02-03-2004, 10:00 PM
|
|
Executive Editor
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 29,160
|
|
Looking at Our Roots: "Microsoft Announces Broad Availability of Handheld PCs With Windows CE"
"LAS VEGAS - Nov. 18, 1996 - Heralding a new era in personal computing, Microsoft Corp. today announced broad retail availability of the first handheld PCs, the new category of mobile companion devices for Microsoft� Windows�-based PCs based on the Microsoft Windows CE operating system platform. As part of the broadly supported launch of the new product category, handheld PC manufacturers Casio Computer Co., Compaq Computer Corp., Hewlett-Packard Co., Hitachi Ltd., LG Electronics Inc., NEC Corp. and Philips Electronics joined Microsoft in demonstrating handheld PCs and Windows CE-based software and communications products at COMDEX/Fall in Las Vegas. Microsoft also announced that more than 90 independent software and hardware vendors plan to have Windows CE-based commercial applications, hardware peripherals or communications solutions available for the handheld PC by or near the end of the first quarter of 1997.
The handheld PC is the inaugural product category based on Windows CE, Microsoft's new open, scalable Windows operating system platform designed for a broad range of communications, entertainment and mobile computing devices. "The introduction of the handheld PC with Windows CE is a critical milestone in Microsoft's continuing strategy to bring the popularity and ease of use of Windows to new categories of information devices," said Bill Gates, chairman and CEO of Microsoft. "The broad support and enthusiasm for Windows CE we are receiving from the computer and consumer-electronics industries provides the firm foundation on which we will build future product categories."
The handheld PC, with Windows CE, is designed to provide the millions of mobile professionals using Windows-based personal computers with an affordable, easy-to-use mobile PC companion to keep their most important information up-to-date and close at hand. "The handheld PC with Windows CE allows users of Windows to take the productivity of their desktop with them wherever they go," said Craig Mundie, senior vice president, consumer platforms division at Microsoft. "With its easy-to-learn user interface, familiar companion applications, automatic desktop synchronization, broad communications capabilities and numerous third-party solutions, the handheld PC is well on its way to becoming the next essential business tool for mobile professionals."
Ed Hansberry found this old press release, and I thought it was interesting to look at the roots of the Pocket PC. Everything started back with the HPC, announced in late 1996. That was an amazing seven years ago! In some ways, we've come a long way (integrated wireless), while in others, we haven't (ActiveSync is still based on HPC Explorer 1.0 code from 1996). Looking back on this press release, in what ways has the Pocket PC improved upon this original vision, and in what ways does it still have room for improvement?
|
| |
|
|
|
02-03-2004, 10:05 PM
|
|
Intellectual
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 252
|
|
That just has to be a candidate for a caption competition.
how about:
Bill G 'Gee, show my your new cool palm pilot'
or
Bill G 'While we waiting for the soft reset to complete I thought of a funny story. There a three guys call Scott, Larry and Bill......'
|
| |
|
|
|
02-03-2004, 10:28 PM
|
|
Philosopher
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 589
|
|
I still have my old Compaq C-Series HPC. Stills works great, except the left hinge cover snapped apart, so now the screen won't stay open. Of course, after that stopped working, I went with a Palm IIIxe, which felt like a bit of a downgrade. Then, in August last year, I decided that I needed a laptop or a new PDA. I went with the $200 option instead of the $1500 option. So, let's see, what changed between my CE 2.x and Windows Mobile 2003?
Well, the obvious woes that have been around since Pocket PC: I still miss the Windows-style Start Menu with cascading menus, that was nice. Oh, and closing applications. Everyone misses those.
But now, I walk in to Comp USA and have two huge sections dedicated to PDAs. Now, at the front of the store, I can get a radio, a metric dozen GPS's, a plethora of cases, and memory upgrades. Availability and alternative options for Pocket PC accessories have grown just about like they should have.
One thing lacking in my iPAQ verses my C-Series is the built-in 33.6 modem. I haven't seen a single HP model to still carry this necessary accessory! :wink: In a few years, Windows CE's connectivity has really grown, Wi-Fi is available on so many PDAs, either built-in or through almost suprisingly small cards.
The one thing I think Pocket PCs really lack over the old HPCs is obvious: the keyboards. Sure, the iPAQ 4355 has thumboard with it, but any built-in keyboard is going to be smaller on something that fits in your palm than what my old HPC had. But this isn't really a weakness: rather than getting used to typing on a keyboard that's 2/3rd the size of a normal keyboard, it's just a matter of getting used to a keyboard that's much smaller.
