March 2, 1999 Web posted at: 8:21 a.m. EST (1321 GMT) by Bob O'Donnell

From...

(IDG) -- Handheld computing devices are always an interesting subject to investigate because it seems like no matter when you check in on the handheld market, something new is going on. The most recent developments have been based around adding color to the palm-sized computing devices.

In particular, HP's Jornada 420, the recently announced Compaq Aero 2100 and a color version of the Everex Freestyle -- all of which are Window CE-based palm PCs with color screens -- promise to add yet another twist to the personal digital assistant marketplace.

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The traditional leader in this area -- the 3Com Palm Pilot -- is about to go through a refresh as well. The Palm IIIx, which is due out on Monday, February 22, will supposedly offer a higher-quality screen and more memory at a price similar to what the Palm III used to sell for. In addition, a thinner, sleeker Palm V is also due out on the 22nd. According to several reports, however, neither the Palm IIIx nor the Palm V are supposed to offer color screens, at least not initially. There are rumors that a color version of the Palm V is also due to be released later this year, although this seems to be more of an unknown.

The question I have is whether the addition of color will sway users over from the Pilot to a Windows CE-based machine. Pilots have been successful primarily because of their ease-of-use and elegant design, but there's no denying that color is an attractive option. In fact, without a color model, 3Com's Palm division could see its leading position lose ground to CE machines -- a prediction that many industry analysts have already made.

Of course, an even bigger question is whether or not the addition of color will entice people to get a palm-sized computer/organizer in the first place. Despite all the hype that these types of devices have received, they still remain a relatively small niche category. With the addition of color screens, however, they could begin to attract the attention of a whole new group of users.

Personally, I'm looking for speech recognition and built-in wireless connectivity -- along with a color screen -- before I dive in, but neither are viable quite yet. Developments have been made in both areas -- in fact, there are even some add-on products with these capabilities now available -- but they're still not quite to the point of being an integrated element. So, for now, I'll probably still stay on the sidelines in this skirmish, though I have to admit that the color screens are bound to be a fairly constant distraction.

Bob O'Donnell author of the forthcomingPersonal Computer Secrets from IDG Books, has been writing about, talking about, analyzing, testing, and using computers and other high-technology equipment for more than 13 years.