“The trade show that helped launch a million gadgets —
everything from VCRs to CD-ROMs and high-definition TV — may help
create a new star next week: the Internet appliance.”
“The MSN Web Companion, based on Microsoft’s Windows CE
operating system, is designed to allow users to connect to The
Microsoft Network service or the Web and to send and retrieve
e-mail — It won’t, however, do much else. But it will offer user
those basics for little, if any, cost.”
“When it comes to Windows CE handhelds, Microsoft — behind
closed doors — may show the next-generation Palm-sized PC devices.
But the real meat of the announcement may not come until February’s
CeBIT trade show in Germany. There, Microsoft will demo a wireless
Palm-sized PC being developed by Casio Computer Co. Ltd. and
Siemens Communication Devices, a division of Siemens Information
and Communication Products. This machine will combine wireless
Internet connectivity with mobile phone features running the latest
version of the Palm-sized PC software, code-named Rapier.”