An Independent Publication for Users of HP Palmtop Computers

U.S. $7.95 Publisher's Message ...... 1 co C'> Letters to the Editor ...... 4 C'> ..... 'IlHE New Third Party .... Products and Services ...... 5 Q) .0 New HP Web Site Announcement...... 9 E ::l Z It) P Palmtop Q) E ::l User to User ...... 10 ~ E-mail as the next ''killer app;' Why the HP 700LX; The HP aper Palmtop Paper looks at the World Wide Web. Wireless Communications with the HP Palmtop ...... 12 Ifs getting so easy to send and receive e-mail on your Palmtop - you no longer need to be close to a phone. The AIlPoints Wireless PC Card and RadioMaii Service ...... 19 The AUPoints wireless PC Card and RadioMaii ser- vice get your messages across - wirelessly! AIlPoints CardlWyndMaii Service ...... 22 A wireless messaging solution for the HP Palmtop. Communicating Wirelessly with the HP 200LX ...... 23 There are a number of wireless services that work with your Palmtop - how do you know which one is right for you? USing the HP Palmtop with a Ham Radio ...... 27 This user connects his Palmtop to other computer systems via a Ham radio. HP OmniGo 700LX Corner ...... 33 This is the first of a continuing column for users of HP's new OmniGo 700LX. Gilles Kohl will look at devel­ opments in the 700LX, answer common questions, and give some useful tips.

Palmtop Wisdom ...... 2-3 Use "boilerplates" to save hours of paperwork; Keep your Palmtop "desk" clean; Promote increased wisdom in the world. User Profile: Keeping Pastoral Peace with the HP Palmtop ...... 37 This Archbishop schedules business and prayer meet­ ings on his HP 200LX. HP Palmtop Paper User Survey ...... 41 User Profile: On the Road with the HP Palmtop ...... 42 This Palmtop trucker tracks tlip details with his HP Palmtop. E-Mail Palmtop Names ...... 45 For many, their Palmtop has become a close compan- or Fax ion - worthy of his/her own name. Using the HP 200LX and Anyvvhere Laplmk with Windows95 ...... 47 Basic Tips ...... 51·52 08 Quick Tips ...... 53·55 Advertiser's Index ...... 56 Files on July/August 96 ON DISK ...... 56

o 7447083112 9 The Only HP Palmtop Upgrade That Has It All. To get the most from your HP 100/200LX palmtop, you need 3 advanced upgrades on 1 convenient PCMCIA card. First, you need to send and receive both faxes and data at an exceptional 14, 400 bps speed. Second, you need fax/modem software that operates easily with the same HP function keys and commands you already use ... without the hassle of downloading software and without consuming precious hard disk space. Third, you need Flash memory for fast, easy access to all your software applications and for efficiently storing data. Plus you need to fax from and receive faxes into your Flash memory for extra convenience. And, most of all, you need the flexibility to use all your upgrade features together or independently, without inserting and removing separate fax/modem and memory cards. Now you can have it all with ThinFax 1414LXM. ALL THE ADVANCED UPGRADE FEATURES YOU NEED ••. ON 1 CONVENIENT PCMCIA CARD. EXP's award-winning MiniFax™ software. High-speed fax/modem. 2 or 4 MB Flash memory. They're all built into the ThinFax 1414LXM card. That's why ThinFax 1414LXM is the ~ upgrade that's a must for your HP palmtop. So call the toll-free number today for complete ThinFax 1414LXM specifications and the name of an EXP dealer near you. eRII: 714453-1020 or FRX: 714453-1319 bttp://UJUJUJ.expnet.com EKr=J MOBILE COMPUTING EXPERTISE IS BUILT INTO OUR NAME. Publisher's Message The HP Palmtop Paper

Whether you travel across town or around the world, keeping in touch is a challenge. Away from the office, you may need to quote prices to a customer, exchange information with Volume five / Issue four a colleague, communicate with your July/August 1996 husband or wife about picking up Executive Editor/Publisher Hal Goldstein the kids. Enter the HP Palmtop. Add Managing Editor a special communications device and Richard Hall a wireless service and you can be Associate Editors almost anywhere and stay in touch Paul Merrill without the hassles of trying to find a Carol de Giere phone to make a modem connection. Technical Editor We have devoted this issue to Tom Gibson wireless technology and the HP Department Editors Palmtop. In it you'll find background Ed Keefe Carl Merkle information as well as concrete solu­ Wayne Kneeskem tions. As you read, you will discover Contributing Writers that each solution has its strengths Mike Fine and limitations, however, you will be Rick Hurtle better equipped to find a solution Peter Jordan AviMeshar Hal Goldstein that will work for you. Frank P. Nagle Frankly, for some time the whole Phillip Nichols field of wireless technology sounded David Shier like gobbledy-gook to me. Since wireless technology is pretty much outside Randolph W. Sly our reach in the small rural home of Thaddeus Computing, I haven't put Advertisin~arketing Brian 1.'eitzman much attention in this area. However, my trip to an HP OmniGo 700LX con­ Margaret Martin ference in London opened my eyes (see my User to User column). While I Tiffany Lisk was there I was unable to make a modem connection at my hotel, and I Circulation needed to receive some crucial information from the home office. During a Sharon Dilmore David Brooks break outside the meeting hall, someone loaned me their PCMCIA cellular SharonUoyd modem card and cellular phone. With a few keystrokes I was able to get my Jolene Philllps e-mail! Executive Advisor There are basically five elements to setting up a wireless system: hard­ Rita Goldstein ware platform (Palmtop), software, communications device, service The HP Palmtop Paper (ISSN 10656189) provider, and wireless network. Service providers attempt to create pack­ is published by Thaddeus Computing ages so consumers don't have to sort through all the options. However, a Inc., at 57 East Broadway Avenue, Fairfield, IA 52556. Periodical postage basic understanding of the possibilities is still necessary for you to make the paid at Fairfield, Iowa. Subscription best choice. To that end, read David Shier's wireless overview (page 12) and rates payable in U.S. dollars, cliecks Frank Nagle's hands-on discussion (page 23) to get a sense of the whole. drawn on a U.S. bank, or by credit card - one year: $39; two years: $69. Postage: Then read about the AllPoints/WyndMail and RadioMail combinations, the U.S. and U.S. possessions free; Canada, latest about the HP 700LX communicator, and about Ham Radio and the Mexico add $6 per year; other countries add $18 per year. Published bi-monthly Palmtop. plus two bonus issues, one in April and Our How to Use section is a fun read. First learn how a trucker and an one in November. Please allow four to Archbishop use their Palmtops. Then discover that many of us have grown six weeks for receipt of first issue. Executive, Editorial, Circulation, so fond of our Palmtops that we have given them names, some very creative. Marketing and Advertising Offices: P.O. Finally, please take the time to fax back our Reader Survey (page 41). We Box 869, Fairfield, IA 52556. Telephone: can best serve you if we know what you like and don't like about our publi­ (515) 472-6330, FAX: (515) 472-1879. Copyright 1996, Thaddeus Computin~, cation. Whether you tell us to leave The HP Palmtop Paper exactly as it is or Inc., aIr rights reserved. No part of thls make radical suggestions for change, your input will help us do a better job . publication may be reproduced without written permission. Reasonable efforts meeting your Palmtop needs. are made to provide accurate and useful information, but the reader must make P.S. Hope to see you at the Anaheim HP Handheld conference (page 7). We his or her own investigations and deci­ sions; the Publisher and Editorial Staff will be giving away autographed copies of our new book PC in Your Pocket. cannot assume any responsibility or lia­ bility for the use of information con­ tained herein. POSTMASTER: Please send any address changes to The HP Palmtop Paper, Attn: Thaddeus Computing, Inc., P.O. Box 869, Fairfield, IA 52556.

THEHPPALMTOPPAPER JULY/AUGUST 1996 1 [Tips by Associate Editor Carol de Giere field and the answer to the question advise that you schedule a filing ses­ unless otherwise indicated.] in the Note field. Whenever the con­ sion once a week to deal with piles sultant needed specific boilerplate, of paper and unwanted mail on he or she would open NoteTaker, your desk or in your in-box. Lessen TIME MANAGEMENT highlight the question or topic in the the incoming volume of mail by tak­ All Notes field, press ~ to go to the ing the time to get off mailing lists. Use "boilerplate" Notes field, and use the Palmtop'S They also advise to clean up your to save hours of paperwork Copy and Paste features to copy the desk at the end of each day, throw answer to a Memo document. They away anything you haven't used in "Boilerplating" is an efficiency might also create a system macro six months, and create storage lover's dream, ideally suited to that automates the process. spaces for your nonessential, but computers. Whenever you insert a treasured barnacles. standardized block of text into a APPLY BOILERPLATING document and then personalize it, TO OTHER USES KEEPING THE PALMTOP CLEAN you are taking advantage of this time-saving technique. For example, Any expert consultant can receive Most of this advice applies to your let's say you are a tax consultant and hundreds of requests for informa­ Palmtop. Make a weekly appoint­ you keep getting the same question tion. Stock answers kept on the ment for yourself to finish up and about capital gains tax over and Palmtop as boilerplate save time clean off past appointments and over again. If you're smart, you and let a consultant answer more ToDos. If you are signed up for sev­ answer it once and save the answer requests for information. eral online news groups you may as a Memo document. Whenever A real estate investor or agent have to wade through hundreds of you get the question again, you writing a contract can pull out a non-essential messages. Look care­ open a new document in Memo, database of standard clauses for fully at the news groups you are type in: "Dear John, thanks for the modifying a contract. A professor signed up for and eliminate the ones question on capital gains tax .... " with 100's of essays to read and give you don't really need, read, or Then press I MENU I Eile Insert, select feedback on, can store an assort­ respond to. the document that has the answer ment of often-used comments and Additional advice on the subject and press I ENTERI. Go through the cut them into his or her written was given by Conrad Cox, leader of finished document once and adjust feedback quickly and easily. a Users Group in San Francisco. the stock answer if needed to fit the The concept of boilerplating can Conrad wrote this advice in the letter you are writing. Then all you be used with spreadsheet templates Users Group newsletter: have to do is print out the new doc­ or database files as well as text doc­ "When the new year comes, peo­ ument, or save it and give it to your uments. In any case, the trick is to ple who use paper appointment assistant to print out and send off. identify blocks of text, formulas and books and planners can throw them formats that you use over and over out the window of their high rise. ON THE HP PALMTOP again, and save them as a boiler­ On my Palmtop, I extract the previ­ plate for future use. ous year's activity from my There are a number of Palmtop Appointment Book file. I review approaches to boilerplating. The each PhoneBook entry and delete example above shows how you Keep your Palmtop "desk" clean any that are no longer needed. I use might save boilerplate as Memo Filer to review the files on my documents. You could also create a As barnacles grow on a boat, so stuff Palmtop's C drive and A drive. I custom Database or use the Note­ aggregates about our offices - and delete files for applications that I no Taker application to save boiler­ on our Palmtops. In the physical longer use. Most of the other plate. Going back to our tax consul­ and electronic world, clutter ham­ Palmtop users in our group extract tant example, he or she might open pers our effectiveness and our ful­ their old appointments more fre­ NoteTaker, press rm to add an item, fillment. quently. This helps reduce the size and enter Capital Gains in the Title The solution is to regularly clean of the appointment file, so the up, throw out and organize. Experts

2 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER JULY/AUGUST 1996 Appointment Book's response time Check your AppManager screen HAND forum, Internet sites, HP is faster. The same is true with files first and delete the icons for pro­ technical support personnel, and for PhoneBook, Database and other grams you no longer want. Make a most importantly, subscribers to The built-in applications." list of the icons you deleted, and the HP Palmtop Paper. Rich Hall, Managing Editor for ones you intend to keep. Consult the Keep an entry in your NoteTaker The HP Palmtop Paper, advises to go list when your delete the application file dedicated to fellow Palmtop through the category field of files with Filer. users. Next time you have a good PhoneBook, NoteTaker and Data­ idea about something, jot it down base and rethink your categories. and send it in to us. Ideas could Combine categories into new and Promote increased include: comprehensive ones. Eliminate cate­ wisdom in the world gories you don't use. This will make o How to do something better on the Subset and Sort features work A good idea is usually created by an the Palmtop, individual and used by society to faster. o A challenge you overcame using move forward and better mankind. Rich echoes Conrad's advice on the Palmtop, Look at any profession or scientific Filer. He periodically reviews all o A product you've discovered that discipline, any philosophy or theol­ files on his Palmtop. If he no longer makes the Palmtop even better, ogy, any business. Good ideas are needs a file, he deletes it. If he thinks o Some wonderful bit of personal created by people like you or I and he'll need it in the next three wisdom that you can use the shared within and beyond the orga­ months, he keeps it on his Palmtop. Palmtop to actualize. nization to the benefit of society. If he thinks he may need it some­ is the time in the future, or is not sure The HP Paltmop Paper This approach can and should be whether he will or not, he backs it product of this process. The editors used in other areas of life. It's the do very little writing (but a lot of up to a floppy disk and removes it small, good contributions that add editing) to bring you the best of the from the Palmtop. up over the long haul, making life experts. Articles and tips come from Rich advises that you be careful better for you, your family, friends members of CompuServe's HP when you delete application files. and the world.

==- .=;-; ==- ;-~1X ™ QUICK/LX learns the words you type most gg g : s£ often, then suggests them after you type just QU5 ~ i/§-=-. a few characters. The suggestions are ...s. ~...s. ~ displayed in a box on the screen. You can • • ignore the suggestion and keep on typing, or mg aldfior the HP Palmtop accept it with thepressofa single key, and 1jrp QUICK/LX WIll fimsh the word. QUlCK/LX can Your Palmtop Access to the World™ also be used to correct your most common typos! QUICK/LX works in Now you can have the world of electronic communi­ :1=. programs under the System cations in the palm of your hand with acCIS ~ and = Manager and in text-mode DOS CompuServeo. acCIS automatically uploads and applications. QUlCK/LX can even be used to enter Macros downloads messages quickly. You can read bD\~: ~~:r~~r::~ s D!D:;a~ thu sugggstion whQrl that work in both the System and write messages off line, saving on Manager and DOS (unlike the built-in System Macros., connect charges and phone bills. acCIS is 'suggestion made by the only CompuServe access program that is QUICK/LX also comes with a Example qfusing QUICK/LX in MEMO DOS version for your desktop designed specifically for your HP Palmtop com­ computer. puter. By using acCIS to join the HPHAND forum on QUICK/LX: $39 CompuServe you can correspond directly with palmtop experts and programmers from around the world and easily download software directly to your Palmtop. In addition to the Palmtop version, Now E-Mail & Faxing is Wireless & Effortless! you get a copy of acCIS for your desktop or laptop PC at no extra cost. With the Personal Messenger IOOD ~ PC Card from Motorola and the Ardis and RadioMail servic.es, you are free to roam around the country and still stay in touch! You can send faxes and have full two -way E-Mail capability all with~ut wires, access numbers, Rad".oMa".1 speCIal setup stnngs, long distance or roaming charges. ABC/LX adds intelligence to battery charging in the HP Palmtop, plus it provides excellent information about battery conditions and charging. With ABCILX you can simply forget about your batteries! Call for SHIER Systems & Software, Inc. ourlatest ~~~ ~ 920 Hampshire Road, Suite A CATALOG of ~~ ~~ ~ Westlake Village, CA 91361 Palmtop Products Telephone CordCard - Only $7.95 51 Phone: 805-371-9391 Fax: 805-371-9454 E I~ Also available from SHIER Systems & Software: CIS: [74777,2477] -_0- . ~ Custom cables to connect your HP Palmtop Computer to a wide variety of serial peripherals. Examples include: Pocket modems, serial printers (including the Visit us on the "Web" @ : http:\\www.shier.com Citizen PN60 and Pentax Pocketlet.) Prices start at $35 - call for details.

THEHPPALMTOPPAPER JULY/AUGUST 1996 3 Letters

ging physical features and Unfreezing the includes some great fea­ assessing the condition Palmtop tures, including game analy­ rating of the channels, sis, game databases, solve Recently my Palmtop froze drains, and associated for mate, set-up positions, up (on a Friday evening of structures. This informa­ etc. It plays a pretty decent course!) and I was able to tion was subsequently game (probably rates Australians Track access the information on automatically loaded into a around 2000). It definitely Water Systems on how to reset it (Icmq-ISHIFT,­ computerized Asset Man­ beats me on a regular basis, the Palmtop ~) from a recent HP agement System. but that's not saying much. Generally the Palmtops Palmtop Paper. I felt extreme­ Goulburn-Murray Water is a I like to use it to follow behaved very well under the ly thankful as I would other­ games out of the newspaper ~ti.lity .involved in providing exposed conditions. How­ wise have had to wait until IrngatIon and drainage to a or work out chess problems. ever, one mishap did occur the following Monday to large area of the north cen­ It's available from Chess­ when one of the team mem­ talk to HP's technical folks tral part of Victoria in bers forgot to be a "good base USE for $49.95 (phone: Australia. The irrigation to resolve the situation. soldier" and took his 800-524-3527 or 301-733- systems contain some 60,000 Palmtop with him when he Anonymous phone caller 7541; Fax: 301-797-6269). assets. As part of asset man­ fell into a drain. I must say I definitely feel like I have agement HP Palmtops have that I didn't exclaim "gee, gotten my money's worth. been used in the role of data golly, gosh" when I found Chess for the Fred Rice/Chi loggers. A simple Lotus 1-2- out that he had lost some HP 200LX 76274 [email protected]. 3 file was set up on the five days of data. Palmtops and four members If you do not mind spending of my team trudged along Victor Zurawski Palmtops are Rugged the money, Fritz 2.0 is a very some 3440 km of channels Executive Engineer, good chess program that and 2000 km of drains, log- Distribution Assets Group I read Steven Leibson's let­ Goulburn-Murray Water works on the HP 200LX. It ter about attaching grip strips in the Vol. 5, No 2 1996 issue of The HP Palmtop Paper. I had exactly the same experience as he did when I opened the box, but the Palmtop did fall on the floor! Since then it has also survived a 3-foot drop onto solid concrete with no ill effects (so far). Everything's Included! My last Palmtop was a Just connect and let 95LX which survived 2 MacLinkPlus do the rest! glasses of water and 1 cup of coffee being (accidentally, -;G "'----4'.,.", and not at the same time) Backup your HP on your Mac ... poured over the keyboard. With just a click of the mouse all your HP files are When this happened I stored on your Mac! immediately turned the Don't retype all those names... Palmtop upside down and MacLinkPlus can mo,:,e all of your contact information from applications like put tissue paper between TouchBase or ACT! nght to your Palmtop and back! the lid and keyboard to soak up the liquid. My 95LX gave up the ghost about 3 months after the coffee treatment (may just have been the caf­ feine). However, my experi­ ence is that the Palmtop seems to be more rugged than it looks!

