|
|
|
| Everything HP200LX: Knowledge, Products, Service |
|
Comparing the Windows CE Handheld PC to the HP PalmtopBy Mark Scardina As the new kid on the block, the Windows CE Handheld PC had the venerable HP Palmtop to use as a benchmark. I thought it would be interesting to put them up against each other in a software and hardware comparison. This article does not take into account any third-party software. While I do not attempt to draw any overall conclusions (preferring to leave that up to each reader), the results are quite interesting, and I believe they portend a bright future for Windows CE and Handheld PCs. Specifications Comparison
Features and Capabilities HP 200LX Typical Windows CE HPC Operating System DOS 5.0 and System Manager Windows CE Included Applications LapLink, Lotus 1-2-3, cc:Mail, PIM, Database, NoteTaker, WorldTime, System ,Macros, Pocket Quicken, Filer, DataComm, Stop Watch, HP Calc, Application Manager Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, Pocket Mail, Pocket Internet Explorer, PIM, Explorer, Calculator, World Clock Included Connectivity LapLink Remote and Connectivity Pack Windows CE Explorer (req.Win95) Processor 80186 @ 8MHz Risc Processor at 33-40MHz Screen 640x200 mono or 320x200 with 4 levels of gray scale 480x240 with 4 levels of gray scale Backlighting No Selected models Keyboard 80 keys inc. 8 Application Keys 61 Keys Pointing Device None (not req.) Can use serial Mouse Pen Power 2 AA batteries or AC Adapter. Can use AAs and internally recharge 2 AAs, Rechargeable Battery Pack, or AC rechargeable Adapter. Can use rechargeable AAs but must be externally recharged PCMCIA Support One Type II Slot One Type II Slot IR Support Serial IR Support IrDA Support Printing Capability Serial Printer or Serial-Parallel Adapter required None Printer Emulations Epson FX-80, HP LaserJet, IBM ProPrinter None Supports SRAM PC Cards Yes Yes Supports ATA Flash Cards Yes Yes Supports Linear Flash Cards Yes with included driver No Supports Modem PC Cards Yes Yes Included RAM/Storage 2MB or 4MB (opt 5/6MB upgrade) 2MB or 4MB Dimensions 1" H x 6.2" W x 3.4" D 1" H x 6.9" W x 3.7" D Weight 11 oz. 13.4 oz Can Run DOS Programs Yes (Those not requiring x386 or above processor) No Can Run Windows 3.x Programs Can run Windows 3.0 or below if Win 3.0 installed No Can Run Windows 95 Programs No No Can Run Windows CE Programs No Yes Supports EMS Memory Yes, with optional Driver No Numeric Keypad Yes No Sound Support .SND Files and Alarms .WAV Files and Alarms
Word Processor Comparison Windows CE Handheld PCs include Pocket Word, which is a subset of Word for Windows. It has most of the word processor functions without the desktop publishing and graphics capabilities of the desktop version. It reads and writes ASCII text files and a proprietary .PWD format that compresses the data. Word .DOC files can be imported and .PWD files can be exported with a Windows utility or HPC Explorer. The HP 200LX includes Memo as a basic word processor. Besides reading and writing ASCII text files, it supports limited formatting and outlining when using its proprietary .DOC format. This format is not exportable to other word processors.
Features and Capabilities HP 200LX Memo Windows CE Pocket Word Document Size Available Memory 400K Available Memory Character Formatting Normal, Bold, and Underline Normal, Bold, Italics, Underline Paragraph Formatting Left Justified Left, Center, Right Justified File Type Import ASCII ASCII (Word for Windows with HPC) Explorer File Type Save As ASCII and MEMO .DOC Format ASCII, Pocket Word .PWD Format Font Support Courier Arial, Comic Sans MS, Courier New, MS Sans Serif, Symbol, Terminal, Times New Roman, and Wingdings Outlining Yes Yes Templates Smart Clip No Zoom Modes 40x16, 64x18, 80x25 No Undo No Yes Macros Yes, System No Graphics Support No No Search and Replace Yes Yes Multiple Files Open at One Time No Yes Spell Checker No No
PIM Comparison Windows CE Handheld PCs include an Information Manager that incorporates three applications: Calendar, Contacts and Tasks. These applications can be kept in sync with Schedule+ with the included HPC Explorer for Windows 95. The Tasks application can double as a project manager due to its category function. The HP 200LX has an Appointment Book application that includes a ToDo list manager. A separate Phone Book application handles contacts, addresses and phone numbers. Syncing with a PC version is available with an optional connectivity pack. Appointment Book vs. Calendar
Features and Capabilities HP 200LX Appointment Book Windows CE Calendar Views Day, Week, Month, 6 Month Day, Week Alarms Yes - Sound and Message Yes - Sound, Message, and Light Appointment Types Time and Event Time and Event Repeating Appointments Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Yearly, Custom Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Yearly Undo Yes No Find Function Yes No Sync with PC PIMS Yes, with optional CPACK Yes with included HPC Explorer Password Support File Level No
