Re: ATM - Windows CE (Palmtop Computers)

[darsal@erols.com (Dave Salovesh)]

Adam sent this to the ATM list:

>I've never used one of the mini "palmtop" pc's.  Is windows CE suitable
>for running small DOS applications like Mel's software?  Or should I be
>smart and get a "real" laptop?

WinCE doesn't have a DOS under it, and only runs apps written for it, so
it won't work for any scope controls I know of.  There is at least one
planisphere program, but it's pretty basic.

>What about ports? Do those little things have parallel and Com ports?

I've got a Cassiopeia A-11 H/PC, and it's got no parallel ports and one
serial port, but that's dedicated to the host computer interface.  I
know some newer ones have printing capability, but I don't think there's
any software that'll take advantage of the parallel port for other uses.
IF you found or wrote some software to use the ports, it'd be a bit of a
hacking project to get them working.

If you're after small size, and you don't mind that it means a small
display, I'd recommend the Toshiba Libretto models.  They're palm sized
laptops, with normal pentium chips, running Windows9x, but all the ports
are on an expander.  Cost is comparable to some of the more expensive
WinCE devices, maybe even less for some of the slower models.

If you're after cheap, but you want something like normal size, you'll
probably want to look for a used laptop.  And if you want both small
-and- cheap, and you can make do with DOS and Windows 3.11, you might
want to look for a Dauphin DTR-1 or something like that.  Circa 1993 or
so technology, but serial and parallel ports are built in.  Cost - $100
to $200.