Call (80~) .406-6504 o~ (203) 268-0030 for special pricing William Martin or VlSlt our Web slte at http://www.dataviz.com 55Cofporate Drive' Trumbull CT 06611 Hong Kong

4 THEHPPALMTOPPAPER JULY/AUGUST 1996 This section lists new products nications programs, data­ Inc., P.O. Box 33999, Las Vegas, into a hand-held data collec­ of interest to users of the HP base software, fonts and font Nevada, 89133-3999, USA; Phone: tion unit for building Palmtop pes. New Products managers, programming 800-851-2425 or 702-655-5666; Fax: inspectors. This unique 702-655-5662. includes descriptions of hard­ languages and garnes, package interfaces the ware, software, books, videos, among others. Palmtop with Builders training and service offerings. All software may be Square Permit Management Prices listed in this section are legally used, but not all will SPECIALIZED software so that field inspec­ suggested retail. You may be be eligible for registration tors have everything they able to get the products for less with the manufacturer, and need for rapid field-to-office if you shop around. therefore technical support data collection. Building Inspedion Editorial Staff may not be available. The hand-held unit HP Palmtop Paper provides the building Pricing: ...... Varies This CRW Associates soft­ CONTACT: Recycled Software, ware turns the HP Palmtop inspector with instant access HARDWARE H P PALMTOP USER GROUPS

Those interested in participating in an HP Palmtop users group should contact the JAPAN- HP Palmtop users in Japan, contact Georga P. Eschatt. £/rimae 1-11-10. WIRELESS following individuals. Send us contact information formatted as below nyou wish to KOtiyama C~ Fukushima Prat, JAPAN ~. Phone: 040-12.(/fJ9fJ(}; Fax: 0249-21· be added as a contact for a users group in your area. I/Q5O. (Languages: Getman. English 8!Id.Japanese) COMMUNICATIONS HP Palmtop Worldwide User Group News - send material about User Group Kanses (USA) - 9511001200LX users in Kansas, contact: Man'etha Wilson, P'Q activities to Ahmet G. Odsik at the Turkish User Gfl)lJP (see contact information Box 1151, Manhallan, KS 68502-0012; Phone: 913-532-9775. below). los Angeles, CA (USA) - 95LX110C\'200LX users in the LA area. contact: OsveShier BIF PahoSUdion. Plus ARGENTINA - 1001200l.X users in Algentina, contact Mi{peI Angel Misseri, E-meJI: at 805-371-9391; Fax.' 805-371-9391; E-mai/" davidtlshier.com,· Web site: [email protected] • hl1p:ltwww.shier.com for f1II)'8 infrxma/kJn. Slip your Palmtop into the Arlington, VA I Washington, DC (USA) - 95LXJ1001200l.X users in the Allington, MEXICO - Palmtop users in Mexico, contact: Jose Palino, Ave. Trssvina y Reles R/F PalmStation Plus dock­ VA I Washington, DC area, contact: Rick Shaddock, alo Computer Instroctors #2103, Chihuahua, Chi". CP. 31240, MEXICO; Phone: (14) 2$-50-43; Fax: (14) 81- 01-75; Intemet palinotlmailinterred.com.mx GR... Frsncisco Dricio; Phone: (3) CoipoIaIion, 2320South £ads, Mington, VA, ~ Phone; 1fJ3.48fJ.2222. ing station to get an instant 664-1317; CompuSarve 10: {74174, 1442} wireless connection from Atlanta, GA (USA) - Palmtop users in the Atlanta area, contact: A.K. Avas/hi, Phone: Minneapolis, MN (USA) - HP Palmtop users in the MinneapolislSt. Paul area, contact: virtually anywhere. 770471-1389. Beth Silvetwater. p.a Box 27044, MiIneepoIis. MN 55427; Phone: 612-541-5831,' Fax: 612-541-5636; E-mail: 73502.3645@CCITIptJS(JIIie.com The PalmStation Plus Cleveland, OH (USA) - 95LX11001200l.X users in the Cleveland area. contact Ctmg de Fasse/fe, alo MEM, Inc., 4702 East 35S/i1 St, WiJ/cughby; OH 44094. New JerseyiNew York (USA) - 95LX11001200LX users In the New Jersey/New includes a wireless modern York area, contact: Stanley Dobrowski, 169 Spnngfield Avenue, Rutherford, N./, and a wireline modern. It boston, MA (USA) - 95LX11001200LX users in the Boston area. contact 8tyan 0707(J-.1642; CIS 10: {7671',2302J; Phone: 201-807-5857 (work). KmIll/lamSr; Phone: 617-J74-!l6tXJ x 197 (wor/<); Fax: 617-374-9620; Ccmpu$eMJ 10: also has an RS 232 serial IIa {70444.41J Oklahoma Ctty, OK (USA) - 9511001200LX users in the Oklahoma cny area, contact: Richard B. Meek, 1804 Huntington, Oklahoma City. OK 73116; Residential port to connect to a comput­ BRAZIL - 9511001200LX usets in Brazil, contact: MafC()$ L. Pedroza, R1/8 Train Phone: 405-642-/267. 647Ap 104-8, 59021J..15ONa/aJ, RN-BRAZlL;Phone:5564211-6162. er. It operates 10 to 12 hours PANAMA I LATIN AMERICA - HP Palmtop users in Panama or latin Amenca, before recharging is neces­ Charleston, SC (USA) - 9511001200l.X users in South Carolina, contact: Ron fIIveJs, contact; Avirsn Yani" P. 0. Box 31002 Colon Frse Zone, REPUBLIC OF PANAMA; P'Q Box 31284, Charfastcn, SC 2fJtI17-1264; Phone: tJa:!.864.6444,. Ccmpu$eMJ 10: Phone: 507-4410442; Fax: 507-4410473. sary. It doesn't use a {75O:?3,44J 100/ 200LX card slot, leaving PHIUPPINES - HP Palmtop users in the Philippines, contact Carlos: Ca/iwanJ, 2nd. Denver, CO (USA) - 95LX11001200LX users in the Denver area, contact Bill ffocr, OHMC Bldg., 109 Nep/une St, £JeI..Ait; Makafi ~ PHlLJPPlNES; Phone: (632) that free for the card. Hoeltgen, 5944 S. Kipling, Suite 300. Lilllelon, CO 80127; Phone: 303· 8906229 /0 36, extensions 120& 121,' Fax: (632) 9285635;lnlemel la' lewl tlmeiI.ph.net 933-0023; Fax: 303-971-tJ341. Group meets quarterly. PhoenIx and Tuscon, AZ (USA) - HP Palmtop users in the PhoanixlTuscon area. Pricing: ...... $1495 DetroH, MI (USA) - 95LX1100/200LX users In the Detro~ area, contact: Jeff Zom, contact: Coiy L. Curtis. P'Q Box ~ Phoenix, AZ 85lJ63.3502; Phone: 602-930- 29311 Ara-net, Fanning/on Hills, MI48334-2815; Phone: 31J.481J-I855 or Louis 9661,' Fax602·9:K).iJ554,- CISlO /1021)10.632), ETl/aJ:paImtopstlSII;rfinIGcom CONTACT: EdI.lCALC, 27953 Cabot Peeples, St Clair Shores, M148080; Phone: 313-m-9390. Ref., Laguna Niguel, CA 92677, USA; PORTUGAL - 95LX1100/200LX users in Portugal, contact: PPTI.IG, Rua da Phone: 800-385-9376 or 714-582- FRANCE - HP Palmtop users in France, contact Olivier 0eUa Valle, 178 roe du SFI.IAp, A·8, 2810 Laranjeiro. PORTUGAL; PhoneIFax: 351+2597216; Intemet. MaredIal LecIetc, 94410 SainI-MatJtice, FRANCE; Phone: (I) 43 531J5 67; ConpuServe sulp/anotlindividua£eunetpl 0942. Fax: 714-582-1445. 10:(101533, l(J()j Richmond, VA (USA) - 95LX11001200LX usets in the Central Virginia area, c0n­ GERMANY - HP PaJmtO!"Omnillook users in Germany, contact: Edi8!t Ptinz, Obete tact: John Haske/t, 7102 TlIrse Chopt Road, Richmond, VA 2J226.3615; CIS 10: MtJhIstr. 58a, 642910anns1adf. GERMANY; PhotIeIFax: -f49 6151376065. {7075O,1243} Of Phone: 804-288-6073 (worf<).

GERMANY I LUXEMBOURG - Not an officiaJ user group but this in

5 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER JULY / AUGUST 1996 to all open permits and Point of Sale The product has two Phone: 805-311-9391; Fax: 805-311- inspection history as well as A~~ounting SystelD modes. The standard mode 9454; [email protected] allowing him/her to record provides a strong model for CONTACT Europe and Asia : Runde/ Datentechnik, Rappenstr. 20, the new inspections. Wincorp International sells time tracking. The Ad­ 13033 Goeppingen, Germany; Phone: a Palmtop-based system to vanced Mode provides automate Van and Truck +49 (01161) 14107,' Fax: +49 (01161) Pricing: ...... $1,500 more flexibility for different 24413; E-mail.' 100023.2411@com­ (Including HP 200LX, software, 4MB sales. It electronically cap­ types of needs. Example pusere.com flash card, and more. ) tures invoice, cash and database templates come CONTACT: CRW Associates, inventory data at the point with the product and may 14980 Via Tazon Suite 320, San of sale. The accounting cycle Diego, CA 92127, USA; Phone: 619- be used or build onto. Sharewarel includes the transfer of 451-3030; Fax: 619-451-3810. A built-in report "lan­ Freeware orders, transfer of inventory, guage" allows you to quick­ point-of-sale invoice, and ly create different reports by Freeware GalDes Photographer's printing of receipts, as well describing them via the DataGuide as end-of-day transfers of report specifications. The The following games were data (for inventory, cash Photographer's DataGuide formats can range from sim­ written specifically for the and sales). The system is ple Feed files into Lotus HP 100LX and 200LX Palm­ replaces information provid­ portable and attaches to a ed by a number of technical Spreadsheets (CDF format) tops, or have been adapted thermal printer. It interfaces publications and tables. to a report that can be print­ for it with specific Palmtop with most DOS/Windows ed and mailed as an invoice instructions, and so their Available in 100/200LX for­ Accounting applications. mat, DataGuide provides to a client. Several report graphics and strategies are Training and customized formats come with the prod­ Palmtop-appropriate. calculation functions, f /­ options are available. stops, filter recommenda­ uct, to be used as is, or mod­ tions, and lots more. Pricing: ...... $2,400 ified to meet your needs. Blackjack - BJ.ZIP ij sim­ (Not including Palmtop and memory The program covers all Pricing: ...... $129.00 ulates Vegas-style blackjack major still film formats from card.) where you play against a CONTACT: Wincorp CONTACT: See Contact informa­ 35mm to 8 x 10 in/20 x 25 tion for VOL TILX be/ow. dealer. International, Inc., 10050 NW cm. Data for 16 fixed focal 116th Way, Suite 11, Medley, length or zoom lenses can be Dominoes - DOMINOES FL 33178, USA; Phone: 305- stored. One section describes .ZIP ij is version 1.5 of the 887-4000; Fax: 305-887-4400; UTILITIES' classic game of Dominoes. 128 pieces of equipment. E-mail: [email protected] The Cinematography Since it was designed just module covers film formats for the Palmtop, the graph­ VOLT/LX Assists ics are scaled right and easy from 8mm to 70mm plus TilDeTra~ker/LX four video formats. It pro­ Battery Users to see. The simple interface vides information on depth TimeTracker /LX by D&A lets you point at the domino VOLT/LX meets the needs of field, hyperfocal distance, Software addresses the you want to play using the of those Palmtop users who angle of view, supplemental needs of individuals and F-keys. With practice, you companies that need to keep do NOT use rechargeable should be able to beat the lenses, film length and run­ batteries. The voltage is dis­ ning times, projection, light track of time - to bill clients computer at least one-third played on the label of the F1 of the time. New to this ver­ source conversion, circle of for work done by time, pro­ key, where normally the sion is the choice of confusion, shutter calcula­ ductivity, or for people curi­ label "Help" appears, with­ "Beginner Mode" or "Expert tions, equipment listing, and ous to know "where their out affecting the function of Mode." The program can conversion tables. time disappeared." Time­ the F1 key. Pressing F1 will evaluate your game and Almanacs for various Tracker /LX was designed display the Help screens as offers tips for improvement. countries show data useful for the HP LX platform and uses the familiar GUI dis­ before. VOLT/LX also dis­ for outdoor photography or plays the hours the battery Yahtzee - YAHTZEE.ZIP for anyone who needs to play style of the built-in has been used. ij is version 1.1 of the pop­ consider natural lighting. applications. The program relates individual time VOLT /LX contains all ular Yahtzee game. The records with activitiy types, the features needed to moni­ game is easy to see as well Available: ...... August, 1996 as to use on the Palmtop. Pricing: (in Pounds Sterling, valid until and can use any number of tor the status of non­ The size of the .EXE file is December 1, 1996.) attributes/ categories, allow­ rechargeable batteries. A less than 10K. New to this Camera: ...... 60£ ing you to "slice" the data $:5.00 coupon is attached to version is the one hundred Darkroom: ...... 40£ and view it from many per­ upgrade to ABC/LX vl.O. Cinematography: ...... 80£ point bonus for all Yahtzees spectives: "How much time VOLT /LX is produced by Almanacs: ...... 40£ each. after the first one. In this was spent for Client X?", D&A Software Inc. CONTACT: Doug/as Software, ver: ;')n, only one person Sarum Lodge, Main Road, Littleton, "how much time was spent Pricing: ...... $ 9.95 plays, trying to score as high Winchester, Hants, S022 6QS, United for Client Y doing activity CONTACT USA: Shier Systems & as possible. Kingdom; Phone: 44 (0) 1962880495; type Z?" etc. Sohware, 920 Hampshire Road, Suite Fax: 44 (0) 1962854400. A, Westlake Village, CA 91361, USA;

6 THEHPPALMTOPPAPER JULY/ AUGUST 1996 FreeCell Solitaire - FREE­ Klondike solitaire * Move partial stacks of More shareware! CELL.ZIP Ii version 1.2 lets KLONDIKE. ZIP Ii is the cards if you like. freeware galDes you arrange stacks of cards card game that most folks in descending order and refer to as simply "solitaire." Golf - GOLF.ZIP Ii ver­ Sokoban alternating color, while try­ New to this version are: sion 1.6 lets you draw cards ing to build up suit founda­ graphically, and play by hit­ HP-SOK.ZIP Ii is a version tions using the four "cells" * Backup using the back­ ting the Function key that of Sokoban written for the as temporary storage. The space key, up to 200 moves. aligns with the card you HP 100/ 200LX using the game features smart auto­ want to play. New to this PAL library. It allows the play and a 200-move memo­ * Smart auto-play to the version is faster card draw­ player to create personal ry allowing you to back up. foundations. ing, as well as some other game levels. This version minor improvements. corrects an error on one of the game levels and also 42-LX - 42-LX.ZIP Ii is a allows the player to toggle bidding-type game similar between done and undone Update: to bridge, pinochle and levels. spades, except that 42- HP Handheld '96 Type: ...... Postcard-ware LX.ZIP is played with domi­ Available: In library 11 of HPHAND on Conference & Show noes. You bid on how many CompuServe or on the HP Palmtop points you think you and Paper ON DISK. Contact: Allan August 24 & 25, 1996 your partner together can Schoepp, 70314.1400@compuserve catch. .com Door prizes will be given away at the annual HP Handheld '96 Conference and Show, held this year on August 24 & 25 at the CONTACT: The above seven P{; BelDote {;ontrol Anaheim Marriott Hotel, located walking distance from Disney­ games are available on The Palmtop Paper ON DISK and also from: Curtis land in Anaheim, California, U.S.A. Cameron; E-mail address: FreeWhl44- PCREMOTE.ZIP Ii is a tiny The conference will include presentations and discussions on @aol.com, or in the Internet at: text-based remote control the HP Palmtops, OmniGo organizer and HP calculators. hup://users .aol.comlfreewhI44/ utility to control one PC Presentations and discussions will cover general user topics, from another. hardware and programming issues, and include a round table discussion with HP personnel. A vendor show will display hand­ held related products. The keynote speaker will be Kheng-Joo Khaw, General Manager of HP's Asia Pacific Personal Computer Division, the division responsible for designing, manufacturing and marketing all HP handheld products, from high-end calculators to HP Palmtops and OmniGo organizers. Saturday night's conference highlights will include a recep­ tion with HP personnel.

Registration prices: Advanced - $99 At the door - $150

Registration contact: Shier Systems & Sohware, 920 Hampshire Road, Suite A29, Westlake Village, CA, 91361, U.S.A.; Phone: 805-371-9391; Fax: 805-371-9454; Internet [email protected] WEB Site: Up-to-date conference information will be main­ tained on the web page at htlp:llwww.shier.com!-hhc96.

Program information: Contact: Attn: Richard Nelson, EduCALC, 27953 Cabot Road, Laguna Niguel, CA 92677, USA,' Phone: 714-582-2637 ext. 106.

THE HP PALMTOP PAPER JULY/AUGUST 1996 7 Knowledge Products From Thaddeus The HP Palmtop Paper Each issue contains 100's of ideas to increase your personal effectiveness. Subscribe today and receive: • 6 issues of The HP Palmtop Paper "The HP Palmtop Paper • Bonus issue: Best Palmtop Tips has saved me countless The HP Palmtop Paper (Each Spring) hours of frustration" • Bonus issue: PC Card Review (Each Fall) Steve Mitchell • Subscriber PowerDisk Middleburg, Indiana (Each Fall) Order back issues of The HP Palmtop Paper while they last Like the HP Palmtop? There's plenty of useful information already published. HP 95LX users will especially benefit from thirteen 1991-93 issues, and HP lOOLX and HP 200LX users will appreciate the twelve 1994-95 issues. Included is a Subscriber PowerDisk for each year. The HP Palmtop Paper On Disk

Get a supplemental disk containing all the great freeware and shareware you read about in each The HP Palmtop Paper. This supplement to The HP Palmtop Paper also contains detailed informa­ tion from advertisers plus the full text of The HP Palmtop Paper for text search. "Best Tips On Disk" comes free with The HP Palmtop Paper On Disk subscription Best Tips On Disk: Free or can be ordered separately. Each year we compile the best palmtop tips and the best freeware and shareware and put it on two 1.44 Meg floppy disks. Included FREE only with your The HP Palmtop Paper On Disk subscription, or can be purchased separately.

