Palmtops vie to catch executives' eyes
Sales of hand-held computers are expanding, but the question of a standard operating system for small devices is getting muddier. In November 1996, Microsoft Corp. launched its Windows CE, a software program that was to make hand-held computers more accessible to millions of Windows users.
Several prominent manufacturers of hand-held computers based their new models on Windows CE, a stripped-down version of Windows 5.0. Among them were Compaq Computer Corp., Hitachi Ltd., Casio Computer Co., Hewlett-Packard Co., LG Electronics Inc., NEC Corp. and Philips Electronics NV.But Sharp Electronics felt it had a winner with its Zaurus series, which has its own simple operating system. It steered clear of Windows CE, which was seen as taking too many steps to do a single process.
And a new contender has come in to battle for the pockets of mobile executives. U.S. Robotics Corp.'s Palmpilot is a palm-sized computer that can be operated with one hand. U.S. Robotics Ontario Ltd. saw rapid sales of its first two models, introduced a year ago, and of the most recent Palmpilots, which came out in April.
The devices have their own operating system, which is such a hit analysts are suggesting it be licensed and given a crack at becoming the industry standard. The Palmpilot caught on because it could be used with one hand while the executive used the phone with the other, says Richard Morochove, principal with Morochove & Associates computer consultants.
The push-button features are easy to use with a free thumb, he points out, so it takes only one button to pick up a listing, one push to scroll and one to call up the appointment book while holding the phone in another hand. Windows CE computers require two hands for most functions and are easier to operate while sitting at a table, he says. The Palmpilots also wooed new customers with an extremely low price of about US$300. That price includes an easy method of transfering data to a PC. The Palmpilot comes with a cradle that attaches to a PC. If it is plugged in and the user presses one button, it will update PC files.
``U.S. Robotics has turned the market upside down,'' Morochove says. ``People are buying palmtops who didn't use them before. Some of the other makers are reconsidering.'' But Windows CE also developed new customers for hand-held computers, says Rick Denda, manager of Marketron, a Toronto firm specializing in portable computing. Many liked the ability to work on familiar programs such as Excel and Word in a micro format. When Microsoft came into the market, it galvanized other software makers to adapt their products to Windows CE, he says. Many expansion products are now available for hand-held computers with
CE operating systems. And Windows users did flock to the new hand-held computers in the first months, attracted by the familiar user interface and ability to upload data easily to a PC, he says. But there remains a solid market for Sharp's Zaurus system and Apple Computer Inc.'s Newton, Denda says.
The line between personal digital assistants and hand-held computers is blurring, he says. Hand-held computers are getting smaller and lighter, but cell phones are getting smarter and PDAs now take a letter or provide a database. And there is a range of alternative products that appeal to niche markets. A voice organizer is a palm-sized digital recorder that adapts to the user's voice, taking the time of each appointment and notifying its owner when the time comes.
Technology research firm International Data Corp. expects the North American market for hand-held computers to expand 77% in 1997 to 5.5 million units, compared with a 1996 volume of 3.1 million.
HANDY PRODUCTS:
Some hand-held products:
- Compaq Canada's PC Companion: PDA based on Windows CE, can connect to a PC, 2 MB ROM, 4 MB of RAM, weighs less than a pound.
- Apple's MessagePad 2000, a hand-held mobile Internet computer, 5MB RAM, 8MB ROM, 1.5 pounds.
- Hewlett-Packard's HP 300L and 320LX palmtop PCs, Windows CE, 4MB RAM.
- NEC MobilePro hand-held PC, Windows CE, 8MB ROM, 2MB RAM, 0.8 pounds.
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