Pocket PC Magazine, November '03

by MS Reader version $4. 95

  The SD card slot, DC adapter connector and headphone jack are all covered with rubber moisture seals. Personally, I dislike these rubber flaps since they always seem to stay open after being used a few times.

  According to the documentation, there is a CF card slot in addition to the SD slot. However, the CF slot is not accessible by the user. The top of the CF-P1 is removable to allow for what are listed as "built-in cards" such as barcode scanners or RF modules. But the screws that hold this top in place are tamper-resistant Torx heads and the documentation clearly states: "These cards cannot be changed." While I can understand Panasonic's desire to maintain the integrity of the environmental seals, I would prefer a solution that allows customer access to the CF slot.

  The Panasonic CF-P1 has a few other strange quirks. For example, the keyboard lacks a Tab or Control key. But keeping in mind that the primary use for this machine is with custom applications, this may not be an issue. That's because the programmers can take the keyboard limitations into account when designing the user interface.

  So if your application needs both a rugged device and the ability to enter lots of numbers or text, one of these two industrial Pocket PCs should fit the bill.

  * * *

  David Shier is the President of Shier Systems & Software, Inc. A former software engineer and Director of Marketing and Sales, David started Shier Systems in 1994 to focus on providing ultra-mobile computing and communications solutions including Windows CE based hardware and software. Through Shier Systems, David is available for consulting services related to mobile and wireless applications. David can be contacted via the company Web site at www.shier.com or by e-mail at shier@shier.com.

  The Unwired Rabbi

  by Rabbi Jeffrey Kurtz Lendner

  Making the move from a Handheld PC with a built-in wired modem to a Pocket PC with built-in i-Fi!

  MMy mobile computing needs have changed quite a bit since I first wrote for Pocket PC magazine (www.PocketPCmag.com/July00/pocket_rabbi.htm). Then, I moved around a lot. Now I spend most of my time in an office. Then, I used an HP Jornada Handheld PC. Now, I carry a Toshiba e740 Pocket PC.

  After years, I finally switch from the HP Jornada 680 Handheld PC to the Toshiba e740 Pocket PC (above).

  Three years ago I did a lot of my work away from the office: across town or in another city. If I waited until I got back to the office to answer e-mail or compose documents, I'd be hopelessly behind. I needed to take a mobile computer with me, it had to be small, and since most of the work was text-intensive, I needed a keyboard. An HP ornada 680 Handheld PC served me well for years. But about four months ago it started to fail. I needed something new.

  I initially considered a new HP Handheld PC, but decided against it. HP was discontinuing the Jornada Handheld PC line, but more importantly, I no longer had the same need for a keyboard.

  After researching Pocket PCs using Pocket PC magazine's online Buyer's Guide (www.PocketPCmag.com/bg2003/buyersintro.asp), I decided to purchase the Toshiba e740 Pocket PC. I paid $550 for the e740, an extra power adapter for my home, a car power adapter, and a three-year extended warranty. The e740 had a decent battery life, a replaceable battery, two card slots (one CF and one Secure Digital), and built-in wireless LAN capability. It looked like a device that would last me for a few years, and I decided that these features were worth the expense.

  [Note: A review of the Toshiba e740 was published in the November, 2002 issue of Pocket PC magazine, online at: www.PocketPCmag.com/Nov02/e740.asp. Toshiba has since discontinued the e740, replacing it with the e750 series. The new device has a slightly larger screen, upgraded processor, and more internal memory, but is otherwise similar to the e740. A review of the e755 was published in the September 2003 issue, online at www.PocketPCmag.com/sep03/e755.asp.]

  TThe Pocket PC user interface is different than the UI found on the Handheld PC. The latter is more similar to the UI found on a Windows desktop PC. It took me a little while to get used to the Pocket PC UI. For example, the cut and paste feature was a challenge to conceptualize at first. On the H/PC and on desktop PCs, you highlight a word or phrase you want to cut and press the Ctrl-X keys (or select Cut from the drop-down Edit menu). On the Pocket PC, you highlight the word or phrase and hold down on it with your stylus. Then you select the Cut option from the pop-up menu (Screen 1). I also had to get used to navigating without a mouse or keyboard.