Subscribe to: HP OmniGo World

Like The HP Palmtop Paper? The same editorial team creates the quarterly publication HP OmniGo World. Bonuses include: • 3 OmniGo Extras catalogs per year • 3 Bonus Special Reports HP OmniGo World • Graffiti ™ stick' em guides to help you learn the handwriting recognition language fast Thaddeus Computing INC. Publisher: The HP Palmtop Paper and HP OmniGo World 57 East Broadway, Fairfield, IA 52556 continued on page 49 800-373-6114 • (515) 472-6330 Fax: (515) 472-1879· E-Mail:[email protected] Type: ...... Freeware Type: ...... Freeware Available: Now in library 9 of HPHAND Available: Now in library 11 of New HP Web site gives on CompuServe or on the HP Palmtop HPHAND on CompuServe or on the consumers real-life look at Paper ON DISK . Contact: Beverly HP Palmtop Paper ON DISK. Contact: Howard, 75533 .1712@compuserve Andreas Garzotto, 73064.1657@com­ handheld-computing advantages .com puserve.com (Browse www.hp.com/handheldfor HP handheld information.) Windows File DOS CODlIDands Transfer Hewlett-Packard has launched a new Web site dedicated to its line of for Graphi~s handheld computers and calculators. The new Web site is based on the WINFILER.ZIP ij facilitates PCX_ VIEW.ZIP ij contains theme of "Power in the Palm of Your Hand." The site provides con­ transfer between HP 200LX simple DOS commands to sumers with detailed product information, downloadable software and and Windows 95. The pro­ display .PCX graphics. It aplets, while creatively illustrating how HP's handheld computers can gram was written for Win95 provides simple utilities to enhance the mobile professional's work and personal life. HP uses a day only and won't work with crop and invert images. All in the life of a mobile professional to show, with illustrated examples, Win3.x. The author invites were written by Brian Steel how consumers can use handheld computers in ways they may not have your suggestions. in 8086 assembler code, so considered. they are very small and effi­ "We've packed this new Web site with useful information for con­ Type: ...... Shareware cient. sumers to better understand how handheld computers can make their Available: Now in library 9 of HPHAND lives easier," said Kheng Joo Khaw, General Manager of HP's Asia on CompuServe or on the HP Palmtop Type: ...... Freeware Paper ON DISK. Contact: Tom Pacific Personal Computer Division. "Whether they currently own a Available: Now in library 11 of handheld computer or are considering a purchase in the near future, Hollenberger, 75667.3323@com­ HPHAND on CompuServe or on the puserve.com HP Palmtop Paper ON DISK. Contact: they will find our Web site useful - it provides a real-life look at how Brian Steel , 100012.3141@com­ HP's line of electronic organizers, Palmtop PCs and calculators can assist them in their daily lives - whether at home, in the office or any­ Database Viewer puserve.com where in between." DBV.ZIP ij contains DB­ In addition to obtaining detailed product information and specifica­ S~ientifi~ Cal~ulator View, a database viewer for tions from the new Web site, consumers can register their HP handheld products on-line, receive technical assistance and documentation, and GDB/PDB database files, UCALC.ZIP ij contains read customer success stories and the latest press releases. Also having the same graphic Ultimate Calculator v3.0c included on the Web site are industry awards, an animated on-line prod­ environment as the built-in graphic scientific calculator. uct demo, a calculator shopping guide and hypertext links that take con­ database application. DB­ It includes an expression View can run in DOS, and evaluator with many built­ sumers to product reviews, articles and other Web sites that support has better searching capabil­ in functions, operators, HP's handheld products. ities. DBView is a freeware numerical notations, and modes. You can input user PAL application. tion in the Utility Industry, free copy of Software variables and functions. It August 21-23, 1996 at the Carousel with every 4 MB Type: ...... Freeware solves and plots equations, Available : Now in library 11 of Marriott, Inner Harbor Balt­ upgrade for the HP 200LX. does integrations and sum­ HPHAND on CompuServe or on the imore, MD, U.S.A. mations. Supports hex and Software Carousel is a pow­ HP Palmtop Paper ON DISK. Contact: The Fourm is designed to binary notations. Radian erful multi-task software Harry Konstas, 72540.620 @com­ let Utility Industry professiOnals package which eliminates puserve.com and degree modes included. Has a resizable TSR win­ share the successes, failures and the need for EMM drivers. dow. Online help available. opportunities of field automa­ PAL Text Editor tion with peers and the vendor Pricing: ...... $299 Type: ...... Shareware community. Vendors will also Includes memory upgrade/Software PE.ZIP ij contains PalEdit, a Available: Now in library 11 of have exhibit tables. Carousel and installation by NSW). PAL based text editor that HPHAND on CompuServe or on the Self-install ...... $249 Including 1 connector (only recommend­ has almost the same look HP Palmtop Paper ON DISK. Contact: Pricing: ...... $995 ed for those with high technical skill.) and feel of the built-in Daniel Corbier, 75541.1523@com­ (For 2 and 1/2 days. 25% off for four or puserve.com more people with the same affiliation) CONTACT: Notebook Supply Memo editor. It does not CONTACT: World Market Warehouse, 13100 Alton Parkway support formatted texts, but Strategies LTD/PDA Inc., 4309 17th #154-281, Irvine, CA 92118, USA; is much more powerful as a CONFERENCES, SI., San FranciSCO, CA 94114, USA; Phone: 800-566-6832 or 114-153- text editor. It handles multi­ Phone: 415- 252-8008; Fax: 415-252- 8810; Fax: 114-153-8812. ple open files, unlimited file UPGRADES 8055; E-mail: [email protected] length, lines that are up to and UPDATES W~ Not Available 32000 characters, binary file Free ~opy of editing, and incremental PDA Fonun August 21 Software Carousel The Websters Spell Checker searches. It supports most with 4MB Upgrade sold by Thaddeus Com­ EMAC commands and is The Second Annual Utility Industy Handheld and PDA puting has been sold out expandable through DOS Notebook Supply Ware­ and is no longer available. filters. Forum will cover field automa- house (NSW) is offering a

THEHPPALMTOPPAPER JULY/AUGUST 1996 9 IRELESS COMMUNICATIONS ON YOUR HP PALMTOP

User to User

E-mail is the next "killer app;" Why the HP 700LX; The HP Palmtop Paper looks at the World Wide Web.

By Hal Goldstein

spent much of June traveling "What's your e-mail address?" device such as a Palmtop means ! and attending Palmtop-related has become a common query. E­ not having to lug around a conferences. First to London to mail is inexpensive and gives us portable computer. Being able to attend an OmniGo 700LX commu­ easy access to one another no mat­ send and receive e-mail wirelessly nicator developer's conference. ter the time zone. It allows for without having to make a physical Then to Chicago to attend the quick response, but we choose connection using a phone cord can American Booksellers Convention when to respond. save one's sanity and even one's and promote our book PC in your Businesses large and small are back. (Those who have traveled Pocket. Finally I traveled to New more productive and effective using with a bag of connectors and cou­ Y or k and visited the PC EXPO e-mail. For example, we implement­ plers and struggled moving heavy computer show. I came away with ed an internal cc:MAIL system for hotel furniture to make the physi­ the following three conclusions: our small business of 18 people. The cal connection know what I mean). result is much freer communica­ HP is quite aware of the poten­ 1. E-mail is the current "killer" tions and a better flow of informa­ tial of the wireless modem I HP application. tion. We hooked up our cc:MAIL Palmtop combination. Almost since 2. Wireless communications is system to the outside world the HP 95LX was introduced in finally about ready to take off. through our local Internet service 1991, HP encouraged such solu­ 3. The HP Palmtop Paper better get provider. Now any of our people tions as RadioMail and a wireless its Web site up ... and soon. can be in touch with anyone in the serial modem by offering a special outside world with an e-mail connecting cradle on its price list. address. Clearing up subscription That combination helped cus­ E-mail: The "killer" application problems with a subscriber in Hong tomers from airports to ballparks. Ever since the VisiCalc spreadsheet Kong or Paris becomes much easier. However, relatively high application brought the Apple II to Communicating with HP Singapore monthly charges and coverage prob­ corporate America, the computer is almost effortless despite the time lems have impeded the proliferation industry has been on the look out and geographical distance. of various wireless I Palmtop combi­ for "killer apps." A killer app is a There are compelling personal nations. As prices fall, coverage software application that many as well as business reasons to have improves, and e-mail becomes more people need and results in people an e-mail address. One of our universal, sales will increase. buying computer hardware. employees can now easily commu­ The Internet with its informa­ nicate with her son in the military tion, innovation, and glitter will be in Bosnia. My wife has family in Wireless solutions responsible for the sale of many Uruguay we hope to be in touch The London conference on the new computers. However, it is e­ with. Even my young son wants an OmniGo 700LX communicator mail that will help universalize e-mail address to talk to his bud­ woke me up to the importance of computer and modem sales. dies at school. wireless technologies and the con­ (Actually it is the Internet that pro­ E-mail as a killer app means vergence of phones and computers. vides a common protocol that lets more than desktop sales. There are The OmniGo 700LX depends on everyone talk to each other. No important implications of this e­ the digital cellular GSM network, matter the source of an e-mail mail phenomenon for the HP available in Europe and parts of address - internal corporate e­ Palmtop and for wireless commu­ Asia but not in the U.S. The mail, America Online, Compu­ nications. Getting and sending e­ OmniGo 700LX is actually a fusion Serve, or Internet, - we can send mail on the road becomes increas­ of the HP 200LX and a Nokia cellu- each other messages.) ingly vital. Doing so on a small

10 THEHPPALMTOPPAPER JULY/ AUGUST 1996 lar phone with fax software and and don't like about going wireless You, our HP Palmtop Paper cus­ additionall1ardware. with the Palmtop. In the meantime tomer, tend to be on the leading Given different modem stan­ we trust the information provided technical edge, which means it is dards, anyone who has tried to get in this issue on wireless products likely that you spend some time on e-mail traveling in Europe might will get you started. the Net. Our challenge is to design view the advance of wireless tech­ a web site that you find useful, that nology as a minor miracle. Europe you want to come back to, and that The Web· Where are we? is well-covered with cellular net­ pays for itself. That means our site works. Prices of service have come At all three June shows I attended, probably needs to provide a combi­ down such that you see teenagers the Web was an important topic. nation of Palmtop knowledge, walking London streets with cellu­ Most everybody agrees that the information about Palmtop prod­ lar phones. All these forces are con­ Internet is the future, a whole new ucts, Palmtop freeware and share­ verging to make the OmniGo kind of human interconnectivity. ware, and links to other Palmtop 700LX the right product at the right Internet technologies and possibili­ sites. At the same time it must have time and place. ties evolve monthly. As a publish­ One of the reasons HP selected a strong interactive marketing ele­ ing company, we should have a ment to it to sell our products and Nokia over the competition is Short site. Message Service (SMS). SMS allows services such as our magazine, our In general, no matter what the disks, our CD and our book. 160-character messages sent to any product or project, our challenge as GSM-compatible phone. You can Creating a web site has finally a small company is to provide a moved to the top of my list. We use the Palmtop or a phone operator useful quality product or service should have something up by the to send the message. In addition, the while making a profit as soon as end of the year. Your input, feed­ HP OmniGo 700LX communicator possible. There is not much room lets you create, send, receive and for expensive mistakes or testing. back, and help will be most wel­ forward faxes wirelessly. You can We have to do whatever we do come. also, of course, connect to your com­ right the first time (or at least the We certainly live in exciting pany network to access e-mail or second time). and changing times. transfer files.

What about the 700LX and the U.S? The MagicRAM Flash Storage Solution ' It is unclear whether the HP OmniGo 700LX and the underlying GSM network that supports it will V' Low cost, high capacity storage be universally available in the U.S. V' No batteries required any time soon. We understand the V' Super low power usage for longer palmtop battery life GSM network is available in the V' 50% less power draining than ATA Flash Cards Washington, DC area, in Hawaii, V' High performance solid state technology and in parts of California. HP will V' Faster than ATA Flash Cards probably make the OmniGo 700LX V' Write protect switch available in these areas sometime V' Withstands 10000 of shock by the end of this year. V' Rugged stainless steel covers for maximum protection In the meantime HP and strate­ V' 4MB to 80MB using pre-loaded Stacker data compression gic partners are pursuing other V' Lifetime warranty solutions with more universal cov­ erage. (See the review of the Wynd, 2MB Flash Card (up to 2MB) $89.00 AllPoints combination on page 19 of 4MB Flash Card (up to 4MB) $129.00 Distributor this issue.) This solution is said to 8MB Flash Card (up to 8MB) $179.00 and Dealer include 90% of the U.s. population 16MB Flash Card (up to 16MB) $279.00 Inquiries and prices are coming down. 20MB Flash Card (up to 20MB) $349.00 Unfortunately, we are based in 40MB Flash Card (up to 40MB) $549.00 Welcome a small rural town in the central 80MB Flash Card (up to 80MB) $1199.00 part of the U.S. This means that To Order Call: 1·800·272·6242 Wynd and other coverage is unavailable to us. That means we 1850 B"~ly Blvd., Lo, A"g,'~, CA 90057 USA ~__ Tel: 213-413-9999 Fax: 213-413-0828 ~~ need to depend on you, our reader, e-mail: [email protected] to report back on what you like Internet: http://www.magicram.com ~ ~J MaglcRAM IS a trademark of MaglcRAM. Inc Stacker IS a trademark of Stae ElectrOnICs, Inc "G Ie"'"

THEHPPALMTOPPAPER JULY / AUGUST 1996 11 IRELESS COMMUNICATIONS ON YOUR HP PALMTOP

Wireless Communications with the HP Palmtop It's getting so easy to send and receive e-mail on your Palmtop you no longer need to be close to a phone!

By David Shier

had just used my cellular phone self without getting a graduate make a decision among the ven­ I to call for a tow truck when my degree in wireless technology? dors in that category. Sky tel 2-way pager started to Since I found myself in the buzz. Tom Rundel and I were same situation, I will attempt to returning to Southern California sort all this out for you in this arti­ One-way pagers from a PDA developer's conference cle. I've included a glossary of By far, the simplest of the wireless in San Mateo (Northern California). wireless terms, but you shouldn't devices are alpha-numeric pagers, My car had been overheating on need them all in order to select the which come in models that can be the way up to the conference and system that's right for you. connected to the Palmtop via the finally broke down. Two friends in serial port or as PC Cards. Pagers a separate car (Dave Marsh and that can connect to the Palmtop all Richard Nelson from EduCALC) Types of wireless systems support receiving text messages. had left after us. They were aware While there are dozens of wireless These messages can be sent using of the overheating and Dave used communications options available software you install on an office his Sky tel 2-Way pager and HP for your Palmtop, we can easily PC, via e-mail or by calling the ser­ 200LX to send a message to see separate them into five categories: vice provider and dictating the how we were doing. One-way pagers, two-way pagers, message to an operator. I sent a reply telling them that cellular-compatible modems, digi­ Hewlett Packard's Starlink we were stuck in Salinas and wait­ tal cellular systems, and finally card is an example of this type of ing for a tow to the Ford dealer. An radio modems. device. Pagers are inexpensive to hour later, I had just finished sign­ Within these five major cate­ purchase (or lease) and the month­ ing the paper work when I heard a gories, you will find numerous ly service charges are typically as familiar voice call out my name. I vendors, each offering unique ser­ low as $20 for local service and less turned around to see Dave and vices and pricing options. than $100 for national service com­ Richard. Fortunately, the car only However, by first choosing which plete with news, sports and stock took an hour or two to fix, but if it of the five basic categories is right portfolio messaging. had been more serious, Dave and for you, it will be much easier to Pagers have other advantages. Richard would have given us a ride home. That's the way wireless mes­ saging is supposed to work. Unfor­ ABOUT THE AUTHOR tunately, the reality for many peo­ David Shier is a former software engineer and market­ ple is that they never get a chance ing/sales director in the electronics industry. He is to enjoy such events because the now President of Shier Systems & Software, Inc., and a current wireless market seems to principal in D&A Software, Inc. Together these compa­ nies develop and market products and applications for be a confusing collection of "buzz­ the Palmtop computer market. David can be reached words" and options. How can you at: Phone: 805-371-9391; Fax: 805-371-9454; E-mail: possibly select a system for your- [email protected];Website: http://www.shier.com

12 THEHP PALMTOPPAPER JULY/ AUGUST 1996 HP Palmtop,,_Cellular Phone, OmnibooK and OmniGo

Futuro 90 $86.99 Ideal as a traveling companion or hand bag. Has a pUll-out strap and detachable shoulder Futuro 20 $ 43.95 (HP Palmtop) Futuro 30 $ 39.95 Futuro 50 $ 44.95 strap. Holds: (OmniGo) Palmtop, Omn/Go. Cellular phones. Futuro 25 $ 43.95 Protect your palmtop with this zippered case, This practical and small case 1 pen and many more thIngs When your hands need to be 'ree ... and carry it In your suit pocket Is Ideal for your palmtop. · Dlmenslons: 7' x 4.5 ' x 2 ' use this case on your belt or -Dimensions: 6.5' X 3.75' X 1.25' -Dimensions: 6.88' X 4.25' X 1.50' shoulder strap (16.5 X 9.5 X 3.2 ems) (17.5 X 10.8 X 3.8 ems) (l7.7x 11.5x5cms) -Dimensions (F20): 7.S· x 3.7" x 1.4' (19 x 9.4 x 3.5 ems) (F25): 6.5' x 4.2' x 1.4' (16.5 x 10.5 x 3.5 ems)

Futuro 55 $ 52.95 The Most Complete Executive Solution refs l!'aU~~~~~a!:~a':~~~ ~c!smtoPfaflY designed for the Executive. If has six :C::;'or credit cards or PCMCIA cards, an elastic compartment for 2 AA batteries, can hold a wireless paging receiver, and many essential gr;,:1i~Pze~~~~7;d! ~/~/:::l:'=f,,'t,°~~n be tucked away when not needed.

