Here at Pen Computing Magazine, we have liked Casio’s Cassiopeia E-10 palmsize PC since its introduction. If we had one complaint—apart from questioning the general wisdom of going with AAA instead of AA batteries—it was that the unit’s 4MB memory was a little to confining for the Windows CE operating system with all its potential. Well, Casio listened, at least as far as memory goes. The new Cassiopeia E-11 addresses that deficiency with a standard 8MB of RAM. Other than the memory expansion the units are identical. The only other significant change is that the E-11 comes bundled with an AC adapter, an item sorely missed with the E10, and downright mandatory if you don’t want to burn through bushels of batteries while your PPC is docked. On the software side, an expanded application suite includes Randsoft Harmony 98, PalmGolf, and Casio Menu. Harmony 98 is a limited copy of Randsoft’s synchronization software. It allows the Casio to link to some of the more popular PIMs outside of Microsoft’s world. Harmony 98 works with Lotus Notes 4.5, Lotus Organizer 97/98, Net Manage ECCO Prop 4.X, and Symantec’s ACT! 3.05. The Casio Menu software is an interesting addition to Casio’s custom software. The software creates a large screen of one-touch buttons to access to the Windows CE applications. What is unusual here is that the menu screen flies in the face of the general Windows CE native graphic user interface. However, the unit lets the user select the interface, which best suits the way they feel most productive. The Casio PPC always included Microsoft’s Schedule Plus PIM and, in a much appreciated gesture from Microsoft, the E-11 comes packaged with a shiny new Windows Outlook 98 CD. This is a welcome addition for many Windows PC users, and the perfect tool to work with the new E-11 PPC. All the other great bonus software the E-10 comes with is still there. LandWare’s Financial Consultant, bsquare’s bFax Express, MobileSoft’s Tetris CE, and Quicken ExpensAble are all still included. Casio’s own Meeting Minder, Find File Utility, and a new Image Viewer are also present. In everyday operation, there isn’t much difference between the E-10 and the E11. Performance is the same under most circumstances. Scroll tests and the time it took for applications to launch indicated a dead heat between the two. However, the extra memory in the E-11 lets you load lots of the included bonus software without having to resort to an add-in CompactFlash card. At a new retail price of US$399, the Casio E-11 is an even better PPC deal and well worth a serious look if you plan to get a palmsize PCs. - Dom Giangrasso