  Screen 1 (above): I had to get used to the Pocket PC's edit menu, which pops up when you hold the stylus down on the screen..

  The biggest challenge was learning to enter text without the aid of a keyboard. In my current position I do not have the same need for heavy text input. I've found that a combination of the built-in soft keyboard, Microsoft Transcriber, and PDA Mill's Topkey program (www.pdamill.com; Screen 2) gets the job done, even though not as easily as with a real keyboard.

  Screen 2 (above): Topkey adds an alternative soft keyboard to the Pocket PC.

  I'm particularly impressed with Transcriber. My daughter refers to my handwriting as "scribble scratch" because no one can read it. Yet Transcriber, the handwriting recognition program built into all Pocket PCs, has succeeded where most of my colleagues have failed: it reads my handwriting! I use Transcriber to enter appointments, tasks, and accompanying notes. I do find Transcriber's "gestures" to backspace and edit text a bit cumbersome. Instead, I usually resort to the small, specialized "Transcriber Keyboard" to enter punctuation, symbols, tabs, line returns, and the like (Screen 3). Transcriber's ability to interpret my handwriting successfully has made the transition away from a physical keyboard a lot easier.

  Screen 3 (above): The "Transcriber Keyboard," accessed from the tool bar, makes it easier to enter symbols and punctuation.

  Fewer cables and less running around

  OOne of the reasons I decided on the e740 was because of its built-in wireless LAN capability. For a while now, I have wanted to add wireless capability to our office LAN. It would be especially useful on our special programs days. On these days we hold classes in rooms that have no network access points. If we need a computer for the class, we end up stretching network cable through the building, around doorways and across floors. Anticipating the day that we finally upgrade the LAN, I wanted to have a Wi-Fi-capable Pocket PC.

  I did a little research in April of this year and discovered that adding a wireless access point to the network (Screen 4) and a wireless network card to one of the desktop PCs would cost less than $100. Summer was approaching quickly, as was the first day of our center's summer camp. On that day we would have to register hundreds of participants in the front hallway, which does not have a LAN access point. A combination of low price and specific need helped me convince my boss to upgrade the office LAN.

  Screen 4 (above): Adding a wireless access point to your company's LAN is easy and relatively inexpensive.

  We configured the wireless LAN for 128 bit hexadecimal encryption to prevent unauthorized access, but with the right password I had no problem connecting my e740 to the network. Now I had a wireless connection to our network and through it to the Internet. Now I could... walk through the building reading CNN whenever I wanted.

  Fortunately, within a week of installing the system a more legitimate opportunity presented itself. We participate in a program sponsored by New York's 92nd Street Young Men's Hebrew Association, in which they broadcast a live, private satellite program to Jewish Community Centers around the country, including ours in New Orleans. The program is interactive and audience members can e-mail questions to the panelists in New York, who respond to them during the course of the broadcast. We view the program in our auditorium, a room with no computer network connection and no computer. When we ran this program last year, people would write down questions and hand them to me. Then I would run to the nearest computer and e-mail questions to the panelists. However this year, I sat in the room with the audience. People brought questions to me and I e-mailed them from my seat, using my e740 wirelessly conne
cted to our network. In addition, I have also been able to remain connected to my desktop computer through the wireless network and have ActiveSync keep Calendar, Contacts, and Tasks continuously synchronized as long as I am in the building.

  Starbucks and other places are starting to offer wireless LAN "hotspots" to their customers and I hope to make use of such opportunities. You can find a list of Wi-Fi hotspots throughout the U.S. and around the world at the 802.11 Planet Web site (www. 80211hotspots.com).

