close to being a master-of-all-trades device. I haven't tested the wireless features as much as I had hoped, due to the fact there just aren't many free hot spots around these days. But I'll update this review when I get more hands-on experience in this area.

In terms of everyday use this is a true workhorse. I'll talk more about the specs below, but the numbers don't really reveal how pleasant using the e750 is. The hundreds of annoyances that plagued the e740, its older cousin, have been fixed. There are far fewer crashes and syncs go more smoothly. At just 6.5 ounces, while not the lightest Pocket PC, you get something very close to a handheld computer, especially when you get the foldable keyboard!

The e750 has a total of 128MB of RAM, 32 of which is ROM, 32 is flash-ROM (which means content stored on it won't go away even if the battery is completely dead... think of it as a small hard disk without moving parts), and the rest 64 is true user-accessible RAM. Having a real 64MB to play with is a bliss, especially for someone like me who started out with 16MB on the Casio EM-500 and last saw 46MB on the HP iPaq 1910. The extra 18MB makes a big difference. Now I can play Doom and Quake at the same time!

Given the thin form factor of the e750, it still amazes me how it can feature both a Type I/II CompactFlash (CF) slot as well as a Secure Digital (SD) slot. Since wi-fi is already built-in, both can happily be used solely for storage expansion. The highest capacity for SD right now (as of April 2003) is 512MB, but that costs a small fortune. The best value belongs to 256MB cards, and I highly recommend the one from Lexar (see my review there). If you put in a 512MB SD and a 512MB CF, you'll get 1GB of extra storage for under one-hundred-fifty dolrs! The CF slot can probably be used for other peripherals; but the situation is not clear right now as to which CF peripherals will be supported in the e750.

The 3.8-inch (measured diagonally) screen is the largest among Pocket PCs on the market today, and the best from Toshiba so far. I personally like the screens on the iPaq 1910 and Viewsonic V35 better, but this screen is more than "good." The resolution is still PPC's standard 240x320, so it would be nice to see someday PPC manufacturers would go higher than that. I'd love a PPC the size of the e750 but with a 4" screen and 320x480 resolution!

There are a lot of optional accessories you can get for the e750, including the foldable keyboard and extended battery mentioned above. This is truly an exciting newcomer to the PPC family... one that looks and performs like a winner.

Best Pocket PC so far...
In my continuing search for the Holy Grail of Pocket PC's, I've decided to replace my trusty iPaq 3970 w/ a Toshiba e755. The main reasons were that I can now carry around a slim PPC w/ dual SD/CF slots (no jacket required), a comparable screen (3.8" translfective like the 3970), a faster system bus thanks to the PXA255 (apps seem to load at least 2x faster than on my 3970), a replaceable battery, and the 32MB of NAND storage memory that I have used to load most of my apps. The screen was, I understand, a major step up from the e740. It is not as bright as the 3970, but it was plenty bright with excellent visual acuity. It is not as loud as the 3970 either, especially through the external speaker. However, the sound was loud enough and clean when I listen to MP3's through headphones using the PocketMusic MP3 player ... The standard battery can get me about 4 hours of continuous use with the backlight set at its brightest. I would definitely spring for the extended battery, which should last between 2x to 3x longer on a full charge, albeit doubling the thickness of the device. The NAND storage is nice since it is nonvolatile memory and will survive a hard reset. I only need to backup any files sitting in the 64MB SDRAM, which for me is about 16MB of files backed up in less than 5 minutes using the included backup utility. The jog button on the left edge under the record button is really handy for one-handed scrolling or navigation. I have not tried the 802.11b capabilities, yet. There are already plenty written about this so far. The IR port is not as strong as the 3970's consumer grade port. It is also located in a weird place on the left edge near the bottom where my left palm would cover it up. It's only good for beaming and not for remote controlling your TV (you'll need an IR extender for that). Not a big loss for me. It's built solidly and has a sleek feel to it, though rubberized edges would've been nice. I've also heard that it should be upgradeable to Pocket PC 2003, which is due out in June. Because the ROM is Flash, I have no fear that it would become "obsolete" when the new OS is released. In conclusion, I think this is the killer PPC out there now until HP comes out with a slim device w/ dual slots and comparable or better specs, which just might happen in the next couple of months.

Toshiba out front
Toshiba are the industry leader. This machine is fast, the screen is great, and the memory is completely serviceable. It gets an enum failure error which requires a soft restart from time to time, but it is fully functional, top-of-the-line. I will be upgrading to the 805.

Seems to be good
As my first PDA I've not had too many problems with it. It does seem to have an issue of needing to be "reset" every few days (not a hard reset, just hitting the reset toggle with the pointer device) otherwise some stuff does seem to stop "functioning" particularly the wireless utilities (in my experience). However this appears to be a problem with Pocket PC 2003 rather than Toshiba themselves.

Don't waste your money on this device
This PDA seems like a good deal, but its not. Unless you buy the extended warranty and you don't mind dealing with the many quirks of this pockpet pc, do not get it. First, the WiFi was difficult to use and I could connect, even when only 8 feet away from the router.

Also, after a couple of days, the screen would not react to tapping, it became useless. I'm not saying that this particular thing might happen to you, but there are quite a few things that can go wrong simply because it has so many features.

So if you want to avoid this frustration, just go with an IPAQ or DELL AXIM. They are much more reliable and have much better customer support. ... Read more

Features

• 6 MB PDA with scheduler, contact list, memo pad, and calculator
• Copy, view, and edit Microsoft Excel spreadsheets
• 160 x 160 LCD display with backlight
• Works for 180 hours on 2 AAA batteries
• What's in the box: Cassiopeia PV-S600Plus, PC Synchronization Cradle, Hard Cover, Stylus, User manual

Reviews (1)

Casio Pocket Viewer
These are one of the coolest PDA's I have had. I had gotten it for my birthday. At fist I wasn't sure if I liked it. But know I do. It comes with most of the good stuff. I personly like the mini games on it. I would recanmend it to anyone wanting to buy a PDA. ... Read more

