Comdex Report

COMDEX Report

Handheld PC Pro leads
COMDEX EXPLOSION
of Windows CE products!

By Hal Goldstein

Microsoft works hard to get its products established in the marketplace early on and then perfects them in subsequent releases. Conventional wisdom holds that Microsoft "gets it right" in about the third version of a software program. Therefore, there was some apprehension when Microsoft decided to name their third iteration of the Windows CE operating system version 2.11, instead of 3.0. However, after visiting booth after booth of Windows CE software and hardware at Comdex '98, I am convinced that if Windows CE hasn't fully arrived, it's pretty darn close.

H/PC Pro instead of a Windows 95/98 laptop?

The big Windows CE story at COMDEX, the annual 200,000-person Las Vegas computer show, was the Handheld PC Professional Edition. Hewlett-Packard (www.hp.com/handheld), NEC (www.nec-computers.com), LG Electronics (www.lg phenom.com), Hitachi (www.hitachi-ce. com), Sharp (www.sharp-usa.com) and Vadem (www.vadem.com) showed their versions of the H/PC Pro. I saw full screen, half screen, and movable screen Pros, some without touchscreens. For example, HP's sub-notebook-sized Jornada has a full, color-VGA screen with a touch pad (instead of a touchscreen) below the near-full-sized keyboard.

The obvious question is why not buy a Windows 98 laptop for a few hundred dollars more? Microsoft and the various H/PC Pro manufacturers need to effectively communicate the answer to this question if the Handheld PC Pro (and Windows CE) is to succeed. Here are four answers:

1. Battery life: H/PC Pros get from 8 to 15 hours of use on fully-charged batteries, compared to around 2 hours for laptop computers.

2. Instant on/off: Press the Power on button and the H/PC Pro is ready to use. There is no long boot-up process, and you're right back where you were when you last pressed off.

3. Built-in applications: E-mail, Internet, PIM, word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, and database software is built-in and ready to go.

4. Low maintenance and total cost of ownership: Perhaps the most important reason to consider using an H/PC Pro instead of a laptop is that its applications just work, without all the complexities and pitfalls of Windows 98. Everything is there, built-in and ready to go. The MIS department
doesn't have to spend a lot of time installing software (or software upgrades).

Whichever vendor can do the best job of educating the public of these benefits will be in the strongest position to sell its product. However, educated consumers, such as Handheld PC Magazine readers, will want to consider the significant differences in Handheld PC Pros before choosing.

Differences between H/PC Pros

First, let's consider screens. NEC, Hitachi, and LG Electronics offer half-screen as well as full-screen solutions. A half-screen device gives the user the smallest, lightest, touch-typeable machine. On the other hand, a full-screen H/PC Pro provides more visual real estate to display data. In addition, it looks more like a laptop and less like a toy. Vadem and Sharp offer a clever third alternative, an H/PC Pro with a moveable screen. Use it like a tablet to take notes, or lift the screen up to uncover the keyboard.

New to the H/PC Pro is the fact that not all devices come with touchscreens. For example, the HP Jornada comes with a touchpad instead. I missed the touchscreen at first I like using my finger as a pointing device and I have never gotten used to laptop touchpads. However, touchscreen technology requires an extra layer of film built into the screen. HP chose to go without the touchscreen to give the display a crisper, clearer look and improve battery life. And speaking of batteries, most of the H/PC Pros use special lithium-ion rechargeable batteries to extend usage. I wish, in a pinch, they could also use regular alkalines or at longer lasting lithium Energizers.

Another differentiating factor between the different H/PC Pro's are ports and slots. All Pro's have infrared and serial ports for data synchronization and file transfer. All come with PC Card and/or CompactFlash slots for added file storage capability and I/O options. Some also come with a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port, parallel and VGA out ports. It may not matter which ports or slots an H/PC Pro has because in the coming months more and more peripherals (LAN access adapters, wireless and land modems, mice, printers, SCSI devices) will be available with USB, Infrared, CompactFlash, or PCMCIA connection options.

