Tungsten E2 tries to mimic other devices with no success
Ling-Mei Wong
Daily Opinion Editor
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But if your heart is set on buying a PDA, it doesn't have to be this one.
The Tungsten E2 sells for $249, comparable to an Apple iPod mini's price of $199.
It's the second generation of the Tungsten E, with a brighter, more detailed color screen, Bluetooth wireless capability and 32 MB of RAM.
The datebook, address book and memo pad features on the Tungsten E2 are standard on any PDA. A basic black-and-white screen PDA, such as a Palm IIIxe, sells for $29.99 at Fry's after rebate.
For the PDA to be more than a glorified day planner, it needs a lot of accessories.
This PDA tries to be a laptop, MP3 player, photo viewer and day planner all rolled in one.
With the purchase of a memory expansion card - the cheapest 64 MB one selling for $24.99 on palmOne's Web site - users can store MP3s, photos and video clips on their PDAs.
Headphones are sold separately as well.
The Tungsten E2 includes DataViz Documents To Go software, which allows users to run Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files on the PDA and transfer them to a computer.
It's a pretty and slim package, but it tries too hard to be everything that most students already own.
In order to take notes with the PDA alone, a student would have to frantically jab at the screen with the stylus.
It does not look cool to poke the screen spastically, the faux-leather covering obscures the screen and tapping at the screen may draw glares rather than stares.
While accessories such as folding keyboards are available, a laptop does fine for taking notes in class. The only compatible keyboard for the Tungsten E2 is palmOne's Universal Wireless Keyboard, which costs $69.99 at palmOne's Web site.
A keyboard and PDA are more compact than a laptop though. Size may be the only advantage a PDA has over a laptop.
This PDA and its folding keyboard, plus a 64 MB memory expansion card for MP3s and pictures, would cost approximately $344, less than any new laptop or computer.
Unfortunately, a computer is needed to put MP3s into the PDA's memory.
To see the Word documents, Excel spreadsheets or PowerPoint presentations without going blind requires a computer.
Pictures and videos would require a digital camera, which requires more money.
And the Bluetooth wireless capabilities of the Tungsten E2 require wireless access.
There's also a program called "Dialer" on the PDA, which seems to be a Voice over Internet Protocol program, or Internet telephone service.
It came with no instructions and did not replace a cell phone or fax machine.
This PDA needs a whole lot of accompanying tech toys to be more than a shiny organizer.
For a technological product to attain "must-have" status, it has to do one thing well.
There is nothing unique about the Tungsten E2 that gives it "must-have" status.
An example of a successful product would be the Apple iPod. It plays music well, being able to play thousands of songs for 12 hours.
The Tungsten E2, with a 64 MB memory expansion card, can't hold many songs and may not last 12 hours with its high-resolution screen.
Ironically, the one thing going for the Tungsten E2 is its rechargeable lithium-ion battery.
While battery life depends on what programs are used, the Tungsten E2 survived a week of daily use before it needed its battery recharged.
But there's no need to pay $249 for a color PDA that lasts forever as a pricey day planner and so-so MP3 player.
Don't buy this PDA. While its design and battery life are excellent, its extra functions require too many accessories.