Features

• Data at a glance allows you to navigate to or view the data you need immediately, even viewing notes attached to appointments
• Includes Microsoft Pocket, Outlook, and Internet Explorer software
• Built-in modem and expandable with PC Card accessories, USB devices, or an external monitor
• Convenient to carry with you, weighing 2.5 lbs, including batteries
• What's in the box: HP Jornada 820 H/PC, Standard Battery, Two CR2032 backup batteries, AC adapter and power cable, Sync cable, Windows CE compact disc, Documentation pack

Features

• JVC's first-ever handheld device
• Powered by the Windows Mobile OS for Pocket PC
• 3.5" Transflective color display
• Wireless LAN-ready
• 129 MB SDRAM, 32MB Flash ROM

Amazon.com Review

The Cassiopeia EM-500, Casio's follow-up to its E-100 series of personaldigital assistants, closely mirrors the E-115 but offers a few changes. Thebiggest change is the move to using MultiMediaCard (MMC) memory over the morestandard CompactFlash memory slot. The postage stamp-size MMC cards offer neededmemory expandability (as the EM-500 comes with only 16 MB of internal memory,compared to the 32 MB of the E-115), especially if you plan to use the EM-500 asa portable MP3 player--one of its many multimedia capabilities.

While MMC over CompactFlash limits the ability of the EM-500 to use many PocketPC peripherals, we were willing to overlook that once we got a peek at the EM-500's gorgeousTFT screen. This very bright, very colorful (65,536 colors, to beexact) display shines beautifully when you're playing games or watching mobilevideo player clips, which run along at a respectable 15 to 20 frames per secondwith the EM-500's 150 MHz MIPS processor.

The thick EM-500 (about twice the thickness of the Palm Vx) offers standardCasio programmable buttons to bring up the menu, calendar, and contacts, as wellas a navigational D-pad, which is great for gaming. In addition to functioningas a stereo MP3 player (when using the included headphones), the EM-500 alsoworks as a voice recorder, allowing you to dictate reminders for yourself orvoice messages to send with e-mail. Casio promises six hours of battery life,but we often were able to get seven or more as long as we left the backlight onmedium brightness.

With its IrDA port, the EM-500 can communicate with wireless devices, and itsUSB connection provides speedy data transfer--even installing programs largerthan a megabyte took only a few seconds.

Despite the limited memory and the lack of CompactFlash support, the powerfulprocessor, excellent display, and long battery life make the EM-500 acompetitive entry into the Pocket PC market. --J. Curtis

Pros:

• TFT color screen
• USB connection
• Good battery life
• Expandable using MultiMediaCard memory

• Only 16 MB of internal memory
• No CompactFlash support

Features

• Color screen with 240 x 320 display in 65,536 colors
• Synchronize to your desktop with rapid USB data transfer
• Includes Microsoft Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, Pocket Money, and Pocket Internet Explorer
• 16 MB of internal RAM, expands up to additional 64 MB with optional MultiMediaCards
• What's in the box: Cassiopeia EM-500, Stylus, USB Cradle, AC Adapter, Lithium-ion rechargeable battery pack, CR2032 lithium battery, Connector cable, Pocket PC User's Guide, Hardware Guide

Reviews (4)

it's realy good
The casio is a really good casio because it is a casio and i THINK IT IS VERY GOOD BECAUSE THESE CASIO'S are always good and so i say this casio is good because it is a casio and casio's are really good so i say this casio is good because it is a casio and casios are good...

p.s. casios are good because their casios

Excellent PDA
I love PDA's (and computers in general, for that matter) and this is an excellent device. There was a time when I swore by Palm's pda's, but while Windows CE (now known as Pocket PC) has evolved to near-desktop power, the Palm has remained virtually unchanged. Of the Pocket PC's available, this unit is the best compromise of size and power. It packs a 150mhz cpu (more powerful than the HP Jornada, less than the Ipaq), 16mb of ram, and an amazing screen capable of displaying 16bit color. The Ipaq and HP Jornada can both only do 12-bit color at best. All of that is packed in a comfortable, small device that feels extremely solid in the hand.

While I do believe the EM-500 is probably the best unit available, it does have a few draw-backs. The miserly 16mb of ram is hardly enough... if you buy this make sure to get a 32mb or 64mb memory card to go with it. My other complaints are minimal: lack of hardware volume control, location of IRDA port... but none of these minor issues really impact the usefulness of the unit.

Definitely a great PDA, and well worth the money

Would have scored it higher except for a couple of concerns
I had the unique opportunity to use and evaluate the Casio EM500 for a week to determine if I was interested in purchasing it. At the end of that week, I really wanted to buy this PDA, but I had some lingering concerns that kept me from doing so. Here are some of my thoughts after using it:

-First off, I really loved the display on this unit. It was extremely bright and easy to read even in daylight. I would not have thought it, but a color screen made a HUGE difference. I had a Palm Pilot before, so I know what I'm talking about here. This Casio has one of the best displays of any of the color units.

-I really liked the PocketPC OS with just a few exceptions. As I mentioned earlier, I have had a Palm Pilot in the past. Of the two operating systems, I prefer the PocketPC. This is largely due to the fact that I use a lot of Microsoft products (Outlook, Word, Excel, Money) and it was extremely easy to synch with data with these applications. Some people prefer the Palm OS's simplicity, but for what I needed to do, I found greater functionality in the PocketPC. The only reservations I had was that the PocketPC makes in annoyingly difficult to close applications and its navigation could be simplified.

-The actual hardware design of this unit is fair. It's a little on the bulky side, but I never expected to be able to fit it in my pocket to begin with. While I liked the semi-scroll wheel on the side, I never used the multi-directional D-pad on the front. In fact, I rarely used any of the buttons on the front. I was also very disappointed that there was no cradle included. The USB cable was kind of awkward to have lying across my desk, and I would have appreciated a cradle to set the unit in when not in use.

-Battery life was impressive. While I never did an official test, I was often able to go through two days of normal use before needing to recharge. The unit uses a Lithium Ion battery.

-Don't underestimate the benefit of having Internet Explorer and Microsoft Reader as included applications. Using Avantgo (which is included), it is very easy to read news, weather, and stocks from sources like MSN and Yahoo. The problem is that it is not a live connection to the Internet, and you must wait until you synch with a PC again to get the information updated. It was also fairly easy to find e-books for Microsoft Reader.

-This unit only comes with 16mb memory. While that is more than enough to run most of the bundled applications, don't expect to play many MP3's on the Media Player unless you buy additional memory.

