Is that, like, a PC in your pocket?

By PETER GRIFFIN

Mobile phone and handheld combos sure have novelty appeal but they will remain yuppie accessories until technology and ease of use move a step closer.

Designers at the major computer vendors have long fretted over the question: "Do people want their phone built into their handheld or their handheld built into their phone?"

Measuring up

Microsoft has its own all-in-one plans with the development of the Stinger Smartphone, which will bring applications such as Outlook to the mobile phone, but at present it is optimising its Pocket PC operating system and applications for a new breed of handhelds from the likes of Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, Casio and Toshiba.

With Pocket PC 2002, Microsoft strips down its new desktop operating system, Windows XP, for devices using a fraction of the processing power and storage capacity of desktop PCs.

For existing Pocket PC users, the upgrade isn't as exciting as for a defecting Palm user or someone new to handhelds altogether.

Most of the things you are used to on your Windows desktop - Word, Excel, Outlook Express, Internet Explorer and Windows Media Player 8 - have their pocket versions.

The popular MSN Messenger application is nearly identical to the desktop version, while File Explorer lets you scan your files as you would on your PC. Microsoft Reader converts your handheld into an e-book reader.

Entering text is reasonably easy. Tap away with a stylus at the "soft" keyboard or scribble away in your own handwriting, which is converted into legible text - most of the time.

Pocket PC 2002 also features predictive text input, pre-empting your commonly used words, to save time.

The best option, though, is to invest in a fold-away keyboard which lets you type away in Word as you would at your desktop.

In addition MS software, many computer vendors are bundling in their own applications that run on the Pocket PC platform.

The Hewlett-Packard Jornada 565 comes with Pocket Camera software, an audio book reader, backup facility and built-in drivers that allow your handheld to talk to various devices.

But when it comes to software, Palm, Pocket PC's competition, still leads the way with around 180,000 registered software developers and a vast number of available applications, many of which are free.

How's the surf?

Browsing the web from a handheld isn't ideal, but the Pocket version of Internet Explorer is about as user-friendly as it gets.

Web browsers on the Palm platform use a handy process known as web clipping to chop web pages down to size for handheld users.

Major websites, especially those of the Microsoft flavour, have been adapted for use with Pocket PC. Try accessing Hotmail on your Jornada and you will find the e-mail program conveniently reformatted to fit the 3.5in screen. For the rest, you will have to zig-zag across the pages to view web content.

The pocket version of Internet Explorer is more fun than Eudora Web and AvantGo but offers far from trouble-free surfing. Frames and pop-up windows, standard issue on most sites, can prove problematic.

The grand plan in the US is for latte sippers across the country to be surfing and sending e-mails while sitting in their local Starbucks connecting wirelessly to the shop's network.

Extra bits and pieces

The new handhelds really start getting useful when you add extra cards in their expansion slots. In theory, your handheld can serve as a wireless internet device, camera, mobile phone, eftpos terminal and more. You can slot a compact camera in and take simple shots and upload to your computer by putting the Jornada in its cradle.

Add a wireless network card and access files on your corporate LAN (local access network), or simply buy a 56kbps modem card, plugging into the wall to access the internet.

CDMA data cards should begin selling in the next couple of months from retailers such as Rocom, allowing users to browse the internet, send e-mail and dial into the network from anywhere there is access to Telecom's network.

And CDMA voice cards will also debut soon, converting the handheld into a true mobile which could then be used with an earpiece connecting to the handheld wireless using "Bluetooth" technology.

The wireless standard will soon allow all sorts of Bluetooth-enabled devices within a 10m radius to talk to each other - no wires or line-of-sight required.

The price of mobility

The Jornada 565 will set you back $1700, with add-ons such as fold-away keyboards and wireless network cards pushing the bill up a few hundred dollars a go.

At such prices, the new handhelds will likely be the domain of "early adopters" - geeks, gadget lovers and the wealthy.

Links

Hewlett Packard

Compaq

Handspring

ROCOM

BBC

pocketpc.com

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