Välj rätt PDA

Här är några av de modeller som finns på marknaden idag:

Casio

The Cassiopeia handheld PC and other products.

Compaq

The PC Companion

Hewlett Packard

Palmtop PC models include HP 300, HP 200 LX and HP OmniGo 700 LX.

IBM

The IBM Workpad is the same product as 3Com PalmPilot (see below), only with a new label and different coloring. IBM licenses the technology from 3Com since late 1997.

Linux

Running Linux on a PDA? Well, maybe. See the Turbo Tortoise below. Rumors also have it the Toshiba Libretto is large enough to run Linux.

Microsoft

Windows CE is a "light" version of the Windows operating system that runs on handheld personal computers (HPC). The OS includes "light" versions of the applications you are used to. Microsoft (so far) only makes the software. Hardware is made by Hewlett Packard and others. In early 1998, Microsoft claims that more than 500,000 units have shipped. See also March 97 head-to-head department of PC Today, comparing Windows CE models.

Palm PC is Microsoft's answer to the enormously popular 3Com PalmPilot. Hardware by Casio, Philips, Samsung and others.

Newton Message Pad

Used to be an Apple product, but is now a company of its own. Instead of a keyboard, the Newton features handwriting character recognition.

Nokia 9000 Communicator

This is the cell phone that grew into a PDA.

Philips

Nino, 4 or 8 MB RAM, looks very much like the 3Com PalmPilot, runs the PalmPC edition of Windows CE, launched in USA in the 2nd quarter of 1998

Velo 1, 2 or 4 MB RAM, runs Windows CE.

Psion

Models include 3, 3a, 3c, 5, and Sienna.

REX

Starfish Software presents REX, based on the TrueSync technology platform. It looks like a PalmPilot, but is thin as a credit card and weighs only 2 ounces (60 grams). But can you buy it, or is it just vaporware?

Sharp

Information on the Zaurus is available in English and Japanese.

Sony

Introduced in 1994, Sony's Magic Link Personal Communicator now seems to have fallen off of their web site, where it was last seen at http://www.ita.sel.sony.com/products/magic/. See also the company General Magic.

Toshiba

Libretto (Information in Japanese / English)

Not quite a PDA, but a "mini note PC". Weighs less than 1 kg, fits in your pocket, has a 75 or 100 MHz Pentium, 16 MB RAM, 800 MB disk, 6-inch TFT screen in 640x480 resolution. Runs MS Windows and Linux. Available in U.S. stores in July 1997, priced at US$ 2,200.

Turbo Tortoise

The TurboTortoise is a linux system, small enough to fit in a pocket. Build your own PDA that runs Linux. Is this the ultimate homebrew project of the 90s?

3Com PalmPilot

U.S. Robotics was bought by 3Com in 1997. Models include 1000, 5000, Personal, and Professional. Instead of a keyboard, the PalmPilots feature a stenography-like hand-writing system.

3Com PalmPilot Developer Zone

Wade's Pilot Programming FAQ

See also our page for PDA Developers.