Upgrades to Windows CE Services are written by Microsoft and distributed by the hardware manufacturers to their customers, just like upgrades to Windows CE. If you go to Microsoft's web site at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsce/Products/download/wceserv.asp you will find links to the download locations. Even though different manufacturers distribute the software, each has the same desktop software for download.

Here's a great upgrade tip: if you can't get the desktop Windows CE Services software from your manufacturer's site, you can try one of the others. If you haven't upgraded to the most current version of Windows CE Services, version 2.2, I recommend that you do. This release is commonly called an "upgrade", but you can install the software without having prior versions installed on your desktop computer.

Which Windows CE do you see?
This brings me to version numbers. Time for a flash back to history class. Pop quiz. When did Windows CE become available for consumers? What was the code name that Microsoft used for Windows CE while it was being developed?

Read on for the answers.

Windows CE 1.x
Version 1.0 of Windows CE became available when Casio, Hewlett-Packard and Philips began selling their Handheld PCs in the fall of 1996. Up to the actual announcement date, Microsoft referred to Windows CE as Pegasus. The applications that came with Windows CE, Pocket Outlook and the Pocket Office applications Pocket Word and Pocket Excel, also were 1.0 versions. At the very beginning, version 1.0 of the Handheld PC Explorer was also released. It only supported synchronization with Microsoft's Schedule Plus and it was quickly replaced by version 1.1 that synchronized with Outlook 97. Most people who bought Windows CE devices received version 1.1 of the Handheld PC Explorer. If you've still got version 1.0, go to http://www.microsoft.com/windowsce/products/download/hpcexp11.asp and download version 1.1.

Windows CE 2.x
Shortly after version 1.0 began selling, Microsoft began working on an upgrade, known internally as Mercury. In the fall of 1997, version 2.0 became available. The upgrade was significant for a number of reasons.

• Explorer was integrated with the user interface, making it more consistent with Windows 95 and Internet Explorer 4.0;

• Pocket PowerPoint was introduced to the Pocket Office suite, but it can only be used to view PowerPoint presentations;

• Support for color displays was added; the HP 620LX was the first Handheld PC with a color display;

• Support for connecting external monitors was added, enabling you to give PowerPoint presentations using overhead projectors and large monitors;

• Windows CE Services replaced the Handheld PC Explorer and added the ability to continuously update the device with what is called Active Synchronization;