That brings me to the biggest single drawback of this PDA and the reason I did not end up buying it. This Casio EM500 has a MMC (Multi-Media Card) expansion slot. Most of the PDA's today use Compact Flash memory slots. This means that while I could find MMC memory to buy for my Casio, I could not find very many other expansion options. There are no modems available, or cameras, or any other type of expansion pack available other that just a memory card. Being that MMC is not really catching on, at least in the USA, I worry even about the availability of MMC memory packs in the future. While this may not be important to many people, it was to me. If I am going to spend this much money on a PDA, I want it to last for a while. I want to be able to be able to expand or upgrade the unit as new technologies and products occur. Even Casio seems to realize they made a mistake by using MMC in this unit rather than Compact Flash. Newer Casio models now use Compact Flash.

NOTE: Casio announced recently that EM500 will be capable of supporting SD (secure digital) memory cards. This will require a downloadable update from the Casio web site. Even with this announcement I still am concerned about upgradability options. I have yet to see anyone selling SD memory cards.

If you are not interested in expansions such modems and such, then this is an excellent PDA for you and a great value. I give it four stars (****) in that case. For those of you that are like me and crave expansion, I would suggest looking at the Casio E-125, or better yet, the Compaq iPaq line of handhelds.

Could be slicker
They provided pictures that do not expose the product's depth, which caused me to beleive this Pocket PC would be much slicker than the E115, based on the hype earlier this year on the new PocketPCs.

Besides, that seems great improvement to the E-100 - notably faster, with much better sound quality, headphones, stylish case and the new WIdnows version - which itself became less memory and CPU time hug.

This is much more consumer-satisfying device than ever a WinCE device managed to be. The only exception may be the iPAQ (COMPAQs PocketPC) that I am still to put my hands on it.

Oh yeah: the yellow color could be brighter :) ... Read more

Features

• What's in the box: Jornada x25, Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery, Earphones, USB Cable, Software CD-ROM, AC Adapter, Cover, Stylus

Features

• What's in the box: Jornada 520, Carrying pouch, Stylus, AC Adapter, Serial cable, UserÆs Guide, HP documentation pack, Microsoft ActiveSync CD-ROM

Features

• TFT display with over 65,000 colors
• 32 MB RAM
• Plays stereo Windows Media, converted MP3, and video
• CompactFlash slot
• What's in the box: Cassiopeia E-105, Stylus, AC Adapter, Carrying case, Lithium ion rechargeable battery, CR2032 backup battery, Docking cradle, PC User's guide, Hardware guide

Reviews (6)

The technology is not yet ready for this machine
I got the E-105 and have used it for a few months now. The MP3 player is OK, but after playing 5 or 6 songs, it hogs memory and starts cracking. The only way to remedy is to soft reset the machine. Using the MP3 player slowly drains the memory until it performs painfully slow. The sync cradle does not work properly and disconnects from the computer at random intervals. The screen is all scratched from using the stylus (weak). The more programs loaded onto the 32 megs of internal memory, the slower it gets. Loading even 1 MP3 file on the 32 megs of internal memory makes it painfully slow. What is the point of having so much memory if you can't use it? CE could use a new version too. There is no option to close programs. You have to either reset the machine or go to START, SETTINGS, SYSTEM, TASK MANAGER, END TASK to close programs. What's up with that? The intent for a good product is there, but don't beleive the hype, this product is not ready for the masses.

No Comparision!
I've owned everything from Apple's Newton to the Palm Pilot. Nothing compares to the E100 or E105. I purchased an E100 when they first came out and recently upgraded to the E105. My only complaint with the unit is that it's more difficult to find software and accessories for as compared to a Palm Pilot. The hardware is great. Those little nuances such as the built in joystick and digital stereo sound are hard to live without. I've added the camera attachment for it. It's nice, but not a substitute for a real digital camera. I've also added the IBM 340 micro drive, which I've easily filled with software (mapping, games, application, reference, digital audio books and MP3 audio files). I recommend Utopiasoft's Hum for MP3 playback. If you're a businessperson, I definitely recombined Casio Soft's pTab software. It's an Excel compatible spreadsheet app that's incredible. I also recommend eWallet. It allows you to carry around everything (except money) you carry in your regular wallet (travel membership info, credit cards, passwords, pictures, etc.). You can also use the E105 to browse the Internet. One quick cable and a $20 web browser on you're on the Net (Not pseudo web browsing (two way paging) like the Palm VI), but real browsing of color web pages with graphics. In this short of space, I can't communicate everything this PDA is to me. Just buy one and you'll see!

Best PPC out there
I've had my E-105 for about a week now and wouldn't part without it. It's perfect for toting around all my personal info as well as some minor computing tasks. Love using the note feature for jotting down notes in a meeting... also a crowd pleaser (perfect stall when you need one). The handwriting recognition 'JOT' is much easier to learn than Palm's Grafitti.

My only gripe is not with the product but more with WinCE. When you want to turn a program off, you have to go UTILITIES->SYSTEM->SELECT PROGRAM->CLICK END TASK. A pain when you've got a few apps open and need some more memory, but that's a CE thing that I'm sure MS will fix. The best PDA out there!

Cassiopeia beats PalmPilot by a mile
I recently bought a Cassiopeia and I am happy to say that I have ABSOLUTLY NO PROBLEM WITH IT! Well, except y that you can't play Age of Empires II on it!

The Cassiopeia has helped me get much more organised. It's "Tasks" menu let's you enter all the things you have to do, and it reminds you to do them!

You can take down notes in it; It's got a character recodniser as well as a keyboard, and this alows for fast typing speeds.