2-AA

Converlyour OmnlGo Inlo a Personal r;:H:f/,,:s,:~~fu~'t::~";1se. Turn It ON/OFF without taking it out of the case.

o Dfmensions: 6.5" X 3.75" X IS (16.5 X 9.5 X 3.8 ems)

Futuro 75 $ 49.95 Designed do cony your po/mop Futuro 60 $54.95 with 0 pager or connecttvtty pock Futuro 100 $64.95 -Olmonslonf: 9.15· X U ' X 1.75· Protect your palmtop with this small (2.4.1XllAXUcms) Ideol for travelinil and meeffngs. Also fits and beautiful case · Rogulol' $SS.OO electronic organizers, OmniGos and Calculators - Dimensions: 6.5' X 3.75' X 1.75' (16.5 X 9.5 X 4.4 ems) -Dimensions: 8' x 6 ' x 2 · - Regular $ 60.00 (20.3 x 15.2 x 5.1 ems)

fora fUll_of your purchase price Available WIRELESS: Wireless review They are simple to operate and to the Palmtop. They include mes­ check to see if the server is run­ most (with the exception of the sages such as YES/OK, NO, TRAF­ ning, I use my pager to send a mes­ Starlink card) can display messages FIC DELAY, NEED MORE INFO, sage to this address. If everything without being connected to the etc .. Personally, I think they could is working, the message is forward Palmtop. Pagers are currently the have done a better job of selecting back to my pager, confirming that one practical wireless tool for the messages: many are redundant the system is operating. always getting immediate notifica­ and there isn't a THANK YOU tion that someone has sent you a reply in the bunch. So if you want message. They are on all the time, to respond to that helpful message Cellular-compatible modems and alert you when a message which is getting you out of a jam Using a conventional modem with comes in. Because of their size and with a friendly 'thanks,' you will a cellular phone seems like a sim­ battery life, it is very easy to carry have to connect the pager to the ple solution to wireless communi­ them with you all the time. Because Palmtop and write your reply cations. All you should have to do of this, even if you use another there. is connect your Palmtop to the wireless device, you may still want When connected to the phone via the modem and use your to use a pager to receive notifica­ Palmtop, you can generate replies communications program to log tion that you have a new message. of up to 95 characters. Your pager onto your online service. The prob­ One of the most interesting fea­ has an Internet address, which is lem with this approach is that cel­ tures of the HP Starlink pager is its the pager's PIN number with lular phones don't always provide ability to receive from your office @skytel.com added to the end. This a continuous signal. updates to your Palmtop's Ap­ lets anyone on the Internet send The cellular phone network is pointment Book. This makes the you e-mail messages. You can then divided into "cells." Each cell has Starlink worth considering for sales write a reply to that message and one or more transmitter/receiver and service representatives that send it wirelessly. Unfortunately, that handles the calls in a certain often get schedule changes dictated Skytel does not provide a means of geographical area. When you move from the home office. entering an arbitrary Internet out of one area and into another, a Of course, pagers have one address, so you can't generate an e­ computer that monitors this major disadvantage: they can only mail message to anyone that hasn't switches you to the cell of the area receive messages. If you want to sent you a message first. Also, the you are moving into. The problem reply or originate your own mes­ return path for replying to mes­ is that sometimes there is a sages, then you will need to use sages sent to you are only kept by momentary loss of signal and this something else. the Skytel system for a few weeks. After that, you can't send a reply. can cause the modem to drop the Still, even with these limita­ connection. Two-way pagers tions, the two-way pager has Standard modems are not proven very useful. Even when designed to tolerate a signal loss. If you like the features of a pager, you don't connect it to the Some cellular phone users have but would also like to reply, then Palmtop, the Tango has features successfully connected to online services using their Palmtop, cell the two-way pager could be right that a normal pager can't duplicate. phone and standard modem, pro­ for you. Currently, the only nation­ Most importantly, the Tango sends vided they are stationary. al two-way pager service is offered an acknowledgement when a page by Sky tel using the Motorola is received. If the Sky tel network Cellular-ready modems are designed to tolerate momentary Tango Pager unit. You can pur­ doesn't receive a confirming signal loss, but even with these chase a Skytell Palmtop Connect­ 'answer-back' from your unit, it modems, data connections are ten­ ivity Kit from Sky tel that comes will resend the page. This allows uous at best. Also, unlike other with a special cable to connect the someone sending you a page to wireless communications methods, pager to the Palmtop. The kit also know that it was received. includes System-Manager compli­ One way I use the Tango is to when using a cellular phone, you ant communications software, and verify that our company's e-mail pay by the minute for the connec­ a case to hold the Palmtop, pager, server is operating properly. We tion time. All other wireless sys­ cable and a few small accessories set up a separate e-mail address tems either charge by the amount - all for less than $50.00. which automatically forwards mes­ of data being transferred, or in The pager can receive alpha­ sages to my pager. That means that some cases provide unlimited numeric messages of up to 512 every time a message is received in usage for a fixed monthly fee. Also, characters. There are 16 short this address, it is automatically for­ if you move outside of the area ser­ replies built into the pager which warded to my pager. If I want to viced by your cellular provider, you can send without connecting you will need to pay a roaming

14 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER JULY / AUGUST 1996 charge (around $5/day) plus the phone. The 700LX provides faxing transferred, on the push of a but­ charges for the calls themselves. and e-mail using a feature of GSM ton, to the Palmtop. This allows Still, if you already have a cel­ digital cellular service known as you to receive messages even when lular phone and a modem for your Short Messaging Service or SMS. the Palmtop is off. The number of Palmtop, and you only need wire­ This service, and therefore the messages that your phone can store less communications occasionally, 700LX itself, is currently available is limited, but only if you don't then this might be a cost effective only in Europe and parts of Asia retrieve them using the Palmtop. alternative. and the Pacific Rim. Because the On the Palmtop, messages are One nice feature of using a cel­ U.S.A. is currently fighting over stored in a database. You can also lular connection is that you can use competing digital cellular technolo­ export to file (making archiving of the same software and e-mail sys­ gies, we don't expect to see the old messages easy). As soon as you tem that you use with conventional 700LX released here for quite some retrieve SMS to the Palmtop, they phone lines. This avoids the need time. get deleted in the phone, making for two or more e-mail addresses, The HP 700LX has been dis­ room for more incoming messages. which is necessary with the pagers cussed in previous Palmtop Paper A nice feature of the OmniGo and radio modems (with the excep­ articles, so I won't go into a lot of 700LX is the ability to automatical­ tion of the Ricochet modem dis­ detail here (see November 1- ly dial a phone number selected cussed below.) December 95 issue, page 29). from the Palmtop's PhoneBook However, I will briefly compare application. Since GSM and SMS the 700LX to the other wireless services are not currently available Digital cellular systems: technologies. The SMS service pro­ in the USA, it's difficult to compare The HP OmniGo 700LX vides much of the same features of the cost of using the 700LX to the the radio modems, plus the advan­ radio modem services available The 700LX is basically an HP tage of cellular voice service. from Ardis and RAM Mobile Data. 200LX with a built-in PC card According the Gilles Kohl, incom­ There are a few cities in the nation modem and a docking cradle on ing SMS messages are first stored where GSM service is becoming the top for a Nokia digital cellular on the Nokia phone, and then available, specifically Washington, TechRAM™ DiskDock™ 4MB Upgrade Low-cost Backup or Auxiliary Storage System using PCMCIA Technology Attention 200LX users you can increase your internal RAM to a total • Backup your Notebook or Laptop of 5MBs. Some newer machines can with a high-speed, low cost actually achieve 6MBs. 2-1/2" Hard Drive • Great for systems requiring Free up the PCMCIA slot for modem or other use! security Pricing: • Removable-portable-compact 4MB TechRAM & TechSpeed Kits ..... $375 • PCMCIA to IDE interface 4MB TechRAM Kit...... $350 TechSpeed Kit ...... $50 Connector...... $10 Shipping not included Visa & Mastercard Accepted PalmTop Adaptor Warranties: External Power 1 year parts, 30 day money back guarantee, 60 day palmtop warranty (Physical • Enables Notebooks and damage excluded, U.S. Only) Laptops to use devices Check out our web page for more requiring more power, i.e. details and latest prices. Quantity discounts available. PCMCIA Hard Disks Sorry 95 LX users no memory upgrade options are available at this time.The use of the upgrade kits will void your HP warranty. Times2 Tech \05 Maple Street· Maylene,AI. 35 11 4 ~,-""" '~ Email: [email protected] Web: http://www.bhm.tis.net/-mack Phone: 20;.62()'1408 Fax: 20;.62().5205 European Customers see Runde! Datentechnik ad

THE HP PALMTOP PAPER JULY/AUGUST 1996 15 WIRELESS: Wireless review

Glossary of wireless terms

Below is a glossary of tenns you may come across as you Wide Web. For wireless communications, the most impor­ read and learn about wireless communications. tant part of the Internet is electronic mail.

Baud - A measure of the speed at which a modem com­ ISP (Internet Service Provider) - A company that provides municates. Although there are some subtle differences, gen­ customers access to the Internet. RadioMail and Wynd are erally baud and bps are now used interchangeably. The tenn examples ofISP's for wireless Internet service. Baud is actually obsoleted by bps. GSM (Global System for Mobiles or sometimes Group bps (bits per second) - The number of "bits" (ones and Special Mobile) - The European and Asian digital cellular zeros) transmitted per second, which can generally be divid­ system standard. This is the technology used by the HP ed by ten to get the character transmission rate. That is, OmniGo 700 communicator. It is a subset ofTDMA. 9,600bps means about 960 bytes or characters per second. K (Kilo, or one thousand). In data communications, IK is CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) - One of two actually 1,024 which is an even power of 2. Specifically 2 digital technologies being tested by cellular service to the 10th power. providers as a possible eventual replacement to the current analog system of cellular call transmission. Digital technol­ Modem (MOdulatorIDEModulator) - The device that ogy allows data to be transmitted in bursts intennixed with converts data into tones, and back again, to allow transmis­ voice calls. However, digital cellular services require spe­ sion over standard phone lines. The tenn has been expanded cial hardware (phones and/or modems) for data connec­ to include radio modems and other devices which simply tions. (See also GSM and TDMA.) allow a computer to send and receive remote data (even when no actual modulation may take place.) CDPD (Cellular Digital Packet Data) - A method of trans­ mitting short bursts of data in between voice calls on the SMS (Short Messaging System) - The data transmission analog cellular network. Developed by a consortium of cel­ service used in the OmniGo 700LX to send and receive e­ lular carriers, CDPD is commercially available in only a mail and faxes. SMS is an optional service provided by few areas in the U.S.A. CDPD requires special radio GSM cellular companies. modems and software. TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) - One of two E-mail - Electronic Mail is the method of sending infor­ digital technologies being tested by cellular service mation electronically as opposed to using pen, paper and providers as a possible eventual replacement to the current stamps. Wireless systems allow you to receive, and in most analog system of cellular call transmission in the U.S.A. cases send, e-mail to anyone with an address on the Internet. WWW (World Wide Web, or simply "The Web") - A part of the Internet which contains multi-media documents Internet - A large international communication network that have links from one to another, making the relationship that connects government agencies, technical universities of infonnation that is common between documents easily and commercial customers. The Internet is currently grow­ accessible and completely independent of physical location. ing at more than 30% per month. The Internet includes The data on the Web usually contains pictures (and some­ access to e-mail, news group bulletin boards, and the World times sound and video) in addition to text. Some wireless services allow you to retrieve the text portion of Web pages.

DC and San Diego, California. Radio modems the exception of the Ricochet However, unless your mobile mes­ modem (discussed below), this is saging needs are confined within I really don't care for the term not the case. Radio modems com­ your local area, the radio modem 'radio modem.' To me, this seems municate only with their own spe­ services appear to be your only to imply a modem that you can use cial services. There are two major viable alternative for the foresee­ the same way you use a regular radio networks in the USA: Ardis able future. modem, but only wirelessly. With and RAM Mobile Data. While these

16 THEHPPALMTOPPAPER JULY/ AUGUST 1996 two systems are not compatible THE RICOCHET SYSTEM communicates to a transmitter /­ with each other, they are very simi­ receiver mounted on a near-by lar in function. Both allow you to A new player in the wireless busi­ street light pole. This unit then communicate from one radio ness is the Ricochet modem. This is relays your communications to the modem to another. Also, both offer an external modem that can wire­ next pole-mounted unit, until it optional services that provide you lessly communicate using standard finds its way to one connected to an Internet address and news stock software. This is a distinct differ­ the wired network. This has the quotes or even access to text from ence from the other radio modems, advantage that the pole-mounted World Wide Web sites. These which require proprietary software units don't need any expensive added services are from RadioMail to run. Instead, the Ricochet wiring in order to bounce your sig­ or WyndMail. modem accepts standard'A T' com­ nal to the next one. The disadvan­ Radio modems are available as mands that make it look like a nor­ tage is that the Ricochet system external units (affectionately mal modem to the Palmtop and the needs lots of these pole-mounted known as 'bricks') or as PC Cards software. units - one every half mile or so. from Motorola and MegaHertz. The Ricochet modem gets its This means that the Ricochet is not The Motorola Personal name from the way the wireless practical for rural areas. Messenger 1000 is used with the network is set up: Your modem Still, the Ricochet is fast (up to Ardis network, while the Mega­ Hertz AllPoints Modem works with RAM Mobile Data. The two networks have slightly different coverage areas, so it's a good idea Wireless E-mail, to check the service availability in the areas you most often visit. A great advantage of these FAX, Paging and radio modems is their ease of use. There's no logging in, roaming, no access numbers, simply plug the Nationwide Internet Service modem into the Palmtop and run the RadioMail software. If you are within range of the network - from your regardless of where you are in the country - your e-mail will be sent to you automatically and you can Palmtop! send your own. No other system is easier. If you are out of the service area, or if the modem is off, the net­ ~ @MOTOROLA work will save your messages and send them to you when you turn PERSONAL the modem back on. Thus, you ~ never lose your e-mail. MESSENGER A new feature of the RadioMail service is a text-based Web server. NO CELLULAR CHARGES By sending the Web page address NATIONWIDE SERVICE AS (known as the URL) to the Radio­ LOW AS $19.95 PER MONTH Web e-mail address, you will get an e-mail message in return that CALL NOW: contains the text from the Web Page. Of course, you only see plain 800-350-0373 text without any of the graphics, or e-mail: and the speed and cost prohibit this method from being practical [email protected] for 'web surfing' (moving aimlessly for information from link to link) but it is very use­ ful for retrieving specific informa­ L;;is..... :;~!!.gi~ ARDIS ~ WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS ~ tion wirelessly.

THEHPPALMTOPPAPER JULY/AUGUST 1996 17 WIRELESS: Wireless review 28.8Kbps, but more typically about in e-mail communications with means of staying in touch and 9600bps) and can be used with soft­ others all around the country, often being productive, whenever and ware that the others can't. For requiring nearly instant response, wherever the need arises - and example, I simply configured our she said "I had days where I was in after all, isn't that why we have acCIS program to dial the special front of my computer for, quite lit­ these wonderful Palmtops in the CompuServe access number pro­ erally, 16 hours straight. Now I can first place? vided by Ricochet, and specified go wherever I want, and always COM Port I, then I was able to have immediate access to my e­ wirelessly connect to CompuServe mail." and collect my e-mail and send out Mitchell's enthusiasm for her Pricing and Contact replies. HP 200LX and Ricochet modem is Information for products Another unique feature of the clearly evident, as she told me "I mentioned in this article Ricochet modem is that there are can finally leave the office for an no connect-time charges! For a flat afternoon, and even go out to All prices are manufacturer's suggested monthly fee you get the modem lunch! I affectionately refer to the retail price. It may be possible to purchase and unlimited access to the local Starbucks as "my branch the product for less at third-party vendors. Internet. office." Skytel 2-way Wireless Pager-$60/month Unfortunately, with its NiMH CONTACT: Skytel, P.o. Box 2469, Jackson, MS rechargeable battery and cable, the 39225-2469, USA; Phone: 800-395-5260; Fax: Ricochet modem is heavy, plus the The Ideal solution 601-944-1300; W. W. w.. hffp:llwww.skytel.com cabling needed to connect it to the Motorola Tango Pager Palmtop is unwieldy. Of course, if With all these competing technolo­ Pager provided by Skytel, included in monthly you're a regular reader of the gies, the question remains "Which price (see above). Palmtop Paper, it won't surprise is the best?" The answer greatly you to know that my company depends on your needs and loca­ SkyTeVHP Palmtop (SHIER Systems) is now making tion. Personally, I feel a combina­ Connectivity Cable - $49.95 CONTACT: Skytel, P.O. Box 2469, Jackson, MS cable to directly connect the tion of a conventional alpha­ 39225-2469, USA; Phone: 800-395-5260; Fax: Ricochet modems to the HP numeric pager - to provide an 601-944-1300; W. W. W" hffp:llwww.skytel.com Palmtop. immediate alert of an incoming Ardis Radio Network The only other disappointment message, and a radio modem - to CONTACT: ARDIS, 300 Knightsbridge Parkway, is the coverage area for Ricochet. read the full text and write replies Lincolnshire, IL 60060, USA; Phone: 800-494- Currently, they have 'wired' a or faxes, is the most usable at this 1128 or 841-913-1215; Fax: 841-913-4100. number of university campuses point in time. around the USA, and most of the Wha t I'd like to see in the RAM Mobile Data See Products Mentioned section in article "The San Francisco Bay area. Seattle future is a unit the size of the AI/Points Wireless PC Card and RadioMail Washington is scheduled for late Tango two-way pager (or even Service, 'page 19) 1996 and Washington, DC in 1997. smaller) with the features of the However, for those lucky RadioMail- $Varies Ricochet modem - especially the CONTACT: RadioMail, 2600 Campus Or., Suite enough to be within Ricochet's unlimited Internet access for a flat 115, San Mateo, CA 94403, USA; Phone: 800- coverage area, its system and the fee. Such a unit could replace my 591-6245 Dept NT3,' Fax: 415-286-1805,' E-mail." Palmtop can be a very liberating pager, modem and radio modem, info@radiomai/.net; W W. W" http: www.radio­ combination. A case in point is Ms. and could clip to my belt. Of mail.net Anne Mitchell, an attorney in Palo course it would need coverage in Motorola Personal Alto, California who runs Father's most locations around the country Messenger 1000 - $499 Rights and Equity Exchange and even around the world - per­ CONTACT: Contact your local Motorola resel/er. (F.R.E.E.), a national father's rights haps using satellite communica­ AIiPoints Wireless Modem advocacy group. tions. I hope that such a device is (See Products Mentioned section in article "The According to Mitchell, "The not too many years away. AI/Points Wireless PC Card and RadioMail portability and versatility of the However, now that I've had a taste Service, •page 19) 200LX with the Ricochet wireless of what wireless communications Ricochet Wireless Modem - $Varies modem has really freed me from can offer today, I would never con­ CONTACT: Metricom, 980 University Ave. Los being chained to the desk and com­ sider waiting for something new. Gatos, CA 95030, USA; Phone: 888-4NO-WIRES puter." Because the vast majority of While each type of technology has (888-466-9413); Fax: 408-354-5141; WWW the work Mitchell does takes place its limitations, they all provide hffp:llwww.ricochetnet

18 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER JULY / AUGUST 1996 IRELESS COMMUNICATIONS ON YOUR HP PALMTOP

The AIIPoints Wireless PC Card and RadioMail Service

The AIIPoints wireless PC Card and RadioMaii service get your message across - Wirelessly!

