PCXpress 2001
Inside this invitation-only event
by Rick Smith (June 25, 2001)
Sponsors of PCxpress:
Agere Systems
ArialPhone
Audible.com
Avocent
Brother
Chapura
Compaq
Ecrix
EnhancedAudio
Executive Software
Extended Systems
FarStone Technology
FileMaker
Fluke
Franklin
| Infowave Software
Logitech
MindMaker
Novell
Orange Micro
ORiNOCO
Pacific Digital
Panasonic
Pioneer
ScanSoft
Sharp
Sony
Tangis
Zone Labs
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FileMaker Mobile Companion
for Palm OS
Carrying data with you is one of the key reasons you carry a Palm. What if you need a more powerful database to store your information? That is compatible with either a PC or a Mac. Then FileMaker Mobile Companion for Palm OS is your solution.
For only $49, you can now transfer and synchronize data between Palm handhelds and large FileMaker Pro 5 databases, running on either Windows or Mac OS systems. The Palm application is streamlined for simple accessibility and there is no need to re-create a database. With a single push of a button, you can easily synchronize your data on both the Palm and computer running FileMaker Pro. Since memory is more limited on the Palm device, it is simple to create a data subset, just choose which fields and records are to be downloaded.
While you could use wireless connectivity to access a master database, what if you’re not in the right city? - You have no data. Also most of the “databases” on PDAs are toy databases, great for names, reference numbers and simple information, but few have the serious power of a desktop database.
FileMaker has created a simple way to take your live data with you on the road and know you can easily synchronize it when you get back.
System requirements for the FileMaker Mobile Companion are the following depending on computer type:
PC systems: Windows 95, 98, NT4 SP3 or 2000; Pentium 90 or better; 32MB RAM; either serial or USB port; Palm Desktop 3.01 or higher
PowerMac systems: Mac OS 8.1 to 9; 32MB RAM; either serial or USB port; Palm Desktop 2.5 or higher
Palm PDA: Palm OS 3.1 or greater; 2 MB of storage; Hotsync cradle or cable
Each of the desktop systems will need FileMaker Pro 5 v.3, a CD-ROM drive and sufficient hard disk space.
FileMaker Mobile Companion is currently shipping.
Franklin eBookMan
The Franklin eBookMan provides one of the largest viewing areas (240x200) of any currently shipping PDA sized device. This large display can also be switched to landscape mode, so that the displayed information can more easily be read. While the eBookMan works very well as an electronic book reader, the eBookMan also:
Doubles as an audio book player
Plays MP3 files
Performs organizer functions (date book, address book, to do list)
Stores memos
Uses Natural Handwriting recognition ( no Graffiti)
Available in three models, the Franklin eBookMan interfaces to the host PC via USB or optional serial connection. Storage memory can be expanded up to 64 MB using a MultiMediaCard device.
Models of the eBookMan start at $129.95 for an 8 MB unit. For $179.95, backlighting is added and the top of the line costs $229.95. It features a larger 16 MB of memory and a backlit screen.
All units use the Franklin operating system, which can be upgraded in the future using downloads from the Internet. eBookMan's proprietary, 32 bit microprocessor is patented and runs at 24 MHz. This processor also:
features a hardware multiply for faster calculations
easily interfaces to RAM, ROM and flash memory
provides a real time clock
has a built-in LCD interface with touchscreen support
includes a stereo audio module
This level of integration makes the eBookMan run longer on batteries. eBookMan docks to your system via USB or optional serial adapter and is currently shipping.
Logitech Mouseman Traveler
Sometimes you want the feel of a desktop mouse when you are on the road. While several companies have made portable units, few have the feel of a desktop mouse or the styling of the Logitech MouseMan Traveler. This product combines optical technology with the quality that Logitech has become known for by selling over 300 million mice.
The Logitech MouseMan Traveler also:
has two models available -- USB and PS/2
is compatible with Windows or Mac OS 8.6+
features one touch scroll wheel
comes with a five year warranty and carrying case
uses an 800 dpi optical sensor for greater speed and accuracy
works on any surface -- no mousepad required!
works for either left-handed or right-handed use
weighs 3.2 ounces
retails for $49
The Logitech MouseMan Traveler will be shipping on October 1, 2001.
Record both DVD-Rs and CD-Rs
on the same drive
If recordable CD-ROMs don't have enough capacity for you, Pioneer has a recordable DVD drive that also can record CDs as well. The Pioneer model DVR-A03 is a combination of a recordable DVD drive and a recordable/rewritable CD drive in one. This is the world's first drive that can perform all these functions in a single drive.
The DVR-A03 will ship by the end of May 2001 and will have a suggested price of $995. Now you can store a whopping 4.7 gigabytes of data on a single, removable media -- that's over seven conventional CDs in storage capacity.
Software included to make the most out of this multifunction drive is:
Prassi's PrimoDVD 2.0 for recording data to DVD and CD media
Sonic Solutions' MyDVD for DVD-Video authoring
CyberLink's PowerDVD 3.0 software DVD player
This drive is primarily targeted for digital video recording and data archiving applications, but I can see some avid digital photographers using this drive as well. Kodak's latest six megapixel camera and sixteen megapixel DCS Pro Back makes conventional CD-ROM capacities look puny.
This drive reads and writes four recordable formats:
DVD-R (Write once and is compatible with most DVD Video players and DVD-ROM drives)
DVD-RW (DVD re-recordable -- erase and re-record your own DVD discs more than 1,000 times)
CD-R (CD write once)
CD-RW (CD rewritable)
It is capable of recording DVD-R discs at twice normal speed -- the other key speeds for the DVR-A03 drive are:
2X DVD-R record 1X DVD-RW record 8X for CD-R record4X for CD-RW record4X DVD-ROM read24X CD-ROM read
In case this drive sounds familiar, Reviews OnLine covered the OEM version of the drive, before it even had a part number. That drive (now numbered DVR-103) is currently available in the Compaq Presario 7000 and PowerMac G4 systems. Now it is available to anyone by the end of May 2001 for under a thousand dollars. Want to see all this page in a more compact form? View the linked version of this article. It's a smaller download than this page, and each product's information is only a link away.
Copyright
© 2006 Rick Smith All rights reserved.
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