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| By Chris De Herrera Copyright 1998-2007 All Rights Reserved A member of the Talksites Family of Websites Windows and
Windows CE are trademarks of
Microsoft All Trademarks are owned |
Comparing PDA/HPC Computers
By Chris De Herrera, Copyright
1997, 1998
v1.15 Revised 12/28/98
There are a diverse variety of small computers designed to assist users with keeping track of critical information. These vary in size from the Palm PC to the Newton 2100. There is a large difference in features of these systems. Some important hardware features are integrated keyboard, backlighting, modem, IRDA (infrared serial communications), screen size, and voice recording. Some important software features are personal information management (PIM), word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, web browsing, electronic mail, and database. All of these systems are using graphical user interfaces (GUI) to provide easy access to applications.
Here is a table that compares the basic features of the PDA/HPC systems:
| Feature | Windows CE 2.11 H/PC Pro |
Palm III |
Royal daVinci | |||
| Size (LxWxH, inches) | 3.5 x 5 x .75 | 4.7 x 3.2 x .7 | 3.4 x 5.0 x 0.75 | 7 x 3 x 1 | 6.5 x 3 x 1 | |
| Weight (ounces) | 40 - 64 | 5.5 | 6 | 5.6 | 12-14 | 12-14 |
| CPU Speed | 80 -190mhz | 54-100mhz | 16.58 mhz | 54-80mhz | 32-40mhz | |
| CPU Bus | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 |
| Ram | 16 - 32 MB | 2-10 MB | 2 MB | 256k, Pro 1 MB | 4/8/12/16 MB | 2/4/6 MB |
| Keyboard | Yes | Software Only | Software Only | Optional $29.95 | Integrated | Integrated |
| Handwriting Recognition | Yes, 3rd Party Applications | Yes printed, cursive | Yes, Printed | Yes, Printed | Yes, 3rd Party Applications | Yes, 3rd Party Applications |
| Screen | 640x240, 640x480, 800x600 some 256, 4096 and 64k colors | 320x240x4 some 16 | 160x160 | 160x160, Pro 240x160 | 640x240x16 Grey or 640x240x256 Color | 480x240x4 Grey |
| Backlight | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, Casio, Compaq, Philips, HP, NEC 450 |
| Touch Screen | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| # of PC Card Slots | 1 (plus CompactFlash) | 1 Compact Flash I/O | Not Available | Pro 1 | 1 (plus Compact Flash) | 1 |
| PC Card | Yes, ATA, SRAM, Modem, Ethernet | Compact Flash, CF Paging, CF Ethernet, CF Modem | Not Available | Modem | Yes, ATA, SRAM, Modem, Ethernet | Yes, ATA, SRAM, Modem |
| PC Card Data Format | Standard FAT | Standard FAT | Not Available | Not Available | Standard FAT | Standard FAT |
| Serial Speed | 115.2k | 115.2k | 115.2k | 115.2k | ||
| IRDA (Infrared) Support | Yes, Desktop Synchronization, Printing | Yes, Desktop Synchronization | Yes Desktop Synchronization, and unit to unit | No | Yes, Desktop Synchronization, Printing | Yes, Desktop Synchronization, Printing (some units) |
| Ethernet | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Voice Memo | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes, Velo 1, standard Wave file |
| Printing | Yes | No | No | Yes IR or Cable | Yes, with 3rd Party Application (Bprint) | |
