Rocky, I am recanting some of the statements I made about Pocket PC.
First, although I never really addressed price in my original posts, I was struck by "sticker shock" this weekend while looking at the $499.00 Jornada 545 and the $599.00 Cassiopeia E115 at BestBuy. Despite the software suite in the Pocket PC series currently being released now it is clear that these devices will not be adopted by the average consumer at this price...thus no mega-market potential just yet.
I also have problems with the Pocket Reader and Pocket Internet Explorer. I find the devices too small for enjoyable (leisure) reading. Also, for Internet browsing the devices really should be in a landscape format, rather than the narrower portrait format. It is clear that HTML was never designed for an LCD screen of this size. Hopefully a happier medium can be achieved. I understand that Foliage Software is selling a WAP powered browser called iWAP. This may be a more practical solution than using a hard wired connection to the Internet using a 56K CF modem.
Foliage and Compaq to Release First WAP Palmtop Web Browser
November 1, 1999
Foliage Software Systems and Compaq have announced the
development and release of Qbrowser, the first HTML and WAP 1.1 compliant browser for use on the
Compaq Aero 2100 and 1500 Palm-sized devices. Qbrowser was announced by Compaq at Telecom '99
held earlier this month in Geneva and is available as a component of the GSM Connectivity Suite, a
one-stop solution that enables wireless communication via the Global System for Mobile Communication
(GSM) Network.
foliage.com
In defense of Microsoft I wanted to state that the multimedia functions are still awesome. The color LCD screen interfaced with relevant software applications is, without doubt, the only way to go. (For contrast, the $449.00 Palm IIIc has a lackluster 160 x 160 pixel display and no corresponding mulitmedia applications.)
I love my Cassiopeia E-100. I used it at the gym as an MP3 player. I took it with me to Europe last year as an electronic dictionary and translator. With a phone modem it will come in handy for on-the-road Internet access when no PC is available. When I am lonely on business I simply pull up a few pictures of the wife and kids from my CF card.
At work and, in general, as an enterprise solution I see the Pocket PC as being much more attractive at the current price point. I would love an up-to-date, CF based drug compendium and an easy way to tranfer lists such as pager numbers, addresses and other work-related data to a CF card for easy access. Heck, I wouldn't mind the local white pages on a CF card for that matter. The possibilities seem endless.
In the meantime cybiko is going to show us the way. Sort of like the Barbie digital camera this device demonstrates how inexpensively you can make tomorrow's digital devices if you really put your mind to it.
cybiko.com
Now what can the 68 pin expansion slot be for?
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