The Pocket PC is better in just about every way, I think the years have gone rather well for Microsoft's PDAs. And I should stop calling them PDAs, Quake and Age of Empires on my device aren't what I'd consider a replacement for a secretary :mrgreen:
|
| |
|
|
|
02-03-2004, 10:58 PM
|
|
Pupil
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 18
|
|
WinCE was hardly the strart of everything. That would more nearly go to the HP 95LX and its followers the 100LX and 200LX. These were DOS based systems with Lotus 1-2-3 (far better than eXcel) and a variety of other software built in. They supported PCMCIA cards, and, using widely available DOS software, ccould do anything a computer could do in those days.
For years I logged into AOL using my 200LX. It was a great way to stay in touch while on the road. It was a clam shell design, and small enough to actually fit in the inside pocket of a dress jacket.
|
| |
|
|
|
02-03-2004, 11:58 PM
|
|
Ponderer
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 99
|
|
i've still got my old compaq hps as well, and i actually used it pertty regularly until about 2 years ago (mostly just pocket excel).
i had to quit when the screen sort of halfway died. (it had an entire line of dead pixels horizonally since about 98, then it got another row of dead pixels vertically about a year later. then a couple of years ago it started acting like the old game qix (if anyone remembers the game they will get what i'm saying) and only the lower left corner was visible.
what little of it you can see still works though 
i'm gonna have to say that the things i like better about it are the keyboard and the fact that it has a full pcmcia slot and still manages to be slimmer than my iPaq 5555 
|
| |
|
|
|
02-04-2004, 12:04 AM
|
|
Ponderer
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 58
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Lynn
WinCE was hardly the strart of everything. That would more nearly go to the HP 95LX and its followers the 100LX and 200LX. These were DOS based systems with Lotus 1-2-3 (far better than eXcel) and a variety of other software built in.
|
We STILL have a business buying, selling, repairing, and upgrading HP 200LX's: www.palmtoppaper.com.
In fact the 200LX HP division head introduced us to Microsoft and encouraged us to start Handheld PC Magazine, which we did in 1997 in support of Windows CE. The magazine is now called Pocket PC magazine.
Hal Goldstein
Publisher
Pocket PC magazine
www.pocketpcmag.com
|
| |
|
|
|
02-04-2004, 12:34 AM
|
|
Sage
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 702
|
|
It's funny to see in some of the posts, here and on other sites, that what most people want, is something more along the lines of the original HPC's.
I know people have different needs in a PDA, but I think it would be awesome to have a clamshell device similar to the jornada 728, but with built in Wi-Fi and BT, along with higher Resolution.
Something along the lines of the Sigmarion III, which runs CE.Net with an X-Scale chip.
I still have my 3970, and am going to hang on to it until something like this is available. I recently saw a post in these forums about the 22xx series iPAQ, and how everyone was unwilling to upgrade to something newer unless it had dual slots. This was almost always a feature in the jornada line of HPC's, it just happened to be CF and PCMCIA instead of CF and SD.
I predict that the next big seller in the handheld market will be a clamshell style device with a useable keyboard (not thumb board), and built in wireless with VGA screen.
|
| |
|
|
|
02-04-2004, 12:37 AM
|
|
Theorist
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 267
|
|
Fixing the darn alarms would be leap forward that should have been achieved last year! :soapbox:
At least for ppl having this problem
I'd say improve pocket office, even if it becomes a separate purchase or adds to the price of PPC. :|
|
| |
|
|
|
02-04-2004, 12:47 AM
|
|
Philosopher
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 555
|
|
I still use a HPC -- the Intermec 6651. My girlfriend uses the MobilePro 780, and I gave my old MobilePro 770 to her cousin. I use it everyday to take notes and surf wirelessly -- everything I need a laptop to do, while smaller/longer battery/more rugged.
|
| |
|
|
|
02-04-2004, 12:52 AM
|
|
Ponderer
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 109
|
|
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Lynn
WinCE was hardly the strart of everything. That would more nearly go to the HP 95LX and its followers the 100LX and 200LX. These were DOS based systems with Lotus 1-2-3 (far better than eXcel) and a variety of other software built in. They supported PCMCIA cards, and, using widely available DOS software, ccould do anything a computer could do in those days.
|
Don't forget the DOS-based Atari Portfolio, which predates the HP offerings by a few years. If you want to go further back, check out the Tandy 100.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Linear Mode
