October 4, 2001 -- Of all the original providers of Pocket PCs, my guess is that Casio was hardest hit by Microsoft's decision to make the Pocket PC 2002 platform available only for ARM-based processors. Casio, after all, had by far the largest and most varied lineup of Pocket PCs, ranging from the elegant EM-500, to the powerful and expandable flagship E-125--the handheld that defined the modern era multimedia PDA--to the EG-80 and 800 ruggedized models with snap-on batteries, and finally the IT-70 and 700 industrial Pocket PCs. And that's not even counting some Japanese market products like the E-700, E-707, and E-750. What all of those splendidly polished devices have in common is that they are based on the NEC VR41xx series of processors and thus won't run Pocket PC 2002, not now and not ever. Quite a blow if you ask me. It's not that those models will all be obsolete, but it's a bit like sitting on a lineup of perfectly good PCs that run Windows 98 but not Windows XP.

The result of this predicament is twofold. First we have the Casio BE-300 which we introduced in our last issue. The BE-300 '"Pocket Manager" is a PDA that runs the latest version of Windows CE, 3.0, but does not use the Pocket PC software. Instead, it has its own set of applications and its own user interface.

The second is the subject of this preview, the Cassiopeia E-200. The E-200 is the first of what will presumably be a new line of Casio Pocket PCs, a line that's based on the Microsoft-mandated ARM processors. As of the deadline for this issue of Pen Computing, we haven't had a chance to review the new E-200 in detail. We did see it at Microsoft's '"Mobility Technical Forum" in Seattle where we learned all about Pocket PC 2002, hardware, software, and future directions. While most of our esteemed colleagues took liberal advantage of a delicious buffet and free bar at Seattle's awesome Experience Music Project, we passed on the goodies and pawed the exciting new hardware instead.

So what can we say about the E-200? Like seemingly everyone else, Casio is now following the trail blazed by the original Compaq iPAQ. Gone is, for example, the Casio-trademark razorsharp TFT display. In the E-200 it's been replaced by a 3.5-inch indoor/outdoor-viewable reflective color LCD. It's a good, competent display and, judging by the iPAQ's success, what the market wanted. Personally, I hope that Casio eventually will offer consumers a choice between its fabulous standard TFT and the reflective display, just like some notebook and tablet PC manufacturers do. I am also a bit disturbed by a general move to the smaller 3.5 inch format. Of all the new Pocket PCs, only Compaq still uses the larger 3.8 inch display.

Needless to say, the E-200's 206MHz StrongARM processor provides the lively performance we've come to expect from PDAs built on that platform. And, as mandated by Microsoft, the E-200 has 32MB of Flash ROM which means that it can easily be upgraded to future versions of Pocket PC. The device comes with a generous 64MB of RAM, and also offers unparalleled expansion capabilities.

We're not just talking a single expansion slot here. No, the E-200 comes with both CF card and SD card slots. The CF Card slot on top of the unit can accommodate Type I and the thicker Type II cards. And the SD slot on the side can handle both MMC and SD cards. But that's not all. Like the iPAQ, the Cassiopeia E-200 line also has optional expansion sleeves that can accommodate PC Cards and also offers replaceable batteries.

Like earlier Cassiopeias, the E-200 has a cleverly designed cradle. Unlike the new iPAQ, the E-200 can be charged via the cradle but it still has a separate standard AC/DC jack for when you don't want to take the cradle along. The cradle itself has a USB connector, but Casio also offers separate serial and USB cables so that, again, you don't have to take the cradle along on a trip. Casio also claims that the E-200 will be able to control such diverse devices as printers, projectors, CD-ROM drives, keyboards and mice. I can see the merit for at least some of those combinations, though I haven't seen the software for them yet.

Like older Cassiopeias, the E-200 has a replaceable battery instead of a fixed internal power pack. It uses Li-Ion technology and Casio indicates 10 hours of typical use.

From a design point of view, the E-200 breaks new ground for Casio. It doesn't really resemble any of the earlier models which all had the navigation disc on the left and three function keys on the right, an arrangement that goes all the way back to the 1993 GEOS-based Casio Z-7000 PDA. Instead, the E-200 sports the by now almost ubiquitous central navigation pad flanked by two application buttons on either side. The sole carryover is the old rocket ship icon that also goes all the way back to the 93' Z-7000. There is still an old-style rocker/action control on the left side of the device, flanked by the MMC/SD card slot and an audio jack.

Measuring just 3.25 x 5.1 x 0.68 inches and weighing a mere seven ounces, the E-200 is significantly smaller and lighter than the E-125 and even undercuts the svelte EM-500. This is clearly not last year's Pocket PC. This device is part of a new generation of Pocket PCs, a generation that for now uniformly marches to the beat of the Microsoft drummer.

Compared to the competition, the Cassiopeia E-200 offers some significant expansion capability advantages. Its dual slot arrangement is only matched by the new Toshiba Pocket PC, but the Toshiba doesn't, to the best of my knowledge, have optional expansion sleeves. The design and layout of the E-200 is neat and clean, and everyone will appreciate the more compact size and weight compared to older Cassiopeias. I do miss that great, vibrant (and larger) color TFT that graced all earlier color Cassiopeias, but outdoor readability is simply a must these days.

So the preliminary impression is a good one. Stay tuned for a full review! -

– Conrad H. Blickenstorfer