InformationWeek
Defining The Business Value Of Technology
May 17, 1999
IBM Debuts Handheld Windows CE UnitSystem supports better networking
By Tom Davey
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BM has released its first mobile computer to use Microsoft's Windows CE operating system. The $999 WorkPad z50 is based on Windows CE 2.11, which supports larger screens and better networking capabilities. Just 1 inch thick and 2.6 pounds, the unit has an 8.2-inch VGA screen and a keyboard that's 95% the size of a standard notebook keyboard.The WorkPad z50 lets remote users connect directly to a server to access the Internet and to send and receive Lotus Notes or Microsoft Exchange E-mail. IBM Mobile Connect software comes loaded on the z50 to enable server synchronization, but a server version of the software must be purchased separately for $4,500. Customers must also pay a one-time licensing fee per client for the server connection, which ranges from $100 to $150 per user, depending on the number of users.
The z50 is powered by an NEC MIPS 131-MHz processor and has 16 Mbytes of memory, expandable to 48 Mbytes. It has a 33.6-Kbps modem, a serial port, and an infrared port for data transfer.
Hewlett-Packard last November became the first enterprise vendor to ship a WinCE 2.11 machine. Compaq plans to introduce a similar product in the next few weeks. Still, IT managers may not be standing in line for the new devices. "It's another platform to support," says Dataquest analyst Van Baker. "We're not seeing huge demand yet from corporate customers. But IBM's backing does a lot to legitimize the platform."
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