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Aaron's
Cassiopeia Page
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I currently use a Casio Cassiopeia
e115 and Irith uses a slightly earlier model, the Cassiopeia e100.
These devices are Windows CE machines, which, at their basic level,
serve similar functions as the Palm Pilots (e.g. keeping lists
of contacts, appointments, alarms, etc.). However, these devices
have far superior displays, interfaces, computing power, and expansion
capabilities.
When the e100 came out, the devices
were called "Palmsized PCs" and they ran Windows CE
2.x. By the time the e115 was released, the devices were running
Windows CE 3.x and were called "Pocket PCs."
I invested in the e110 (as opposed
to other brands) because it was the first Palmsized PC that could
display thousands of colors, and it was one of the first to have
a type II CF card slot, which allows for all sorts of attachments,
such as a modem, GPS, and the camera attachment. The e115 had
the advantage of the newer operating system, greater memory capacity,
and built in "Pocket Word" and "Pocket Excel."
When I first bought one of these units,
it was quite a struggle for me to figure out how to get the Cassiopeia
and my Macintosh communicating properly so that I could back-up
my data and load programs. Click here
if you own a Windows CE device and a Macintosh computer and you
want to find out how to get
the two to work together.
In terms of attachments, I have the
JK-710DC Camera attachment, which records both still and video
images. However, I am seriously considering getting a modem for
the unit in the near future, and I am always looking out for developments
with PocketPCs as I think they represent the future.
Below I have featured some hardware
additions available for the Cassiopeia and some worthwhile games.
While these units are used primarily for serious applications,
it is also very much a toy.
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Hardware
| JK-710DC
Camera by Casio
($199) |
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| Pictured above are Winnie, one of
my parent's dogs, and Ron, my brother-in-law. I took
the picture with the Casio Camera. |
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This is one of the reasons
why I bought a Cassiopeia (as opposed to other windows CE
devices). This attachment only works on Casio devices.
Casio established itself
early on as the multimedia king of the CE world with the
fact that it was the first Palmsized PC to have a display
capable of thousand of colors, and the fact that it is still
the only palmsized PC to have a camera attachment.
Not only does it take
pictures, but you can also record video files. Click here
for more information or to purchase it.
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| 56k
Modem by Casio
, Pretec, others (prices vary) |
(Pretec modem pictured above)
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These 56k modems will allow you to check
your e-mail or browse the web, so long as you have access
to a phone line.
Right now wireless modems are limited to
9.6 kps, 14.4 kps, or 19.2kps, which is fine for e-mail
(without attachments) but it won't allow for web browsing
or other bandwidth-intensive internet applications. So,
until wireless speeds come up dramastically, these modems
are the way to go.
Click here
for more information or to purchase the Casio 56k modem,
and click here
for more information or to purchase the Pretec 56k modem.
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| Wireless
Modem by Nextcell
($350) |
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The PocketSpider is a wireless 19.2 kps modem
for Windows CE devises. It has its own rechargeable battery
and communicates with CDPD services. Unlike other wireless
options, it doesn't require a cell phone!
19.2 kps doesn't sound very fast, but this
device represents the future. Next year Nextcell plans to
release a version of the PocketSpider that will serve as
both a wireless modem and a GPS system! It is only a matter
of time before faster wireless services will become available
and the modem will be useful for web browsing and voice
data transfers. In other words, you won't need a separate
cell phone.
Click here
for more information or to purchase the Nextcell PocketSpider.
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| CF
Hard Drive by IBM
(varies) |
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Ranging from 170 MB ($180) to 1 GB ($460),
the IBM MicroDrives can store a couple of movies and tons
of songs. However, they don't work on most Windows CE devices
due to too much battery demand. However, they should be
compatible with most future devices.
Click here
for more information or to puchase a MicroDrive.
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| Portable
Keyboard by LandWare
($80) |
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While it is fine to use the stylus for entering
an apointment or a phone number, a portable keyboard is
really necessary for typing-intensive uses.
The GoType Pro for Casio by LandWare is a
portable, cable-free alternative to the stylus and it has
received great reviews. The only missing feature is that
it doesn't fold up as do some other keyboards, namely the
Targus Stowaway Keyboard, which has not yet released a Casio-compatible
unit.
Keyboards are connected to their devices
through the cradle connection port (Each Windows CE machine
comes with a cradle, which is used for connecting the device
to a PC, recharging, etc.). Since each Windows CE manufacturer
uses different standards as to how their devices fit into
its cradle, there is no uniformity in the Windows CE world
of keyboards.
Click here
for more information or to purchase the LandWare GoType
Pro for Casio.
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| GPS |
| I have no recommendations for
GPS systems for the Cassiopeia at this time. iPaq users with
the PCMCIA Card expansion set should check out the Teletype
Wireless PCMCIA GPS. |
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Games
| Doom4CE
by Jimmysoftware.com
(Freeware) |
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This is the best!
Jimmysoftware.com
is in the process of updating the various versions of the
game, but the e100 version works like a charm on the e100.
While the e115 version (just released) needs some work (e.g.
there is no external "strafe" button), they are
working on it and I am sure that it will be all fixed shortly.
They are a great CE gaming company, and I would highly recommend
checking out their website and their other games.
Click here
to find out more and to download the game.
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| Palm
GameBoy by Revolutionary
Software Front ($30) |
 
| Irith has Super Mario
Brothers (left) and Tetris (right) installed on her
e100. Since there isn't a Pocket PC version yet, I
am often envious of Irith's e100. |
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This software turns a Windows CE device into
a color gameboy!
Their webpage provides links to help you
find gameboy rams to download and install, so that you have
actual games to play and not just an emulator. Version 1010
for Palmsized PCs works beautifully on the e100 but, unfortunately,
they have yet to released a full Pocket PC version.
Click here
to find out more to or purchase the Palm GameBoy. ($30)
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| JimmyARK2
by Jimmysoftware.com
($16) |
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This is a great, arkenoid-like game.
Jimmysoftware.com
has done it again. This game has great stereo sound and
plays extremely smoothly (this is their first game using
"Double Buffered Direct Screen Access"). I highly
recommend it.
Click here
to find out more about the game or to purchase it. ($16)
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| Pac-man
and Hearts by Microsoft
(included on promotional Microsoft Fun Packs) |
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Pac-man is a classic. I was so envious when
I first saw people with color Palms who had Pac-man. Then
this version came out for the pocketPC and it is much better
than the Palm version. Hearts is also a fun, addictive game.
These came with the free Fun Pack when I
bought my Cassiopeia e115 and I'm not sure that it is still
available. Click here
for more information.
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| PalmChess
by Synctel ($30) |
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When you are sick of playing Doom, Pac-man,
and the other games, play a game that requires more logic
and brainpower. I always used to complain that I never had
time to play chess. Not true anymore. With this game on
my e115, I can practice chess whenever and wherever I want.
Microsoft has a chess game, and there are
probably others out there. This was one of the first chess
games available for the Palmsized Windows CE devices, and
I have been very happy with it. It has an extremely good
computer engine that provides for very difficult games even
at the "beginner" level. It has a nice graphical
interface too, as you can see from the picture to the left.
A nice feature that this game has, and probably other chess
games have, is that you can back up moves and try again,
so that you learn from your mistakes.
Click here
for more information or to purchase. (cost $30)
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