Microsoft New PDA

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This hardly builds the case for making my already complicated and busy life more efficient or less stressful. The Palm, on the other hand, not only synchronizes perfectly with Outlook, but with a host of other programs. Eventually, the Pocket PC will synchronize with other software programs, maybe even Lotus Notes. It already runs Yahoo Messenger. But the waste of time left a bad taste in my mouth.

Geeks and gadget lovers will probably like the Pocket PC the most, for its strength lies in the dizzying array of new high-tech features--a veritable mini-PC and personal organizer all in one. It includes a built-in MP3 music player and digital voice recorder (my personal favorite). Viewing high-resolution color photographs and even MPEG movie files on the small screen is impressive as well.

Pocket PC includes the Microsoft Media Player that lets the Jornada play compressed digital music files through headphones. The sound is pretty good. An expansion slot allows users to store music on CompactFlash memory cards.

The Palm can do some of these things with add-on software, but the Jornada has them already installed in the operating system.

The Pocket PC also has voice- and character-recognition technology. Like the Palm, the user writes on the screen with a stylus to enter text and numbers. The Pocket PC recognizes regular block letters, whereas the Palm requires users to learn a special simplified alphabet. But even with good character recognition, I found that entering text into the device was slower than writing on paper and requires more care.

Microsoft attempts to make it easier, though, by letting users scrawl freehand on the screen, using the stylus as a brush. While I like the concept, it recognized probably 40% of my handwriting. That's not great, but the technology should improve over time.

Like the Palm, Pocket PC Jornada owners can access daily news summaries from several media sites through a scaled-down version of Microsoft Internet Explorer and special Web software developed by AvantGo, which designed clear and easy-to-read pages specifically for the Pocket PC.

I enjoyed the subtle humor in a feature called Peacemaker. It allows a user to point a Jornada at a rival Palm and transfer contact information between the two via infrared ports.

But I wonder how many people--especially busy professionals--will really use many of these new whiz-bang features. In the several months that I spent with the Pocket PC, I was hard-pressed to find the time to test all of them and probably missed some. I really had no use for the mini-versions of Word and Excel--although I see the potential benefit of having spreadsheets in the palm of my hand, even if Pocket Excel is cumbersome to use.

A Xerox sales manager--and devoted Palm V user--whom I know persuasively argued that the color Jornada is no match for the monochrome Palm V. She placed her Palm next to my Pocket PC and showed how the more simple, task-oriented Palm delivers the features it promises. Its core organizer functions are more intuitive and efficient. And she noted that her Palm can run other third-party programs.

Plus, the Jornada weighs more than twice as much as the Palm V--nine ounces versus four ounces. It costs nearly twice as much--$500 versus $279. And despite claims of an improved battery such as Hp F4098A battery, Hp F4809A battery, Hp F4812A battery, Hp 319411-001 battery, Compaq Presario 2100 battery(compaq 2100 battery), Compaq Presario 2500 battery(compaq 2500 battery), Compaq Presario NX9010 battery, Compaq Presario NX9000 battery over the even worse CE-based versions, I found the Jornada needed a recharge after eight hours of use, even less if you use the music player. The Palm V can go for nearly a month of normal use between charges.

While the Palm is not perfect, Microsoft and its partners have created a credible alternative. And despite Microsoft's history of trying to illegally snuff out the competition, as its federal antitrust suit vividly shows, having other choices is a good thing for consumers.

For that reason alone, the new and improved Pocket PC deserves serious consideration. But for affordability and ease of use, buy the Palm.