Can I Replace My Desktop PC with a Pocket PC

Ever since I first became involved with Pocket PCs in early 2000, I've wondered if it's possible to totally replace a desktop PC with one of these powerful little handhelds. I've been asked, and have discussed it with others for the last four years; but up to this point, everything's been speculation. I've used it and nothing else on short trips. But this was for basic Internet and e-mail access, as well as simple document review. Until quite recently, I've never felt that I could effectively complete all my work-related tasks on a Pocket PC.

My opinion changed when I acquired a new Dell Axim X50v, which sports Microsoft's new Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition OS and software. I've watched as the Windows Mobile software and hardware have changed in recent months. The latest version of the software is more capable and the newer devices have a variety of improvements, including VGA screens, faster processors, more built-in storage capacity, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless connectivity, and more. I decided that it was time to see just how capable these new devices are. For five days I'd rely almost entirely on the new Axim X50v and a few accessories to do everything associated with my job. (For more on the accessories I used, see box at end of article.)

Defining the role of an "information worker"

I serve many roles at my company and quickly realized that some were not well suited to the Pocket PC. I develop software, for example, and while I can write source code on the Pocket PC, there's no way I can use it to compile, test, and debug the programs I write. Because of this, I decided to focus on one specific role that I and many others fill—that of the "information worker." As I see it, here are the essential tasks of that role:

• Reading and responding to e-mail. This constitutes a great deal of my work.
• Reviewing and editing work-related content. A large portion of my job involves reviewing, editing and providing feedback on various types of content. This includes documents, spreadsheets and presentations.
• Communicating with others via Instant Messaging. While some communications I have are by e-mail, others are in real-time using instant messaging.
• Writing original content. I must often author content in many forms, and then be able to either e-mail the content or store the content on my corporate network.