All models use the Palm operating system and come loaded with these applications: date book, address book, to do list, memo pad, and calculator. The most current versions also support E-mail and basic Internet capabilities, although the optional modem costs an additional $120 and clips onto the bottom of the unit, increasing its size and weight and decreasing the battery life. Infrared transmission of data between devices (beaming) is also possible and is a built-in feature. In addition to the built-in applications, the user can add third-party software to the Palm. These software applications allow it to exchange information with many popular programs, including Lotus Notes, Meeting Maker, Act!, and Microsoft Outlook.
The ability to load information on a Palm computer is partially determined by the model. For example, the Palm III has 2 megabytes (MB) of RAM and a capacity for 6000 addresses, 3000 appointments, 1500 to-do items, 1500 memos, and 200 E-mail messages. Average users can add more than 25 third-party applications. With 4 MB of RAM, the Palm IIIx has approximately double the capacity of the Palm III. The less data stored, the more applications or programs can be installed. The size of the third-party applications used on the Palm will also influence the total number that can be installed. Application sizes can range from less than 1 to more than 100 kilobytes. If a user runs out of memory, the Palm III, IIIx, and V are all upgradable to 8 MB.
The Palm computer comes equipped with a docking cradle that attaches to a Windows-based personal computer (PC) or a Macintosh for data transfers using a HotSync session. The cradle allows easy synchronization of information between the PC and the Palm computer. Software that mirrors the Palm’s capabilities on the desktop computer is included with the product. This software allows users to edit or create data on the desktop computer and then transfer them to the Palm.
Windows CE Palm-Size PCs
Palm-size PCs (Figure 2) run the Windows CE operating system from Microsoft. Made by several different manufacturers, they are all slightly larger and heavier than the Palm III computer and use a variety of microprocessors. However, they all easily fit into a pocket. Palm-size PCs have a larger screen than the Palm units (320 by 240 pixels), and most units have color screens. Some of the newer models also have stereo headphone jacks for replaying MP3 audio files (including the Casio E-100 and E-105), and all have a compact flash slot for expansion. This can be used for additional memory (units come with 4 MB to 32 MB of RAM), and the newer units are shielded so a paging card can be inserted. However, these extra capabilities decrease the battery life to only 7 to 14 hours.
The Windows CE operating system is less efficient than the Palm and requires more memory. Thus, 4 MB on the Palm stores about the same number of programs as 16 MB on the Windows CE unit. Palm-size PCs come with the standard organizer software (address book, calendar, task list, and notepad). Pocket Streets (a street atlas program with detailed city maps) is available free online at the Microsoft site. Users who own Microsoft Streets 2000 can create custom street-level maps of any part of the country; a 20-by-20-mile square takes about 0.5 MB of memory. DeLorme Company has a similar product for the Palm computer that can link to a Global Positioning System receiver. Like the Palm-size PCs, these computers can connect to desktop computers running Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows NT but cannot connect to desktop computers running the Macintosh operating system
Computers with keyboards
Windows CE Hand-held PC/Hand-held PC Pro
This is a heterogeneous group of hand-held computers. All run the Windows CE operating system; all have a keyboard; and they tend to have more memory and faster processors than their cousins the Palm-size PCs. The quality of the keyboard varies considerably, though. Some units (such as the Velo 500, Hewlett Packard 320, and Hewlett Packard 660) have small “chicklet” style keys that are only suitable for hunt-and-peck typing. Some of the newer units have keyboards that are between 76% (Hewlett Packard Jornada 680) and 90% (NEC MobilePro 770 or 800) of the size of a desktop keyboard and are more useful for touch-typists (Figure 3). All units now have color screens, and the screen size of hand-held PCs varies from 640 x 240 pixels in the more compact units to 640 x 480 and even 800 x 600 pixels in some of the larger units. The former typically weigh around 1 to 1.5 pounds, while the latter weigh 2 to 3 pounds and are really closer to subnotebooks in size. Most manufacturers of the hand-held PC now also have a model with a color screen.