Toshiba's new, high-end e550C and e550gd Pocket PCs are Japan only for now, but might arrive in other markets later. Anyone fancy 128 MB of RAM and a detachable digital camera?
Yet again breaking barriers in the Pocket PC camp, Toshiba's newest addition to its Genio line of Pocket PCs for the Japanese market comes in two editions - both of which boast 128 MB of RAM, and one of which comes with a detachable digital camera. The Genio e550C and e550gd will be available in Japan from March 8, but Toshiba has yet to decide whether it will sell the devices in any other markets.
 | Toshiba's new e550C and e550gd models pack more features than the vast majority of Pocket PCs
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Sporting for the most part similar specifications, such as a 400 MHz Intel XScale PXA255 processor, a whopping - and previously unseen - 128 MB of RAM, a 4" 16-bit TFT display, a CompactFlash Type II expansion slot and an SDIO capable SD Card expansion slot, the e550C and e550gd rank at the very top of the Pocket PC market.
There are, however, some differences. Notably, the e550C is the world's first Pocket PC to be available with an integrated digital camera, which is located on the back of the device. Offering VGA resolution and even flash, the camera adds only a couple of millimeters to the thickness of the e550C versus the e550gd, measuring respectively 125 x 76.5 x 17.5 mm and 125 x 76.5 x 15.9 mm. With its camera detached, the two models both weigh in at 170 g - although it is unknown whether the camera can operate when not attached to the e550C.
Another difference between the two models is the e550C's 48 MB of ROM, which provide additional space for applications related to the camera and its functions, whereas the e550gd only has 32 of MB ROM. Battery life for both models is listed to be 16 hours, courtesy of the non-exchangeable 1100 mAh lithium ion battery. According to Toshiba, battery life can be increased to 30 hours through an add-on pack. Also, WLAN capabilities can be added to the e550C model by means of the same expansion system used by the digital camera.
Both the e550C and the e550gd will be available in Japan from March 8, at the suggested retail price of 74,800 JPY (approximately 650 USD/EUR). When asked whether the e550C and e550gd would be made available in markets outside Japan, Toshiba spokesperson Midori Suzuki said Toshiba had yet to decide on what to do.
Previously, Toshiba has made available the Genio e550G, the predecessor to the e550C and e550GD models and also launched only in the Japanese market initially, on the U.S. market where it has been well received.
Additional hi-res pictures of the Toshiba e550gd and e550C are available on the following pages.
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