  I purchased two other hardware accessories for my Toshiba e740. The first was a Socket Digital Phone Card (www.socketcom.com/product/dpc_card.asp), which lets me connect the e740 to my Sprint Kyocera phone. This gives me a relatively slow Internet connection, which I use primarily to check my e-mail when I'm on the road. I also purchased a CompactFlash LAN adapter card from Hawking Technologies (www.hawkingtech.com). This allows me to access wired high-speed Internet from hotels and other sites that offer this service.

  A rabbi's Pocket PC

  In my article back in July of 2000, I spent quite a bit of time describing my use of the Handheld PC in my work as a rabbi. At that time, Handheld PC software offerings related specifically to Judaism were few and far between. However, that situation has changed for the better in the last year and a half.

  Converting between Jewish and Gregorian calendars

  Pocket Gabbai (www.aardvarkideas.com) displays the current Jewish date based on the current system date of your Pocket PC (Screen 5). It will also display a future Jewish date corresponding to a future date you select in Calendar.

  Screen 5 (above): Pocket Gabbai is a Today screen plug-in that displays a date in the Jewish calendar based on the Pocket PC's system date or a date you enter.

  Pocket Luach (www.tebeka.com/PocketLuach/) works in both directions. You can specify future dates on the regular calendar and have it display the corresponding Jewish date (Screen 6), or you can specify a date on a Jewish calendar and have it display the Gregorian date.

  Screen 6 (above): Pocket Luach displays the corresponding Jewish date as well as letting you specify a date on a Jewish calendar and have it display the Gregorian date.

  Jewish spiritual study

  Although I have not taken advantage of it yet, the orthodox Jewish organization Chabad has Jewish spiritual study material available for the Pocket PC (www.jewishcontent.org/pocket-pc/).

  The Jerusalem Post offers a mobile version of its publication to Pocket PC and Palm OS users. Their "Palm Post" service uses software developed by Roundpoint (www.roundpoint. com), which installs on your desktop PC and lets you subscribe to The Jerusalem Post and other publications. The software scans for updated editions of the publications from your desktop PC, and automatically downloads them to your Pocket PC when you synchronize. A viewer application is also installed on the Pocket PC, allowing you to view the downloaded content (Screen 7). I have the current edition of The Jerusalem Post available on my e740 when I leave the office. For more on this, visit the Post's Web site (http://info.jpost. com/2000/Services/PalmPost/).

  Screen 7 (above): The Jerusalem Post offers a mobile version of its publication to Pocket PC and Palm OS users.

  Writing in Hebrew on the Pocket PC

  www.pdamill.com). In addition to English, Topkey can enter characters from several other languages, including Hebrew (Screen 8). The only difficulty is that the Pocket PC is designed for Western languages, which enter their characters left to right. Hebrew is entered right to left, and to enter characters it's necessary to type the words in backwards one letter at a time. This works all right if all you are entering is a word or two, but it's not useful for much more than that. I'm still looking for a useful solution.

  Screen 8 (above): Topkey lets you enter Hebrew characters into a Word document, but enters them in the Western (left-to-right) style.

  ActiveSync and the e740

  The Toshiba e740 has a documented problem with ActiveSync, because of which the synchronization connection is interrupted for no apparent reason. There has been ongoing discussion about this on a number of user forums. If the interruption occurs, you have to physically disconnect the Pocket PC and then reconnect it to the desktop PC (i.e., by lifting the Pocket PC out of, and reinserting it into, its cradle). If it happens while you are installing software from the desktop PC, you may have to do a soft reset of your Pocket PC, reconnect to the desktop PC, and rerun the software installation. I spoke to a Toshiba technician, who indicated that they are aware of the problem and are researching it, but did not have a solution at this time and could not give any indication of when there might be a solution.

  http:// discussion.brighthand.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=72000). However, a tip published on Pocket PC magazine's Web site indicates that using this software might cause problems and void your e740's warranty. For more on this, see "Overclocking? Maybe Not..." in Pocket PC magazine's online tips archive (www.PocketPCmag. com/tiparchives.aspp). While some report success with this method, I am nervous about using software that might void my unit's warranty.

