From The Publisher

Hal Goldstein

A little blindness is necessary when you undertake a risk. You have to have a little suspension of disbelief where you say, "Hey, we're going to do this unproven product. Let's do our best." -- Bill Gates

When you find something that works, you tend to stick with it. This is true whether you use a Windows CE device, or a PalmPilot, or a paper day-planner. In fact, I still carry around Hewlett-Packard's DOS-based 200LX Palmtop PC (the subject of our sister publication, The HP Palmtop Paper, www.palmtoppaper.com). I have been slow to convert to a Windows CE PC Companion.

However, someone has to blaze new trails. Microsoft deserves a lot of credit for Windows CE. First, they came up with the idea of an industry-standard Windows-like operating system for small PCs. Then they communicated their vision to HP, Casio, Philips, NEC, LG, Hitachi, and Compaq. Finally, recognizing the importance of software solutions, they enticed developers to write software for Windows CE. The first releases of Windows CE did not achieve critical acclaim. However, Microsoft, always willing to make mistakes and take feedback, has made real improvements with each version of Windows CE.

At Fall 1998 COMDEX I finally became convinced. Windows CE is not only here to stay, it has built up an incredible momentum. Creative hardware and software solutions abound from vendors large and small. Microsoft, PC Companion manufacturers, and third party developers deserve credit for their persistence. Readers of this publication also must be commended for their willingness to experiment with this new platform and see its possibilities.

Microsoft and its OEM partners recently created a new product category: the "Handheld PC Professional Edition" (H/PC Pro). The "one-size-fits-all" philosophy of the first H/PCs started to slip with Windows CE 2.0 H/PCs and Palm-size PCs. It slips even further with the H/PC Pro. Greater variety will be available to the corporate and individual consumer. Even so, Microsoft still has a lot of work to win the PC Companion war. It still has to show the huge and growing PalmPilot base why the Palm-size PC is a better solution. And it has to provide compelling alternatives to satisfied users of the HP 200LX, Psion, and other palmtop computers. Perhaps, even a bigger challenge is the ever-increasing number of smaller sized and priced laptop computers that are hitting the market. Microsoft has to convince the business and computer community that the Handheld PC Pro is a viable alternative.

I'm convinced. When I travel, I now take a NEC 750c MobilePro with me. (I look forward to using an H/PC Pro from HP, Sharp, Vadem, NEC, Hitachi, or LG.) It's small enough to carry with me on a plane in a briefcase, it pops on instantly when I press the power button, and has a long battery life so I don't have to carry spares. When traveling I need e-mail and Internet access, a word processor, and a spreadsheet program (OK, and games). I've got all that on the H/PC, without the bulk and frustrations of a laptop.

Rich Hall, Tom Gibson, and our entire staff welcome you to our second year of publishing Handheld PC Magazine. We're sure that it will be a very exciting year in the world of PC Companions.