I've also Heard that you can buy an emulator of the Net for it, and this alows you to play any game you want on the Cassiopeia! If Anyone knows where this site is, E-mail me at: Rohama@hotmail.com

Palm on Steroids
I picked the E-105 vs. other PDA's (previously owning a Palm 5000 & a Psion 5) because of it's color display, spacious memory/expandibility, and the ability to play stereo MP3s. I can view images from my digital camera on it (because it can use compact flash cards - I have 100 megs worth!), and I keep full color pictures on it. It syncs very well with Outlook (faster than a Palm) and it retains all the Outlook functionality (notes in an event). It hooks up to a PC via a serial port although USB would be much better (this would be an incredible addition for transfering large MP3 files). I bought Microsoft Maps & Streets ($20 after the rebate), and I can create custom US maps (it doesn't highlight your route for you... and you have to cut and paste the directions as text files). The Microsoft Audio Player does not play MP3s natively from a flash card and you have to use the proprietary .WMA format, so I bought the Conduits' Pocket MP3 Player (I have gigs of MP3s). Unfortunetely, there is a slight buzzing when I play back MP3 (during quiet passages... it's not terrible, but it is noticable). Battery life is about 2 hours (of audio playback), but strictly as a PDA (calendar, contacts, reading email, & notes), it can last a couple of days. The movie player is neat to demo, but it's not all that useful (it would be cool if I could USB transfer a video of the daily Top News Stories to it - 2.5 minute of video is 6.6 megs). Doom runs on it (the screen is too small). I can play Audible audio books on it. All in all, it's a true multimedia PDA. I just ordered a keyboard for it, and I hope to use it on the coach seat of an airplane to write/reply to emails (rather than powering up my clunky laptop). ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

Extend your office everywhere you go and access corporate databases, your PC, and the Internet, all with Clio. The powerful combination of innovative design and the Microsoft Windows CE operating system makes Clio the ideal PC companion for a variety of business and corporate users. Clio represents a completely new way of interacting and communicating with your PC, your network, and the Internet when you're out of the office and on the go. Because Clio includes the essentials of the most popular Microsoft desktop applications, you can work and stay productive virtually anywhere. And, thanks to Clio's flexible design and communications capabilities, you'll always want it with you to stay in touch and up to date.

Why a PC Companion? A desktop PC works just fine in our primary place of business, but many of us need a mobile solution when business takes us elsewhere. Notebook PCs are often more than we need to carry and impractical for certain situations. And, while palm-size devices are very convenient for PIM updates and short bursts of communications, they aren't quite enough to perform meaningful productivity activities.

Enter Clio. Its compact size with the patented rotating SwingTop design, built-in applications, light weight, and long battery life make Clio a flexible companion to your main computer when you don't need full computing power. And Clio's large display, nearly full-size keyboard, and built-in communications solutions are conducive to getting real work done--in real time, on your own terms.

Clio's true power is not measured in microprocessing speed or hard drive storage capacity, but rather in the freedom and flexibility it allows the user to work, communicate, and stay productive while away from the office.

What's in the box

• Clio C-1000
• Lithium Ion Rechargeable Battery
• Backup Battery Rechargeable Lithium Coin Cell
• AC Adapter
• User Manual

Features

• 16 MB RAM, upgradable to 32 MB
• Compact and lightweight companion to your main computer
• Built-in faxing, network, PC remote access, and Internet connection
• 3 ways to enter data: keyboard, touch screen, and CalliGrapher natural handwriting
• What's in the box: Clio C-1000, Lithium Ion Rechargeable Battery, Backup Battery Rechargeable Lithium Coin Cell, AC Adapter, User Manual

Reviews (2)

Get a REAL laptop or PDA!
My company got about 2 dozen of these things about two years ago.....I am guessing that they thought they looked cool or something. As a member of the IT support staff, these things are a complete nightmare. The power supplies are touchy, the memory corrupts and needs to be flashed often, and the keys on the keyboard are not very durable. In addition, Windows CE is just a plan bad OS. Top it all off with little or no service if they do break. We found some company out of California who is charging an arm and a leg per machine that we might as well invest into a real laptop.

On the plus side, these do make really nice door stops.

Clio is great
I own a Vadem Clio and I love it. With a built in modem and the Microsoft Pocket Office software it is the perfect companion to a traveler who doesn't want to lug around a laptop or can't afford one. Its very lightweight and the power cord is very small so it can easily fit inbetween items in your suitcase as well.

The only downside is that like other laptops, if something integrated into the device stops working (ie. the modem) it can get very costly. I did, however, find a way around this and learned that there is a PCMCIA port on the Clio where you can just plug in a standard laptop modem or any PCMCIA device! ... Read more

Amazon.com Product Description

The NEC MobilePro P300 Windows-powered Pocket PC is designed expressly for business. Not only does it come packed with the core applications demanded by corporate professionals--including pocket versions of Microsoft Outlook, Word, and Excel--it also supports wireless connections and secure remote VPN access to your company's network. So you can be as productive on the road as you are at your desk.

Display
The MobilePro P300 features a brilliant reflective color 3.8-inch QVGA TFT display for indoor and outdoor viewing (over 65,000 colors and 320 x 240 resolution).

Expansion
With the CompactFlash II expansion slot, you can add a wide range of Pocket PC accessories, from a WLAN card to GPS, a voice-over IP (VOIP) module, or microdrive storage devices. A Secure Digital (SD) expansion slot provides the versatility to add an optional module with up to 128 MB of additional memory.

Operating System
The MobilePro P300 comes with Microsoft Pocket PC 2002 software, with enhanced productivity applications, including Microsoft Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, Outlook, Pocket Internet Explorer, Microsoft Reader, and Windows Media Player.

Extra Software
NEC software solutions are included in the MobilePro P300 for enterprise customer needs. This includes the MobilePro Synchronization System (2) client for disaster recovery and synchronization with enterprise servers for mail, application, and data files; Westtek's ClearVue viewers for presenting Pocket PC 2002 applications; ArcSoft's PhotoBase for display and management of digital photos; and Voice Messenger Force by Ruksun for voice-enhanced instant messaging.

Synchronization
The MobilePro P300 features auto synchronization and a docking cradle with USB and serial cable connectivity options.

Compatibility
The MobilePro P300 is compatible with Microsoft Windows 98, 2000, Me, NT Workstation 4.0 SP6, and Windows XP. ... Read more

Features

• Brilliant reflective color 3.8-inch QVGA TFT display for indoor and outdoor viewing (over 65,000 colors; 320 x 240 resolution)
• 206 MHz Intel StrongARM 32-bit RISC processor
• 64 MB of flexible memory, including 32 MB RAM
• CompactFlash II and Secure Digital expansion slots
• What's in the box: Mobile Pro P300, Stylus, Docking cradle, AC Adapter, Rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery, User manual

Reviews (2)

Just what I had been looking for!
My husband is very picky and in the past he would go shopping for PDA's but he could never make up his mind as he could not find everything he wanted on one PDA. This one does it all! You can use it for work and play. He took it out of the box and just started using it without even reading the manual, it's just so easy!. He loves it.

