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CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW: CNET editors cover the Next Big Thing
CES 2005: The Next Big Thing
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CES 2005: The Next Big Thing
NEC's oversize PDA
January 6, 2005; 5:30 p.m.
NEC MobilePro 900c
The product: Is it a mini laptop or an oversize PDA? The NEC MobilePro 900c aims to be something in between. It sports an 8.1-inch-diagonal touch screen (64,000 colors) and a QWERTY keyboard that's almost comparable to those found on notebooks. There are two models to choose from--Microsoft CE.NET 4.2 or Microsoft Handheld PC 2000. Also onboard are 64MB of SDRAM and 64MB of flash ROM. Other features include:
  • 400MHz Intel PXA255 processor
  • USB, serial, and infrared ports
  • CompactFlash expansion slot (Type I/II)
  • Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Windows Media Player 9.0, and PDF viewer
The price: The NEC MobilePro 900c is available now and comes in two flavors. The Microsoft CE.NET version costs $929, while the Microsoft Handheld PC 2000 model will set you back $899.

The prospects: Aside from the full-size keyboard and the wide screen, we don't see too many advantages in the MobilePro 900c. It doesn't have the zippy processors or the memory found in some of today's handhelds, which are half its size. Plus, it lacks Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

By Bonnie Cha, associate editor, CNET Reviews



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