March 14, 2001

Pocket games
New handhelds and accessories

Our upcoming April issue will devote a feature story and a hands-on "Inside the Digital Den" article to the ongoing struggle between the Palm OS and Pocket PC platforms. In the meantime, Compaq has announced two new Pocket PC-based models and accessories that aim to up the ante.

The two new iPAQ Pocket PC models and accessories provide users with increased memory and storage capabilities. Based on a 206-MHz Intel StrongARM microprocessor, the new iPAQ Pocket PC H3670 includes 64-Mbytes of memory, twice as much as the previous generation. The new iPAQ Pocket PC H3635 offers a CompactFlash Expansion Pack, which will allow owners to use two CompactFlash cards to increase their file storage.

Available later this month, both products will include Peacemaker Professional, a cross-platform infrared exchange utility that beams information to and from a wide range of PDA devices. In addition, the two handheld units feature a color screen that incorporates sidelit TFT (thin film transistor) technology.

Compaq is also introducing a Dual PC Card Expansion Pack, which can hold two Type II PC Cards or one Type III PC card. The module will allow users to perform simultaneous operations, such as using a PC Card modem and a storage card, or accessing a wireless LAN while using an input/output device. The Expansion Pack also includes a CompactFlash adapter and provides two times the battery capacity of the single-slot PC Card Expansion Pack.

—Mark Long, News Correspondent