By Mike Fine

Ou're sitting in the Captain's and receive e­ Y chair on the bridge of Star mail, send faxes, Trek's Starship Enterprise and people can and realize that you need to have send you mes­ an immediate meeting with your sages through a senior officers. You tap the small dispatch service. AIiPoints Wireless Type II PC Card Communications badge on your The AllPoints chest, a subtle beep indicates that is a Type II PC you may speak. You announce the Card built to operate on the RAM cellular service, the more expensive time and place of the meeting and Mobile Data Wireless Network. "roaming charges" accumulate as the individuals involved. As you RAM's service is based on the soon as you move out of your des­ walk to the turbo-lift that will take Mobitex technology which was ini­ ignated "home" area. The RAM you to the meeting room, multiple tially developed by the Ericsson Mobile Data Wireless network has responses of "Yes Captain!" come company. This technology uses a no additional charges associated from the Com badge's tiny speaker, network of radio towers around with when and where you connect. indicating that all are on their way. the country. Whether you are on the bus going O.K. ... so our technology has [Editor's note: For more on the to work or sitting in a meeting, you not quite reached the point of the AllPoints/Wynd combination, see the have access to your e-mail. The technology displayed in the popu­ article "AIIPoints Card/WyndMail RAM network covers 92% of the lar Star Trek science fiction series, Service" on page 22 of this issue.] population of the United States and set 500 years in the future. But the includes all the major metropolitan way technology is advancing, we'll areas. Pull out your HP Palmtop No Roaming Charges be there a lot sooner than 500 years and get your e-mail in Minneapolis from now. Unlike cellular, the radio service on Monday, in Dallas on Wed­ One of the products that turns has no roaming restrictions. With nesday, and fax a friend from your HP Palmtop into a slightly Philadelphia on Friday. larger communications device with the capabilities of the Star Trek Com badge is the Megahertz ABOUT THE AUTHOR AllPoints Wireless PC Card. You'll also need a messaging service and Mike Fine is a technology "junkie." In his position as Beta Test Supervisor for can use either the RadioMail wire­ US Robotics-Megahertz, Mike has had the opportunity to explore exciting new developments in the mobile and wireless arenas. In addition, he has been a less messaging service or Wynd technical writer for Iomega Corporation and sold shoes for Nordstrom. Communications' WyndMail with Currently he is nursing an addiction to the X-Files and Newcastle Brown Ale. the AllPoints/Palmtop combo. Mike's e-mail [email protected] . With these combos you can send

THEHPPALMTOPPAPER JULY / AUGUST 1996 19 WIRELESS: AI/Points The AllPoints' lightweight, Running RadloMaii & WyndMal1 portable PCMCIA Type II design software on your HP 200LX fits conveniently into the HP Pricing and Contact Palmtop's PC Card slot. Its small, Information for products Once the RadioMail or WyndMail mentioned in this article 2-inch retractable gold antenna can communications software is in­ be fully extended to 6 inches when stalled on your Palmtop, you'll you want to connect to the RAM All prices are manufacturer's suggested need to modify your Palmtop's retail price. It may be possible to purchase network, and conveniently stores AUTOEXECBAT file to configure the product for less at third-party vendors. flat when the unit is not in use. your Palmtop for PC Card support. Since the card uses a standard 5MB Open AUTOEXECBAT in Memo Megahertz AIiPoints connection (the industry standard and remove "REM" from in front Wireless PC Card - $499 for antenna connectors), you can of the line beginning with "ClC" Contact: U.S. Robotics Mobile Communi­ remove the antenna and replace it Save the file, insert the AllPoints cations Corporation, 605 N., 5600 VI. (P. 0. with a more sensitive antenna if into the slot and reboot your Box 16020), Salt Lake City, UT 84116, you are in an area with less than Palmtop by pressing (CTRLJ-(AE!)­ USA; Phone: 800-527-8677 or 801-320- perfect coverage. JDELJ. Now open the RadioMail or 7000; Fax: 801-320-6022. Wynd Mail software and it will immediately accesses the RAM net­ RAM Mobile Low Power Consumption work and start downloading any Data Service - $Varies mail you have waiting. You don't have to worry about Contact: RAM Mobile Data, 10 Woodbridge The RadioMail & WyndMail AllPoints draining your HP Center Dr., Woodbridge, NJ 07095, USA; servers support 'store and forward' Palmtop batteries. It comes with its Phone: 800-726-3210 or 908-602-5500; messaging, which means that own 9-volt NiCd rechargeable bat­ Fax: 908-602-5495,' Email.- raminfo@ram. RadioMail & WyndMail stores tery, which almost eliminates any com; Web: http://www.ram-wireless.com your messages until you signal draw on your AA batteries (the them to download the messages to draw is only 12mA (milli-Amps». your address. You can also choose The NiCd battery gives the to have RadioMail or WyndMail RadioMail's Custom Fax Mess­ AllPoints up to 30 hours of opera­ automatically forward your e-mail aging feature lets you add your tion, and you can get up to 40 to another destination. To save own custom fax cover sheet head­ hours on a non-rechargeable alka­ money, the best way to send mes­ ers and pre-set fax specifications. line battery. This allows a generous sages is to write them off line and This allows you to personalize amount of sending and receiving upload them when you are ready your faxes and create a more pro­ messages before you need to to send them. fessional image. recharge or replace the AllPoints' battery. And since the card uses the Dispatch Service - If you are one PCMCIA (PC Card) design, a RadioMaii features of those people who is never near a rechargeable battery can be phone, friends or colleagues can call charged while AllPoints is in a The RadioMail software allows you important messages into the Palmtop that is connected to an AC to easily access e-mail addresses from RadioMail Message Center. The power adapter. it's built-in phonebook (not the information is typed into text by Palmtop's PhoneBook). RadioMail's operators and immediately sent to extensive folder system can store up you. This is an excellent solution for Designed small to 500 messages, including unfin­ contacts who don't have e-mail or for your HP Palmtop ished messages for future use. In are away from the office and need addition, RadioMaillets you add per­ to get a critical message sent to you The AllPoints design works well sonalized signatures or pre-written quickly. with the HP 200LX. Installed, the text to your messages. Once installed, card adds 2.25 inches to the length the program consume about 220K of and half an inch to the height of your Palmtop's memory. WyndMallfeatures your HP Palmtop (see photo on previous page). The width of the Faxing - Compose a message as Please see the article beginning on card is less than the width of the you would an e-mail, but replace page 22 "AllPoints Card/Wynd­ Palmtop. The card works well in the e-mail address with a fax num­ Mail Service" for a description of your palm or on a desktop with the ber. Send it and it's forwarded to Wynd Mail features. antenna extended vertically. the fax number you list.

20 THEHPPALMTOPPAPER JULY / AUGUST 1996 Gives You an Instant Link to Desktop Quicken and Quicken ExpensAbl, Fop The Ultimate In Pepsonal Financial ConlPOI

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Beyond limitations 200LX's internal memory to 4MB, but Insertion of the AllPoints card these upgrades are not supported by needs to be performed while the The AllPoints, the HP 200LX and HP. For more information, see Vo1.5, unit is off!. either RadioMail or WyndMail are No.2, (March/April) 1996, pages 18 an excellent combination, but these and 22.] We're not quite at the level of the wireless solutions have their limita­ To help overcome this limita­ Startrek Communications badge, tions. The most obvious issue is the tion the RadioMail and WyndMail but we're getting close. The limited amount of available HP software can be set to keep mes­ RadioMail/WyndMail features Palmtop memory. Since the sages to a minimum size, and mes­ along with the Megahertz AllPoints card does not have any sages can also be forwarded auto­ AllPoints card turns your HP memory storage space of its own, matically to another destination as 200LX into a rather large, but still and it uses the HP Palmtop's only mentioned earlier. Your HP Palm­ portable communications badge. available Type II PC Card slot top can comfortably handle a mes­ It's a little big yet to stick on your (there is no place for that handy sage 25K in size, about two and a Starfleet uniform, but it will slip in SRAM card), you are restricted to half typed pages. Another issue is your pocket and let you send a fax. using the built-in memory on the the insertion and removal of the I've never seen anyone on the HPPalmtop. card. The Palmtop is not designed Startrek send a fax! [Editor's note: Some companies for quick swapping of PC Cards. offer "upgrades" that will increase the

THE HP PALMTOP PAPER JULY I AUGUST 1996 21 IRELESS COMMUNICATIONS ON YOUR HP PALMTOP

AllPoints Card/WyndMAIL Service Wireless messaging solution for the HP Palmtop.

By Rich Hall

p just announced that as of o Send and receive wireless o Attach files to e-mail, allowing H September 1, 1996 a test Internet e-mail. you to send and receive spread­ program will be run sheets, database updates and other through selected HP dealers that o Send a fax message from the critical information. will offer an integrated wireless Palmtop to anywhere in the world, messaging solution for the HP and access a personal library of o Access e-mail addresses in your Palmtop. The system includes the electronically stored documents Palmtop's PhoneBook. Modify HP 200LX, a Megahertz AllPoints that can be merged with your fax. PhoneBook and add a category Wireless PC Card, and WyndMail called "Internet." The PhoneBook' s messaging service operating over o Send and receive paging infor­ Internet listings will appear in the the RAM Mobile Data Mobitex net­ mation; operator dispatch to the Wynd address book. work. The WyndMail messaging 200LX is available. Create your software will be configured for the own paging message on the 200LX As mentioned earlier, the integrat­ HP Palmtop and the system will and send it to any common paging ed solution will be available from allow Palmtop users to easily send network. selected HP dealers September 1, and receive e-mail, faxes and pag­ 1996. Wynd Communications will ing wirelessly. o Send text-to-speech and speech­ make the Palmtop configured The previous article by Mike to-text messages. When you send WyndMail software available July Fine describes the AllPoints an e-mail message using this 15. Contact WyndMail if additional Wireless PC Card and its use with option it transmits the message to information is required and men­ the RadioMail and WyndMail the recipient over phone lines in a tion the Hewlett-Packard Wireless wireless messaging services. The computer-generated voice. Communications Bundle. WyndMail! AllPoints system offers features that include the ability to: o Filter messages so that you receive certain messages immedi­ Pricing and Contact ately and have others held by Information for products WyndMail for tetrieval at a more convenient time (filter by size, con­ mentioned in this article Project: Vision tent, or sender). All prices are manufacturer's suggested retail price. It may be possible to purchase ORe-route your e-mail to any the product for less at third-party vendors. Gives You other WyndMail Internet address Planning In Your Palm For $99 (useful for when you are on the Integrated WyndMaill AIIPoints For HP 100/200 and DOS based PC's road). 1200LX wireless solution - $varies The price of this integrated solu­ Features Include: Free Demo Pc D; • One Hour Learning Curve sk o Access Wynd Mail service via a tion varies, depending on the hardware • Uses 300K with Max file size from 80K to lMEG. standard modem. This lets you you already have and how much you • Logic Networks, Tunelines, Resource Histograms access e-mail from a standard use the service. • Critical Path, Milestones, Variable Zoom phone line when you are out of For more information on the integrated • Mouse and keyboard operated for portability wireless transmission / reception system, contact: Wynd Communications, • NEW! to MS . MPX Files range, or the wireless modem is not 4251 S. Higuera, Bldg. 800, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401, USA; Phone: 800-549- ..1I .. ClA .-uuII~n.n9 Ltd. available. It is a more cost effective 2673 Terrace Ave. North Vancouver, Be way to download e-mail and larger 9800 or 805-781-6000; Fax: 805-781-6001; Canada V7R 1HS files. HP recommends that you use Web: http://www.wynd.net/wynd. Tel: 604-980-9991 your AC adapter when using this Fax: 604-985-5597 dial-up mode.

22 THEHPPALMTOPPAPER JULY/ AUGUST 1996 IRELESS COMMUNICATIONS ON YOUR HP PALMTOP

Communicating Wirelessly with the HP 200LX

There are a number of wireless services that work with the Palmtop - how do you know which one is right for you?

By F. P. Nagle

ver since I first had the HP munications software with the forwarded to my Wynd account, E95LX, I've looked for the Palmtop. I first tested an Ericsson excluding messages with attach­ "perfect" communications Mobidem (wireless modem) along ments. I excluded attachments system. The 95LX provided me with a wireless e-mail software and since they tended to be spread­ with the ability to use an external service from Wynd Commun­ sheets or Word documents. These modem to connect to a phone jack ications. The Mobidem is a small, documents are very large and take and communicate with the com­ external wireless modem that is a lot of time to transmit, costing me puter systems at work and with used primarily with laptop and more in service charges. In addi­ CompuServe. It also gave me some desktop systems, but also works tion, I rarely need them on my Internet e-mail capabilities. This with the Palmtop. Palmtop. This setup worked quite was a big step up from having to Wynd was developing the well, and provided me with access use a desktop or a "luggable" com­ System Manager compliant wire­ to e-mail anywhere, anytime. puter for these functions, but the less communications software for In addition to my full time job, Palmtop'S serial port was not 100% use on the HP 200LX. I approached my wife and I have a financial ser­ compatible with a standard serial them at a conference held in San vices business. In the financial ser­ port and the Palmtop could not Jose, California and indicated my vices business it is important to connect with all modems. willingness to work with them on stay on top of market information The HP 100LX and 200LX any beta tests they had in mind. I to provide up-to-date information improved on the communications purchased the Mobidem modem, on investments. I was able to sub­ ability of the Palmtop, and came and was provided beta software by scribe to a stock quote service on with a more standard serial port Wynd. Now I was wireless! the Internet (contact www.quote.­ that worked with a wider range of I normally received my e-mail com). This service provides closing external modems. In addition, the via Microsoft Mail on my desktop prices sent automatically at day's 100/200LX came with a more stan­ computer at work. I was able to use end. It also will alert me when the dard PC card slot that could accept an add-in product with my desk­ prices of specific stocks reach high a wide range of PC Card modems. top to re-direct incoming mail to or low "trigger" values that I pre­ It became easier to use faster, more my wireless account. I had my mail set. In one particular instance it portable modems with the HP Palmtop, but you still had to physi­ cally connect up to a phone line. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Frank P. Nagle is IT Development Manager at Hewlett-Packard. He has over 20 years experience in Information Science, span­ Wireless communications ning telecommunications, semi-conductors, oil and gas, chemi­ cal industry, and 4 levels of government. He holds a securities and the HP Palmtop license through the National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), and an insurance license through the state of During the past year and a half I've California. He is also a licensed amateur radio operator. You can contact Frank at: [email protected] been "beta" testing wireless com-

THEHPPALMTOPPAPER JULY/AUGUST 1996 23 WIRELESS: Review alerted me to one stock in my port­ wireless modems. In February of my e-mail to my Palmtop's wire­ folio reaching a preset high. I called 1996 this finally arrived in the form less service. I have e-mail less than call my broker and had him sell a of a Megahertz (US Robotics) 10K in size forwarded to the portion of my shares, resulting in a AllPoints wireless PC Card. Palmtop. A message is sent to my nice profit for me. Allpoints is a modem and Palmtop alerting me when a larger Along with this service, I also wireless transmitter/receiver built message is waiting on my desktop. use another provider for reporting into a PC Card. It has an external This is enough to remind me that I mutual fund closing prices (con­ bulge on the end that sticks out of have "work" to do back at my tact: www.galt.com) and receive the Palmtop's card slot. This bulge desk. This current system works nightly e-mails on the selected holds a 9-volt battery that provides well, letting me access e-mail no funds in my portfolio, and the port­ power to send and receive mes­ matter where I may travel in the folios of some of my clients. This sages, and a small antenna. I no San Francisco Bay Area as well as allows me to monitor the mutual longer had to carry a "brick" most major cities in the U.S. fund prices, and even send the data around! to Lotus 1-2-3 on the Palmtop, for I currently use Wynd commu­ graphing and price "trending." nications with the Allpoints Wireless "limitations" Wireless PC Card and continue to not so limited after all receive nightly data on stocks and mutual funds. In addition, I AIiPoints wireless modem My wireless system only provides changed my full-time day job and smaller and more portable e-mail access, but quite a bit of now work for Hewlett-Packard as a information on the Internet can be manager in their Software Infor­ After using the Ericsson Mobidem accessed via e-mail. List servers mation and Delivery Organization for about six months, what had at and automated response systems (SmO) in Mountain View, CA. first seemed so small and portable can provide quick and easy access The mail system we use at was looking and feeling more and to a lot of text information. In addi­ work is cc:Mail, which also lets me more like a ''brick.'' I was ready for tion to the nightly transmissions of create a set of rules for forwarding the next, smaller generation of stock information, I sometimes

The EduCALC Catalog-FHEEfor One Year Cutting Edge Products to Enhance your HP Palmtop! Memory in Flash Wireless Access Palmtop Printing ==-= .::e Experience the freedom and power of portable ~::-r;:;):" -: _ ~~oo=--.~CITIZEN' :: ==::...= wireless palmtop communication. You can now _~ -'-=- ~ '=si7 =.:..:=~= reach anyone, anywhere, who has an email ad- Expand your HP dress, fax machine or RF messaging device- Palmtop's memory wireless and from your HP Palmtop! . #3422 [Motorola Wireless Modem] ••. $699 with hIgh-quality #10020A [EnBloc PalmStation+] .•••• $1495 Print anywhere with your palmtop. These plain PC Card technology paper printers have great resolution (360 dpi) at an affordable price. Your Name in Silver and allow you to print last minute, life saving Whether you require Personalize your palmtop with this self-adhesive charts and graphs-in color. Designed for only a few extra mega­ today's professionals on the go, these small bytes or 40 megs, IBM nameplate-it installs quickly in the recess on the back of your machine. Just give us up to 24 (JO" x2"x 1.85"), featherweight (1.1 lb.) por­ flash cards are your solution. Built-in data tables fit in your briefcase and deliver laser compression provides up to 80MB RAM for characters and allow two weeks for delivery. #2786 [Nameplate] ...... $4.95 quality printing. 2 pp per min on transparen­ your palmtop. cies, cut sheet or letterhead. The economical #342M [3MB/6MB Flash] ••.••.•.••.••.•.•• $199 EduCALC is your place to PN50 gives you approximately 30 text pages on #3424A [5MB/10MB Flash] .•.•••••.•.••.•. $259 find all the newest, hottest black cartridge (requires seriaVparallel convert­ #3425A [10MB/20MB Flash] •.••.••.••.•.• $419 er with HP serial cable). The versatile PN60 #3426A [20MB/40MB Flash] ...... $739 technology for your model gives you a color option as well-print #3427A [30MB/60MB Flash] •••••••••••••• $999 Hewlett-Packard Palmtop! 3-5 pages using color cartridge. #3428A [40MB/80MB Flash] ...... $1239 Call us today #PN50 [PN50 Printer] ...... $249.95 #PN60 [PN60 Printer] ...... $349.95 EduCALC 800.713.6526 #3289 [NiCad Battery] .•••••••••••.••.•.•.• $78.95 27953 Cabot Road #3290 [Car Adapter] ...... $44.95 #3061 [Palmtop Cable] •.••.•••.•.••.•.••.• $34.95 Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 Check us out on the World Wide Web: #GA935 [SIP Converter] ••.••.••.••••.•.•• $54.95 Call for more info - http://www.educalc.com #3292 [2 black ink Cartridges] ••.••.•.•. $8.95 714.582.2637 HP 1001200LX memory upgrade now available! Call for details #3293 [2 color ink Cartridges] ••.•••.• $13.95

