The iPaq is a K car. I like!
NW
Houston Chronicle Computing Column
Feb. 25 (Houston Chronicle/KRTBN)--TWO NEW GEMS LOSE OLD BAGGAGE: Get
used to seeing the term "legacy-free." Never mind that it's yet another
bit of maddening computer-industry jargon -- it's good news for
everyday PC users who are frustrated with the complexity of these
machines.
A legacy-free computer is one that lacks older components that can
cause conflicts and problems. That usually includes traditional
parallel and serial ports, as well as floppy drives and PCI or ISA
slots.
Because many of these older technologies have been around since the
dawn of the PC age, they force limitations in the design of hardware
and software that can cause conflicts and instability.
Computer makers this year will begin cranking out legacy-free PCs for
both consumers and businesses. Here's a look at two of the earliest
ones:
-- iPaq -- $874, Compaq Computer Corp. Publicly, Compaq executives
insist they aren't looking to the iPaq as a silver bullet to reverse
the sagging fortunes of the company's core business. But don't you
believe it -- Compaq sees this as its K-car, its iMac.
And this slim, sexy, break-the-rules box may just do the trick.
Compaq is betting that businesses want a simple computer that's not
bedeviled by technology from the past -- PCI slots, parallel and serial
ports and PS/2 connections. The iPaq is also dirt-cheap. While the
model I tested was somewhat beefed up, there's a more basic version
that sells for just $499 -- and it's still quite capable.
My iPaq came with a 500-megahertz Pentium III chip, 128 megabytes of
memory, an 8-gigabyte hard drive, a 24X CD-ROM drive, Intel 3-D
graphics and a 10/100-megabit Ethernet connection. It has five USB
connections -- two in front, three in back. There are headphones and
microphone jacks on the front as well, and a built-in speaker. Like the
iMac, it has no floppy disk drive.
It also comes with Windows 2000 -- the latest version of Windows NT --
as its standard operating system.
All this is packed into a slim, silver-and-black case that looks like
a laptop computer standing on edge. The CD-ROM sits in a bay on the
left side of the drive, and can be swapped out with other types of
storage devices, such as DVD and LS120 drives. Because the iPaq uses
Windows 2000, you don't have to turn the computer off to change the
drive.
And if your business also uses Compaq's latest Armada portable
computers, you can use most of the removable drives that come with
those notebooks in the iPaq.
The iPaq also comes with a version of the same Internet keyboard found
on its consumer Presario line. The access keys can be programmed to
launch specific applications or Web pages, which could be quite handy
on a corporate intranet.
I found the iPaq to be speedy, easy to set up and, frankly, a joy to
use. It was rock-stable under Windows 2000, and ran everything I threw
at it.
In fact, this would make an excellent home PC for those who need a
basic system. There's nothing to stop a home user from buying one,
either -- the iPaq is for sale to anyone on Compaq's Web site.
-- WebPC -- $829, Dell Computer Corp. Dell's WebPC is the consumer
equivalent of the business-oriented iPaq -- simple to set up and use,
powerful enough to run most basic applications, legacy-free and
inexpensive.
The WebPC I tried came with a 466-MHz Intel Celeron processor, 64 MB
of memory, a 6-GB hard drive, a 24X CD-ROM drive, 56K fax modem and a
10/100-Mbps Ethernet connection.
All this comes packed into a small case about a third the size of
Dell's regular mini-tower systems. It's dark blue (other colors are
available) and shaped like an hourglass.
The keyboard has a solid feel, and includes buttons to connect to the
Internet, launch e-mail and other applications. Unfortunately, Dell
tried to save space by removing some keys, or placing them in
unexpected places. The Delete key is almost hidden at the bottom of the
numeric keypad, for example.
The WebPC is very easy to set up. There are no parallel, serial or
PS/2 ports on the back. Just connect the monitor, plug the keyboard
into one of three USB slots and the mouse into a USB port on the
keyboard. Connect your phone or network cable and you're ready to go.
It took me about five minutes to get this system up and running.
While this computer is not a speed demon, it provides acceptable
performance for most everyday uses. It can even handle a demanding game
like Quake III Arena, so long as you keep the graphics settings at a
minimum.
The WebPC is marketed to novice and mid-level computer users. For
these folks, who may not be completely comfortable with all the
intricacies of a personal computer, Dell is emphasizing a slick help
feature called E-support.
Users can press a button on the front the WebPC to bring up a built-in
help screen. From this screen you can do rudimentary troubleshooting,
with simple fixes for the most common problems. If your problem isn't
solved right away, the feature can grab more information from Dell's
Web site. If that doesn't fix things, you can initiate a chat session
with a Dell technician.
I thought that, while useful, much of the language and tools accessed
by this button were probably too technical for novice users. For
example, a test for monitor problems asks the user whether to conduct
an LCD Pixel test or run VESA Test Patterns.
This integrated help feature is a great idea, but it needs to be made
as simple as the hardware before it can be truly useful.
Send e-mail to dwight.silverman@chron.com. Silverman's Web site is at
www.dwightsilverman.com.
By Dwight Silverman
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