From The Editor

Rich Hall

^"Size does matter" proclaim movie posters these days. But Windows CE users have known this for sometime. In the case of the H/PCs and now the Palm-size PCs, what mattered was "small," not "big." This may be changing a bit.

One of the main articles in this issue is a review of the NEC MobilePro 750C, one of the newer color-screen H/PCs. What's important about the new MobilePro is not it's screen, but it's keyboard. You can touch type on it! Mobile users have been asking for touch-typeable keyboards ever since the first H/PCs were introduced over one-and-one-half years ago. Now they have two models of the MobilePro and offerings from Hitachi and LG Electronics. This is an important development in the evolution of H/PCs.

Another important development in the Windows CE world was the shipping of the first production models of the Palm-size PC. We include a review of the Cassiopeia E-10, a well-built, easy-to-use proponent of the "small size is better" school of Windows CE development. Everex has also shipped its Freestyle Palm-size PC, and by the time you read this many of the manufacturers listed in our "At A Glance" section will have Palm-size PCs shipping around the world.

Size also matters in "Enterprise computing." Mobile devices must be small enough to carry with you, and powerful enough to do the job. And while no single device can satisfy the needs of all mobile professionals, the variety of PC Companions offered by the different manufacturers covers most needs. If you want to find out more about where Windows CE fits into the enterprise, check out the interview with Microsoft's Douglas Dedo.

There's one enterprise where size, speed, and ruggedness are particularly important -- the military. In this issue's user profile, U.S. Marine Corps Major Jim Cummiskey shows us how this unique group of "mobile professionals" uses the H/PC to enhance its "situational awareness" and keep in touch. Many of the issues raised apply to any group of mobile professionals.

Size matters a lot in terms of the number of developers supporting the Windows CE operating system. More developers means more Windows CE software and hardware solutions for end users and organizations. In April I attended Microsoft's second Windows CE Developer's Conference. It was two-to-three times the size of the previous year's conference. Well over 2,000 developers attended three days of sessions and exhibits. Guest columnist Steve Mann reports in more detail on the conference.

Finally, size matters in terms of the number of accessories and software programs available for your PC Companion. The basics are built into the H/PCs and Palm-size PCs, but there are an ever-increasing number of products available from independent vendors that let you personalize your PC Companion. I thought that after a while our "PC Companion Products" section would get smaller, but its size is increasing. In this issue alone we list over 90 new products and services.

With so much available, which product do you choose? To help with this, we've started a regular "Top 10" section in Handheld PC Magazine. In each issue, contributing authors will talk about the ten most important additions they've made to their PC Companions, and why they recommend them.

Size does matter, but quality matters more. Thanks to the many people who have contributed information and material to this and previous issues.