24 THEHPPALMTOPPAPER JULY / AUGUST 1996 send a request via e-mail to ser­ 17 of this issue.} o Austin College (Sherman, TX) [email protected]. I enter the word This system can provide a full o California Polytechnic (San Luis "quote" on the subject line of the Internet access. I've used the "dial" Obispo, CA) message, along with the ticker option to link to traditional wired o Oregon State (Corvallis, OR) Stanford University (Palo Alto, CA) symbol for a specific stock. In a few sites. This dial option is an added o o University of California at Berkeley seconds I receive the current trad­ cost over the basic service, but pro­ (Berkeley, CA) ing price for the stock (stock price vides me access to a shell account o University of California at Santa delayed 15 minutes). on a local provider where I can Cruz (Santa Cruz, CA) In addition to the "interactive pick up larger messages that I can o University of Miami (Coral Gables, response mode" described in the have forwarded there or connect to FL) stock price example in the previous as if I had "dialed in." o University of Oregon (Eugene, OR) paragraph, I put myself on "lists" The current wireless modem which keep me informed about used with this service is external to Colleges where the Metricom net­ various items. One such list, "The the Palmtop (about half the size of work is to be installed include: Top Five List" (which can actually the Mobidem, thinner and a little contain much more than five) lighter). You can use it for 4-6 o Indiana University (Bloomington, IN) sends me a dose of humor each hours with a full charge of its nick­ o San Francisco State University (San Francisco, CA) day. To subscribe send e-mail to el metal hydride battery. The range [email protected] with SUBCRIBE of this modem is limited to the The next generation of wireless as the subject line. To unsubscribe immediate area of the service, and communications needs to provide you send UNSUBSCRIBE as the is available currently in the Bay full access to Internet services. subject.} Subscribe to a list service Area (San Francisco / San Jose, Metricom's Ricochet service is a and you'll automatically receive e­ CA), Los Angeles, some selected step in that direction, but they need mail on the service's topic (in the college campuses, and soon (I to expand coverage to other top above example, humor). Keep in believe) , Washington, DC. metropolitan areas to make that mind that wireless communication Colleges where the network is capability more widely available. is more expensive than communi­ fully installed include: cations over phone lines. Along with monthly base charges, there are per message or character charges, for all transmissions. You may want to keep your monthly Introducing service costs down by having list services send their messages to your desktop computer. Trans PC Card Universal Parallel Port

Another wireless The U1timRte HP PRlmtop Solution thRt does it RII: approach shows promise • Connectivity to parallel devices: 100MB Zip drives and other parallel peripherals • Printing to parallel printers from DOS and System Manager Applications including 1-2-3 The wireless communications I've • Instant transfer and management of fties between Palmtop, Notebook and Desktop PCs described so far provide coverage • "Plug & Play" and "Hot Insertion" operation. Very low power requirements in most major U.S. metropolitan • All software required included on the Card. No setup or installation needed areas using a network of radio Trans PC Card is a Type I multifunction card compliant with PC Card '95 Standard. Trans transmitter / receivers maintained PC software for transfer (DOS Command Line and Point and Shoot interface) and Port by the messaging service or an Manager for port installation is provided on the Card.Trans PC Card contains Trans affiliate. Another newer form of Processor which is fully compatible with AT Parallel Port Standard and allows for data transfer over 8 times faster than EPP (850,00 Bytes/sec. between two Notebook PCs with wireless is now offered on a more Trans PC Cards connected by Trans Cable).There are three adapters for Trans Cable: limited basis by Metricom, Inc. The A - for transfer using standard parallel ports, B - for printers, C - for Zip drives. service, called "Ricochet," uses Trans PC Card introductory price - $119.00 (with User Manual and Quick Reference) smaller transmitter/receivers posi­ Trans Cable - $29.00,AdaptersA, Band C - $10.00 each. tioned throughout a much smaller area (a city, a college campus, a For more information and dealer nearest you please call: Trans Digital Corporation industrial facility). Messages are 39210 State Street, Suite 105 sent via a special wireless modem. Fremont, CA 94538 (For more on this system, see page Tel: (510) 745-9777' Fax: (510) 745-9937

THEHPPALMTOPPAPER JULY / AUGUST 1996 25 WIRELESS: Review

Priority of Messaging - How fast does the message have to be sent ~WATA The Mobile (check with service). Size of Messaging - Do you need t? send small, brief notes, large text computing fIles, or attach binary files? (check with service). specialists Size of Equipment - The palm­ top, Allpoints Wireless PC Card is the "smallest" combination. Others .... All HP Palmtops and accessories from stock require a small external wireless ... Sundisk, the original Rash memory cards transmitter / receiver . .... Doublespeed and RAM upgrade As for me, I'm waiting for the next level in wireless, a Ricochet PC for HP 200LX card modem with world wide cov­ ... Radiomail, Wireless E-mail erage! ELDATAAdviesgroep Until then - happy wireless Weteringschans 129, communicating. 1017 SC Amsterdam ... VISit our Internet home-page 'NWW.eldata.com The Nethertands ' tel: +31-20-6247284 ... Credit-rard mailorder throughout Europe fax: +31-20-6224337 E-mail: [email protected] .... Ask for quotation in your (MIfl rurrenc,y (EU) Pricing and Contact '. Information for products Sun)isk~ .48RAAfMOBILE DATA mentioned in this article All prices are manufacturer's suggested The price of their service was the accommodate the message size of retail price. It may be possible to purchase best of all the services I tested. the p~ger receiving the message. the product for less at third-party vendors. As wIth other services, SkyTel's cost is a base monthly charge, some cc:Mail- $Varies Contact: Lotus Development Corp, Other services - amount of "free" messaging, and then a charge for messages above 400 Riverpark Dr., N Reading, MA 01864, which one Is right for you? the base rate. SkyTel's two-way USA; Phone: 800-343-5414 or 617-577- coverage area may not be as com­ 8500,' FaX" 617-693-3899. RadioMail, a comparably priced plete as the RamMobile network competitor of Wynd Communi­ Primerica Financial Services - $Varies used by WyndMail. cati~ns, offers wireless messaging When making a decision on Contact: Primerica Anancial Services serVIce over the same geographical what is "right" for you, you need 1730 So. Amphlett Blvd. Ste 316, Sa; area as Wynd. Mateo, CA 94402, USA,' Phone: 415-655- to take into consideration the SkyTel is another option. 7255. folowing points: Although SkyTel describes its cov­ erage as "nationwide," more Ricochet - $Varies Av~ilability - RadioMail Wynd­ major/minor cities seem to be cov­ Mall and SkyTel are available Contact: Metricom, Inc., 980 Univer­ sity Ave., Los Gatos, CA 95030, USA,' ered by Wynd and RadioMail than throughout most of the U.S., Phone: 888-466-9473 (toll free) or 408-354- the current SkyTel roll out. SkyTel Metricom is available only in a few has a transmitter / receiver that 5147. cities and college campuses. works with the HP 200LX and pro­ vides limited receive and send Wynd Communications - $Varies ~ost - Base charges which may capability. It is my understanding Contact: Wynd Communications mclude a certain number of free that Sk.yTel has a message size 4251 South Higuera Bldg 800, San messages per month, plus a cost Lui~ Obispo, CA 93401, USA," Phone: 800-549- lim~t. You may send a full message, per message after that number has whIch then will be broken down to 6000 or 805-545-5155. been reached (check with service).

26 THEHPPALMTOPPAPER JULY / AUGUST 1996 IRELESS COMMUNICATIONS ON YOUR HP PALMTOP

Using the HP Palndop wiHI a Ham Radio This user connects his Palmtop to other computer systems via a Ham Radio.

By Phillip Nichols

centlY my notebook PC modern (a small 2-inch-square cus­ Getting It all to work tom analogi digital modern based R:took a trip to the doctor; with the Palmtop aybe it was a vacation on the old Bell-202 standard). The since it was gone for almost two BP draws 9ma of power directly Sure enough! I fiddled around and months. My computing was done from the serial port of the comput­ got it all to work, and then discov­ solely on my HP 200LX. It so hap­ er. No external power supply for ered that someone on the web has pens that at about the same time I the modern is needed with a stan­ done the same thing with the exact received my FCC license for dard Pc. The general advice with a same equipment (minus the anten­ Amateur (Ham) Radio. (I had the Palmtop is to use an AC adapter na). So now there were at least two urge to try Ham Radio, studied when connected to a modern. of us using the same Palm­ from scratch, aced the test, and However, I find that the BP modern top/packet radio combination. waited around for the license). does not significantly reduce bat­ Now I could really send and All right! My license carne in tery life and don't bother with the receive "airmail." Although I use (KC8DQF)! Now I could 'boldly go adapter. this system mostly at horne from a where no-one has gone before ... ,' or The final piece of hardware in desktop PC, the fact that it works at least where I'd never gone. I this setup is the actual radio trans­ with the Palmtop means that I can immediately wondered if I could mitter / receiver (a RadioShack logon anywhere. Even from inside tie my Palmtop into the radio for HTX-202 Transceiver). I prefer this a shopping mall or at work. wireless work. I read about some­ radio because it does not allow I physically connect my thing called "Packet-Radio" - a Wide receive 108-174Mhz. What Palmtop to my wireless transceiver way of connecting computer sys­ this means is that it is less bothered using my packet modern. Pre­ tems and networks by means of by what is called "Intermod" or Ham radio. Then I saw an ad for a interference from ghost signals viously I have loaded the necessary 'packet modern' that plugs into a "mixing" with Ham signals. This is software drivers on the Palmtop so computer to convert it to a TNC. A important in choice of radios for that it can communicate with the "Terminal Node Controller" is this type of work. Now the ques­ modern. I start the Packet radio what Ham operators connect to tion was: "Can I hook all this up to communications software on my their radio for the digitaIl analog my HP Palmtop?" Palmtop and type "connect" fol- conversion of the computer data as well as for providing error correc­ tion protocol called AX.2S. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Phillip has been interested in computers since he purchased his first You need the right stuff computer, a Commodore Vic-20. He spent his Junior year in High The packet modern was the BP School as a teacher's assistant in his school's first computer class. Since modern by Tigertronics 0-800-8- then, he has used his personal, palmtop, and amateur radio skills to help BAYPAC). It comes with special others, spiritually and otherwise. communications software and the

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./ Send, Receive, View and Print Faxes on your HP Palmtop ./ Full installation in less than 200k of disk space ./ Requires as little as 30KB an C: drive for modem card users ./ Auto installation program included 200LX Systems with ACEH>FAX Megahertz )(JACK System DoubleFlosh E9 Plus Available only from ACE, this complete package contains everything V" HP 100/200LX compatible that you will need to start enjoying toe full benefits of the HP 200LX! V" Pop-out telephone connection V" No external phone adapters V" ACE +-0> LINK file transfer software with HP-PC serial cable V" Easiest way to send faxes V" DoubleFlashEll Plus hi-performance storage card V" BATTman 2.0 + Two 1100mAH high capacity NiMH batteries V" AppMAN! gives you complete control of DOS applications V" HP world-wide universal AC adapter

Direct Serial to Parallel Cable 200LX 1MB Systems with DoubleFlashe Plus V" Connect to any parallel printer V" DIRECTcable version connects to HP Palmtop 6M (up to 6MB) ...... $769 ~ with no other cable required ., 10M (up to 10MB) ...... $838 V" Powered by printer, no batteries 20M (up to 20MB) ...... $958 40M (up to 40MB) ...... $1,198 V" Plug and play operation I " 80M (up to 80MB) ...... $1,658

HP 200LX Basic Systems 1MB with AppMAN! ...... $499 1MB with ACE+-o>L1NK, PC Serial cable, and AppMan! ...... $519 ACE+-o>FAX for HP 100/200LX ...... $29 2MB with AppMAN! ...... $639 .... ACE 14.4K Fax Modem with ACE+-o>FAX ...... $139 2MB with ACE+-o>L1NK, PC Serial cable, and AppMan! ...... $659 .... )(JACK 14.4K/14.4K Fax/modem + ACE+-o>FAX ...... $139 ModemSaver (Test unknown modem jacks) ...... $25 ~ CableCard (8ft phone cable in pocket card case) ...... $8 Serial to Parallel Cable (requires HP serial cable) ...... $69 Serial to Parallel DIRECTcable (no other cable required) ...... $79 Pentax PocketJet Printer with DIRECT cable ...... $429 Pentax PocketJet DIRECTcable for HP Palmtop ...... $35 ACEALINK The simplest file transfer program for your 100/200LX ./ No Palmtop Software to download ./ Use FILER to view and exchange files with your PC ./ Connects at speeds up to 115K ./ No installation - Can run from a floppy

ACE +-0> LINK with serial cable (CI260) ...... $39 Custom Black Nylon case ...... $19 Custom Black Leather case (shown) ...... \ ...... $34 Deluxe Black Leather case (shown) ...... '?~)c,~~ . : ...... $44 BArTman version 2.0 Executive Black Leather Portfo/io ...... ~~~ : ...... $54 Battery Management Software for HP lOOj200LX Mini Executive Black Leather Portfolio ...... $54 ./ Use NiMH, NiCd, Alkaline or lithium batteries in your HP Palmtop ./ Predictive algorithm prevents loss of your valuable data.

BATTman 2.0 Battery Management Software ...... $39 BATTman 2.0 with 2 NiMH 1100mAH batteries ...... $49 BATT man 2.0 with 4 NiMH 11 OOmAH batteries & charger ...... $89 NiMH Battery Charger (4 M capacity) ...... $39 Two 1100mAH NiMH rechargeable batteries (Msize) ...... $15 .... BLE· COMPUTING· SOLUTION ~c<.~~.-'- •• ~ ~~~,' OMNI(}0 Introducing @Palmtop Nation-wide Internet E-mail for your HP Palmtop

New! OmniGo 100 HP's first combinaHon Pen and Keyboard Organizer Plus. Unlimited access for as low as OmniGo 100 Organizer Plus ....•.•.•.•..•....•..•...... $3 11JBJl F1311A PC Connectivity Pack with cable ...... $99 $6.50/month* FJ 3J 2A Clip and Go ...... $65 FJ 3J 3A Strategy Games ...... $47 Features FJ 3J4A Replacement Pens (3 pack) ...... discontinued GEN-PENS2 ACE Pen and Stylus (combo pen) ...... $11.95 GEN-PENS2D ACE Deluxe Pen & Stylus (Mont Blanc like) ...... $24.95 to! Unlimited access plans - starting as low as $6.50 GEN-PENS3 ACE Deluxe Pen, Pencil & Stylus (Tri-pen) ...... $34.95 per month to! Nation-wide toll-free 800 access plan includes GEN-AJOJ5A OmniGo Serial Cable ...... $19 75 minutes for $19.95 per month GEN-SPDIR Serial to Parallel DIRECTcable Converter ...... $79 ... to! Uses your Palmtop's built-in cc:Mail software - PCMClA SRAM Storage Cards New Prices! no installation require AJ003 5J 2KB ACEcard ...... $89 to! Fully supports sending and receiving of binary files AJ004 JMBACEcard ...... $129 ... through the Internet AJ006 2MBACEcard ...... $229 ... to! Supports for MIME, UUENCODE and Mac binary to! Unique domain names available for company use

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Call 1-800-825-9977 or visit our website at http://www.ace-tech.com ~gnify! vemonJ.J HP IOO/200LX Software MagnifYing Lens

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./ Pop-Up magnification from 1X to 4X ./ Hotkey activation in any Built-in Application ./ Auto alignment with lines and columns in Phone Book ACE Technologies, Inc . ./ Remembers and returns to last position in each application ./ Move Lens with Quick Keys and Arrow Keys 592 Weddell Drive, #6, Sunnyvale CA 94089 U.S.A. Tel (408) 734·0100 Fox (408) 734·3344 Magnify! (C1240) for HP 100/200LX ...... $19 See our complete color Website: http://www.ace-tech.com/ CONNECTIVITY STORAGE Transfer files effortlessly • Keep more data, between your HP 100LX or run additional programs 200LX and any DOS based PC wherever you go by using HP Flash Disk Cards. • Run on your PC HP 100/200LX • Back up your vital phone, appointment, 1-2-3, Phone, Appointment, Database, Quicken, database and other palmtop files. N oteTaker, and HP Calc software • Plug your HP PCMCIA flash card into the • Synchronize and merge Quicken®, Palmtop and it works just like a hard disk. phone, appointment, and • Double the storage space of your HP Flash database files between your Disk Card - Stacker automatic compression Palmtop and PC software comes preloaded! u.s. List Price • Export and import HPI00/200LX HP F1024A 1.8-MB Flash Disk Card ... ;V~!.... $199 phone, appointment, database, and ~""""""'J' . HP FI012B 5·MB Flash Disk Card ...... $375 notetaker data to and from other PC N . .~ HP FI013B 10·MB Flash Disk Card ...... $600 Serial connectors for 20·MB applications (using comma delimited PC, modem, or printer HP FI014B Flash Disk Card ...... $999 format) HP F1211A 40·MB Flash Disk Card ... .tV~ .. $1599

HP FI021B Connectivity Pack: English manual, Multi-lingual software, u.s. List Price AC/DC ADAPTER Connectivity cable, Connectors ...... $ll9.95 Extend the battery life of HP FI015A DOS-connectivity cable ...... $24.95 your HP Palmtop and chargE HP F1023A Connectors for PC, Modem, Printer ...... $24.95 rechargeables with this light-weight adapter. HP FI0llA ...... $39.95 u.s. List Price HP FI016A Mac-connectivity cable ...... $24 .95 OPTION ABA (U .S., CANADA, JAPAN), OPTION ABB (EUROPE) , OPTION ABG (AUSTRALIA) , OPTION ABU (UK) , OPTION ACQ (SOUTH AFRICA)

See your local HP Palmtop dealer, or contact one of the HP Palmtop advertisers in this issue. (In the U.S., obtain F//n'l HEWLETT® a dealer list by calling 800-443-1254.) a:~ PACKARD

' Requires DOS-based PC with EGA or higher display, available serial port, 3-MB available of local hard disk space, 286 or higher CPU , 450K available con ventional memory, 1.44 MB 3.5 inch flexible disk drive. Quicken is a registered trademark of Intuit, Inc. lowed by the call letters of the per­ tion someday from a nearby moun­ Amateur Radio: son I want to communicate with. tain, while I, though no less adven­ A hobby that's fun and helpful It's that simple. turous, am stuck in the flatlands of Each packet radio area will Michigan. I am planning to operate Amateur Radio operators and probably have many PBBSs (Packet a land-mobile packet station while clubs perform services by provid­ Bulletin Board Systems) running a I ride on vacation trips this sum­ ing communications in times of newer communications protocol mer and also would like to find a disaster (both natural and man­ known as JNOS. This protocol is pilot at a nearby small airport will­ made) and sending messages from similar to an Internet TCP /IP pro­ ing to try a little air mobile to see non-hams to people around the tocol in that it lets you communi­ how far I can QSO (Amateur Radio globe that they may have lost con­ cate with packet radio addresses communication on the air) with tact with! Ham operators seem that are not in your immediate another station. very interested in helping both the area. As it is now I can hit a packet ham and non-ham. One fellow ham Once you establish connection, Bulletin Board Service near me and gave me an old receiver to help me you get a menu just like a normal get mail, topical groups, and telnet improve my Morse-code abilities BBS menu. There are up to 30 com­ to other stations that may other­ so I could communicate over mands you can access, so there is a wise be out of my power range. world-wide frequencies. He also lot you can do depending on what There is even a World Wide gave me 26 back issues of QST, a BBS you connect to. As with Web/IRC-style conferencing area relevant Amateur Radio magazine. Internet, Packet BBSs let you "tel­ called CONYers for communica­ Another Ham is going to help me net" (link) to other sites in neigh­ tion with other "packeteers" improve my antenna. boring counties or states. You can around the United States. And [Note: QST is a publication of the even send files by radio, although finally there are Gateways that tap Amateur Radio Relay League (ARRL). 1200bps is a bit slow. directly into the Internet to speed Call 1-800-326-3942 for information things up. on becoming a Ham operator as well as joining ARRL. Membership includes Another user's story

Jason Baack of Maine, the other person I mentioned that uses this setup, told me how he got started.

