Readers, friends and business associates are always asking: "What Pocket PC should I buy?" My answer is: "It depends on what you want to do with it." The different Pocket PCs have the same operating system and the same Microsoft applications built into them. However, there are important physical differences between the various Pocket PCs that help determine the best choice.
Our Editors Choose
I like the 32 megabyte HP Jornada Pocket PC (www.hp.com/jornada); Editor Rich Hall (and his teenaged son, Robert) appreciate the Casio EM500
Multimedia Pocket PC (www.casio.com/personalpcs);
and Technical/Medical Editor, Ed Zabrek, thinks the world of his Compaq iPAQ (www.compaq.com/handhelds). Why these different opinions?
Ed likes the iPAQ's potential for hardware expansion, and he raves about its speed and indoor/outdoor screen readability. Rich and his son like the superior sound and color of the Casio, and the fact that the battery can be easily replaced. This means that Rich can carry a second charged battery for longer travel. I like the HP Jornada's built-in CompactFlash (CF) slot, in a thin, stylish package. That means I can store lots of data, including eBooks and music, as well as plenty of add-on software on a storage card. It also means that I can use a CompactFlash modem card with the Jornada to send and receive email. I don't have to carry a bulky external modem or extra accessories. Furthermore, since the Jornada Pocket PC has been available for months, more hardware-specific peripherals such as the fold-up Targus Stowaway keyboard are available for it.
More Choices
So which Pocket PC is for you?
This chart describes the pros and cons of all the Pocket PCs, and it gives a short profile of the person each is suited for.
All Pocket PCs come with the full suite of Microsoft's Pocket PC
applications. The Compaq iPAQ, the Casio E-125 and a version of the Jornada Pocket PC come with 32 Mb of internal RAM. All others have 16 Mb. Eventually, all units should be able to do some form of wireless communication, either using a wireless CompactFlash card or some sort of expansion pack.
Casio recently announced its E-125, successor to its E-115 Pocket PC and with features similar to the EM500. The E-125 is thicker to accommodate a Type II CompactFlash slot. That means it should be able to take advantage of the 1 gigabyte IBM microdrive to store multimedia (video, audio) files and other data or software.
If you are on a budget, seeking longer battery life, and don't mind a
monochrome screen you should definitely consider Compaq's Aero 1550. $300 buys this Pocket PC (other Pocket PCs start at $500). The Aero 1550 comes with a Type I Compact Flash slot.
If you require a rugged or industrial Pocket PC solution, take a look at the Symbol PPT 2700 (www.symbol.com/products) or Casio's EG-80 and EG-800 (go to
www.casio.com/personalpcs and select "Industrial Devices"). The
Symbol Pocket PC has bar code reading capability and includes all the Pocket PC applications except Pocket Word or Pocket Excel. The Casio EG-80 and 800 come with the full suite of Pocket PC products and high-capacity battery options.
Find out more
We have more comprehensive reviews of these Pocket PCs on our Web site. (See the Comparison Chart for links to the reviews.) The manufacturers' Web sites listed in this article are another good source of information. Finally, check out our
At-A-Glance
charts for a quick comparison of the specifications of these Pocket PCs.
We're interested in your opinions of the different Pocket PCs. Email your comments to me at
hal@PocketPCmag.com. We'll keep this article updated right here at
PocketPCmag.com.
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