Many companies offer hardware accessories for the different Pocket PCs, so sometimes it's a chore to determine which accessories will work with yours. However, all the accessories reviewed in this article are marketed
by Casio specifically for Casio Palm-size and Pocket PCs. The only exception is the GoType! Pro keyboard, which is marketed by LandWare but is likewise specifically geared to the Casio Pocket PCs.
Digital Camera Card
If you want a camera primarily for documentation purposes, to take the occasional snapshot of friends and family, or even to make a short video, this gadget is a fun way to get even more use from your Pocket PC. The
Casio Digital Camera Card is a rudimentary lens assembly attached to a connector in the shape of a CompactFlash card. (It doesn't have any storage capacity of its own, though.) It works with any Cassiopeia that has a CompactFlash slot.
When connected, the cylindrical lens module rides on top of the PPC and can be swiveled 180 degrees, from facing the user to facing away. The screen of the Pocket PC acts as the viewfinder.
You have to install the Casio Mobile Camera and Video Player
software on your Pocket PC before you can use the Digital Camera Card. This software allows you to take stills, short sequences of stills, or short movies. Controls are spare: You can choose Outdoor, Incandescent, Fluorescent, or Auto for white balance; you can focus with a little focus ring on the lens, and you can choose between "Regular Mode" and high-contrast "Business Card Mode." (It takes a good snapshot of a business card.) Exposure is automatic, but there is no flash, so you have to arrange your lighting carefully for indoor pictures. You are offered a choice of three different resolutions: Economy, Normal, and Fine.
Screen 2: Casio's Mobile Camera software lets you take stills, short sequences of stills, or short movies.
A thoughtful shortcut that's built into the software makes it easy to e-mail pictures or videos. In Playback mode, tap the E-mail icon (a film strip over an envelope), which appears to the right of the others at the
bottom of the screen. After creating your message, tap the Attachment icon (a red arrow over an envelope) at the bottom of the screen. Your message, with attached photo or video, is then sent to the outbox on your Pocket PC.
Given the price of photo developing today, this camera (Part #JK-710DC, $199.99 list, works with E-100 and EG series) could quickly pay for itself if you need quick pictures, lots of pictures, or both. The quality of the
photos it takes is as good as that of any instant camera, and no instant camera will let you e-mail a movie of the grandkids.
Note: There are model-specific software packages for this
camera, and you must install the correct package to get it to work on your model of the Cassiopeia. Look at the sticker on the box for guidance. You can download the necessary software from Casio's Web site if it doesn't ship with the camera. I did, and it was a problem-free experience.
GoType! Pro keyboard from LandWare
The GoType! Pro is an external keyboard for the Casio E-100
series (www.landware.com/gotype/casio). It is a 90% full-size keyboard, smaller than the keyboard on your desktop PC, but larger than the keyboard found on the HP Jornada 720 Handheld PC. An integrated flip-up cover protects the keyboard when closed and provides docking support for the Casio when open. Convenient stylus holders are built into both sides of the keyboard.
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