Phone Book vs. Contacts
Features and Capabilities HP 200LX Phone Book Windows CE Contacts Records Supported Combined Business/Home Business and Personal Custom Fields No Yes Notes Yes Yes Number of Phone Numbers 4 8-12 Custom Display of Record List Yes Yes Undo Yes No Sort Options 3 Field Customizable Alphabetical by Name Find Function Yes Yes Subset Functions Yes - 16 Definable No Import/Export Yes, with optional CPACK Yes with included HPC Explorer Password Support File level No
ToDo's vs. Tasks
Features and Capabilities HP 200LX ToDo's Windows CE Tasks Priority Support Custom 1 -9, A - Z Notes Yes Yes Recurring Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Yearly, Custom Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Yearly Duration Days Time and Days Views Daily All Daily All, Completed, Active Carry Forward Yes No Categories No Yes Find Function Yes No Alarms No Yes Password File Level No Spreadsheet Comparison Windows CE Handheld PCs include Pocket Excel, which is a subset of Excel for Windows. Its largest area of compatibility is with the available functions, as it does not support macros, data, and graphs. It reads and writes to a compressed .PXL format that can be exchanged with Excel using HPC Explorer for Win95. The HP 200LX includes a virtually complete version of Lotus 1-2-3 version 2.4. Support is included for @functions, macros, data functions, and graphing. It reads and writes standard Lotus .WK1 files and no conversion is required.
Features and Capabilities HP 200LX Lotus 1-2-3 Windows CE Pocket Excel Spreadsheet Size Available memory Available memory Macro Support Yes No File Type Import Lotus .WK1, Text Files Excel .XLS with HPC Explorer Undo No Yes Graphing Yes No Data Functions Yes No Function Support Yes Yes Zoom Modes 64x18, 80x25 No Maximum Rows and Columns 8192 rows x 256 columns 16384 rows x 256 columns Search and Replace Yes Yes Multiple Files Open at One Time No Yes Spreadsheet Linking Yes No Calculator Comparison Windows CE HPCs include a built-in basic Calculator designed primarily to provide basic 4-function arithmetic with square root and percent. Entries are displayed in "paper tape" format with an on-screen keyboard available for stylus input. The HP 200LX includes a sophisticated multifunction calculator suited to a wide range of uses. Most types of calculations can be performed, and a "solver" is included for equations and custom functions. A converter for currency, length, area, mass, volume, and temperature is also included.
Features and Capabilities HP 200LX Calculator Windows CE Calculator Arithmetic Functions Yes Yes Date Functions Yes No Time Value of Money Functions Yes No Business Functions Yes No Statistical Functions Yes No Conversion Functions Yes No Math Functions Yes No Equation Solver Yes No Custom Functions Yes No Number Formats Fixed Decimal, Scientific, Engineering Fixed Decimal Calculator Modes Arithmetic and RPN Arithmetic E-mail Comparison Windows CE HPCs include a built-in e-mail client that interfaces to standard POP3 Internet mail service providers. It interfaces with the Contact Address book in the Information Manager, providing a centralized client list. Connections are via a modem and a PPP connection. Only text messages can be sent or received at this time. The HP 200LX includes the mobile version of cc:Mail that interfaces to any dial-in connection to a cc:Mail Post Office. Local and Network address books are supported, as well as automatic directory updates. Binary or text file attachments can be sent or received. Internet mail access must be through a gateway, such as the ESP Networks.
Features and Capabilities HP 200LX cc:Mail Mobile Windows CE Pocket Mail Mail System cc:Mail 8-bit binary POP3 7-bit ASCII File Attachments Yes No Address Books Yes - Local and Network Yes - Local Address Updates Automatic Manual Message Formatting Plain text Plain text Quoting Yes Yes Message Management User Assigned Folders User Assigned Folders
Data Terminal Comparison Windows CE HPCs include a built-in basic Terminal application designed primarily to log onto a text-based system. No binary file transfer support is provided. There is also no scripting capability to facilitate the session. Multiple communication configurations can be saved as icons. The HP 200LX includes a basic communications application called DataComm. Support is included for all standard protocols, as well as a Server mode under Kermit. A basic script file function allows for automating logons or basic comm sessions.
Features and Capabilities HP 200LX DataComm Windows CE Terminal Multiple Profiles Yes Yes Terminal Emulations VT100, ANSI, TTY, Custom VT100, TTY File Transfer Protocols Text, Xmodem, Ymodem, Zmodem, and Kermit No Screen Capture Yes No Scripting Support Yes No Speeds Supported 300 to 115K 110 to 115K Programmable Function Keys 4 None Pricing and Contact Information
|
|
Copyright © 2005 Thaddeus Computing Inc
<
