here's the mistake that mister softee is making, imo. they're trying to cram too much into a pda, which is contrary to the whole concept...
"The Compatibility Issue
Pocket PCs include Pocket Word and Excel, which
convert PC Word and Excel files to a smaller format
that can then be resaved in PC format, Thompson
says.
Pocket Word and Excel support version 95, 97, and
2000 of their desktop siblings, says a Microsoft
spokesperson. But some analysts are skeptical that
conversions will be smooth.
"It's impossible to tell what you'll be able to read," says
Ken Dulaney, vice president of mobile computing at
Gartner Group. "People will try to use attachments, but
there are compatibility problems."
Designed to let you view and edit documents on the go,
Pocket Word offers some basic Word formatting and
editing tools, but editing text on a tiny device is tedious
even without a file-conversion question.
Pocket Excel could be useful for updating expenses on
the road, but Excel spreadsheets are designed for a
full-size PC. It's unclear what you can read when you
convert to Pocket Excel, Dulaney says.
Compressing PC software, particularly Windows
software, into the size of your palm doesn't mean a
PDA can replace a notebook PC, Dulaney warns. He
expects Pocket PC strengths to be in electronic
books, Web, and multimedia applications.
Software aside, Microsoft's challenge is to produce "a
simpler, easier-to-use interface to compete with Palm,"
Dulaney says."
pcworld.com |