Palm-size and smaller Handheld PCs

Casio (www.casio-usa.com), Philips (nino.philips.com/index.html), and Uniden (www. uniden.com/) showed their Palm-size PCs. Everex (freestyle.everex.com/) showed the first 16 MB Palm-size PC. The new Uniden unit includes a built-in 28.8 kbps internal modem. There was a notable lack of emphasis on the middle-sized Handheld PCs. HP, Sharp, and Philips did display these pocket-sized units with keyboard, but you almost had to seek them out.

Is H/PC the answer for your non-technical friends?

How many times have you been asked by your non-technical friends what computer should they buy? Most would-be users want e-mail and Internet capability. Maybe they also want to do some light word processing and personal finance management. They don't really want to devote a desk or a room to a computer. And they certainly do not want to struggle learning to use, and fixing their Windows 98 computer. They want to be able to press a button and start working. It seems to me a $900-$1000 Windows CE Handheld PC, perhaps with a printer and a CompactFlash card, is an excellent choice for the average user.

Also, from the very beginning, Microsoft referred to Windows CE Handhelds as "PC Companions." Fast and easy data synchronization between PC Companions and desktop PCs or LANs has been one of Windows CE's strongest virtues. This strategy targets the business desktop user. However, H/PC Pros might be a great boon for the average user. Windows CE manufacturers need to educate the average consumer about the virtues of this capability, or they'll miss a huge market.

Windows CE products
from independent vendors

There was more to see than the Handheld and Palm-size PCs. There were an amazing number of Windows CE-related products being exhibited. Microsoft, Sharp, Casio, HP, Philips, LG all had "partners" in their booths showing off their "Windows CE solutions." What follows is a brief roundup of the Windows CE products displayed at COMDEX. (Advanced apologies to the Windows CE vendors I missed.)

PC Cards and CompactFlash Cards

All PC Companions can accept a CompactFlash and/or a PC Card. Independent vendors are using this capability to provide a variety of memory and I/O solutions for PC Companion users.

Sandisk (www.sandisk.com), the market leader in Flash storage products, introduced 64, 80, 96, and 160 MB CompactFlash memory cards. They also showed ImageMate, a CompactFlash reader that can attach to a Mac or PC using a parallel-port or USB connector. This makes it possible to swap PC and CF cards between a desktop and PC Companion.

Iomega (www.iomega.com) and IBM (www.ibm.com/storage/microdrive) showed novel data storage solutions. Iomega's Clik! Drive connects to a PC Companion or desktop and reads a tiny $10, 40MB Clik! Disk. PC Card and built-in versions of this drive may also be available. IBM teased users with a promise of a 340MB shock resistant, mechanical drive that slips into a CompactFlash slot. The Microdrive will be priced around $1 per MB. No shipping date given.

I/O (input/output) cards in CompactFlash and PC Cards formats were also plentiful at COMDEX. I saw modems; wireless transmitters/receivers; LAN adapters; USB, parallel, serial, and SCSI port adapters, and more. You'll be able to use these cards to connect your H/PC or Palm-size PC to just about anything, from a CD-ROM, to a wireless network.

Pretec (www.pretec.com) offered a Compact Windows CE Mobile Peripherals I/O Series in addition to its line of CompactFlash storage cards. Like CompactFlash cards, these cards can use an inexpensive adapter to slip into a standard PC card slot. Pretec is shipping its 56k CompactModem, and a 10BaseT and 10BaseT/2 CompactLAN adapter. Ready in the first quarter 1999 will be Pretec's CompactParallel and CompactSerial port adapters. They will release CompactGPS, CompactSSFDC, CompactSCAN, and CompactIRDA adapters in the second quarter of 1999.

Adaptec (www.adaptec.com/portables) showed a low-powered SlimSCI 1450 PC Card to SCSI adapter with a Windows CE software driver which will ship in January.

