Though one of the latest entrants into the handheld market, Toshibas e570 is a key contender. We particularly liked the front-lit screen; it scored top marks for clarity indoors and also performed well outdoors. In terms of overall build quality, the e570 once again came out on top. The alloy casing is rigid and the leather-effect case provides protection from small knocks.

The e570 is near identical to the HP Jornada 565 on the feature front, with 32MB of ROM, a 206MHz StrongARM processor, a 64,000 colour TFT LCD and PocketPC 2002.

At 18mm thick, the Toshiba is also almost exactly the same size as the Jornada 565. MMC and SD cards can be slotted into the top, and the Type II CompactFlash interface means it will accept IBMs microdrive. This also widens the scope for connectivity, including 802.11b and Bluetooth modules.

The e570 is bundled with Pocket versions of Word, Excel, Outlook, Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player 8, which pales in comparison with Jornada 565s extras. With a stated battery life of eight hours, it again falls behind the 565s 14 hours. However, at $1,249, the e570 costs $250 less than the Jornada, and this together with the CompactFlash Type II slot and 64MB RAM means the Toshiba wins this Labs.