Manufacturer: Casio Model#: BE-3 Weight: 5..9lbs Height: 4..8"     Width: .3" Length: " Average Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars	Retail Price: $169.99 Online Sale Price:
Features: 16 MB of internal RAM 3.2-inch color display 320 by 240 screen resolution Runs on Windows CE 3.0 What's in the box: Cassiopeia BE-300, AC adapter, Lithium ion battery, USB cradle, USB cable, Stylus, Flip cover, User manual

User Submitted Casio Cassiopeia BE-300 Pocket Manager (Color) Reviews (cont...)

View maps of many cities
Listen to MP3 files
Surf the internet
Chat with friends
Watch movies
Play games
Remotely control my desktop PC

All from a device that costs one half to one third the cost of the 'bigger' Pocket PCs.

There are some cons - forget about viewing anything in the bright sunlight because the screen just can't handle it. And there's not a long list of redundant software programs for it (yes, that's a snipe at the 50 or 60 finger/ping/whois programs available for the more 'mature' systems). But, the apps that are available are extremely functional and extremely good (those that doubt can look up a program called eXpod and you'll see what I mean).

Bottom line, give it a little love, and if you like to tinker around with handheld computers, give this one a chance

Date: 2002-10-08
I love my BE-300
I've had my BE-300 for 2 months and I love it. It kicks PDA-butt for the price! The PIM is straight-forward and logical. In fact, the calendar feature is MUCH better organized than the one for the much pricier Sharp Zaurus (my husband owns one.)

Handango (the only company to sell BE-300 software) offers some useful add-on software. I changed the start menu to a nicer looking one with a Bengal tiger (STARTMenu for [money]) and I also added a program called Listmaker which can turn basic text memos into checkbox lists -- very useful. In addition, I have a 128mb compact flash storage card -- which holds oodles of mp3s and jpgs. The photo viewer doesn't always recognize my jpgs which is annoying. Still, it's a very powerful and customizable machine for about [money]. Other PDAs at the same price either don't have the memory and expandability or use AAA batteries or sacrifice color viewing.

I would have bought this without the MP3 player, but that is a nice bonus, and the sound is quite good.

My only complaint is that you can't get the variety of software that's available for Pocket PCs -- the Casio version of Win CE operating system isn't compatible with the garden variety of PDA Win OS...still, since the basics (calendar, contacts database, memo with handwriting recognizer, world clock) are robust and the added attractions (mp3 player and compact flash slot for added memory or extra gadgets like a digicam) are nice...I can happily live without some of the fluffy fun stuff that's available to more expensive models.

Date: 2002-10-04
WARNING: Will not run PocketPC software!
The BE-300 runs a Casio-specific embedded WinCE, and WILL NOT run all the PocketPC software that runs on the iPaq, the Toshibas, etc. The reason this device is cheap is because it only has 16MB ROM/16MB RAM. PocketPC requires 32MB ROM/32MB RAM.

Date: 2002-10-02
If Amazon reviewed this correctly it would be OUT OF STOCK
This inexpensive PDA is about as versatile as they come Mobipocket Ebooks (including tons or refernce works), Audible Audiobooks (Audible.com), news and mp3 content from Mycasio.com --- expandible memory via Compact Flash cards or IBM Microdrive, Personal Information Manager software, games
can synch with MSOutlook, can hook up to a portable keyboard and on and on and on. The tech info that says not Audible compatible is WRONG. It is. There is some 3rd party software available and they permit a "skinnable" menu interface i.e. XPOD KCmenuII and soon a very small Linux - you can create whatever look you want. Caveat - dont attempt using two different PDAs (USB) off the same computer. The PC software gets confused and wont link the 2nd PDA. (Bummer) This baby is A) not so spendy and B) versatile if you check out your options.