Ambicom (www.ambicom.com) showed 10 Mbps and 10/100 Mbps Ethernet PC Cards for Windows CE devices, plus a Mbps Ethernet adapter in ConpactFlash format.

Accessories make life easier

Road Warrior International (www.warrior.com) offers telephone and electrical adapters for world travelers. If you and your PC Companion travel to different parts of the world, check out their Website.

Westtek (www.westtek.com) provides PC Companion users with JetCEt, a program that adds color printer drivers for HP, Epson, Cannon, Citizen, PostScript Level 2, and Pentax printers. The software works nicely with a Ps/PC or H/PC using the IrDA port. Westtek demonstrated their printer drivers on an H/PC connected to a Pentax (www.pentaxtech.com) PocketJetII, an ultraportable printer, hardly bigger than a pencil box, that prints up to 3 pages per minute. It weights just over one pound, including battery.

You collect a lot of business cards at a show like COMDEX. Entering all of this information in Contacts can be very time consuming. CardSan Executive can save you that time. This small scanner from Corex Technologies (www.cardscan.com) connects to a desktop PC's parallel port (a pass-through port for your printer is included). Run the CardScan application on your desktop and it reads the business card and updates your desktop PC's Contacts list. Once you've scanned the cards, you can easily synchronize with your H/PC to update your Contact information.

Concept Kitchen (www.conceptkitchen.com) has several useful PC Companion accessories, including their Karma Cloth to clean you screen, a PenCap Stylus for pointing or writing, and a Fingertip Stylus for those who prefer taping the screen with their finger. They also announced Small Talk, a PC Companion with phrase-book for six languages.

Database Solutions

The ability to take your information with you wherever you go is a big goal of Windows CE. The database solutions presented at COMDEX advance this goal.

Sybase (www.sybase.com) announced that its Sybase Adaptive Server Anywhere 6.0 supports Windows CE, providing a relational database for H/PCs.

Oracle (www.oracle.com/mobile) was promoting Oracle Lite, an object-relational client database for enterprise applications. Oracle Lite runs on H/PC's and synchronizes with Oracle database servers.

RW Information Technologies' RW3 (www.rw3.com) provides a Windows CE sales force automation solution that gives sales reps the ability to capture and execute key sales and merchandising objectives in real time.

Jetform (www.jetform.com) was demonstrating JetForm Filler. You design data collection "forms" on your desktop, and download them to your PC Companion for quick, easy and accurate data collection. Users can download JetForm forms from their desktop and synchronize completed form files with their desktop or server.

Connectivity the key

H/PCs and Palm-size PCs were designed as "PC Companions" and their ability to connect to and synchronize with desktop PCs and networks is vital. In addition to Microsoft's Windows CE Services, products from a number of independent vendors enhance connectivity.

We have heard a lot of positive comments from corporate users of River Run (www.riverun.com) connectivity solutions. River Run MobileSuite is a complete solution for remote access from Windows CE-based PC Companions to corporate e-mail, calendar, and databases with access to Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Notes, cc:Mail, Novell GroupWise, and Microsoft Mail.

Futuresoft (www.futuresoft.com) has developed the DynaComm Connectivity Series of terminal emulators. This "universal terminal" provides connectivity to a variety of host systems.

Infowave Wireless Messaging (www.infowave.net) demonstrated Infowave Office Enabler, a client/server solution that works with Microsoft Exchange. Infowave Office Enabler lets users wirelessly access their e-mail from an H/PC.

Extended Systems (www.extendedsystems.com) showed the Jeteye PC, an IrDA adapter that connects to a desktop PC and allows IR synchronization between the desktop and PC Companion. Extended Systems was also showing Harmony '98, which provides very fast synchronization between PC Companions and desktop PIMs like Lotus Notes, Microsoft Exchange, Lotus Organizer, ACT!, Outlook and Goldmine.

