September 10, 1998

Wired is running a Reuters story that Microsoft has decided to team with China's Legend Holdings Ltd. to sell a Windows CE device in China starting in Dec98. The estimated street price will be US$420.

Microsoft's Bill Gates "foresees Windows versions running on phones, watches, and Net appliances" in a PC World article entitled "GATES SEES WINDOWS WONDERLAND".

Franklin has released their next generation Rex Pro PC Card PIM that can "read and write schedule and contact info." The device can store 6000 items in 512K of memory, and also comes with a serial docking station for PC desktops. The list price direct from Franklin (888-739-6400) is US$239.94. PC World has coverage.

IBM has announced through nearly all the press release venues and technology publications a new "hard disk drive" called the "Microdrive" that "weighs less than an AA battery." You can learn more via IBM's site or via Wired.

The latest Computer Retail Week (CRW) has an article about the new Royal Consumer Business Products' daVinci handheld that will sell for 50% of the price of a new 3Com Palm III.

SanDisk has announced a new "Windows NT 4.0 device driver" for their "ImageMate CompactFlash reader/writer" (~US$80).

Novatel Wireless has announced the release of "Minstrel Plus"--a Wireless IP modem (supports speeds up to 19.2Kbps) designed specifically for the latest generation of PalmPilot devices from 3Com (Palm III) and IBM (WorkPad). This CDPD device comes with its own TCP/IP stack, nickel metal hydride (NiMH) rechargeable battery pack, an AC adapter, and various third party software packages. Minstrel Plus can also be powered by six AAA alkaline batteries.

Landware has announced that they are "now accepting advance orders" for their GoType! keyboard for PalmPilot devices that is expected to ship in mid-Oct98. The list price is just under US$80, and a slim carrying case will be available for just under US$20.

Eric Brown notes that the Newton Book documents available for Saugus, MA can be found at

-Steve Holden (sholden@pencomputing.com)