Windows CE 2.0: A Hands-On Look

By David Shier

In the BuyerÆs Guide issue of Handheld PC Magazine I provided an overview of Version 2.0 of the Windows CE operating system. Now, about a week before its official release at the COMDEX Show in Las Vegas, I have the opportunity to look at more than just the emulator provided to software developers.

IÆm writing this review on a late prototype of Hewlett-PackardÆs new Windows CE 2.0 handheld, the 360LX. Since I listed many of the changes for Version 2.0 in my last article (Handheld PC Magazine BuyerÆs Guide 98, page 6), I wonÆt repeat it all here. Instead I will simply give you my impressions of using Windows CE 2.0 on this new machine. In working with Windows CE 2.0, I found a number of things that I liked and a few ôopportunities for third party developersö (a euphemism for missing features or features that need improvement).

Pocket Outlook

The PIM applications now look much like Outlook on the desktop, and in fact are even called ôPocket Outlook.ö An enhancement over the ôbiggerö desktop version is Pocket OutlookÆs support for ôdigital inkö in the note fields of Contacts, Tasks and Appointments. This allows you to include maps and other simple drawings in your notes. You can schedule appointments with someone in your Contacts list, although, like the desktop version of Outlook, the Pocket version automatically assumes that you want to notify the contact of the meeting via email. Personally, I find this assumption inappropriate for the handheld computer. If you use the email feature of the H/PC, then I would recommend you review the Outbox prior to connecting to the network to assure that no messages have been automatically added that you didnÆt plan on sending.

Email attachments

Speaking of email, you can now include file attachments to your e-mail. If you receive a file with an attachment, a utility may be needed to open the file on the H/PC. Remember that the ôPocketö versions of Word and Excel use their own file formats which get converted on the desktop during the copy process, but will not be converted when received as email.

As I noted in my previous article, the Taskbar at the bottom of the screen has been enhanced. It now supports the ôauto hideö feature, which provides more real estate on the screen for your applications. A feature that I didnÆt point out is the Desktop Icon in the far right corner of the Taskbar. When you select this icon, the currently opened application is minimized so that you have access to the desktop in order to select another program to run. While this capability was available in Version 1.0 by simply tapping the open applications banner on the Taskbar, I think that the added icon is more obvious. As for the auto hide feature, now that IÆve had a chance to use it on more than just the Version 2.0 emulator, IÆm not sure how I feel about it. I like the extra space on the screen, but I find it difficult to find the little spot at the bottom of the screen where you must tap with the pen to recall the Taskbar. Of course, all the H/PCs include a ôWindowsö key on the keyboard to recall the Taskbar, so this is not too much of an issue. Still, I find myself changing the setting back to leaving the Taskbar on the screen at all times. This is one of those personal decisions we all have to make.

One of the most important features of version 2.0 is the ability to print directly from the H/PC. I printed this document directly to an HP Laserjet 6P using the IrDA port as well as using one of our direct-connect parallel printer cables. The printer output supports graphics as well as True Type fonts. The print dialog provides a field for selecting the type of printer, however, the Windows CE 2.0 handhelds only come with a PCL (HP LaserJet) printer driver: It will be up to each printer manufacturer to supply Windows CE drivers for their printers.

IÆm pleased with this new machine. ItÆs appreciably faster than its predecessor is, and the changes in Windows CE are a big step forward. With additional support from third party software and hardware, itÆs obvious that the new Windows CE 2.0 H/PCs will further the acceptance of ultra-mobile computing.

Impressions of the 360LX Palmtop PC

A factual description of the 360LX is found in the Your H/PC section.
The first thing I noticed about the 360LX was that you canÆt tell it apart from the HP 320LX. The outside case is identical. You will notice quite a few differences when you turn it on.
For example, the 360LX is considerably faster than the 320LX before it. Microsoft says that they made the heart of Windows CE 2.0 (known as the ôkernelö) smaller and faster than version 1.0. This may have something to do with the improved speed, but the fact that the 360LX has a newer 60 MHz CPU (almost twice as fast as the 320LXÆs) certainly helps performance. The 360LX also comes with 8 Mb of internal RAM, twice as much as the 320LX. In addition, the display is a bit easier on the eyes. This is due to the 16 level gray scale as well as a white backlight, which replaces the green one on the 320LX. Of course, in addition to the hardware changes, the HP 360LX comes with Windows CE Version 2.0 and all of its improvements.
Hewlett-Packard also packages software with the 360LX that is not a standard part of Windows CE. The month-at-a-glance program provides a view of all your appointments for the month on a single screen. If you double-tap on a day (in the month-at-a-glance program) the Calendar program is started to allow you to view the appointments for that day.
Another value-added program shipped with the 360LX is bFIND from bsquare. bFIND is a program that searches your H/PC files and databases for text or simply file names that you can't find in a sea of directory folders. This is a handy utility if you use your H/PC for more than a simple appointment book and email system.

About The Author:

David Shier is a former software engineer and marketing/sales director in the electronics industry. He is now President of Shier Systems & Software, Inc., which develops and markets products and applications for the handheld computer market. David is a regular contributor to Handheld PC Magazine. He can be reached at: Phone: 805-371-9391; Fax: 805-371-9454; E-mail: david@shier.com; Web site: www.shier.com.