NEC's MobilePro Handheld PC

NEC just turned loose the MobilePro 790 handheld PC. The little fella includes Windows for Handheld PC 2000 OS version 3.0, Internet Explorer for Handheld PC version 4.01, Pocket Outlook, Microsoft Pocket Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Windows Media Player for Handheld PC, Microsoft Voice Recorder, and Microsoft Terminal Server Client. It also has a built-in 16MB flash ROM, with 14MB of protected storage that doesn't get wiped out if your battery runs out of juice. It weighs 1.8 pounds and measures 9.6" by 5.2" by 1.1". Other features include an 8.1" 64K color half-VGA display (640 x 240 resolution), 168MHz VR4121 64-bit MIPS microprocessor, 56K v.90 modem, type II CompactFlash and type II PC card slots for expandability, and a touch screen. NEC says that the 78-key keyboard is "large," but if you look at the above photo, you'll see that (as with many things) "large" is a relative term. The MobilePro 790 H/PC will set you back $899 (US) or $1,384 (Canada) through resellers and distributors. Just remember that all of these gadgets are a conspiracy to lengthen your work day.