Microsoft is eager for you to have the best possible experience with your device, and to that end they continue to organize and develop their
www.pocketpc.com Web site so that you get the help you need. If you haven't been there for a while, you may want to check out the latest iteration.
Club Pocket PC offers support
Last October Microsoft launched a completely overhauled Club Pocket PC, a section of
www.pocketpc.com where you can go to get help using your device.
A major addition is the new Help box (Screen 1). This box is found on every page in Club Pocket PC, so that no matter where you are, you can turn to their Help menus.
Screen 1: New to Club Pocket PC is the Help box.
At the time of this writing, this Help box had three drop-down menus: Applications, Settings, and Phone Edition.
Getting Online Help for Applications and Settings
The Applications drop-down menu offers help for the 17 Microsoft applications that are built into your Pocket PC. Select Calendar, for example, and you are taken to a page that lists the most common tasks that you would perform, such as setting an all-day event or creating a new appointment category. Click on the desired task and you get step-by-step instructions, with popup screen shots available if you need them (Screen 2).
Screen 2: Select an application task from the list and you get step-by-step instructions on how to accomplish it.
The Settings drop-down menu offers you help with configuring your Pocket PC, including the Today menu, Connection Manager, Password protection, and much more. The Phone Edition drop-down menu offers help with the applications and settings on Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition devices.
Additional features include discussions, news, case studios
The Support area of Club Pocket PC also gives you convenient access to the discussion groups, as well as valuable information on how to use them. Just click on the link labeled "Get Help From Other Users" and take a look at the various newsgroups.
The home page of Club Pocket PC will typically carry major announcements. As I write this, the page is featuring the release of the free Theme Generator 2.0, which has enhancements to make your themes look better and also includes a theme rotator.
I commend Microsoft for offering such a well-organized support site. Also, note that the new version has been designed to work with your Pocket PC and has a new, easy-to-remember URL: www.clubpocketpc.com.
Finally, a new section called Pocket PC People shows interesting things that people are doing with their devices.
Microsoft's online Tutorials and Learning to use your Pocket PC in 12 easy steps
While Club Pocket PC is for somewhat more experienced users, Microsoft is also eager to help the complete novice via some excellent tutorials. Go to
www.pocketpc.com, click on Get Started in the left menu, and then on Tutorials.
I especially like their "Getting Started 101" tutorial, which is subtitled "Twelve steps to unlock the power of your Pocket PC." If you're a power user, don't bother checking it out. But if you haven't yet mastered all the basics, you'll definitely want to take a look at this one.
"Getting Started 101" is especially good for helping new users broaden their capabilities. I find that most people learn to do a few things with their desktop or Pocket PC, but then never take time to understand all the basics. If you read through all 12 of the short and wonderfully clear steps described in this article, you'll likely add to your repertoire of things you use your device for.
Steps 1–4 go over basic setup, including setting up a partnership and synchronizing for the first time.
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