Puma Technology's (www.pumatech.com) Intellisync provide synchronization, with full conflict resolution, between PC Companions and desktop PIMs like ACT!, Groupwise, Lotus Notes, and others. Puma's IntelliSync Anywhere for Microsoft Exchange provides secure remote dial-up access, and LAN-based synchronization. Puma expects it to ship in the first half of 1999.

Voice and Pen Recognition

Many H/PC Pros come with touchscreens, and handwriting recognition programs are still important. And voice recognition becomes even more important for those without a touchscreen.

Advanced Recognition Technologies' (www.artcomp.com) award winning ART Recognition lets you to train your H/PC to recognize your voice and handwriting. Macros let you assign a series of characters to a voice command or written symbol. For example, you can type out your name, address and phone number by writing a single symbol. Or you can open an individuals contact information with a voice command. ART Recognition processes a word rather than a letter at a time, which can make for speedy input.

CIC (www.cic.com) offers Jot Pro and QuickNotes as a handwriting recognition solution. Jot Pro is an upgrade (more room to write, macro editor) for the built-in Palm-size PC version. QuickNotes lets you capture handwritten notes and attach voice memos while automatically compressing notes to save memory.

Paragraph (www.paragraph.com) is now a division of the H/PC Pro manufacturer Vadem. They offer CalliGrapher, another powerful handwriting recognition solution. Among other features, CalliGrapher can translate script into text.

Many more useful programs for Windows CE users

Here are a few more applications and utilities presented at COMDEX.

On the Go Software (www.onthego software.com) announced that in addition to Quicken ExpensAble for Windows CE, they will produce a Windows CE version of Pocket Quicken great for tracking personal checks and credit card purchases as you make them.

Digital cameras make a good companion for H/PCs as they often can share pictures. Sierra Imaging's (www.sierraimaging.com) Image Expert CE allows the H/PC user to download, view, annotate, and e-mail digital images directly.

bSquare (www.bsquare.com) a leader in developing Windows CE software, has several suites of utilities for Palm-size and Handheld PCs. bUSEFUL includes 12 utilities including an HTML editor, a backup program, a list manager, and a global search utility. bPRODUCTIVE lets you fax, print, track expenses, read Internet newsgroups and more.

CasioSoft (www.casiosoft.com) a division of Casio announced three "Business Tools for Windows CE". CSI Project is a mobile companion to Microsoft Project. CSI Outliner is a powerful outliner and list manager that lets you rearrange topics easily, and bring new structure to your ideas. CSI PowerPack consists of six utilities including a file manager, task switcher, zoom, image viewer, and screen capture. Its includes a utility that lets you enter data directly into your PC companion from your desktop's keyboard. For a limited time at the CasioSoft web site, you can download a free, useful voice calendar.

Finally, one of the most prolific and early writers of freeware and shareware for Windows CE is Panutat Tejasen (a.k.a. "Jimmy") (www.jimmy.com). His products are distributed by Surerange Analysis (www.surerange.com) and include a wonderful collection of games (SolitarePack, Planetoid, WarriorCE, and many more). More serious Surerange products include a Pocket Spreadsheet for Palm-size PCs, Pocket French, German, and Spanish, Pocket Thesaurus, Pocket Solver, and more.

Bill Gates, ClearType, and the future of Windows CE

A final note of interest. In his keynote address, Bill Gates stated that Microsoft R&D has developed ClearType, a new font technology. Originally designed for use in electronic books, ClearType triples the resolution of font display on existing LCD technology. Gates' intention is to include this new breakthrough in new versions of Microsoft's Windows operating system. This should include Windows CE. Sounds like a treat for tired, aging eyes.

This article, with live links, will also be posted on our Web site (www.hpcmag.com). Go there if you wish to use it as a launching pad to explore these products in greater depth.

About The Author

Hal Goldstein (hal@thaddeus.com) is Publisher and Executive Editor of Handheld PC Magazine and president of Thaddeus Computing. He has published, edited, and written for five magazines on portable computing since founding Thaddeus Computing in 1985. He lives in Fairfield, Iowa with his wife, Rita, and his sons, Solomon and Thaddeus.