Windows CE (Microsoft's handheld operating system) came onto the scene with the sort of bang we have come to associate with Microsoft. But what does it actually have to offer?

Well it claims to have a similar interface to Windows95 so that you won't have to learn some new commands but scratch the surface and something completely different appears. To fit in 2Mb Windows CE has been very much cut down and restructured. Interface differences are all too common. For example, double click on a file in the Explorer and you get...its properties, the file isn't opened as in Win95.

There's only limited functionality in the applications and they only read Microsoft files, even then they lose some of the data. Psion's system loads Excel files better than CE and also loads Lotus 1-2-3 files.

On top of all this the Windows CE handheld machines are too big, though they offer large screens and some neat expansion facilities they can't be slipped in a pocket.

At the end of the day Windows CE seems to be rather pointless. I'm sure it will flop just like all of Microsoft's other hand-held initiatives.

My vote goes for the USRobotics Pilot, small, easy to use and well built.

Jeep

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