Just what is an "information appliance," anyway? The phrase is being used to describe a wide range of devices with varying capabilities. For the purpose of this discussion, I shall define an information appliance as any mobile device that is designed to provide a user with access to information stored on the device, or to information stored elsewhere when connected to data resources via a wired or wireless link.
Examples include the Windows CE PC Companions and other palmtop devices, and "smartphones," such as the Motorola StarTAC phone coupled with Starfish's clip-on Mobile Organizer. To some, these devices fall under the title of "Personal Digital Assistants" (PDAs). To others, this class of products will always be known as "Palm" computers (even though 3Com uses the name "Palm" to describe its product).
"Smartphones"
A smartphone is a combination mobile phone and personal information manager. Motorola redefined the smartphone category by providing a clip-on personal organizer for its existing StarTAC phones. IGS introduced its own version of a smartphone incorporating personal information management software (a PIM) developed by Unwired Planet. The IGS smartphone is not much larger than standard wireless phones. A number of other companies announced their own versions of a smartphone including the Nokia 7110, and Ericsson's R380 smartphone as well as its MC218 two-piece solution that is a handheld organizer based on the Psion EPOC operating system. Smartphones are a subset of Information Appliances.
Palmtops
The name "palmtop" was first used with Hewlett-Packard's 95/100/200LX series of small handheld computers. HP's LX Palmtop PCs developed a devoted, but relatively small user base. When you mention "palmtop" today, most people think of 3Com's Palm line of products, which re-birthed the PDA market. Newton's lack of success caused users to lose interest until the PalmPilot came along. In just a few short years, Palm products have become the biggest thing to happen in the information appliance space, and Palm continues to improve on its products.
Palm Line of Products
Posted on the Palm Web site (www. Palm.com) you will find a comparison of the four available Palm products--the Palm V, Palm IIIx, Palm III, and PalmPilot Professional. (The Palm VII is not yet shipping and is not listed in the chart). List prices are $449 for the V, $369 for the IIIx, $299 for the III, and $199 for the Palm Pilot Professional. Storage (memory) for the four units is 2 MB for the V and III (expandable on the III only), 4 MB for the Palm IIIx, and 1 MB (expandable) for the PalmPilot.
Only the Palm V uses a rechargeable battery. All of the others use AAA alkaline batteries and provide two to three months of battery life. All of the units except for the PalmPilot have an infrared port, and all have upgradable operating systems. However, the Pilot requires a new ROM to upgrade it to Palm III capabilities. The Palm V's only hardware expansion capabilities are via the serial port while the Palm IIIx, III, and Pilot have an expansion slot for memory, paging cards, etc.
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