Quantcast
PCWorld.com is upgrading some back-end systems. Some site features, such as user registration, may be temporarily unavailable.

Casio's New Pocket PC: Is Palm Sweating?

Sleeker, slimmer, more colorful Casio PDA might make a Pocket PC fan out of you.

  • 0 Yes
  • 0 No

The Casio Carry-On

I was surprised by how quickly I took to the EM-500 as a traveling companion. Word files were surprisingly readable, but entering any significant amount of text--whether I used the handwriting recognition feature or the on-screen keyboard--was a chore. The device was easy to grip, once I managed to extract it from the too-snug clutches of its padded-nylon case. (And because the case fits so snugly around the device, it has a tendency to rub against the power-on button, causing the battery to run down.)

The EM-500's 16MB of built-in memory is half that of its sibling Casio PDA, the $600 E-115. But unlike the E-115, the EM-500 adds a MultiMediaCard slot to accommodate the teeny-weeny cards that can hold up to 64MB of data apiece. (A 32MB card costs about $70.)

With its stylish colors and multimedia support, the EM-500 appears designed for the younger crowd; it even offers Windows Media Player support for Windows Media Audio and MP3 (in addition to .wav) files. Its 150-MHz CPU (up from the E-115's 131-MHz CPU) will help those multimedia files play faster and smoother.

This new Casio entry gives you a nice color screen on a device that fits easily into your hand and allows you to access Word and Excel files. And like the E-115, the EM-500 can play music and video. While the EM-500 is more expensive than Palm alternatives, its color screen, memory cards, and familiar apps help mitigate its higher price.

  • Recommend this story?
  • 0 Yes
    0 No
  • Great year-end deals
    for small business!
  • Get 24/7 live remote AT&T Tech Support 360* service along with select Lenovo* PCs (with Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processors) and save up to 200!

    Learn more

  • HP EliteBook* 6930p Notebook with Intel® vPro™ technology and a free HP Basic Docking Station - $641 instant savings!

    Learn more

People who read this also read:

  • 15 Minutes to a Secure Business Get the Secure in 15 toolkit starting with the "15 Minutes Month-at-a-Glance" calendar. McAfee will send you additional tools and tricks to stay protected around the clock.
  • A Buyer's Guide to Data Protection Implementing data protection products and processes can be daunting. Make the right decisions by exploring what is available and what makes sense for your organization. Use this simple guide to evaluate different vendor offerings.

Sponsored Links