Microsoft launches palm PC

Television Digest with Consumer Electronics, Jan 12, 1998

In girding for battle, Microsoft enlisted licensees Casio, Everex, LG Electronics, Palmax, Philips, Samsung and Uniden, many of which displayed prototypes at CES in Las Vegas last week with plans to ship product by June in $300-$400 range. Casio, Philips and Samsung also license Windows CE operating systems (OS) for handheld PCs.

"It's going to be more than just a reference device where its only utility was to look up a database you wanted to take with you from your desktop PC," said Microsoft Senior Vp. Craig Mundie. Microsoft at Comdex in Nov. had hinted at smaller versions of Windows CE and other variations.

3Com was quick to respond to Microsoft's challenge, saying that its attorneys will be watching carefully to ensure that its trademarks and copyrights are protected. "It's absolutely clear that they're trying to leverage the huge success we've had," 3Com Palm Computing Dtv. Pres. Donna Dubinsky told Reuters. "The selection of that particular name for products that are targeted at our products - calling that a coincidence would be a bit naive." PalmPilot. has sold about one million refits since launch in April 1996, Dubinsky said.

Mundie said Microsoft was using Palm PC as generic name for platform, and Windows-based devices would feature better resolution screen and more flexible means for inputting data.

New Palm PCs will be priced in same range as low-end handhelds, but major changes include stylus, handwriting reeognition that allows for single stroke or standard written characters, and ability for up to 2.5 hours of voice recording. Basic Palm PC operating standard has 32-bit RISC processor, 2 Mbytes RAM, 6 Mbytes ROM, 240x320 resolution, 14.4 kbps or better modem.

Many licensees were showing product with 8 Mbytes of RAM and slot for CompactFlash card that ran use radio broadcasting system to download data. Standard Palm PC can run 12-20 hours on single battery charge, and 69 software applications are expected to be available by 2nd quarter, Mundie said.