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View Full Version : Brighthand: Happy Belated Birthday, Pocket PC


Jason Dunn
05-04-2006, 05:30 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.brighthand.com/default.asp?newsID=12187' target='_blank'>http://www.brighthand.com/default.asp?newsID=12187</a><br /><br /></div><i>"I'll admit, I recently let an important anniversary pass by without making note of it. It was on April 19, 2000 in New York's Grand Central Station that Microsoft President and CEO Steve Ballmer unveiled the very first Pocket PCs. To demonstrate how far we've come since then, one of the companies that was demonstrating a handheld that day, HP, has since bought another one, Compaq. A third, Sharp, has dropped out of the world Pocket PC market and is now making Sidekicks for T-Mobile and Linux-based Zauruses. Yes, a great deal has changed since that day six years ago."</i><br /><br />Mea culpa: I had forgotten about this as well. The Brighthand article talks about the changes that have taken place in the Pocket PC market over the past six years. I can't believe it's been six years! In April of 2000 I was working for Microsoft on a short contract, focusing on writing content and coordinating writers for the <a href="http://www.pocketpcmag.com/_archives/jul00/Online.asp">brand new PocketPC.com</a>. It was pretty much an MVP writing crew (Chris De Herrera, Craig Peacock, Frank McPherson, Todd Ogasawara, Chris Meunch, Arne Hess, among others) and most of the writers are still focused on the Windows Mobile world. And at least one now works for Microsoft. ;-) I remember waking up at 5am on the morning of April 19th and meeting with the Web team to watch them push PocketPC.com live to coincide with the New York Grand Central Station launch of the Pocket PC by Steve Ballmer. What a day! Six years later, thanks to a great team of volunteers and all of you dedicated readers, I've been able to carve our a career in this space. I feel blessed and very fortunate to have my fate so intertwined with that of the Pocket PC. Here's to another six years! :way to go:

Edgar_
05-04-2006, 05:34 PM
Congratulations to Microsoft and to you Jason.

I think I speak for a good portion of the community when I say *WE* are the fortunate ones to have such a great trifecta of information that the Thoughts Media EMPIRE ;) brings us.

Thanks for giving me something to do in my idle time!

-Edgar / Kevin Duffey

razor
05-04-2006, 07:35 PM
Jason, before becoming the Pocketpc man, crusaded against a lethargic Phillips, (in 1997?), for their poorly designed hinges on the Velo CE devices. He single-handedly brought them to recognize the consumer dissatisfaction and redesign the hinge. All the Velo owners found out this proactive web page crusader could benefit us with his dedication to the devices and their pocketpc cousins in the future. And as Steve left the brighthand in his shadow, Jason is the best source for updates and opinions on the products we use to organize our days.

Jason Dunn
05-04-2006, 07:43 PM
Well thanks, that's nice of you say. I don't think it was "single-handedly", many people were complaining. ;-)

All the Velo owners found out this proactive web page crusader could benefit us with his dedication to the devices and their pocketpc cousins in the future.

Here's the blast from the past:
http://www.jasondunn.com/archive/velo/index2.htm

mscdex
05-05-2006, 12:18 AM
Isn't plural Zaurus, Zaurii, and not "Zauruses" ? :P

Darius Wey
05-05-2006, 02:23 AM
Isn't plural Zaurus, Zaurii, and not "Zauruses" ? :P

Since 'viruses' is the standard plural of 'virus', I'm inclined to think that 'Zauruses' is the more correct term in this case.

Anyway, happy belated birthday, Pocket PC. :)

KTamas
05-05-2006, 04:09 AM
Happy Birthday!
:bday:

Where's the usual Amazon wishlist? ;)

Jason Dunn
05-05-2006, 04:25 AM
Where's the usual Amazon wishlist? ;)

Hahaha...I wonder, what would be on the wishlist of a Pocket PC? Lots of accessories I guess. ;-)

Ilium Software
05-05-2006, 01:42 PM
We were there - it seems like a hundred years ago. I'm trying to remember who else besides Microsoft and the hardware companies. I'm pretty sure that Conduits, Developer One, Applian, Pocket PC Magazine (I bet they were called Handheld PC back then), Syware and Landware were also there, but after that, it's all a big blur, except Grand Central Station, which was breathtaking.

Apologies to whoever I forgot - 6 years is a long, long time around here.

Ellen Craw
Ilium Softare (http://www.iliumsoft.com)