NEC MobilePro P300
Pros:
With the use of StrongArm 206MHz CPU, it run all built-in applications with a very high speed, even faster than most xScale 400MHz machine because the current OS is optimized for Strongarm but not for xScale CPU.
It plays movie smoothly with about 25fps using PocketTV.
I think the P300 is one of the smallest dual-slot pocketpc nowadays, with the use of CF+SD/MMC, you can use many peripherals on CF such as GPS, Wifi, Bluetooth easily with a relatively low price. CF memory is also much cheaper than SD.
The big screen looks great in both indoor and outdoor, the metallic casing gives you a high-end feel than those plastic case.
The 4 app buttons lit on with a blue light when pressed that similar to Asus A600, and there is a 7-colour LED at the top of the screen that can set as different types of notification.
There is a removable hinged cover that can protect the unit.
I bought this P300 in Hong Kong at about US$256, maybe this price is the lowest price for dual-slot pocketpc now!

Cons:
32MB ram is too small for regular use, a memory card is essential.
The SD slot is not SDIO, that means you can only use the slot as memory expansion.
The battery is not removable. ... Read more

Features

• Integrated Microsoft Windows Mobile Pocket PC and GSM/GPRS cell phone
• Bluetooth compatible
• Built-in 1.3 megapixel camera
• 2.8-inch, 240x480 LCD screen
• Comes with stylus, headset with microphone, carrying case, AC adapter, USB cable, and software

Amazon.com Review

Pocket PCs aren't known as the budget PDAs of the handheld world--thesefast, high-color machines are the ones you'll usually find in the $500 range, offering TFT displays and speedier processors than their less costlybrethren.

But HP's Jornada 525 sells for under $400, nearly down to the rangeof the basic PDAs while still offering a lot of the upper-echelon goodies. TheJornada 525 ships with only 16 MB of integrated memory--normally a sizeableamount that gets eaten into quickly by Windows CE and its multimediacapabilities (we were only able to put a couple of MP3 files on the Jornada asit shipped). But you can add up to 128 MB of additional storage with aCompactFlash card. By boosting the storage, the MP3 playback actually becomes aviable option--for patient users.

The patience comes in with the serialconnection of the Jornada. This is fine for normal synchronization of notes,e-mails, and other text files, but we found it painfully slow with multiplemegabytes of MP3s. Playback of the music files was crisp through the stereoheadphone jack and loud even via the built-in speaker. The Jornada ships withserial connection cable, but you can pick up a serial cradle. It also offersinfrared transfer, if your PC or notebook offers the connectivity.

Weighing inat only 8 ounces, the Jornada fits snugly in the palm, with indented grips onthe rubber sides, and offers four hot keys for quick access to the home screen,contacts, calendar, and tasks list. There's also a voice recorder built into theJornada, accessible via a thumb button on the left side of the PDA.

Some flawsmar the overall design package: the flimsy CompactFlash slot cover feels like itcould snap off easily and the rubber pieces on the top of each side look likethey're meant to peel off (they're not) and do so with little resistance. TheJornada 525 also lacks a stylus slot on the device itself (the stylus is storedin the case that houses the Jornada), and the stylus could use a bit moreheft.

Nitpicks aside, the Jornada provides a lot of kick from its 133 MHzprocessor--applications popped open quickly and we were able to multitask withlittle slowdown. The bright, 8-bit color screen was easy on the eyes and is alsosensitive enough to allow touch manipulation.

Running Windows for Pocket PCand shipping with Microsoft Outlook 2000 also means that your Word, Excel, ande-mail files transfer to the Jornada seamlessly. The Jornada also runs on arechargeable battery (although we didn't quite get the promised eight hours oflife), saving on the cost of battery replacement.

While a redesign woulddefinitely add to the Jornada's appeal, as it is it's a respectable Pocket PCfor an excellent price. --J. Curtis

Pros:

• Inexpensive for a Pocket PC
• Light and sleek
• Bright color screen

Cons:

• Some design flaws
• Slow serial connection

Features

• Compatible with the essential Microsoft programs you use the most--Outlook, Word, Excel
• Capture your thoughts with the built-in voice recorder
• Integrated MP3 player and e-book reader
• Expandable via CompactFlash cards
• What's in the box: Jornada 525, Carrying pouch, Stylus, AC Adapter, Serial cable, Quick Start Guide, UserÆs Guide, Microsoft ActiveSync CD-ROM

Reviews (36)

Well worth the price
For almost three years I had exclusively used a Jornada 820 (Windows CE handheld with built-in modem and keyboard) as a portable device. And while I still love to take the 820 along on trips, there was one drawback: It was always just a little too big and heavy for my purse. This is why I recently bought a Jornada 525 Pocket PC.

The main reason for deciding on a 525 was its price, but I was also pleasantly surprised by its great functionality and design. The device fits well into my hand and exudes a sense of quality - no thin plastic body but substantial metal with rubber coating on the sides for a better grip. It looks pretty cool.

Of course there are a few compromises compared to higher-priced Pocket PCs: The 525 does not come with a cover, although one is available separately; the stylus cannot be stored in the device itself, although there is a slot for it in the included protective glove. Also, this Jornada has only a 256 color display, and no USB interface, however, a serial cable is included for synchronization. Another thing that's missing is a docking station, but again this can be purchased as an accessory. The 525 has only 16 MB memory, and not the fastest processor (SH3, 133 Mhz).

But all these things do not bother me too much. I synchronize via infrared anyway (which you CAN do with this device), and I have already purchased a cover - the silver-colored one looks quite good with it! Sure, the 16 MB memory is not great, but luckily the 525 has a Compact Flash Card slot. With prices for these cards plummeting, I put in a 128 MB CF card and I'm loaded for bear.

If you are like me - and I would dare say like most of the Pocket PC users - you will probably use such a device mainly for storing contacts and appointments, for playing Solitaire or read an eBook while waiting at the doctor's office, or for listening to MP3 files when the wait gets REALLY long. Also for storing other information like credit card numbers, passwords and PINs, and for keeping track of projects, orders, etc. With the optional camera module, one can even take pictures and view them.