"I was first introduced to packet radio two years ago on Rainbow Lake in northern Maine (U.s.A.). The total permanent population for the area was listed as four, living in a township called "T2R11." There were no roads into the lake, (you had to fly). Three l.5K generators illtimate Palmtop Computer Light™ provided power during the day­ light hours, so I was able to use my Ends Non-backlit Screen Visibility Problems ancient Packard Bell 286. I got my • Allows productive use of time in dim planes, trains, autos, hotels & mtg. rooms Ham operators license while I was • Evenly illuminates display, keyboard and work area without disturbing others up there, got a wave antenna and • Top-quality, patented design for any PDAlPocket Organizerlhandheld video game other necessary equipment, and • Sleek, compact, lightweight had a blast the rest of the summer • Essential tool for mobile professionals • Includes soft travel case, (6" x 2-3/16" x 1"), DC Vehicle Adapter w. bi-Io dimmer connecting to DX nodes, the far + four spare bulbs -- clear & red (for night use) reaches of Canada, Nova Scotia, • Uses AA batteries (not included) and talking "keyboard-to-key­ • 30-day, money-back guarantee board" to some local (20 miles • Only $29.95 for PCL 300 ($24.95 for PCL 200 wlo DC Vehicle Adapter) away)." + $3 USA sbippinglhandling To Order, Call: Amex/MClVlsa ~ ~ ~ ASF Assac lid • Tile Personal Pan"I)le Llgl't"'g Experts Box 625 Me! rick NY 1156G Jason (call sign N1RWY) has Volume PllClllg Av"lIdllle 800-771-3600 Fex 800 625 6897' 516 868-6897 plans to contact the Mir space sta- , http //world std,com/-asf1 , Pllonc 800 936 3638' 516 868-3638

THEHPPALMTOPPAPER JULY / AUGUST 1996 31 WIRELESS: Ham Radio on 2meters 044-148Mhz)" some­ time, or else exchange some packet Packet radio networks e-mail! So how about getting your license? It's now easier than ever to Ham operators designed their own "Network" of computers back in the get started, you don't even need to late 70s. The Canadian Department of Commerce legalized Packet Radio learn Morse-code to begin (but by ham operators in 1978. Then the TAPR '80 (Tucson Amateur Packet you'll earn more respect if you do). Radio corporation) began developing radio communication protocols. You have nothing to lose, and 1981 TAPR decided to use a version of the computer industries x.25 world of ham operators to gain. communications protocol, calling it AX.25 ("A" for amateur radio). For more information visit Packet radio communications started with a few people who could Jason's web site at: afford computers and to modify Bell-202 modems with the TAPR chip http://www.umecut.maine.edu/-b protocol. Soon computer prices fell and Terminal Node Controller kits were aack becoming more available. Radio networks were being set up much like a or Ham-Radio On-line at: unix "on/off LAN" and businesses "constant-on LAN." An example of an lion I off LAN" is an Internet web browser, that is not actually con­ http://www.accessone.com/-vboo nected to the web site all the time, but intermittently connects to klhronline.htm ("pings") the web site for information. A computer bulletin board sys­ tem like CompuServe is an example of a "constant-on LAN" because it is always connected to the net and to other nodes in its system. Pricing and Contact Information for products mentioned in this article the monthly QST magazine. They also room to grow. With my HP All prices are manufacturer's suggested have a NEW-HAM kit, which they'll Palmtop I can run satellite tracking retail price. It may be possible to purchase give you free of charge (no membership programs to locate Amateur radio the product for less at third-party vendors. required). It's their way of introducing relay satellites in "real time" using you to their services and getting you REAL95.ZIP Iij. I have another TSR BP Modems started in ham radio. I also received an program I run while on packet that Model 2 - $49.95 offer to receive a free Ham-related can help locate and calculate the Model 2M - $69.95 book. I chose Hints and Kinks from the distance between myself and the Contact: Tigertronics, Inc, P. 0. list of titles. It contained a lot of little ham on the other end (GRID.ZIP Box 5210, Grants Pass, OR 97521, U.S.A. ," fix-it tidbits good for new Hams to Iij). I have modified a Palmtop­ Phone: 800-8Baypac or 541-474-6700,' Fax know before hand, like how to mount database for keeping a log of my 541-474-6703,' http://www.tigertronics.com your first antenna on your car without contacts (ARS-LOG.ZIP Iij). destroying your car in the process.] You can investigate ham-relat­ Shareware/freeware ed topics by contacting a SIMTEL mentioned in this article Amateur Radio Clubs also get site on the Internet. Most have an together monthly and have special amateur-radio and packet directory HAMRADlO.ZIP ii, available on this issue activities for both fun, as well as listing topics of interest. One such of the ON DISK includes the following three some that help emergency pre­ SIMTEL site containing about 100 pieces of software: paredness for the community. An topical directories is: example is the Amateur Radio REAL95.ZIP - Executable satelite tracker SkyWarn system that tracks severe http://oak.oakland.edu/simtel.net intended for use on the Palmtop. Freeware. weather and reports it to local I msdosl index-msdos.html Also available on the Internet at : wea ther services. In Ontario, ftp://eddie.mit.edu/pub/951x1NEW/ Canada; I have met some who Another non-SIMTEL, but more chase and report on storms as well. ham-specific site is: GRID.ZIP - Amateur radio executable and Amateur Radio provides you documentation files. Shareware. Contact: with the opportunity to experiment http://www.cdrom.com/ pub/ha David Eanes, 4866 Drusilla Lane, Baton and challenge your own personal mradioloak Rouge, LA 70809,U .S.A. limits. In addition, it lets you give ARS·LOG.ZIP - Database template for the something back to your communi­ The more I look, the more people I Palmtop for logging radio contacts. ty. I definitely stretched my Palm­ find using their Palmtop with Freeware. top's capabilities, but there's more radio. We hope to "QSO with you

32 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER JULY/ AUGUST 1996 IRELESS COMMUNICATIONS ON YOUR HP PALMTOP

HP OmniGo 700LX corner

This is the first of a continuing column for users of HP's new OmniGo 700LX. Gilles Kohl will look at developments in the 700LX, answer common questions, and give some useful tips.

By Gilles Kohl

[Note: The OmniGo 700 LX is the on the HP 200LX Palmtop comput­ Europe, Australia, and parts of Palmtop/cellular phone combination er and comes with its built-in Asia have this coverage. we reviewed beginning on page 29 of applications. It does not have the In addition, your cellular net­ the November/December 1995 issue. It pen interface of the OmniGo 100 work operator must support GSM has been introduced in parts of Europe and is based on the DOS operating fax, data and short message service and Asia, but is not yet available in the system and HP's System Manager - be sure to inquire about this U.S., pending adoption in the U.S. of shell. before subscribing. Some providers the communications protocol used by The OmniGo 700LX adds to differentiate between outgoing and the 700LX.] the 200LX a docking cradle for the incoming fax/ data services, the lat­ Nokia 2110 cellular phone (and ter requiring an additional monthly This is the first installment of a reg­ compatibles), and a built-in Nokia fee. Decide whether you need ular column I'll write for users and datacard fax/modem. This adds incoming data and fax calls in this prospective buyers of the new HP wireless communications capabili­ case. When selecting a GSM cellu­ ties to the Palmtop. It also comes OmniGo 700LX. I'll try to answer lar operator (you may have more with an enhanced infrared port and frequently asked questions about than one available), also ask about flashing LEOs that indicate when the 700LX that surface on the short message service support, the phone is in use, if an appoint­ Com puServe Hew lett-Packard especially outgoing - called SMS­ Handhelds, Library 6 (the section ment is due, and when the battery is low. The AC adapter for the MO (mobile originated). dedicated to the 700LX, type GO And finally, if you're frequent­ HPHAND, Section 6). I'll also pro­ Nokia cellular phone can be used to charge both the Palmtop and the ly mobile outside your country, ask vide users with 700LX tips and cellular service providers about tricks, especially in connection with Nokia phone simultaneously (with the phone docked). roaming agreements they have the mobile phone, fax, data, and with other countries' service SMS functionalities. providers. Make a list of countries Q: Can I use the 700LX in my you are likely to visit on business, area? and ask about those specifically. Frequently asked questions Also ask about support for A: Your geographical area must GSM fax, data and SMS roaming in Q: What is the difference between first have GSM coverage. Most of these countries. the HP OmniGo 700LX and the OmniGo 100 or the HP 200LX? ABOUT THE AUTHOR A: The OmniGo 100 and the 700LX Gilles Kohl is a native of Luxembourg living in Karlsruhe, are really two very different ani­ Germany. He works as a software developer and project engi­ mals. The Omnigo 100 is a GEOS­ neer for PROCAD GmbH & Co. KG, a German company special­ based Palmtop that can be used izing in CAD/CAM and electronic database management sys­ tems for technical applications. As a TeamHP member, Gilles with a pen as well as with its built­ enjoys helping other Palmtop owners in the German and French in keyboard. section of the HPHAND forum on CompuServe. Gilles can be The Omnigo 700LX was based reached under CIS:I00114,3146.

THEHPPALMTOPPAPER JULY / AUGUST 1996 33 WIRELESS: HP OmniGo 700 02, it is 22111, and for AT*SO=l [RETURN] Marbles Paul Merrill E+, 123123. Maybe your operator has (Use a terminal emulation program such a number too? It with the same settings to do this.) TECHNlCAL.. is usually much less You must leave the PC running the SUPPORT expensive to call than Connectivity Pack Filer or it won't an access number in connect the regular public switched network. Step 3: Open Filer on your OmniGo 700LX and configure your remote settings Calling your home the same as on your Pc. The only computer or another exception is to select Phone as the lOO/200LX or COM port on your 700LX, and OmniGo 700LX using enter your home phone number in Filer on the 700LX. the Phone field. (You may save bat­ It's possible to connect tery power by switching to the the 700LX to another 'Phone' port only when you actual­ ly need the connection.) Palmtop or PC run­ ning HP Connectivity Pack software and Step 4: transfer files back and Dock the Nokia phone into its 700LX cradle, switch to Filer (the forth via the File application. Note that phone LED should blink now) and this capability is an press ~ (Remote). undocumented fea­ ture of the 700LX and Your Nokia should dial your home not supported by phone number, connect to your "I bet live pressed PHONE fifty times Hewlett-Packard. In home phone and establish a remote Filer connection. Your home PC's and I still donlt get a dial tone. II addition, it may not work on all cellular files will appear on your 700LX in networks. Here's how Filer's remote window. You can use OmniGo 700LX tips and tricks it works. Filer to copy, move, delete, rename, etc., files either on the 700LX or the Getting Short Message service TRANSFERRING FILES TO A PC PC you are connected to. center numbers These instructions assume that To be able to send short messages, you have a PC connected to a phone line via a modem. They also Transferring files to you will need to store the phone another OmnlGo 700LX number of the "service center" assume that you have the HP either in your phone, or in the Connectivity Pack software installed on your Pc. The procedure used to connect to "Phone settings" dialog of the SMS and transfer files between another application. Ask your local OmniGo 700LX is almost the same provider for this number, and Step 1: as described above. Go to the make sure that you enter it as an Open the Connectivity Pack ver­ Remote Settings screen of the "tar­ international number, that is, with sion of Filer on your PC, press I MENU I hommunications Remote get" 700LX (the one you are con­ the + sign and your country and nected to) and configure it as network prefix. Settings ... and configure the com­ munications settings for 9600 Baud, described above, with the follow­ no parity, one stop bit. Set the ing exceptions: Accessing CompuServe from your interface to the COM port number 700LX your modem is connected to. * You don't need to enter a phone number in the Phone field. Some operators have installed net­ Step 2: work-wide CompuServe access Instruct your modem on your PC * You must make sure that the numbers. This is true for the to answer the phone. Do this by Server Mode is enabled (in the German operators, for example. sending it the command: Remote Settings screen) so that a For 01, the number is 22202, for

34 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER JULY/AUGUST 1996 : ,I

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If you want to use it same manner as described in step munication program on the 700LX on the 700LX, add the following four above. to communicate over the phone, line to the STARTUP.SCR file locat­ you can run into a problem. Most ed in \ACCIS\ASI: [Note on security: Some users keep the Server mode disabled and of these programs do not let you d d:\bin\serctl /p enable it only when ready to use it set them up to communicate over as a server. It is rather unlikely for the Palmtop's "Phone" port. an unwanted connection to happen However, there is a way to force After you are finished using a DOS though. For this to happen, your the Palmtop to use the Phone port communications program on your machine would need to be on, and before running the DOS communi­ 700LX, do not forget to set up Filer running, at the moment the cations program. Before launching COMI to refer to the 700LX's serial intruder calls. The OmniGo 700LX your communications program, port. Quit the communications pro­ does not wake up when a mobile run the SERCTL command. gram and from the DOS prompt, phone call is coming in. (This Go to the DOS prompt, enter key in SERCTL 10 and press would require powering the datac­ SERCTL IP and press IENTERI. IENTER I. This command also switches ard all the time). The same precau­ This will set COM 1 in the the COMI serial port off to conserve tion can be applied to your office or power. SERCTL /W will switch it home machine. Then, when you Palmtop to refer to the Phone inter­ back to the wired external port. want to connect to it remotely, call face setting instead of the serial someone to switch on your modem port (you will see the phone LED Under SysMgr, the fastest way or launch Filer just before you blink). Set your DOS communica­ to switch off the phone LED is to attempt to connect.] tion program to use COMI at 9600 launch and immediately quit the baud and it should work fine. Datacomm application (Ctrl­ Quicken key). Trav-elF1.oppy PCMCIA Floppy Drive . No less indispensable than your HP 100/200LX Inte II ;Link ~ndOWS' & JIB...... II Transfer and translate data in one steP Direct, one·step transfer and translation between your lIP Palmtop and supported software applications. II Reconcile data conflicts InteIIiUnk reads and compares data at the field leve~ identifying conflicts. You then specify the action to be taken: Add, Ignore, Notify, Replace, Update. Items can even be modified directly on the screen during transfer. II Specify exactly what data to send and where Unparalleled performance from the Travel Use custom field maps and ruters to customize your transfer. 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" Call to order today! systems, including the HP 100/200LX The HP Palmtop Paper, Nov/Dec 1995 • Uses the convenient, economical, "IlltelliLillk is tbe oilly sollllion jor keeping network-based schedulillg alld colltact injormation sYllchrollized with yoltr PDA." PC Week, Ap11117, 1995 ~g . universally accepted floppy diskette IntelliLink·Corp. ~A ""r",7',~~® ~~~ ,...... ____...... I ••• • •.. -1 IntelliLink w/HP serial cable - $124.95 One Tara Blvd., Suite 210 - -...... ~- ... ,.,. Nashua, NH 03062 TE e H N 0 LOG 1 E 5 IN C. RU1lS 011 Windows 95 Tel: (60~) 888-0666 All company and product names are trademarks oftbeir respective companies. 231 Charcot Avenue, San Jose, CA 95131 Fax: (60~) 888-9817 Fealltres listed bere are correct at time ofpress but subject to change without notice. http://www.iIink-c:orp.com TEL: (408) 433-1980 FAX: (408) 433-1716

36 THEHPPALMTOPPAPER JULY/ AUGUST 1996 OW TO USE YOUR PALMTOP USER PROFILE Keeping Pastoral Peace with the HP Palmtop: This Archbishop schedules business meetings and prayer meetings on his HP 200LX.

