Details

Philips Velo 1 : A few things stand out on the Philips Velo 1. Its unique, rounded keys work well with the stylus pen and provide adequate tactile return. Its multifunction buttons make switching between applications both fast and easy. Though it lacks a PC Card slot, the Velo 1 provides an upgradable fax modem, a voice recorder, and support for a broad range of communications software. The Velo also conforms to Intel's Miniatur e Card standard, which allows for easy, though expensive, memory upgrades. In addition, the integrated modem and dual expansion slots mean that a user can expand memory and upgrade software while still using the modem.

Hitach i HPW-10E4MB : We couldn't help but notice a design flaw in the Hitachi when we went to change the backup battery. After we unscrewed an underside panel and located the coin-style battery, we noticed that the DSP modem board and other circuitry were exposed to our hands, dirt, and airborne dust. After inserting a new backup battery, we eventually noticed we had lost quite a bit of battery power: The system had turned itself on immediately after we put in the new power cell.

Apple Newton MessagePad 2000 : The Newton MessagePad 2000 can be carried with or without its external, serial keyboard, an option that comes with some configurations. We've heard the argument that if you plan to carry the Newton keyboard around you might as well use a small laptop instead. However, if you decide to travel light once in a while, it is not easy to remove a laptop's keyboard. Also, a laptop's batteries will fizzle out in a couple hours; the Newton's battery, according to Apple, can last for three to six weeks.

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Philips Velo 1

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Hitachi HPW-10E4MB

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Apple Newton MessagePad 2000

photo_link (22 Kbytes)