All these things work on the Jornada 525, and work well. I would urge anyone who is in the market for a Pocket PC to really think about what he/she wants to do with it, and not blindly go for ads that make you want to spend hundreds of dollars more for a little more speed, contrast, and built-in memory. The fact is that all these devices have a very short shelf life, and what is top-of-the-line today, will very likely be gone by this time next year. Unless you are one of those rare power users who really live and breathe this technology, I believe the Jornada 525 will more than meet your needs.

The reason I didn't give 5 stars is that in my experience its battery life is not the best - I've learned to never stray too far from an electrical outlet. But again: This also depends on what kind of applications you are running, and how many at the same time... Nothing to gripe too much about.

3.5 Stars
this is my first pocket pc that i purchased it to replace my handspring visor. the metal case is very sleek, matched with the color screen, it definitely is a head turner. the rechargeable battery is a nice feature, although the life span is rather short. the serial sync cable included works fairly well but a usb cable would have been better. the infared sync works well with my laptop, but it's much slower than the serial cable. one thing that does annoy me is the fact that you can not store the stylus on the pda itself (like on the palm or visor) rather it stores in the protect sleeve instead. if you get this device you will soon find that the built-in memory is not enough, so i highly recommend getting an additional compact flash memory card. i have used it as an mp3 player but since i store the music on the expansion cf card, reading from the cf slot drains the battery pretty quick. i have also done some light editing of word and excel documents while on the go which works out great.
i also have a cf analog modem and cf wireless card to access the internet, it's not very fast but gets the job done when i need to chek my email. color depth is not all that great, you cannot view pictures or video very well but that might be expecting too much.

Excelent form my purpose
I`m from Buenos Aires, Argentina. I bought my Jornada 525 on november 2001 and I`m realy happy with this unit.
It is really elegant for business and it has the basic programs that a business man need.
Unnluckily, it was discontinious.

Jornada 525
The item itself was fine, but there was not a syncronization cable with it. I had to contact HP to have one sent. I would think that any pocket pc would automatically come with it's cable

Great model
This is a great model. Just add a CompactFlash card for more space and some great programs and you've got a great palm! (not that it isn't without all that stuff!) ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

The Cassiopeia EM-500, Casio's follow-up to its E-100 series of personaldigital assistants, closely mirrors the E-115 but offers a few changes. Thebiggest change is the move to using MultiMediaCard (MMC) memory over the morestandard CompactFlash memory slot. The postage stamp-size MMC cards offer neededmemory expandability (as the EM-500 comes with only 16 MB of internal memory,compared to the 32 MB of the E-115), especially if you plan to use the EM-500 asa portable MP3 player--one of its many multimedia capabilities.

While MMC over CompactFlash limits the ability of the EM-500 to use many PocketPC peripherals, we were willing to overlook that once we got a peek at the EM-500'sgorgeous TFT screen. This very bright, very colorful (65,536 colors, to beexact) display shines beautifully when you're playing games or watching mobilevideo player clips, which run along at a respectable 15 to 20 frames per secondwith the EM-500's 150 MHz MIPS processor.

The thick EM-500 (about twice the thickness of the Palm Vx) offers standardCasio programmable buttons to bring up the menu, calendar, and contacts, as wellas a navigational D-pad, which is great for gaming. In addition to functioningas a stereo MP3 player (when using the included headphones), the EM-500 alsoworks as a voice recorder, allowing you to dictate reminders for yourself orvoice messages to send with e-mail. Casio promises six hours of battery life,but we often were able to get seven or more as long as we left the backlight onmedium brightness.

With its IrDA port, the EM-500 can communicate with wireless devices, and itsUSB connection provides speedy data transfer--even installing programs largerthan a megabyte took only a few seconds.

Despite the limited memory and the lack of CompactFlash support, the powerfulprocessor, excellent display, and long battery life make the EM-500 acompetitive entry into the Pocket PC market. --J. Curtis

Pros:

• TFT color screen
• USB connection
• Good battery life
• Expandable using MultiMediaCard memory

• Only 16 MB of internal memory
• No CompactFlash support

Features

• Color screen with 240 x 320 display in 65,536 colors
• Synchronize to your desktop with rapid USB data transfer
• Includes Microsoft Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, Pocket Money, and Pocket Internet Explorer
• 16 MB of internal RAM, expands up to additional 64 MB with optional MultiMediaCards
• What's in the box: Cassiopeia EM-500, Stylus, USB Cradle, AC Adapter, Lithium-ion rechargeable battery pack, CR2032 lithium battery, Connector cable, Pocket PC User's Guide, Hardware Guide

Reviews (6)

I own one
This is a great pda for the price and it works well with windows which is a major plus. I am a med student and use mine to reference material quickly (it makes me look like a genius). Anyway, it has lot of other app as well so you can use it to play your fav song... on the train/bus or edit email or read a book... I COULD GO ON AND ON... anyway, good deal especially if you find one used.

High quality, limited expandability
I purchased the EM500 as my first PDA, along with a 64MB MMC card. The card allows me to store vast amounts of data and music on MMC, compensating somewhat for the barebones 16 MB of RAM permitted in this device.

Due to technological changes by Microsoft, the EM-500 and most other Pocket PCs on the market as of August 2001 cannot be upgraded to the new Windows Pocket PC 2002 operating system.

Assuming you need to buy a PDA before the new generation of Pocket PC 2002 PDAs reaches the market, the EM-500 is a great choice.

The video quality is excellent. The unit design is simple, sturdy and elegant. The included applications are more than sufficient for the average PDA or MP3 user. The success of the character and handwriting recognition software in translating simple messages was a pleasant surprise.

For added convenience, buy Casio's EM500 docking cradle.

Excellent PDA
I love PDA's (and computers in general, for that matter) and this is an excellent device. There was a time when I swore by Palm's pda's, but while Windows CE (now known as Pocket PC) has evolved to near-desktop power, the Palm has remained virtually unchanged. Of the Pocket PC's available, this unit is the best compromise of size and power. It packs a 150mhz cpu (more powerful than the HP Jornada, less than the Ipaq), 16mb of ram, and an amazing screen capable of displaying 16bit color. The Ipaq and HP Jornada can both only do 12-bit color at best. All of that is packed in a comfortable, small device that feels extremely solid in the hand.

