Popular Science H3650 Review:
Task Master
Photo by John B. Carnett
by SUZANNE KANTRA KIRSCHNER
WinCE without pain? The new generation of Pocket PCs are simpler to use and offer access to e-mail, music, and even books.
A Windows CE Challenger for Palm's Crown: If you're ready for a personal digital assistant that does more than take notes and organize your life, Compaq's iPaq (shown) and other Windows CE-based Pocket PCs are worth a second glance. These pocketable PDAs offer MP3 music playback, full Web browsing, and electronic book reading in addition to the usual fare. And the iPaq comes with an expansion slot, which can take expansion modules like this compact flash slot.
When the PalmPilot personal digital assistant (PDA) debuted four years ago, there were no MP3 audio players, the Web wasn't our constant companion, and e-books were still in the labs. The Pilot answered our need for an easy-to-use device that kept us organized and let us jot down a few notes. In contrast, when Microsoft came out with its Windows CE (ironically nicknamed WinCE) operating system for palm-size devices in 1998, it was bogged down with cumbersome programs and difficult to use. Expectations have changed in two years, and now you may be ready for your PDA to do more. This time around, Microsoft's new Pocket PC delivers. It's WinCE without pain.
Microsoft finally got the idea that the back seat of a taxi doesn't lend itself to desktop-style computing. The first improvement you'll notice is that programs start almost instantaneously. The second is that the double tap for launching programs and other functions is gone; a single tap will do the job. Holding the tap now brings up options like cut and paste. And third, you no longer have to contend with multitiered menus. >>
Microsoft's lineup of standard programs also shows attention to mobility. In addition to notes, calendar, to-do list, voice recorder, and directory applications, Pocket PCs come with a text processor called Pocket Word, a Pocket Excel spreadsheet program, e-mail that supports Word and Excel file attachments, Microsoft Money, the Internet Explorer Web browser, Windows Media Player (which plays MP3 files), and Microsoft Reader, an e-book application. That means you can respond to e-mail, relax with a book, get caught up on the news, or listen to music, all on one device.
Caroline Parsons
Pocket PCs will come from a variety of sources. Compaq, Casio, and Hewlett-Packard, among others, have been busy in the design studio. While the initial WinCE devices were somewhat clunky compared to the Palm products, Compaq's iPaq ($499) shows that a Pocket PC can be as sleek as its competitors. The iPaq weighs just 6 ounces and measures 5.1 by 3.28 by 0.62 inches — not much larger than the new Palm IIIc. It comes with 32MB of RAM, a color 240- by 320-pixel display, a built-in USB port, a lithium polymer battery that lasts up to 14 hours, and an ambient light sensor, which automatically turns on the iPaq's back light when you need it. Compaq also includes a proprietary 100-pin connector that serves as an expansion slot for accessories, a core feature offered on Handspring's Visor, a recently introduced PDA that has attracted positive reviews. Plug-in Pocket PC accessories available by the end of the year will include a CompactFlash type II card slot, a PC Card slot and battery, a digital camera, a GPS receiver, and even a cellphone.
The new Pocket PCs come fully loaded, which may not appeal to those who want a simpler device with fewer options. But for power users, or anyone looking to shed a few pounds by carrying one device instead of many, this new incarnation of WinCE may prove to be a winner. |
