CNNdotCOM Technofile: Handhelds

INTERACTIVE Click here for a Cult 3-D image of the Palm m100

From CNNdotCOM Correspondent Rick Lockridge

(CNN) -- People are passionate about their handhelds. Here are a few products hoping to find a home in your shirt pocket.

Created by the same people who run a licensed version of the Palm operating system, the Visor has an important extra: a slot for plug-ins that lets you transform the device into a GPS finder, digital camera or wireless modem. Price: $149

If you want a handheld that acts more like your Windows computer, the iPAQ runs Microsoft's newly upgraded pocket PC operating system. The device is nearly all screen -- a very brightly colored screen that makes it easy to read an e-book. The iPAQ also has an expansion slot and can play MP3 files and record voice dictation right out of the box. Price: $499

Join the Palm Pilot fanatics who beam business cards and share wine lists, thanks to the thousands of software programs available for the Palm platform. The "Color Palm" is an aging product line's answer to flashy newcomers. But if you want wireless Internet access and e-mail, you can't get it on the Color Palm like you can on the Visor and iPAQ. You'll have to buy the monochrome Palm VII instead. Price: $450

The following Internet sites offer these products:

  • Handspring Visor

  • Compaq iPAQ

  • Palm IIIc

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