| Battery | Lithium Ion | 2 AA | 2 AAA | 2 AAA | 2 AA | 2 AA |
| Battery Life | 10-15 hours | 15-20 hours | 8-12 weeks | 40 hours | 15-20 hours | 15-20 hours |
| Price | $800-$1000 | $299-$500 | $399 | $99 | $499-999 | $499-749 |
| Feature |
REX |
Newton 2000/2100 |
Zaurus ZR5800 |
Avigo 10 |
PalmPilot |
Psion 3c |
Psion 5 |
| Size (LxWxH, inches) | 3.375 x 2.125 x .25 | Unit:
8.3 x 4.7 x 1.1, Keyboard: 10.5 x 4 x 1.25
Case: 12 x 6 x 2 |
6.7 x 3.9 x 1 | 5.5 x 3.3 x .8 | 4.7 x 3&2 x .7 | 6.5 x 3.3 x .9 | 6.7 x 3.5 x 0.9 |
| Weight (ounces) | 1.4 | Unit: 22.4, Keyboard: 8 | 13.8 | 7 | 5.7 | 9.7 | 12.5 |
| CPU Speed | 160mhz | Not Available | Not Available | 16mhz | 7.68mhz | 18.4mhz | |
| CPU Bus | 32 | 16 | 16 | 32 | 16 | 32 | |
| Ram | 128k to 256k | 2000: 1 MB dram, 4 MB flash 2100: 4 MB dram, 4 MB flash | 2 MB | 1 MB flash expandable to 1.68 MB of flash | 128k, 512k, 1 MB, (2 MB, 3 MB from 3rd party) | 2 MB | 4/8 MB |
| Keyboard | No | Separate | Integrated | Software Only | Separate via 3rd party | Integrated | Integrated |
| Handwriting Recognition | No | Yes, Printed or Cursive | No | No | Yes, Printed | No | Yes 3rd party application |
| Screen | 160x98 | 480x320x16 Grey | 320x240 | 160x240x4 grey | 160x160 | 480x160 | 640x240 |
| Backlight | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Touch Screen | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| # of PC Card Slots | Not Available | 2 | Not Available | Not Available | 2 SSD | Compact Flash | |
| PC Card | Not Available | Yes, Linear, SRAM, Modem, Ethernet | Yes, Linear, SRAM, Modem | Not Available | Not Available | Yes, Optional External adapter ($139.99) for modem only | Yes, Optional External adapter ($139.99) for modem only |
| PC Card Data Format | Not Available | Proprietary | Proprietary | Not Available | Not Available | Proprietary SSD Card | Standard FAT |
| Serial Speed | Not Applicable | 115.2k | 57.6k | 57.6k | 57.6k | 115.2k | |
| IRDA (Infrared) Support | No | Yes, Printing Only (Newton to Newton file exchange) | Yes, Desktop Synchronization, Printing | Yes, File Transfer only | Yes, 3rd Party | Yes, Printing Only | Yes, Desktop Synchronization and Printing |
| Ethernet | No | Yes | No | No | No | No | No |
| Voice Memo | No | Yes, Proprietary Format | No | No | No | Yes, standard Wave File | Yes |
| Printing | No | Yes with IR or optional Print Pack ($89.95) | Yes, with IR or optional cable | No | Yes with 3rd party Application | Yes, IR or optional printer cable | Yes, IR or to Desktop PC |
| Battery | 2 CR2025 | 4 AA | 2 AA | 2 AAA | 2 AAA | 2 AA | 2 AA |
| Battery Life | 4-6 Months | 24 hours | 70 hours | 8-12 weeks | 80 hours | 30-35 Hours | |
| Price | $149-$179 | $1095 | $599 | $300 | $199, 299 | $399, $499 | $549, $667 |
Another critical feature is how PDA/HPC systems communicate with desktop computers. All of these systems provide desktop connectivity for PIM, word processing and spreadsheets. Some systems provide desktop connectivity for additional capabilities such as sound, graphics and fonts.
