Windows CE is a radical departure from Windows 95/98 -- the basic Windows CE OS can fit in 500k of RAM! A lean size was essential to the success of the OS, because it needed to fit in even the smallest electronic devices. It's also modular, allowing the OEM (i.e., original equipment manufacturer -- like Compaq, HP, or Dell) to include whatever pieces they need. For instance, a cell phone might not need a touch-screen interface, so that component can be left out to conserve space.

Internally, Windows CE has more in common with NT than it does with Windows 95/98, because all Windows CE programs are run in protected 32MB memory spaces, with up to 2 gigabytes of memory allowed. If one application happens to crash, it's highly unlikely that it will take the whole system with it. Further, since the OS itself is streamlined, applications can be coded much more cleanly -- seasoned programmers are often amazed at how flexible and powerful this new OS is. In fact, a programmer at Thumbs Up! wrote a nice dissertation about why he likes Windows CE so much. Check the Product Availability and Resources section at the end of this article for a link.

I've been using Windows CE devices for over two years, and across five different devices, I can count the number of lockups on two hands -- not perfect, but a major improvement over my desktop machines.

Portable PC Companions
It took a few years, but Microsoft came through on their promise of a portable PC companion. My first device was a Philips Velo 1, heralded as the best of the first generation CE devices. Despite problems with faulty hardware (the hinge is notoriously bad on the Velo 1), using Windows CE was a dream come true! I finally had a device that would allow me to be productive away from my computer, but was so tightly integrated with the Windows environment that it became a natural extension of my desktop computer. With innovations like a voice recorder, useable keyboard, and fantastic third-party applications, the Velo 1 quickly became the most useful piece of technology I had ever owned. I won't bore you with the details of how I used the device, but suffice it to say that I couldn't go without it -- ever.

What's next?
That was two years ago, and Windows CE has continued to evolve at a break-neck pace. In the past year we've seen the introduction of:

• Windows CE 2.0 mini-laptops with color screens and larger keyboards;

• Palm-sized personal computers that go head-to-head with 3Com Palm devices (and beat them soundly in my opinion);

• AutoPC's made by Clarion (an in-dash computer that you can talk to). Knight Rider anyone?;

• Larger Jupiter-class devices running CE 2.11 with Pocket Access;

• Wyvern devices are now showing up in stores: full-color Palm-sized computers;

• 320MB CompactFlash cards are now sampling, and IBM has released the 340MB microdrive -- storage is no longer an issue;