Accessories for the e800... where?

kamikun · #1 06-12-2004, 11:22 AM

Filed under ... ,availability of
I've spent the last 36 hours pouring through Japanese websites trying to find a sync cable and / or cradle for the e400 (which is compatible with the US e800). And there is not much out there. I did eventually find a sync cable (no sync / power cables are even in the market here for the e400) but decided now was probably a good time to go ahead and get all the accessories I've been putting off buying.
So I figured I would try to find what I could on US sites with an eye on getting friends or family to forward it on.
Here's what I'd like to buy... a replacement internal battery, an extended battery and a USB cradle. Now try to find them in stock... anywhere.
What's the deal? Does anyone have any thoughts or news on why these objects are so hard to come by? Is Toshiba ever planning on replenishing the stock? The sync cables are pretty easy to get, at least in America, but all the other stuff is just gone.

kamikun · #2 06-12-2004, 12:35 PM

UPDATE:
D'oh: Just got an email from the electronics shop: the plain ol' sync cable is out of stock and they were not able to find another vendor who has it. ( I appreciate that about these shops... they'll make the effort to track down parts if they don't have them). Looks like I'll have to order from the US.

bkbroil · #3 06-12-2004, 01:48 PM

Man....I can't believe how hard it is to buy accessories...It makes me feel priveliged to live within 5 minutes of a Staples, Circuit City, Best Buy and a Radio Shack.

jkendrick · #4 06-12-2004, 08:20 PM

I think the problem is that e800 accessories are in short supply everywhere. Aside from the retractable cable not even Toshiba has the other accessories in stock.

sracer · #5 06-13-2004, 12:52 AM

Accessories for all Toshiba PDAs are scarce. It is perhaps the main reason why I'm hestitant to get another Toshiba.

knelson · #6 06-13-2004, 03:02 AM

I think all PPC's are in the same boat... nothing in stock anywhere.

kamikun · #7 06-13-2004, 10:25 AM

Again, if this is true and especially if it's true for all PPCs, then the question gets even bigger.
Why?
PPC sales are declining. Could it be that manufacturer's treatment of them as the ugly, red-haired stepson of laptops and purpose-specific consumer devices (like GameBoys) are leading to the preception among consumers that the PocketPC is nothing more than an overnight curiosity? If the companies that make these things feel no need to support them in the marketplace why should the marketplace feel comfortable supporting them?
The last couple of days I have been trying to throw my money at Toshiba and they seem beyond not interested. If I ever do get my hands on a sync cable, cradle or extended battery you can be darn sure I'll treat the thing like the gold it is... cause it seems I'll never get another one no matter how hard I look.

sracer · #8 06-13-2004, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamikun

Again, if this is true and especially if it's true for all PPCs, then the question gets even bigger.
Why?

Well, it isn't true for all PPCs. Accessories for HP PPCs are readily available at the office supply megastores, and even in retail chains like Walmart and Target.

Quote:

Originally Posted by kamikun

PPC sales are declining. Could it be that manufacturer's treatment of them as the ugly, red-haired stepson of laptops and purpose-specific consumer devices (like GameBoys) are leading to the preception among consumers that the PocketPC is nothing more than an overnight curiosity? If the companies that make these things feel no need to support them in the marketplace why should the marketplace feel comfortable supporting them?

It has nothing to do with declining sales. It has to do with (A) OEM manufacturing, (B) hardware incompatibility, and (C) distribution channels.
OfficeMax, Office Depot, and Staples can't stock something if it isn't made. Toshiba, in particular, has done a terrible job making peripherals for their devices. Perhaps Toshiba thought that if they make the device, then others would make the peripherals. I can only recall Toshiba making 1 keyboard for their PPCs, and it was monstrously hideous. A folding keyboard with a 1" gap running down the center... virtually unusable. (That's just one example)
(B) Every company feels the need to have a custom connector for their devices... That means different sync cables, different battery extenders, different power adapters, different keyboards. I know that this was a concession that Microsoft made to the hardware manufacturers so that they could differentiate their products via accessories and peripherals. (because the other hardware specs for the platform were pretty tight)
But the result is that retail outlets have to now stock different items for different devices. Shelfspace is at a premium. If something doesn't sell, it's off the shelf (and out of mind).
(C) HP has an excellent distribution channel for it's products. Business, Education, Consumer, they've got it covered and can move product efficiently. The consumer electronics division (TV/DVD) of Toshiba has great distribution channels, but their computing division doesn't have their act together. It does little good to make product and not be able to get it out to customers.
--------
Many people on the net extoll the "spec sheet" of their devices... so-n-so Mhz processor, yada-yada RAM, VGA (oooh. LOL) but I've been on a one man crusade to let people know that there's more to PPC ownership than the device itself. The availability and choices in cases, cables, adapters, keyboards, etc. etc. are just as important. But then again, I suspect that a large majority of PPC owners use their devices as overpriced gameboys.

kamikun · #9 06-14-2004, 09:13 AM

Sracer brings up some interesting points. (Although that dissing of the VGA ain't gonna go far with me, son.

) But I think the crux of this problem is a failure of marketing.
Like you said, HP has got their distribution channels covered and that's because they have a vision or at least a clue as to what PPCs are and what they are not. More importantly, they have an idea of who their target customers are and how they use the devices. Toshiba has put out an interesting device but, as you said, the thinking sorta stopped there.
The PPC has become a niche device and it shouldn't be. These devices require a marketing strategy that educates the potential customer as much as it tries to sell to them.
I'm sorry I wanna talk about this more but I'm pressed for time. Until I can get back to this thread I'm going to take heart in this. At least one third party has stepped up to produce new (better?) internal and external batteries for the e800. We can only hope that Toshiba will not 'redesign' the connector on the device for the next generation of its line.
Thanks for the thoughts.