I've used all sorts of PDAs and this is very basic but I like it. I saw it in action at Office Depot. So I got it to try it out.
You can only input up to 100 characters per memo onscreen keyboard pops up for data entry (the onscreen keyboard feels cramped no scribble/drawing mode also :(, it has graphic icons that is a bit cruder than those on a palm see enlarged picture, it has a URL keeper which you can use as a TO DO or memo list instead or something else. You can input your schedule, choose day and time, and text description, and set alarm or not, options for holiday and anniversary. It has 3 different calculators; basic, metric conversion, currency conversion. Has toggles for home time and world time, the world time is your standard popular cities list of time differences across the world, i.e. Adelaide +9:30, Madrid, Luxemburg, etc. all the way to Zurich +1, also toggle for Daylight Savings on/off. Also has a PC SYNC icon from the main screen. Last icon on the pda is SYSTEM SETUP; key tone on/off, time format, date format, screen contrast, memory status, change password, delete record, about.
The rom is version 1.01, I guess they made some improvements over previous reviews I've read, like MEMORY STATUS you can check how much memory is free now, i.e. 99% free. I'm not sure what other improvements were made.
The touchscreen is not as sensitive as Palms, pdabuzz.com mentioned it will register about 75% of the time I agree with this. But if you tap slower and firmer, it will have a better chance of registering than quick and fast taps.
You may be able to email Oregon Scientific for the html manual if you'd like to see the interface and how it works.
The Windowslink software v2.1 is very basic with its 16 color palette, reminds me of those early Windows 3.1 PDA software for my Sharp Zaurus 3500/3500x/5000. I downloaded Windowslink update v2.3 from their site and the software chose a different handheld for me and I couldn't choose this one (PD293), it was grayed out v2.3 also was a tad buggy when you sync, you must set the pda to sync with pc, then set the software to sync it may generate an error, but click on CONTINUE, make sure the pda is still trying to sync set the pda to sync then it will sync each time.
If you are going to install the update, to get it to recognize the PD293, you need to remove all traces of Windowslink software from your system, re install v2.1 from the included cdrom (don't start the program yet), re install v2.3 update downloaded from their website, then restart the computer, then you can choose the pd293 organizer as your handheld when you first start.
This unit comes w/ a leather/vinyl case (reminds me of a business card wallet) that is actually about a B to Aquality closes with velcro, lining is shiny black nylon, has a holder for the small sturdy stylus. You can use the PDA w/out taking it out of its case because of the cutout pocket the pda sits in.
The screen is plastic and glarey, but not as bad as other reviews I've read on pdabuzz.com again, maybe this is updated. When I look at it, my Palm IIIx has a shiny screen too but LCD contrast is sharper on the IIIx. At least the ECHO PD293 is not as bad as the first Palms, I believe those 5000 models from a few years back. The contrast can be adjusted anyhow.
If you're not a power user, and you just want to carry around your basic schedule, small memos, phone numbers, and have it sync with your desktop with its basic software, then it's 512k should be more than sufficient.
I found this device cute, small (about 5 to 6 credit cards thick) and unobtrusive, sturdily made metal with a hard plastic trim around (it feels like a pcmcia card), and a decent effort for a first credit card size touch screen pda. This is a step in the right direction of small credit card size PDAs. Actually, my dream pda would be similar to the good quality pager sized RIM BLACKBERRY, with the jog press dial, small keyboard, a slightly larger screen, maybe small stylus included, and thinner no need for pager support for me.
CONS Software needs to be improved a bit and debugged. Make sync smoother and effortless. Add a drawing/scribble mode. Doesn't have a backlight, but I can easily tolerate this I hardly ever use the backlight on my Palm IIIx. Better if memo can hold more than 100 characters, and can also use the return key return key in memo means save and proceed.
PROS Small size. Simple and basic. Decent quality in workmanship, B to Aquality. Syncs with desktop ok once you figure out its quirks, see above.
KEYWORDS credit card pcmcia pda oregon scientific echo pd293 pd 293 rex
If you are interested in keeping basic information and do not need internet capability or the capacity to carry around large written articles, this is the best available unit for the purpose. It is credit card sized and can be acessed with a PC, allowing you to enter data from your computer keyboard. It has several different functions and its price, 59 to 69.95 makes it very replaceable, should it get lost, with the advantage of being able to transfer data from the PC to the new hand held. All and all, a great buy for my needs.
Buy Oregon Scientific ECHO PDA Now
Mine worked for 2 minutes after first receiving it, then it never worked again, so I returned it. The stylus is like a plastic tooth pick and I think this company was being just a little too ambitious thinking they could make an organizer this small and make it reliable. I decided to spend more money to buy a real PDA and splurged on the Handspring Visor Platinum. You might want to consider the same move.
Read Best Reviews of Oregon Scientific ECHO PDA Here
This credit card sized PDA has most of the typical features that would make one consider a PDA. I purchased my ECHO on sale for [$]. I mention this so it can be taken in consideration in light of my 4 star rating. As mentioned by another reviewer, the screen can be hard to see at times. Some of the icons are not clear at first. Now that I have them memorized, and know what they do, its not a problem. I noticed a reviewer mentioning that they had to change list into text etc. This is not necessary. There are two software packages on the CD, although this may not be as obvious as it could be. One is an stand alone onragizer program that runs on the windows desktop and links with the PDA. This program's look is a bit unattractive, but it is easy to use and does the job. The second software program allows you to synchronize the PDA with a variety of well known programs like MS Outlook, Lotus Organizer and others. I have addittionally tested it with MS Outlook XP, and MS Outlook 2003 BETA 2 with success. The only reason that I did not give this device 5 out of 5 stars is do to the lack of support for the TO DO list in an organizer program.
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I purchased this product in July 2000. It lasted about 6 months. I contacted Oregon Scientific who told me there was a 90 day warranty, so too bad.
I've purchased two (2) units of the Topram 16GB SDHC (Class 6) cards back in May 2008 where they were primarily used for storage for my HD Canon camcorder. This past summer, the first started to give me internal errors to the point that I've lost majority of the 16GB and now have some 200MB left on the card that is accessible. The 2nd card failed on me today. I've turned on my Nikon D80 DSLR and found that the memory card was "locked", so as I pulled it out I found that A) the lock tab was missing and that B) the front of the plastic housing was ripped off. Somehow the plastic didn't hold up to the bi-weekly insertion and removal from my Nikon to the memory card reader.
