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Web-only Exclusives
November 30, 2000

From Our Correspondent: Hirohito and the War
A conversation with biographer Herbert Bix

From Our Correspondent: A Rough Road Ahead
Bad news for the Philippines - and some others

From Our Correspondent: Making Enemies
Indonesia needs friends. So why is it picking fights?

Asiaweek Time Asia Now Asiaweek story

Smaller gets Better

New palmtops, portables and PDAs with pep

By Andrea Hamilton


FOR SHEER OXYMORONIC INTENSITY, the phrase "portable computer" once ranked alongside "government assistance" and "journalistic integrity." Machines that could handle spreadsheets, word processors and other standard software were about as portable as pianos, while devices that had decent battery life and could be slipped into a briefcase or purse were mere toys, not computers. They could store phone numbers and help manage personal schedules, but did little else.

Nowadays it's more difficult to distinguish between full-blown PCs and compact, lightweight "personal digital assistants," at least in terms of functionality. Powerful new PDAs (also known as palmtop computers) allow you to crank out a memo, crunch a spreadsheet, send a fax, update a database, check your e-mail, play a game -- even surf the Internet. While their diminutive size and miniature memories automatically limit them in many respects, PDAs such as Apple's newest Newton are useful, if unorthodox, solutions to the challenge of computing while commuting. Other machines, including Hewlett-Packard's 320LX palmtop, minimize the hassles of switching between different kinds of computers by sticking to familiar software and user interfaces. Toshiba's just-released Libretto isn't a palmtop at all -- it's a shrunken but full-featured notebook computer, an attempt to invent a new market category in portables dubbed the "mini-note" class.

Those who don't want to learn how to use a computer all over again when they hit the road should consider HP's 320LX. The palmtop's strength is its use of Microsoft's Windows CE operating system and a suite of stripped-down Windows applications that are close cousins to the most popular PC software. The Windows CE desktop resembles that of Windows 95 -- it's just crammed into the 320LX's tiny display, which is slightly smaller than a bank check. Commands are also familiar to Windows users, although there's no mouse or pointer. Input is delivered via a small keyboard and by tapping twice on screen icons with a stylus.

Sharing documents between PC and palmtop is simple and seamless, the only drawback being that the portable's onboard address book and scheduler only talks to Microsoft Schedule Plus. An Internet Explorer web browser -- the first pocket browser capable of displaying graphics, albeit in shades of grey -- is also included; Solitaire addicts will be pleased to discover a preloaded copy of the game, though trying to read the wee cards will make your eyes bug out. A modem or additional memory can be added via a PC-card slot. Power is provided by AA batteries. The 320LX isn't quite compact enough to slip into a jacket pocket. It's awkward to use while holding it in one hand. Don't plan on writing a novel on a palmtop, and don't expect a gratifying Internet experience given the dimensions of the monochrome display. With a list price of $840, The 320LX is positioned as a PC companion, not a substitute.

Apple's MessagePad 2000, by contrast, has the power and versatility to merit consideration as an alternative to a laptop. Roughly the size of a videocassette, the MP 2000 is equipped with a fast 160-megahertz chip, 5 megabytes of RAM, and 8 megabytes of memory. It comes with a web browser, e-mail, spreadsheet, calendar, word processor, and note and sketch pads.

One of the features that sets the MP 2000 apart is its ability to share data with both PCs and Macs. It can also read handwritten or printed characters that are drawn onto the screen. Previous members of the Newton family were roundly criticized because character recognition was dodgey. The software has been markedly improved. You can easily jot down notes, e-mail, and sketches on the 130mm-by-83mm screen. For extensive writing, it is preferable to attach the MP 2000's optional keyboard. Because the Newton has been around for several years, there are plenty of software programs available, including applications for typing in Korean, Japanese and Chinese. Another plus: the device runs for days on two AA batteries. Despite the price tag -- more than $1,000 for a basic model -- the MP 2000 will likely satisfy most people who use their computers primarily for word processing and e-mail.

For those who think they are Star Trek's Captain Kirk -- always demanding "full power" -- there is Toshiba's Libretto 60CT. This machine looks like a laptop and has laptop punch: it comes with a Pentium 100-megahertz processor, 16 megabytes of RAM, an 810-megabyte hard drive, plus most of the features you'd expect. But Toshiba shoehorned it all into an 850-gram package that is about one-third the size of a conventional portable. Although the display is miniature (6.1 inches measured diagonally), it is full-color and uses expensive active-matrix technology. The $1,800 machine can be turned into a TV with a tuner card.

Sacrifices had to be made. There's no integrated floppy disk or CD-ROM drive (the company sells an optional external floppy drive). The pointer is hard to use, and the 82-key keyboard, while larger than those on palmtops, is cramped. Toshiba compensated by including an adapter that links the Libretto to a full-sized keyboard, mouse, and monitor. It is neither a perfect nor an inexpensive solution. Despite ongoing improvements, purchasing a downsized computer still requires reduced expectations.


This edition's table of contents | Asiaweek home

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