Wired West - hand-held computers - Buyers Guide

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Handheld computers

* Once upon a time, computers weighed several tons and filled entire rooms. Now they weigh just a few ounces and fit in your pocket. More important, these machines that were once only about function are now about freedom, traveling with you wherever you go. Handhelds have evolved from toys for the gadget-crazed to truly useful devices. Some current models can send e-mail, get to the Web, and even perform as digital cameras, cell phones, or MP3 music players. No wonder they're becoming ubiquitous.

Basic features

Whether based on the Palm operating system or Microsoft's Windows CE, these handheld computers share basic characteristics. Pocketsize and weighing from 4 to 9 ounces, they are personal organizers with an address book, a date book, a to-do list, a memo pad, and a calculator. While they can't run desktop programs, handhelds are able to run thousands of programs designed specifically for them, from games, electronic books, and business applications to ones that let them act as TV remotes through a built-in infrared feature.

You can connect, or synchronize, your handheld with your desktop computer via a cable. This allows you to transfer information between the two, allowing your handheld to act as an adjunct to your desktop (though it can't fully replace it).

Comparing pocket-size computers

So far, Palm is the leading producer of handhelds. Palm's family of handhelds and Handspring's Visor series both run on the Palm operating system, while Casio and Compaq offer handhelds based on Microsoft Windows CE. Here's a selection of handheld computers that ranges in cost from $149 to $600.

* Casio (www.casio.com). The Cassiopeia E-115 ($599.95) comes with versions of Word, Excel, Internet Explorer, and Money financial management software; its high-resolution color screen can display 65,536 colors. The E-115 comes with 32 megabytes of RAM and allows you to add options like a memory card, digital camera card, or modem card, for an additional cost. It can also play back MP3 music files.

* Compaq (www.compaq.com) Compaq offers the Aero 1550 ($299), which can be expanded through memory cards and peripherals. Weighing only 5.2 ounces, the Aero 1550 features a monochrome screen, 16MB of memory, a microphone for recording notes, and a speaker and headphone jack for playing downloaded music.

* Handspring (www.handspring.com). Putting some heat on Palm is Handspring's Visor, which is available with a monochrome screen. Visor stands out because of its Springboard expansion slot, which lets you snap in add-ons that can increase memory or turn the handheld into a digital camera, MP3 music player, and more. The Visor is available in a 2MB version for $149. The Visor Deluxe ($249) comes in your choice of blue, green, ice, graphite, or orange and has 8MB of RAM and a carrying case. The digital camera addon costs $149.95; the modem add-on is $129.95.

* Palm (www.palm.com). Palm's offerings include the Palm III series. The Ille model, at $149, has a monochrome screen and 2MB of memory. The Palm Illc offers a color display and 8MB of memory for $399.

Palm also sells the sleek aluminum Palm Vx ($399) in silver, champagne, or blue. The Vx includes a monochrome screen and 8MB of memory. At just 4 ounces, it's one of the lightest handhelds available.

One of Palm's most intriguing products is the wireless Palm VIIx ($449). This model uses a wireless modem and the Palm.Net communication system (available as a subscription) to get e-mail and access selected Internet content using web-clipping technology. The Palm VIIx includes 8MB of memory and a monochrome screen.

The latest addition to the Palm family is the 4.4-ounce ml00, which features a curved design, a flip top, and a snap-on faceplate available in silver, blue, green, and ruby. The ml00's screen is slightly smaller than other Palms, and it comes with only 2MB of memory, but at $149, it's affordable.

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