While I do believe the EM-500 is probably the best unit available, it does have a few draw-backs. The miserly 16mb of ram is hardly enough... if you buy this make sure to get a 32mb or 64mb memory card to go with it. My other complaints are minimal: lack of hardware volume control, location of IRDA port... but none of these minor issues really impact the usefulness of the unit.

Definitely a great PDA, and well worth the money

Would score it much higher except for a couple concerns
I had the unique opportunity to use and evaluate the Casio EM500 for a week to determine if I was interested in purchasing it. At the end of that week, I really wanted to buy this PDA, but I had some lingering concerns that kept me from doing so. Here are some of my thoughts after using it:

-First off, I really loved the display on this unit. It was extremely bright and easy to read even in daylight. I would not have thought it, but a color screen made a HUGE difference. I had a Palm Pilot before, so I know what I'm talking about here. This Casio has one of the best displays of any of the color units.

-I really liked the PocketPC OS with just a few exceptions. As I mentioned earlier, I have had a Palm Pilot in the past. Of the two operating systems, I prefer the PocketPC. This is largely due to the fact that I use a lot of Microsoft products (Outlook, Word, Excel, Money) and it was extremely easy to synch with data with these applications. Some people prefer the Palm OS's simplicity, but for what I needed to do, I found greater functionality in the PocketPC. The only reservations I had was that the PocketPC makes in annoyingly difficult to close applications and its navigation could be simplified.

-The actual hardware design of this unit is fair. It's a little on the bulky side, but I never expected to be able to fit it in my pocket to begin with. While I liked the semi-scroll wheel on the side, I never used the multi-directional D-pad on the front. In fact, I rarely used any of the buttons on the front. I was also very disappointed that there was no cradle included. The USB cable was kind of awkward to have lying across my desk, and I would have appreciated a cradle to set the unit in when not in use.

-Battery life was impressive. While I never did an official test, I was often able to go through two days of normal use before needing to recharge. The unit uses a Lithium Ion battery.

-Don't underestimate the benefit of having Internet Explorer and Microsoft Reader as included applications. Using Avantgo (which is included), it is very easy to read news, weather, and stocks from sources like MSN and Yahoo. The problem is that it is not a live connection to the Internet, and you must wait until you synch with a PC again to get the information updated. It was also fairly easy to find e-books for Microsoft Reader.

-This unit only comes with 16mb memory. While that is more than enough to run most of the bundled applications, don't expect to play many MP3's on the Media Player unless you buy additional memory.

That brings me to the biggest single drawback of this PDA and the reason I did not end up buying it. This Casio EM500 has a MMC (Multi-Media Card) expansion slot. Most of the PDA's today use Compact Flash memory slots. This means that while I could find MMC memory to buy for my Casio, I could not find very many other expansion options. There are no modems available, or cameras, or any other type of expansion pack available other that just a memory card. Being that MMC is not really catching on, at least in the USA, I worry even about the availability of MMC memory packs in the future. While this may not be important to many people, it was to me. If I am going to spend this much money on a PDA, I want it to last for a while. I want to be able to be able to expand or upgrade the unit as new technologies and products occur. Even Casio seems to realize they made a mistake by using MMC in this unit rather than Compact Flash. Newer Casio models now use Compact Flash.

NOTE: Casio announced recently that EM500 will be capable of supporting SD (secure digital) memory cards. This will require a downloadable update from the Casio web site. Even with this announcement I still am concerned about upgradability options. I have yet to see anyone selling SD memory cards.

If you are not interested in expansions such modems and such, then this is an excellent PDA for you and a great value. I give it four stars (****) in that case. For those of you that are like me and crave expansion, I would suggest looking at the Casio E-125, or better yet, the Compaq iPaq line of handhelds.

RED
My only complaint is with the dull metalic red color, I was expecting a more vibrant red!

If the color isnt important to you, it's great! ... Read more

Features

• Powered by Windows CE operating system
• Bright, high-resolution color TFT LCD display
• Easy to use stylus pen and keyboard
• Supports Type I/II CompactFlash cards
• What's in the box: Aero 2180, Stylus, Docking Cradle, Serial cable, AC Adapter, Vinyl cover, Rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, CR-2032 backup battery, User Manual

Features

• Microsoft Pocket PC software makes office applications portable
• Intuitive menu design keeps all programs within reach
• HP backup programs protect sensitive and important data
• Watch a slideshow of stored images with the image viewer
• What's in the box: hp Jornada 564, Rechargeable lithium-polymer battery, CR-2032 backup battery, AC adapter, USB cradle, Quick Start Guide, Documentation pack, Pocket PC CD

Features

• 206 MHz 32-bit Intel+ StrongARM+ SA-1110, 64 MB RAM
• 6.5 in CSTN Touch screen, 640 x 240 x 65,536 colors on screen, 2D graphics acceleration
• PC Card Type II, CompactFlash Type I, Smart Card reader slots
• Integrated 56 Kbps modem/keyboard
• What's in the box: Jornada 728, Stylus, AC adapter, Rechargeable lithium-ion battery, USB Docking cradle, Sync cable, User Manual

Reviews (8)

How new is this product
would like to know how new is this product. Does it have any scratches when u say its refurbished. What are the accessories that come with this prodcut. Basically how new does it looks.

The J720/728 series works with earthlink!
I just want to refute the top review here, I have a 720, which is the same as the 728, just less memory, and i have accessed my Earthlink account to get on line more than once. I can't do it from home, but it worked in the expedia cafe in LAX, and in New Jersey, at my relatives' house.

Does not work with Earthlink
I thought this would be a great handeld. I tried to use it, called & emailed HP MANY times over the past 6 months. Finally, HP tech support said that it MIGHT not work with Earthlink and that I must change my ISP. Why didn't HP note that in the specs before I spent $(...)? If you're thinking about this unit, try to find out if it works with your ISP first.

