CNNdotCOM Technofile: Comdex gadgets

GALLERY PC ePhone   Comdex 2000 Coverage     QUICKVOTE Are new technogadgets worth the money? a. No, I wait until the price is more reasonable b. Yes, it's worth it to have cutting-edge technology View Results

From Rick Lockridge
CNNdotCOM Correspondent

LAS VEGAS, Nevada (CNN) -- Comdex, the all-you-can-eat buffet for technophiles, has brought some tempting gadgets to the table.

Leading the pack is the PC ePhone. As a combination palmtop computer and cell phone, it's not the first on the market, but it's the first to have a stylus wireless handset using Bluetooth radio technology. It's also not the cheapest, at $1,500. That's three times the list price of Handspring Visor, but steep discounts are likely.

The eMarker by Sony is a $20 stocking stuffer that you point at the radio when you hear a song you like. It then docks with your PC and looks through radio station records to find what that song was.

And the rugged Casio Cassiopeia Pocket PC is perfect for klutzes. Its blue rubber bumpers helped it survive a three-foot fall. A fall from 12 feet cracked the screen but overall, it more than lived up to the hype.

For a more corporate Cassiopeia look, go for the water-resistant Industrial EG-800STD Pocket PC. At $400, these pocket PCs are twice the price of some PDAs, but they also have more memory and features such as recording and playing MP3 files.

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October 19, 2000
Wireless expo showcases personal technology
September 28, 2000

PC ePhone
Sony
Casio

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