  Adding an external keyboard

  www.mi-products.com). Micro Wireless Link folds up into a compact carrying case and folds out into a small but standard keyboard that works without having to connect any cables (Screen 9). You do have to install a software driver that "teaches" your Pocket PC to communicate with the keyboard. This can be downloaded from the Micro Innovations Web site. In addition, you must temporarily disable the infrared beaming function. After that, you place the e740 in a stand that comes with the keyboard, line up the infrared port on the e740 with the infrared port on the keyboard, launch the software, and start typing.

  The odd location of the e740's infrared port on its lower left edge makes it a little difficult to line up with the keyboard's IR port. To make it work you have to position the e740 at a slight angle (Screen 9). I've also noticed that the connection seems to "fade out" occasionally. For example, you'll be entering text successfully, then it skips a couple words, and then it's working fine again. I am not sure why it does this, and it does not happen very often, but it is worth mentioning.

  Screen 9 (above): The Micro Wireless Link folds out into a small but standard keyboard that interfaces wirelessly with the e740.

  Power, portability, and functionality!

  I never thought I would give up my Handheld PC, but the power, portability, and functionality of the Pocket PC made the transition easier than I anticipated. The features Toshiba chose to incorporate into the e740, most importantly the built-in Wi-Fi capability and dual card slots for expansion, have given me the connectivity and flexibility I need. Finally, the third-party software I've found has allowed me to customize my e740 to meet the specific needs of my profession. All in all, the Pocket PC has made my life as a rabbi a lot easier.

  * * *

  Rabbi Jeffrey Kurtz-Lendner is the assistant director of the New Orleans Jewish Community Center and the part-time rabbi of the Northshore Jewish Congregation in Mandeville , LA Prior to that, he served as the executive director of the Hillel Foundation of New Orleans. He is currently the president of the Greater New Orleans Rabbinic Council. Rabbi Kurtz-Lendner, a native of Buffalo, New York, attended Brandeis University, and graduated in May 1995 from the rabbinical school of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. Jeff's wife, Robin, a native of Opelousas, Louisiana, is a graduate of Boston University Law School. They live with their daughters, Leah and Abby, in Mandeville, LA. You can reach Jeff at rabbijkl@yahoo.com.

  My Pocket PC: Window Into My World

  Geophysicist stays in touch with clients, keeps track of scheduled events, and stays informed, all from his mobile office

  by James Kendrick

  A lot has changed since 1998, when I wrote an article for the premiere issue of Handheld PC magazine on how I used a Casio A-11 Handheld PC in my daily routine as a data processing manager (www.PocketPCmag.com/Premier/kendrick.htm). The publication is now called Pocket PC magazine, and the improved technology found in the Pocket PC
makes it possible for me to be much more productive than I was five years ago.

  The first Pocket PC I used was the Casio E-125, which I carried with me everywhere for over two years. It was a real workhorse that let me remain productive wherever I needed to be. But, when the Toshiba e740 was introduced last year, I went straight out and got one. Toshiba now sells an upgraded version e755.

  The Wi-Fi radio drains the battery pretty fast, so I purchased the optional High Capacity Battery along with the e740. With it in place, I have never run out of power. In fact, on the days I don't use the e740 much, I can skip recharging it in the evening. The battery adds a little to the thickness of the e740, but it is still quite small and light. The case that ships with the e740 doesn't work well with the extended battery attached, so I use a Copilot 30 holster case from E& B Company ((www.ebcases.com). I also purchased a SanDisk 256 MB SD card and an IBM 1GB MicroDrive to store data. Five years ago I had 12 MB of available storage memory on my Casio A-11. Now I have 1.3 GB. That's incredible when you think about it.