Law Technology Product News (Volume 5, Issue 12, p. 33, col. 1)
October 1998
By Wayne Spivak
JUST A FEW short years ago, handheld computers were either very large or very expensive toys. Now, you can't board a plane or take a walk without encountering them in the hands of men, women and children.
So what exactly is a handheld and what can you do with them? Simply put, a handheld computer is any computer that can kept in a pocket and used while holding them in your hand. They come in two basic types: those with a keyboard and those that accept handwriting as input. Then there is the operating system: it's either Windows CE or it's not.
Handheld computers are used primarily as personal information systems, which is why they were formerly known as PDA's (personal digital assistants). Most units include some form of telephone book, calendar, calculator and note pad.
Almost all permit some form of data synchronization with your desktop computer. The ability to synchronize your handheld and desktop computer is the key to the popularity of handhelds.
Internet Access
E-mail and Web access are available, either as an "add-on" or as built-in functionality. Web access is then divided into "live" and stored access. Obviously, live access requires you to be online, while stored access is similar to walking around with your own private Intranet.
Many third-party software companies now produce software or interface products for handhelds. What type of programs? How about an interface for time-and-billing? Or as a specialized interface into your document or case management system? Both are possible using the technologies available. Because many of the newer models have infra-red capabilities, a time-and-billing program makes it easy to walk about your office and accurately record billable time. All you have to do is aim your handheld to a receiving device and upload your time. Conversely, you could download your e-mail where ever you were in the office. The sky's the limit.
| Vendor/Model | OperatingSys | Size | RAM | Display | Software Highlights |
| CASIO enter number 282 after clicking here | |||||
| Cassiopeia E-10 | Win CE | Palm | 4MB | Mono | Fax, Quicken Expensible, Meeting Minder, Digital Camera Viewer |
| Cassiopeia A-20 | WinCE | Handheld | 8MB | Mono | Fax,Word, Excel, Financial Calculator |
| Cassiopeia A-10 | WinCE | Handheld | 2MB | Mono | Fax,Word, Excel, Financial Calculator |
| CassiopeiaA-11 | WinCE | Handheld | 4MB | Mono | Fax,Word, Excel, Financial Calculator |
| Compaq enter number 283 after clicking here | |||||
| C-Series 2015c | Win CE | Handheld | 20 MB | Color | Expedia (Maps), Fax, Word, Excel, Financial Calculator, Powerpoint, Outlook |
| Everex enter number 284 after clicking here | |||||
| Freestyle Executive A-20 | Win CE | Palm | 8 MB | Mono | Outlook, Jot, Financial Calculator |
| Everex Freestyle Associate A-10 | Win CE | Palm | 4 MB | Mono | Outlook, Jot, Financial Calculator |
| Everex Freestyle Manager A-15 | Win CE | Palm | 8MB | Mono | Outlook, Jot, Financial Calculator |
| Hitachi enter number 285 after clicking here | |||||
| HPW-200EC | N/A | Handheld | 16MB | Color | Speaker, voice recorder |
| HP enter number 286 after clicking here | |||||
| 200 LX | DOS 5.0 | Palm | 2 MB | Mono | Quicken, Lotus 1, 2, 3, Financial Computer |
| 360LX | Win CE | Handheld | 8 MB | Mono | Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint, Fax, Month-at-a-Glance, Financial Calculator |
| 660LX | Win CE | Handheld | 32 MB | Color | Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint, Fax, Month-at-a-Glance, Financial Calculator |
| 340LX | Win CE | Handheld | 4 MB | Mono | Word, Excel, Outlook |
| 320LX | Win CE | Handheld | 4 MB | Mono | Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint, Fax, Month-at-a-Glance, Financial Calculator |
| 620LX | Win CE | Handheld | 16 MB | Color | Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint, Fax, Month-at-a-Glance, Financial Calculator |
| LG enter number 287 after clicking here | |||||
| Phenom PC | Win CE | Handheld | 8MB | Mono | Fax, Explorer, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook |
| Phenom PC Ultra | Win CE | Handheld | 16MB | Color | Fax, Explorer, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook |
| NEC enter number 288 after clicking here | |||||
| MobilePro 750C HPC | Win CE | Handheld | 16 MB | Color | Caligrapher, PCAnywhere CE, Virtual Courier, Fax, Database |
| Nokia enter number 289 after clicking here | |||||
| Communicator 9000il | GEOS 3.0 | Handheld | 8 MB | Mono | Digital cell phone, fax, Internet workstation, large library of 3rd party software. |
| Novatel enter number 290 after clicking here | |||||
| Wireless Contact | Win CE | Handheld | N/A | Mono | Wireless built-in, Explorer, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook |
| Philips enter number 291 after clicking here | |||||
| Velo 500 | Win CE | Handheld | 16MB | Mono | Fax |
| Velo 1 | Win CE | Handheld | 4MB | Mono | Fax |
| Psion enter number 292 after clicking here | |||||
| Series 5 | EPOC | Handheld | 4 or 8MB | Mono | Wordprocessor, spreadsheet, law library |
| Series 3 | EPOC | Handheld | 2MB | Mono | Time manager, personal office |
| Siena | EPOC | Handheld | 1MB | Mono | Agenda, Word processor, etc. |
| Sharp enter number 293 after clicking here | |||||
| SE-500 | Synergy | Palm | 1MB | Mono | Organizer application |
| SE-300 | Synergy | Palm | 1MB | Mono | Organizer application |
| Zaurus ZR-3000 | Synergy | Palm | 1MB | Mono | Organizer application, fax, word processor, spreadsheet |
| Zaurus ZR-5700 | Synergy | Handheld | 2MB | Mono | Organizer application, fax, word processor, spreadsheet |
| 3 Com enter number 294 after clicking here | |||||
| Palm Pilot III | Palm OS | Palm | 2 MB | Mono | Tremendous library of shareware, freeware & 3rd party software |
| Palm Pilot Professional | Palm OS | Palm | 1 MB | Mono | Tremendous library of shareware, freeware & 3rd party software |
| Note: The information in the chart was obtained from manufacturers' Web sites and/or press releases. For more complete details please use the Reader Response card in this issue. | |||||
Wayne Spivak is president of Bellmore, N.Y.'s SBA*Consulting.
NEXT ISSUE: Time-and-Billing Software.
Vendors: To submit information about your product, please send press releases to Monica Bay, Editor-in-Chief, Law Technology Product News, 345 Park Avenue South, 8th floor, New York, N.Y. 10010.