Casio E200 Cassiopeia Pocket PC 2002 64mb Color Reflective Display

WHAT'S HOT: The tri-toned metallic Cassiopeia E-200 Pocket PC offers striking looks and both CompactFlash and Secure Digital slots (which can be locked to prevent cards from popping out by accident). The E-200's screen is bright and easy to use in all lighting conditions (though it's a bit darker than earlier Cassiopeias), and you can swap out the rechargeable battery for a spare one (which costs $45); a backup battery will preserve your data if the main battery runs out. A jog dial on the side permits one-handed use.

WHAT'S NOT: At $545, the E-200 certainly isn't cheap. Casio eliminated the voice recorder button that was on the side of previous Casio Pocket PC PDAs, and after trying out the E-200's audio, we're not surprised. The muted, fuzzy playback from the built-in speaker sounds terrible compared with the old Cassiopeia EM-500's, although playback through the headphone socket was good.

WHAT ELSE: At almost 0.75-inch thick, the E-200 is one of the thickest of the Pocket PCs, but it still fits fine in a shirt pocket. We found the directional pad a little stiff; in contrast to earlier models, it's combined with the built-in speaker and centered on the front, flanked on either side by two application buttons. Casio includes a black leather slipcase.

The E-200 works with a healthy assortment of add-ins via its dual expansion slots: memory cards, Wireless LAN adapters for 802.11b networking, and wired and wireless modems. An option is a $150 PC Card sled with a battery; the sled allows the PDA to use PC Card devices and increases the E-200's life by providing a second battery.

UPSHOT: One of the most alluring Pocket PCs, the E-200 offers both CF and SD slots built in for no-fuss expansion, as well as plenty of memory and a bright, easy-to-read screen.

SUMMARY

Casio Cassiopeia E-200 Pocket PC 2002 OS, 64 MB internal memory, 2.7-by-2.2-inch active screen area, 240 by 320 resolution, Secure Digital and CompactFlash expansion slots, removable lithium ion battery, backup battery; 6.7 ounces; one-year parts and labor warranty, toll-free support for 12 hours on weekdays. $545 800/836-8580 www.casio.com