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Evaluates several personal wireless communication systems. Handspring Treo 650 smart telephone; Fossil Abacus Palm OS PDA watch; BT110 wireless headset; Delphi MyFi handheld satellite radio.

Evaluates three personal wireless communication systems. Sanyo SPC-5500 cellular telephone; Sony Vaio Z1 laptop computer; PalmOne Zire 72 handheld computer.

Evaluates several laptop and handheld computers and cell phones. Sanyo SPC-7300 cell phone with video camera from Sprint; Sony Vaio Z1 lightweight laptop computer; Zire 72 handheld from PalmOne.

Evaluates several products. SPC-5500 cellular telephone from Sanyo; Vaio Z1 laptop computer from Sony; Zire 72 handheld computer.

This article features several products featured at the trade show of the Cellular Telephone and Internet Association as of November 2004. PalmOne announced the release of its upgraded Treo 650, available at first through Sprint in a CDMA/1xRTT version, but soon through other carriers in GSM/GPRS/EDGE. Though it shares the basic layout of the previous model, it comes with a host of improvements, including Bluetooth; non-volatile file memory; a removable battery; a much improved 320 x 320 display with 65,000 colors; bigger, flatter, backlit keys; a VGA camera; and the ability to play MP3 files. The 650 will be able to support IMAP and POP3 email accounts, and synchronize with either desktops or Microsoft Exchange. Both versions include data access in the 120-40 kbps range, allowing for what should be a useful web surfing and e-mail experience. Initial pricing had not been set, but should be around $500. Motorola's A630 comes with Bluetooth, a QWERTY keyboard on the inside, and a 176 x 220, 65,000 color display. Aimed at the stylish set, it comes with AOL IM and can play rich MP3 ringtones, but that does not make it an MP3 player. Nokia's communicators have been exciting products since they were first introduced back in 2000. The 9300 takes the concept to new heights, slimming down to the point where you can carry it in a pocket rather than a pack, and offering a 640 x 200 pixel Active transflective color display with 65,000 colors.

This article evaluates the Sanyo SPC-7300 cellular phone with push-to-talk technology from Sprint, Sony Vaio Z1 laptop computer, and the Zire 72 handheld computer. The SPC-7300 is designed for an active lifestyle. That means it is drop tested to the standard 4 feet on concrete that so many of my devices wind up suffering sooner or later. It does not have a camera and is a bit bulkier than others in the line. It is comfortable to carry on an external clip. The only problem was that there are a lot of buttons on the outside. The full featured Z1 features a 1.7 GHz Centrino processor, 512 MB of minimum memory and a 60 GB hard drive. Though I did not benchmark it, I was completely happy with the unit's performance. As far as I'm concerned, unless you're doing editing of 12 Mega Pixel digital camera files, there is not much this laptop will not breeze through. Even then, you can expand the memory to 1 GB. The real strengths of this laptop are its ergonomics. Ironically, desktop systems keyboards are slowed down by the long travel people expect from them. While the Z1 has a full sized (18.5 mm pitch) key layout, the key travel is only 2mm: short, crisp and responsive. The Zire 72 does not have a cradle, and that may throw you for a bit as you try to figure out hot to Hot Sync the unit. You start a Hot Sync from either the Palm's desktop or by pressing the star by its writing area. You have to go through Palm's applications to transfer information to the device, and it baffles me that Palms doesn't make it a regular USB storage devices.

This article features several cellular phone functions. Although Nextel pioneered Push-To-Talk (PTT) on cell phones, they allegedly no longer have a monopoly on it, as Verizon and Sprint have added PTT service on their handsets as well. Even though one can only talk within one's own carrier's network, interoperability between carriers should be only a matter of time. Normally thought of as a business feature, one would be surprised how handy it can be to keep track of family members or friends out together, or as usually winds up happening, nearly together. Sprint has a whole line of Sanyo phones which are basically the same unit with different feature levels. Though the most expensive of them is the SPC-5500 (VM4500) model, with its built in 310k still/video camera, the 7300 unit is outstanding, which is designed for an active lifestyle. The unit is rugged, but comfortable and easy to flip open its Kirk-communicator-style. The display is not transflective, which would have been a satisfying feature considering its take-me-anywhere style, but it is bright enough to get by. The speakerphone allegedly works fine, and quickly becomes indispensable, especially to someone who spends a lot of time with technical support getting other things to work. Sprint requires all their phone manufacturers to use a standard 2.5 millimeter ear piece jack, which makes it easier for users.

This article evaluates several electronic devices such as cellular telephones and computers. The Sanyo 7300 is rugged, but comfortable and easy to flip open Kirk-communicator-style. The display isn't transflective, but it's bright enough to get by. The Sony Vaio Z1 packs a lot into a lightweight laptop. Thin and sleek, with a signature curve along the sides that looks like it's just there for coolness but also protect the ports and strengthens the magnesium case. The Sony X505 has a carbon fiber and nickel case, weighs 1.7 pounds and 38 inches thick, it is the only Sony not to have a memory stick port. The new Zire 72 cellular phone has a camera and MP3 player and has several flaws. Though the Zire 72 does not have Wi-Fi, it does have Bluetooth.

This article features several models of personal digital assistants (PDA) and smart cell phones. At the top of the list of such devices is Bluetooth, the wireless Personal Area Network connection. Allegedly, Bluetooth can manage wire tangles to headsets, cell phones and other gadgets, and that Wi-Fi can manage, on the other hand, heavy data handling. Though Palm users may think that PDA devices were created when the first Palm rolled off its assembly line, and that its notepad form factor is the only way to use, many are allegedly aware of the legacy of the Pocketable Palmtop PDA.

Offers information on several personal digital assistants and cellular telephone. Advantages of the Sony UX50 CLI%Eacute; palmtop computer; Features of the Palm T2 computer; Description of Handspring's Treo 600 cellular telephone; Highlights of the Hitachi-Sprint G1000 Communicator pocket computer.

Introduces a series of articles which deal with personal digital assistants (PDA) and cellular telephones. Launch of the UX50 CLIÉ PDA from Sony; Description of the Microsoft Pocket PC 2003 PDA; Enhancements in Handspring's Treo 600 cellular telephone.