MOBILITY is the key JORNADA728 IS THE answer
i keep all my pregnant patients vital information on my jornada.So,, at the patients first visit i type in the information.Then i ira the information to my IPAQ 3600 which I carry with me at all times.TO me the jornada 728 is my computer
even thou i active syn my jornada to my desktop. I have several offices so my jornada keeps me mobile .For me the jornada is
easier to carry around than a notebook or laptop.

jordana the saviour
befor the era of jordana, the idea of a portable unite witch had the capebility to play mp3's and mpg movies was nothing but a dream. this is a good handheld system and should be wildly apreciated thorough out the kingdom of handhelds. the only propblem with this device is its price. however it is worth spending the few extra hunderd bux.... ... Read more

Amazon.com Review

Hewlett Packard's 560 line of Jornada PDAs includes the 64 MB 568 and our 32 MB Jornada 565, members of the first batch of Pocket PCs to ship with Microsoft's new Pocket PC 2002 operating system.

On the surface, the Pocket PC 2002 OS looks much the same as the old OS. But there are a variety of enhancements to the stable of applications (such as Word and Excel), new software such as MSN Messenger, added security and antivirus protection, and improved handwriting recognition.

The Jornada 565 features a CompactFlash Type 1 slot, so you can add more CF memory as well as hook up CF peripherals, such as modems or network cards. You'll definitely want to expand on the memory front--32 MB isn't that much for a Pocket PC, especially if you want to play back any video or audio files. And CompactFlash memory prices have plummeted in recent months, making it an affordable upgrade.

The well-designed Jornada 565 sits nicely in hand, with a sturdy flip-up cover adding little to the overall weight (6.1 ounces without the cover and 7.0 with). The bright, 16-bit color TFT screen can be easily read from even sharp angles. While the 240 x 320 pixel, 3.5-inch diagonal screen isn't as large as some, it's big enough to keep you from squinting, even while reading books with Microsoft Reader.

Hooking the Jornada 565 up to your PC is handled either through the USB cradle (with a pass-through connector for the AC power adapter) or via infrared. In addition to the ActiveSync 3.5 software, HP includes Outlook 2002, Audible Player 2.0 for playing audio books, and MusicMatch for ripping and playing digital audio files. In addition to syncing up with Outlook files and directories, the Pocket PC versions of Word, Excel, and Media Player enable you to transfer almost any of your desktop files to the 565.

Powered by a 206 MHz StrongARM processor, the Jornada 565 can handle extensive multitasking without any slowdown. The bottom of the PDA offers four buttons for quick access to menus and applications--Home, Contacts, Calendar, and Tasks--as well as a four-direction navigation pad and scroll buttons on the side panel.

The Jornada 565 also functions as a voice recorder--just press the red button on the side and talk away--with a built-in microphone and speaker. But the speaker, while adequate for the normal beeps and burps of the OS, isn't great for music playback. You'll want to connect some headphones to the Jornada and, unfortunately, HP doesn't include any.

The rechargeable battery for the Jornada 565 promises up to 14 hours of life and we were able to get right around that. It also features a light at its top that glows green when the PDA is fully charged, and also flashes to alert you to appointments.

With its power, expandability, and the new Pocket PC 2002 operating system, the Jornada 565 makes an excellent all-around workhorse palmtop. --J. Curtis

Pros:

• Easy transfer of Word and Excel files and synchronization with Outlook
• CompactFlash Type 1 expandability
• Crisp, colorful display
• Sleek design

• 32 MB of memory definitely needs a boost
• Speaker not adequate for playing back music
• No headphones

Features

• Color Pocket PC with 32 MB of RAM with Microsoft's Pocket PC 2002 operating
• Built-in CompactFlash slot lets you add memory, accessories
• Vibrant 16-bit color display provides clear view indoors and out
• Rechargeable lithium-polymer battery lasts 14 hours
• What's in the box: Jornada 565, Stylus, Flip cover and case, Rechargeable lithium-polymer battery pack, CR-2032 backup battery, AC adapter, USB cradle, Documentation pack, Pocket PC Companion CD

Reviews (7)

WITHOUT UPGRADE
A few days ago I asked HP the upgrade to Pocket Windows 2003 for my Jornada 565, bought at Amazon on May 30, 2002. They answered they are not planning to give any upgrade to Jornadas because Compaq IPacs are now the mainstream line of pocket PCs from HP. A year after the purchase I have an obsolete tool and I think this is very unfair for HP customers.

WITHOUT UPGRADE
Hewlett-Packard support have just tell me that they will not upgrade any Jornada to Pocket PC 2003 operating system, and they will only support Compaq I-Pac as HP I-Pac mainstream Pocket PCs. I bought in Amazon a Jornada 565 in May 2002, and now I have an obsolete tool. I think this is very unfair. I have invested ... in the Jornada 565 and Hewlett-Packard forgets his customers to only give upgrades to Compaq customers. If you are thinking about buying an HP product, think twice: maybe they are thinking to merge with anybody else and live you without support.

King of the PDA
Ever since I bought my 565 I have loved it. It has been my trusted companion. It also makes a supperior MP3 Player, as it syncs well with Windows Media Player on my PC. It also is the perfect medium to write letters (Pocket Word), Manage your money and investment (MS Money for PPC), The best universal remote(TV Remote), and a better note taker that a giant Tablet PC. And it has a wonderfull hard cover to protect the screen. Despite loving it so much, It is impossable to find parts for it in Canada. Since it is discontinued you can not get a replacement stylus, or assesories. And I've had to get the screen replaced once, and the second time is comming soon. And the dust is impossable to get out.

Nice pocket pc, but a below average screen
My dad bought one of these and since he never uses it, its mine now. here is what i think
+ = the good
- = the bad
? = i dont get it

+ sleek design
+ compact
+ good colors on screen
+ plenty of speed

- the screen is poorly lit (some areas are not lit evenly)
- thick? (or is it just me?)

? = joranda???? what kind of name for a PDA is that???

Very pleased after false starts
I purchased a Handspring 1 1/2 years ago (OS) and decided to make the switch to a CE system. I am very pleased with the switch. I started with a Casio BE-300 but was disapointed in the programs available (programs need to be written especially for the BE-300) and the features that came with the unit. I went ahead and swallowed hard and spent the extra couple hundred to get what I really wanted and am very satisfied. More programs, Pocket Word, Pocket Outlook, etc. I had a hard time getting it to connect everytime but then went to the web site to get help and found that you needed to make sure that the unit was not in the cradle when you restarted windows on your descktop PC. Since I have gotten used to taking hte Jornada out of the cradle I have not had a problem. ... Read more