Why not buy European version?

[harzmana]

I might have missed this in an old thread...
Why don't we just order the European model of the TH-55 online and get bluetooth? Any problems with using it in the US? Any reason it would be difficult to order?

[rlc7254]

Originally posted by harzmana
I might have missed this in an old thread...
Why don't we just order the European model of the TH-55 online and get bluetooth? Any problems with using it in the US? Any reason it would be difficult to order?

I think the first problem was finding someone who would sell one in the US. But the Expansys people did, and I purchased one from them, got it Thursday and it works fine. I had a US version, and was surprised at how different the software between the two was. There was almost no third party software with it, and what was there was sparse. But the BT function works well, as does the WiFi. One feature on it that is kind of cool is what is called CoMa, a rom-based tool to help you set your wireless configuration, email, SMS, etc. All of the software I have installed on the US version works on the UK, so there is no loss there. Not a bad deal even if it was a tad more expensive.

 :D

[tnhh]

I think the main problem is price. Expansys are currently charging $514.95 for the TH55. I paid about $320 from Dell. Bluetooth isn't worth that much to me...

[cnycompguy]

i can't justify spending another 100-160 per unit just for bluetooth either. wifi is faster and much higher range, much more useful, unless you are planning on pairing it with a BT enabled phone, which there are so few in the US.
I think that Sony actually made the proper choice here, because if i had to shell out the extra money on a feature that is effectivly useless to me and many others, i wouldn't have purchased one.

flame me if you want but blue tooth just isn't nearly as heavily adopted here in the US as it is elsewhere.

[GeoffreyDC]

I have to agree with the other posters. Although I would love to have BT in my next mobile phone, the availability of such phones in the US is very limited and only on GSM networks, which aren't as pervasive here, yet. With any luck, a BT MS card (that has memory included) will arrive somewhere in the future.

Geoffrey

[cbhiii]

I am on the fence, but leaning toward the TH55/E vs. the TH55/U or waiting for the next crop sometime this Summer I would guess. Maybe I'll be able to hold out.

My present PDA the orignal S300 has been serving me well for these past 3 years. I'm sure that some here will think that I'm nuts to still be using it. I can say that it's done almost everything I've wanted it to do and all that was necessary for organizing my life (the primary goal of any assistant).

I realize that a few people here get a new PDA every few months to a year, but I'm not like that. When I buy my next unit I'm planning on having it last for another 3 years. With that in mind I'll probably get the BT version so that I have more options open to me that will carry me through that time period. Additionally the unit may have a higher resale value with it.

...my 2 cents...