With Its Sleek Design, Cassiopeia E-200 Shines
Casio Computer Co. is the latest to offer a hand-held computer based on Microsoft’s Pocket PC 2002 operating system--and the new Cassiopeia E-200 is a dandy. Exceptionally stylish, it does almost everything right in its design and execution.
The $600 device is not Casio’s first attempt at a Pocket PC or a personal digital assistant. The firm has been active in the hand-held space for years, and this experience is reflected in the design of the E-200. Its width is midway between the ultra-slim Compaq iPAQ and the bulkier URThere @migo-600. Chrome-like accents give the device a sleek look.
On the front of the E-200, along with the screen, are “hot key” buttons directing users to the calendar, task list, voice memo recorder and a “launch menu” of other programs. Each button can turn on the unit.
On the left side is a connector for stereo headphones, power switch, reset button and jog dial to negotiate lists of names, tasks and files. There’s also a connector for an AC power adapter and a slot for a SecureDigital memory card.
At the top of the unit is a Type II CompactFlash card slot. The larger Type II slot will accept a wider range of peripherals, including an IBM Microdrive, which can add up to a gigabyte of data storage, as well as wireless networking cards. Some other Pocket PCs, such as the Hewlett-Packard Jornada, utilize only the slimmer Type I flash cards, limiting user options.
The look and organization of the E-200 makes a lot of sense.
It’s rare to press the wrong button or accidentally turn something on. The location of the SecureDigital card slot is sensible, too. The built-in speaker--a standard for Pocket PC devices--seemed to sound a bit better than some other models, although you’d probably want to attach headphones for serious music listening. The stylus, which slides into a sleeve at the right rear of the unit, is sturdy and has a good feel to it.
Equipped as it is with the standard Pocket PC suite of applications, the E-200 performs as well as, if not better than, any other device in its class. Casio’s switch to the Intel StrongARM SA-1110 processor--a first for its Pocket PC line--means faster operation and longer battery life, which Casio claims can be up to 10 hours.
What’s not to like about the unit? The backup battery cover seemed a bit flimsy and difficult to replace. The voice memo hot button on the front seems a bit of an extravagance, even if it is part of the Microsoft standard for these devices.
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Mark A. Kellner is a freelance technology writer and hosts “Mark Kellner on Computers” at https://www.adrenalineradio.com from 5 to 6 p.m. Thursdays. He can be reached at mark@kellner2000.com.
