\paperw8640 \margr0\margl0\ATXph0 \plain \fs20 \f1 Microsoftís chairman Bill Gates unveiled Windows CE, a scaled down version of Windows 95, with the backing of leading electro
nics manufacturers at the Comdex Fall show in Las Vegas in November.\par
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Windows CE looks and feels like its big brother Windows 95 and although it is fully compatible with Windows 95 and Windows 95 software, it is designed specifically to run on
smaller and much more inexpensive handheld PCs (HPCs) or PDAs. Electronics giants NEC, Hewlett-Packard, Casio, Philips, Compaq, LG Electronics and Hitachi have all unveiled Windows CE-based handhelds in the States. The devices are expected to follow in E
urope in the summer.\par
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Though each of the hardware devices will look slightly different, they will all weigh less than one pound, fit in your pocket and include Microsoftís Windows CE operating system and Pocket Word and Excel. And if youíve eve
r used Windows 95 before, theyíll be easy to use too with familiar icons, Taskbar and menu structure. The devices also include Microsoftís World Wide Web browser, Internet Explorer, and can connect to the Internet via a modem.\par
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Each is also pro
vided with a serial cable and infrared port so synchronisation with your PC and files is simple. The HPCs all use standard AA batteries and unlike notebook computers, will run for weeks on a single set of batteries. All of the machines will also have a m
iniature keyboard and stylus which is used with the touch screen in place of a mouse. \par
The HPCs will also include a Solitaire game to keep you amused on long train journeys, or dull meetings, and third party software developers are busy working on W
indows CE specific applications and games. Watch this space!