Here is a table describing how information is moved to and from Windows 95, 98 or NT:
| Feature | Windows CE 2.11 H/PC Pro |
Windows CE 2.0 Palm-size PC |
Royal daVinci |
Windows CE 2.0 H/PC |
Windows CE 1.0 H/PC |
REX |
| File Transfer |
Word 6,7,8, Excel 5,7,8 (reads and writes desktop file formats on the device) Retains fonts, sizes and graphics |
Word 6,7,8, Word Perfect 5.x, HTML, RTF | Text | Word
6,7,8, Excel 5,7,8, Word Perfect 5.x, HTML, RTF
Retains fonts, sizes and graphics, supports Templates |
Word
6,7,8, Excel 5,7,8
Retains fonts, sizes and graphics |
|
| Synchronization | Schedule +7.0, Outlook 97, Additional PIMs with 3rd Party Software | Schedule +7.0, Outlook 97, Additional PIMs with 3rd Party Software | Proprietary PIM, Additional PIMs with 3rd Party Software | Schedule +7.0, Outlook 97, Additional PIMs with 3rd Party Software | Schedule +7.0, Outlook 97 | Starfish Sidekick 98, Outlook 97, Schedule + 7.0, Act! 3.06, Lotus Organizer 97, ASCII, HP 360LX and 620LX |
| Other File Types | Sound Files (.wav), TrueType Fonts, Bitmapped Graphics (.bmp), PowerPoint 8, Expedia Streets 98 | Sound Files (.wav), TrueType Fonts, Bitmapped Graphics (.bmp) | Sound Files (.wav), TrueType Fonts, Bitmapped Graphics (.bmp), PowerPoint 8, Expedia Streets 98 | Sound Files (.wav), TrueType Fonts, Bitmapped Graphics (.bmp) | ||
| World Wide Web & Electronic Mail | Yes, multiple connections, Java Script | Yes, multiple connections | Pro - E-Mail Only | Yes, multiple connections | Yes | No |
| FAX | Yes, 3rd Party Application | Yes | Pro Only | Yes, 3rd Party Application | Yes, 3rd Party Application | No |
| Speller | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes, 3rd Party Application | No |
| Document Size Limit | 1k | 660k | 50 memos |
| Feature |
Newton 2000/2100 |
Zaurus ZR5800 |
Avigo 10 |
PalmPilot |
Psion 3c |
Psion 5 |
| File Transfer | Notepad:
Rich Text Format, ASCII, Windows MetaFile
To NewtonWorks Paper: Rich Text Format Spreadsheet: Must load/convert in NewtonWorks on desktop first, Excel 7.0 Only |
Requires
Zaurus Application Partner (Free Promo until 6/30)
Word 6,7 Excel 4,5,7
|
Excel 5, Text | Rich Text, ASCII | Optional PsiWin($99):Word 5,6,7,8, Excel 5,7, 8 | PsiWin: Word 5,6,7, 8 Excel 5,7, 8 WordPerfect 5, 6, 7, Quattro Pro 5, 6, 7, Corel Suite 8.x |
| Synchronization | Schedule + 7.0, Lotus Organizer 2.1, Sidekick 2.0 | Requires
Zaurus Application Partner
Schedule + 7.0, Lotus Organizer, Act 2.0, Goldmine |
Lotus Organizer | Act, Now Up To Date, Sidekick, ECCO, Daytimer, Maximizer, Franklin Ascend 97 | Optional Synchronizer($19.99): Schedule +7.0, Lotus Organizer 2.1, Outlook 97, Act 2.0/3.0, Novell Groupwise, Goldmine, | Schedule+ 7, 7a, Outlook 97, Access, Organizer 2.1 (SmartSuite 3.x, 4.0, 96, NotesSuite 96); Organizer 97 |
| Other File Types | Graphics (.bmp or .gif) | Not Applicable | Sound Files (.wav) Graphics (.bmp), True Type Fonts (print only) | Sound Files (.wav), Graphics (.bmp), True Type Fonts (print only) | ||
| World Wide Web & Electronic Mail | Yes | Yes, E-Mail Only | No | Yes, E-Mail to Desktop Only, WWW with 3rd party Application | Yes | Yes |
| FAX | Yes | Yes | No | Yes, 3rd party Application | Yes | Yes |
| Speller | Yes | Yes | No | Yes, 3rd Party Application | Yes | Yes |
| Document Size Limit | 4k in NotePad, Available storage in Works | 16k | Memo limited to 3584 | 4k | Limited to storage size | Limited to storage size |
By reviewing this information, you can purchase the best PDA/HPC to meet your needs. If you are shopping for a PDA/HPC, I recommend that you print this out for reference.
Special thanks to Erik Berry, Synchronics Software for the information on the Psion 5.