H/PC Online 

Windows CE information sites

By Tom Gibson
Technical Editor, Handheld PC Magazine
Email: tom_gibson@thaddeus.com
Web site: www.hpcmag.com

1997 was a great year for Windows CE! Manufacturers released many new H/PCs. Independent vendors provided modems, memory cards and other hardware accessories for the new Handheld PCs. We saw more software become available for H/PC users – both commercial and freeware/shareware programs. And towards the end of 1997 we saw the release of a new and improved version of Windows CE from Microsoft. Oh yes! We also saw the development of a lot of good web sites for users of Windows CE.

Many of the Windows CE-related sites on the Internet are what I call “information sites.”  They provide basic information about Windows CE and the H/PCs. The release of Windows CE 2.0 and a number of new H/PCs has left a lot of people scrambling, trying to figure out where they stand with their H/PC and what they should do with it. These information sites will provide them with some of the ammunition they’ll need to make decisions in the coming months about upgrades, new units, new software and about Windows CE 2.0.

http://members.aol.com/pdcchrisd/index.htm

One of the best information sites to checkout belongs to Chris De Herrera (PDCChrisD@Aol.com), a sysop for America On Line’s Pen-based computing forums. Chris’ site has a lot of information and Chris has done a great job of organizing the information into a very useful format. The section for general information on Windows CE version 1.0 includes comparisons of the different units available, a Frequently Asked Questions section, and a list of compatible PCMCIA cards. The Windows CE 2.0 section includes information on the features of each new unit announced and Windows CE 2.0 color screen shots. Chris is collecting Windows CE ISP settings that include all the information you need to setup the dial-up connection on your H/PC. Chris also has a page for comparisons between Windows CE and other PDAs.

You will also want to keep an eye on all of the Windows CE OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and Microsoft’s web sites. With Windows CE 2.0 now here, this is where you can find the latest breaking news on product upgrades and new unit availability.

www.microsoft.com/windowsce/default.asp

Microsoft’s Windows CE web site has product announcements, late breaking news, free downloads and links to products from independent vendors.

www.casiohpc.com

Casio’s web site is where to find information on the Cassiopeia A-10/A-11/A-11+/A-20. At press time there is no current information on the A-20, the new Windows CE 2.0 offering, but there is information on the upgrade path. Use info@casio-usa.com to email Casio for support or information.

www.compaq.com/products/handhelds/

Compaq’s web site is where you will find info for the Compaq PC companion C120/C120+/C140 and PC companion 2, the Windows CE version 2 offering. There is no current information on the new PC companion 2 on Compaq’s site. For support and information, see Compaq’s website at http://www.compaq.com/support or email: support@compaq.com.

http://mobile.ericsson.se

Ericsson Mobile Communications is a new player in the Windows CE marketplace with the MC 12. The MC12 works immediately with your Ericsson mobile phone. A built-in software modem enhances battery life and allows you to communicate with speed and efficiency. Synchronizes the phone book of your Ericsson phone with Contacts.

www.hp.com/handheld

Hewlett-Packard’s web site is where to find out about the 300/320/360/620LXs. HP was the first OEM to ship a Windows CE 2.0 unit, the 360LX. There is information about the unit on HP’s website along with upgrade information.

www.hitachi.com

Hitachi ‘s web site is where you will find information on the Handheld PC. Hitachi makes the SH-3 chips that power the Casio, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, Hitachi and LG Electronics Handheld PCs, and you can learn about these chips at www.halsp.hitachi.com/windowsce/superh/. Hitachi has not formerly announced their Windows CE 2.0 version machine yet, but it is expected in the 1st quarter of 1998.

http://www.lge.co.kr

LG Electronics’ web site  is where you will find the LG Handheld Phenom. LG Electronics announced at Fall COMDEX that the new generation of Phenom will be shipping by January 1998. To get support from LG Electronics, email techsupport@lge.co.kr.

www.neccomputers.com/products/products.html

NEC’s Computer Systems Division web site is where you will find the home of the MobilePro 400/450/700 H/PC. At the current time there is no information on the MobilePro 700, but keep an eye out for it. For support see http://www.nec-computers.com/ on the web or email tech-support@neccsd.com.

http://www.velo.philips.com/

Philips Electronics’ web site is where information on the VELO 1 and VELO 500 is to be found. You can read about and see the new VELO 500 and also find out about upgrades to the VELO 1 here. For support on your VELO, go to http://www.velonet.com on the web or email support@velonet.com.

http://www.sharp-usa.com

Sharp Electronics is another new player in the Windows CE market and you can find information on the Mobilon HC-4000/4100/4500 on their web site.

AOL and MSN

America Online and the Microsoft Network provide excellent information support for Windows CE. See the articles on pages 15 and 12 for more on this.

www.inet-1.com/~spamman/wince.htm

This site belongs to Chris Russell (a.k.a., “Spamman”). It’s not what I’d call an information site, but it does have Chris’ PocketSwap utility. This application automatically changes your desktop wallpaper and allows you to choose which bitmaps you want to automatically change. It will even compress the bitmaps that are not currently being displayed to conserve space.

www.aracnet.com/~cbrown/

Chris Browning owns and runs “Chris’s Neck of the Woods.” Again, this is not an information site, but on it you’ll find GDBPlus — a program to covert HP 200LX note files to a text format readable by Allpen Mobile Database. Chris has a jokes database on his site too, so you can have a chuckle while grabbing GDBPlus.

www.windowsce.co.za/

Ryan’s Windows CE Support Page is owned and operated by Ryan van Klaveren. It has some good tips and links to sites around the web for information and downloads. It also contains H/PC-related news and press releases.

www.concentric.net/~awolters/pie/piehome.html