Blazing HOT!!!Great Price ON Audiovox Maestro $209 AR Staples Online!

[snoopdoug1]

Got my luggage today It says everything was shipped on the same day, but, I only got one thing today! Oh well. The luggage is very nice, and cost me nothing. However, my problem is that they didn't send anything in the package saying what I got, etc. I need that for the rebate on the Maestro!

I hope it comes in the next package! Thanks for the deal guys!

 

[Sanjoelo]

Got my Maestro yesterday--some first impressions: Extremely well-built, about the same size as an HP 56x, which I like. A PDA is supposed to be small, and this one is a good compromise between compactness and screen size. The "D-Pad" is a lot more responsive than any PDA I've owned so far (Palm 3xe, HP 525, HP 567, iPaq 3635). I wish they had angled the remaining buttons a bit more ergonomically. Sound quality is excellent, and it handles PPC2002 very nicely. The touch screen feels exactly as it should..not too firm, not too mushy. The stylus is worthless. Image quality is outstanding, but the default backlight (or as they call it: "front light") setting is too low. I absolutely love the dual slots. They should have included more software. I installed PocketNES to try some emulated games, and it performed incredibly well (I played a bit of both Zeldas, Metroid, and Kid Icarus). Multiple button presses are not an issue at all. The case is okay, but I'll be looking for something better.

Definitely not as cool-looking as iPaq, but it does many things better than the 36xx, 37xx series. Gaming is an important consideration to me. Overall, I'm loving this little Toshiba (like Audiovox could ever design or build something of this quality by the way).

-JB

 

[swNYC]

Pretty good deal for those who bought the Audiovox Maestro/Toshiba:

Dell Home S&P has the Lexar 128MB SecureDigital Card in stock (SKU# A0012244) for $105.95. Apply 10%, -$10 discounts and 3% ebates, Total Cost $82.79 shipped NEXT DAY (Free next day shipping for me was quoted at checkout). Save your CF slot for a Modem or Wireless Lan.

 

[BeBumbleBe]

Just checked one out at CompUSA. Shame it doesn't have an option for a jacket for a PC card. I would have bought it in a flash !

 

[tran1981]

My estimate arrival is today but only the luggage and erasers came. Probably it will be here by tomorrow. Can't wait to mess around with it.

 

[yosefb]

Two questions:

1. where do you get the PocketNES & games?

2. for those of you who have both iPAQ & the Maestro... which do you like better?
I was able to get a cheap Compaq 3765, so that the cost of the two units is about the same... which should I keep?

 

[benimaru]

good post on the SD card swNYC. Just wish the prices for SD were comparable to CompactFlash.

Building an external battery extension is detailed on the pocketpcpassion website, but here's a cheap alternative that was listed on the message boards of the aforementioned site.

[L]http://shop.store.yahoo.com/semsons-inc/pdaaccessories.html[\L]

Only $10.

It would be nice however to build a battery extender that could sit on the back of the PDA, much like the backpaqs used by the Ipaqs.

 

[Phobic9]

I have the $10 battery extender from Semsons and it works pretty well. I'm using 1600 mAh NiHM batteries and I can get about 2 full charges on my Maestro. This is especially handy when doing power extensive tasks such as watching episodes of CSI or Six Feet Under

As far as emulators go, the best one I've found is YameCE. It emulates NES, SNES, GB and Turbo Graphix 16. I've only tested NES games but they run great. You can get YameCE here. Make sure you select the 6th file down YAMECE Version 0.38e BeOS and then select the ARM version. For games, your best bet is doing a search on Google.

I've had my Maestro for about 2 weeks and it's an awesome little machine. The 32MB onboard RAM isn't even an issue with 256MB CF cards so cheap. The only small complaint I have is the way the Maestro lights the screen but you get use to it after a while. There's no dust under the screen (*cough* Jornada) and for these extremely low prices you can't go wrong.

 

[mdetz]

Probably a silly question-
What do I need to send in as the receipt? Does Staples send you an invoice?

 

[snoopdoug1]

I would assume you would get some kind of receipt. At least I'm hoping

 

[tran1981]

Either the package invoice, the email confirmation or the printed checkout receipt.

 

[kermalou]

the receipt that was in the box is smudged, should i just send it in anyway?

 

[snoopdoug1]

I would, it's not like you got anything else to send in

 

[Crazy8]

Got mine yesterday. It was a brand new unit in a sealed package. When I first put it on the cradle, it showed 80% power. No matter how long I charge it, it won't go to 100% power (only 90%). HELP! Anyone has the same problem? Oh, the battery goes very fast too.

 

[GLudlow]

Uusally, new erchargeable batteries need an overnight charge to get to fuill. If you did that and it still only goes up to 90%, you might try swappnig batteries.

 

[Crazy8]

Thanks for the reply. When I charged it for the first time, the light went from orange to green within 1 minute. Then I let it charge over night, and this morning, it's only 80%. Guess I an goona call Staples for a replacement.

 

[tran1981]

Can u just go exchange at a local staples B&M?

 

[patrickj]

Got mine too...happy so far...and Staples treated me well. I forgot to order the free luggage. I called the next day, explained the situation to a very nice csr, she added the luggage, and pens. Both arrived yesterday and all is well...no complaints here...

What is the current firmware revision for the Maestro?

 

[Phobic9]

<< Got mine too...happy so far...and Staples treated me well. I forgot to order the free luggage. I called the next day, explained the situation to a very nice csr, she added the luggage, and pens. Both arrived yesterday and all is well...no complaints here...

What is the current firmware revision for the Maestro?
>>



There is no firmware update but there is a PocketPC 2002 service pack that you can get here
here.(look for the software update)

 

[patrickj]

thanks for the link....now all I need is an external keyboard and I will be all set. I hate using the handwriting recognition for inputs...too slow and clumsy for me....

 

[nj]

I emailed Audiovox about keyboards and they said they should have one out by mid May. Targus Japan recommend visavis.co.jp for their Targus keyboard. Visavis replied that it's ~$120-130 to ship it to the states, payable by wire transfer. Their email was support@visavis.co.jp, if your interested.

The best one so far looks like the BenQ 790 but I can't find a vendor that imports it (I can't even find a site that carries it). I'll probably just wait for the Audiovox one, if it ever comes.

 

[patrickj]

Will Toshiba accessories work with the audiovox? All reviews say that they are the same with the exception of the memory.

 

[Sanjoelo]

<< Will Toshiba accessories work with the audiovox? All reviews say that they are the same with the exception of the memory. >>



Yes. The two units are physically identical, with the exception of the halved RAM and some Audiovox badges.

I'm really loving this unit. The Maestro functions so well, I'm not even regretting it as I watch my iPaq be shipped to it's new owner today. The Toshiba is -much- better for emulation/general gaming. BTW, I did run that Japanese patch that fixes the diagonals on the "D-Pad", and it worked flawlessly. Also ran the 2002 Service Pack without incident. I really like the way this one is put together.

-JB

 

[patrickj]

As cool this device is, I may be forced to return it to Staples if I can't get a good idea of whether a keyboard will be available or not....

 

[jeepers94]

patrickj,did you not read the answer of availability of a keyboard?I would wait and see,you can always sell it on that auction site!