By Randolph W. Sly

"Just take it for a week and try it," information. My notebook planner ments application provided me Mike urged, handing me a black was then unceremoniously retired with the same essential elements I padded case no bigger than a Tom to the storage closet in my office. had in my Franklin notebook plan­ Clancy novel. Mike and I both use After about a month of ner, but with greater flexibility. I computers heavily in our work and Palmtopping, I upgraded to a could separate events from regular I could always count on him to 200LX for a number of reasons, not appointments; permanently sched­ keep me up-to-date on the latest the least of which was Pocket ule repeating appointments; view developments in technology. Quicken, which I used for tracking my activities on a daily, weekly, or I was somewhat familiar with my discretionary funds bank monthly display; track my "do list" PDA's, but had rejected them in account while on the road. I know and even write extensive memo's favor of keeping myoId faithful Pocket Quicken is available for the or take notes and attach them to Franklin Day Planner. It seemed to 100LX, but I also opted for the HP any of these entries. me that PDAs were just cute little Palmtop 200LX to get a better over­ The appointment/event option gadgets that were more trouble all visual display and a more effi­ is a very important function of the than they were worth and provid­ cient Datacomm system. I have Appointment Book. In addition to ed only limited flexibility in the since added a 5MB flash card, listing birthdays, holidays, special planning and scheduling environ­ modem, VR100 ii (for reading activities, etc., the Events option ment. As it was, I fairly lived with Project Gutenberg electronic texts (date, but not time-related activi­ my paper-based organizer. on my Palmtop), several games, ties) helps me keep track of such I am an Archbishop in the and Buddy ii (which has really things as holy days, special activi­ Charismatic Episcopal Church. As become a good buddy). ties, theme days, and lectionary ref­ such, I travel a great deal, covering The HP has since become an erences. For example, on the sec­ a region that stretches from Kansas important tool in my work. ond Sunday after Pentecost I eastward to Virginia and north­ would mark the day in the events ward into New England. In addi­ Separating area (abbreviated as 2P) along with tion to this, I am also the rector of a an abbreviation of the readings to Appointments and Events local church in Kansas City. Before be used. Having the repeat func­ the Palmtop, my Day Planner had When I began to implement the tion makes it easy to schedule been my constant companion filled planner activities on the HP, I longer events such as Holy Week with events, daily appointments, found that the built-in Appoint- with only one entry. do lists, project planning, several extensive phone lists, and other miscellaneous information. As you can imagine, it was pretty hefty to ABOUT THE AUTHOR carry around. Randy Sly is Archbishop of the Eastern and Central But after trying out the HP Province of the International Communion of the 100LX, I quickly became hooked Charismatic Episcopal Church. He leads the parish at the and bought it. I began setting up Cathedral Church of the King in the Kansas City area, and serves as a teacher for the National Center for separate calendars for the current Fathering. He and his wife Sandy have three children: year as well as 1996 and 97 and Dena, Debbie, and David. They live in Olathe, Kansas, a laboriously entering all my phone suburb of Kansas City.

THE HP PALMTOP PAPER JULY/AUGUST 1996 37 To keep my Appointment : .. , • 0': .,. : :. : Book .APB data file from growing /'1 .... 1< 25 Tuesday June 18, 1996 S.78/S.96 S.2 A *******ProJects******** 1~•. . , .• , ....S. quite large, I use tme file for each Ai Plan Ordina~ion Service ·· .•. 2 Training 9S.~· · / year: 9SAPB; 96APB; 97 APB, etc. I Ai Deacon's ~ 3 A2 Schedule Newco~ers Fellowship s····· .. . A3 Ser~on - Long Range Plan .... also enter major notes in Memo, AS Sor~ old ~ail folder 7· ··· ,. , ,' '5 . 6 B . - RppointMent rather than as long notes in the B1 !!1shop S~:i,~h N.. xt B3 Fr. John S. - Chicago Appointment Book. For Board C ********Letters******** AppointMents C1 Visi~ors Founder's Day Meetings I use a diary approach in C1 House of Bishops uPda~e ~ 7:88a Brea1watch the the Province for which I am Even though I might develop an HP place the item at the bottom of responsible. I also had a local orderly list of activities to be the list with a check mark! church membership list, personal accomplished in each of my One additional item has been list, business list, and an interna­ domains, that's not how I function. carried over from my days of using tionallisting of our churches. I don't work on Provincial issues, the Franklin Planner. When I lis­ When I started using my HP then church, then personal, then tened to a tape on using the plan­ Palmtop I discovered the Subset international. I usually do all ner, the teacher explained the feature for the PhoneBook. I was phone calling at the same time, importance of listing "Planning in able to place all my numbers in one then letter-writing, etc. The ToDo Solitude" as the first "ToDo" of the master list and, when needed, sep­ list had to reflect my work style not day. This reserves a period of peace arate them by category. This espe­ my work load. Therefore I separat­ and quiet for looking over the cially comes in handy for such ed it by type of responsibility: schedule for the day and the week. things as comparing the Province Project, Phone Call, Letter, Miscel­ For my Palmtop, "AD Planning in list in my Palmtop with the master laneous. While additional cate­ Solitude" is repeated daily, appear­ mailing list on another computer. I gories can be used, these four seem ing at the top of my list to help me just call up the Provincial subset in to work fine for me. preserve that time. PhoneBook and print it out. I labeled each one by placing a letter in the priority box : A signi­ , , 0, : fies a project to be completed, B is : . Naae IE~ail for calls, C labels letters to write, I I Ca~e!lory I- NB-Day I I Anniversary I I and D is for miscellaneous. After Phone: H.Q.~e I I J!usiness I I each letter I write a priority num­ BI~erna~e I I Fa.K I I Pager I l.\loiceMail I I ber. For example A is "Projects" on Ti~le- I ICO~2any my list, so the highest priority pro­ Address.! I Address§ I jects are Al and the lowest are AS. !;.i~y I I S~a~e r 1 Zip I I Then the Palmtop automatically No~el places items in alphanumeric ~~IGilDI-:ifiti- .....~IEIJ:aI_ 1!EImIDI.:mmII order. Also, these major category Newphone2 modified Phone Book template gives additional fields for Phone Book. headings are set to repeat daily, so You can load your PhoneBook .PDB file into the Palmtop's Database program and modify it to resemble this one.

38 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER JULY/AUGUST 1996 The PhoneBook database was handy, but limited in its fields. I Not.eTaker : DEMO All Not.es 07/09/96 10 : 32 a Tit.le found a new template called GlArchdeacon New Church checklist. "Newphone2" on one of the on­ Cat.hedral Dean GlCat.hedral Work Day At.t.endance t.racking line services, which saved me the Church Plant.ing Birt.hs. deat.hs. co""unions. GlJob Descript.ions bapt.is"s. confir"at.ions. et.c. trouble of custom modification. Miscellaneous Office Tit.hing records GlNew Church checklist. 501 . C.3 st.at.us Newphone2 has many additional Newslet.t.er incorporat.ion fields which I found very helpful, GlPrayer Request.s GlProvincial Past.oral Le including e-mail address, pager (71'18) number, and voice mail address. I've added my own category list, induding America Online contacts, church contacts, and several others. I use NoteTaker to simulate the "Scan Card" approach to organize tasks. responsibilities. Although time­ store specific tasks and projects. From "Scan Cards" based planning systems, such as The Scan Card company now had a my Franklin Planner, are practical software version that allowed me to NoteTaker for scheduling responsibilities to "write" cards on my laptop com­ The greatest surprise came in the which can be related to specific puter. The system helped quite a application called NoteTaker. Not times and dates, they are less use­ bit, but was limited in its useful­ heavily heralded (it doesn't even ful for tasks or goals that are not ness as I couldn't lug my laptop have its own blue key), this appli­ tied to specific times. At one point, around all the time. cation has become one of my most I decided to re-adopt an old "Scan Instead, I now use my Palm­ important components. Card" system I had used years top's Notetaker as my objectives In pre-Palmtop days, I was before to help me with task-orient­ manager. I am able to establish frustrated with inefficient methods ed planning. This system used written goals and tasks, track for tracking tasks and delegating small square cards in a notebook to assignments for my staff, keep inci- Special Offer Flash Card &PC Drive Combo 5MB ATA Flash and Drive•.•.• $299.00 10MB ATA Flash and Drive••. $435.00 20MB ATA Flash and Drive.•. $695.00 PC Card 5MB Card Alone•.•..••••••••••••• •. $269.00 ZAP-it Wireless Messaging Service: 10MB Card Alone•••••••.•.•.•.•••• $405.00 • Ehminates expensive cellular phone tag 20MB Card Alone.•.•••••••••••••.. $675.00 • Guarantees your messages and faxes find Memory Cards you regardless of your location 1MB SRAM .•.••••••.•.•.••••••.•...... $129.00 • Means you can respond to any message 2MB SRAM .••••.•.•.••••••••.••...... •. $199.00 130MB Hardrive Omnibook.. $299.00 within seconds at anytime from anywhere 170MB Hardrive Omnibook.. $399.00 • Eliminates the need to constantly check CaB/or emnplete Catalog phone messages, voice mail and even e-mad Me· AMX· VISA Accepted to keep in touch

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THE HP PALMTOP PAPER JULY/AUGUST 1996 39 ideas I pick up at conferences. One The one feature I still want to handy use of this application is my find or write is a mileage tracking Easy File Transfer "grasscatcher" file where I record template for Lotus 1-2-3. Right now Between Your old or low priority thoughts, I am logging mileage in a Memo ToDos, missed phone calls, desired document. The Lotus worksheet Palmtop and Desktop meetings, etc. Going to this files could automatically total daily reminds me of things I may still mileage, subtract commuting miles need to get done. and store other information. I'm planning on purchasing a Bible program and a pocket modem. The Continued blessings Megahertz XJl144 is currently in from the Palmtop use but the pocket style is pre­ ferred due to battery drain from Add the SCT CL680 Card-Link to When I purchased the HP Palmtop, thePCMCIA. your desktop PC: my friend included an HP The HP 100/200LX has dra­ Connectivity Pack for my Pc. The matically changed my work styles. ~ Fast-80,000 Bytes/sec ability to transfer information has It has become my constant com­ ~ Easy to use-works just been invaluable, as letters and panion and my most used comput­ like a floppy disk drive other materials written on the fly er. I am always looking for re­ ~ Convenient-plug-in can be imported to a word process­ sources to make it work better. installation to your ing system for formatting and Toward that end, my friend Mike, parallel printer port printing. While the DOS-based who introduced me to the Palmtop, ~ Reads /writes SRAM and software is somewhat archaic in gave me another invaluable gift - FLASH cards the world of Windows 3.X and 95, every back issue of the HP Palmtop it works quite well. Paper. Thanks, Mike! I have be­ Only $189.95 The Database application come a subscriber - and a con­ Steele Creek Technologies, Inc. works well for storing a detailed tributing author. 14035 Appling Lane list of my sermons and other infor­ Charloff~NC 28278 mation. For my sermon database I Phone or Fax: (704) 588-1780 created separate fields for title, Pricing and Contact topic, bible reference, type of ser­ Information for products dental information, and document mon, an outline of what I plan to mentioned in this article topical quotes for speaking and say, and location where I will All prices are manufacturer's suggested writing. I develop a separate deliver it. retail price. It may be possible to purchase NoteTaker file for each area I am Of course, Memo has become a the product for less at third-party vendors. responsible for, as well as for every valuable tool for a variety of tasks, employee. Each "notecard" then, such as writing sermons, letters, AOL - $Varies and articles (including this manu­ America Online information service. becomes an idea, objective, project, Contact: See page 56 "How to Contact Us. " or delegated assignment. script, crafted in the cramped quar­ I also use NoteTaker To ters of an airliner's coach section). HP Connectivity Pack Document research notes for ser­ Lotus 1-2-3 and some of the other See HP Product Index, page 55 this issue. programs remained inviting yet mons and other writing projects, Megahertz XJ1144 PC Card Modem - $115 and to keep track of thoughts and untried areas of my newly­ Discontinued/available while supplies last. acquired palmtop. Contact: U. S. Robotics Mobile Communi­ cations Corporation, 605 N., 5600 W. (P.o. Box 16020), Salt Lake City, UT 84116, . I • I: USA,' Phone: 800-521-8611 or 801-320- i t.le IPersonal Wellspring Text. n~1 1000,' Fax: 801-320-6022 opic ICol'll'liblent. Type IExposit.ory 8 ont.ent. I . Background on Laodicea Sharewarelfreeware II. Int.roduct.ion III. The Church That.'s Like a Cit.y mentioned in this article IV. The Church That.'s Lukewarl'l V. The Church That.'s Loving t.he Lord VI. Close BUDDY.ZIP - Adds short-cuts and other features to Palmtop. Available on Best Tips 96 and CompuServe's HPHAND forum, Iibrary11 . ere IChurch of t.he King, FCA, IV

~~ID!IDI~~~~_1l£mID1Iil!mII VR100.ZIP - Lets you read electronic texts on the Palmtop. Shareware. Available on A database for speakers, with room for an outline and other necessary details, here 1994-95 PowerDisk or from CompuServe's HPHAND forum, Library 11 . shown with a sample sermon record.

40 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER JULY/ AUGUST 1996 Survey for Our HP Palmtop Paper Readers - Here's Your Chance to Give Us Feedback

Dear Reader:

As you know, the world of computing is always changing. We want to be sure the HP Palmtop Paper continues to address your needs. In order to better serve you in the future, we have designed this Reader Survey form to solicit your comments. We strongly encourage you to complete the Survey and return it to us. Please feel free to add any additional notes. We will read all responses, and look forward to hearing from you. Please send your responses by fax: (515) 472-1879, mail: Thaddeus Computing, P.O. Box 869, Fairfield, IA 52556 or e-mail: [email protected]. We greatly appreciate your time in this feedback process. Thank you in advance.-The HP Palmtop Paper Staff, July 1996

Name ______E-mail address ______Phone ______Country ____ (optional)

Are you a __ continuing subscriber (have renewed at least 1 time) or _ new subscriber.

Background Questions b) What articles or subject areas do we already cover that you On YOur Computer Use would like us to emphasize or de-emphasize in the future?

1. Would you consider yourself a light, medium, or heavy Palmtop user? ______c) How would a change in physical appearance affect your 2. Please rate your level of expertise with the Palmtop: interest? _ novice Palmtop user _ experienced Palmtop user _ programmer / computer expert.

3. Do you surf the World Wide Web? _ Yes _ No. Have 5. Are you using the Internet, CompuServe, AOL to find you ever made credit card purchases through the Internet/ Palmtop information? _ Yes _ No. Would you be willing World Wide Web? Yes No. to pay for an additional, weekly e-mail HP Palmtop newslet­ ter if the price seemed fair? _ Yes _ No. Questions on Your Use of The HP Palmtop Paper 6. (From our advertisers:) Have you been inspired to buy a product from an advertisement in our paper or our mailings? 1. How much of The HP Palmtop Paper do you read? _ Yes _ No. For how many computers are you involved in _ Everything, _ Selected articles, _ Browse only, purchasing products? __ _ Rarely read any of it. 7. Do you prefer to read a magazine dedicated to the 2. Does the magazine help you to use your Palmtop more 100/200LX only or would you prefer to read articles on a effectively? _ Yes _ No. Please rate your benefit from the range of handheld computers, including the OmniGo 100 Paper on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 = low benefit,S = great benefit) organizer? _ 100/200LX only _ Broader range (Please comment)

3. Please circle below the sections you read in each issue. We 8. Would you like to see us continue to offer additional knowl­ also invite you to attach further comments, including what edge products such as our CD InfoBase, the book PC in Your you like or avoid reading and why? Publisher's message, Letters Pocket and The HP Palmtop Paper ON DISK _ Yes _ No. Do to the Editor, New Third Party Products and Services, Reviews, you have suggestions for future products? User to User, Palmtop Wisdom, How-to articles, 1-2-3 column, 700LX column, more technical articles, User Profiles, Basic Tips, Quick Tips, Indexes 9. Do you intend to renew your HP Palmtop Paper subscrip­ tion? _ Yes _ No. Please explain. 4. Is there anything that would significantly enhance your interest in the magazine? For example, Please attach any additional comments or a) What columns or types of articles would you like to be recommendations you may have. reading which we are not yet running? Thank you for taking your time to fill out and send this sur­ vey. We look forward to receiving your responses - HP Palmtop Paper Staff

THEHPPALMTOPPAPER JULY / AUGUST 1996 41 W TO USE YOUR PALMTOP USER PROFILE

On the Road with the HP Palmtop

This Palmtop user hauls cars to testing grounds, motion picture film sights, and car races, while tracking trip details in Lotus 1-2-3 on his 200LX.

By Rick Hurtle

am a cross-country that I still didn't know l truck driver and how to run it. So my wife have owned my entered my expenses, but own truck since 1980. we were back to figuring I work in association it all out at the end of the with a company that year. I was glad she had transports show cars, plenty of shoe boxes. test cars, and proto­ I received my HP types throughout the Palmtop as a birthday United States. If there present from my father is an auto show in two years ago. Although your town, I have I certainly appreciated probably been there. the thought, I wasn't too This year's work in­ crazy about the gift. I cludes transporting Rick Hurtle with his 1996 Freightliner (equipped with custom stereo system, didn't know the first sink, microwave, refrigerator, and 18" DSS satellite dish) test cars up to the thing about DOS or Northwest Territories and HP 200LX Palmtop. Lotus. Finally, after two of Canada for cold months of looking at my weather testing, working a photo that I wouldn't forget or lose any­ 200LX laying on the floor of my shoot in Hilton Head, South thing. Then I started keeping a truck, I decided it was time to learn Carolina, and delivering to a deal­ ledger in the truck and entering something about it. I saw an er's show in San Diego, California. expenses at the end of each day. It infomercial on TV for video tapes This job is definitely not boring. It's was a better way of doing things, about DOS and several computer fun and allows me to go to some but receipts would still go into the programs. I ordered them, viewed shoe box never to be seen again. great places where I couldn't afford them, and found they were a great to travel for vacation. Eventually my father volun­ help. Between the tapes, my father, teered to keep track of my expens­ and the great guys in the es on his PC, using Lotus 1-2-3. HPHAND Forum on CompuServe, From shoe boxes This led to my wife and I getting a I finally entered the computer age. PC at horne. The only problem was to Palmtop 1-2-1 files

When I first got into trucking, com­ puters were not in many house­ ABOUT THE AUTHOR holds and certainly not in mine. I Rick Hurtle, owner of Hurtle Trucking, Inc., has been an didn't know anything about them independent cross-country truck driver for the past 18 and I didn't want to know. I kept all years. Born and raised in Elkhart, Indiana, he now resides of my receipts in a shoe box and at in Mishawaka, Indiana with his wife Ellen, his daughter the end of the year I would sit down Erin, and his son Guy. with the adding machine and hope

42 THEHPPALMTOPPAPER JULY/AUGUST 1996 Spreadsheet works well on the road D16: [W61 (B16-B15 )/C16

"~_~_~_ .. D Lotus 1-2-3 is the program I use the .P.G. most on the Palmtop, working in 6.232 separate spreadsheets for expenses, 6.575 6.122 loads, gas mileage, and truck main­ 179.69 6.349 158.91 ~ tenance. 125.05 !I.lJ7' 111 . 05 6.375 On one spreadsheet I keep 212.53 6.399 294.22 6.128 track of my meals, hotels, repairs, 350.88 5.896 tolls, insurance, and all truck-relat­ ERR ed expenses. I record totals each month, and at the end of the year I Screen showing templet I use to track fuel mileage, with actual data entered. Formula can enter all of them on another entered in column D automatically figures mileage. spreadsheet to give to my accoun­ tant. I keep the titles and columns on a spreadsheet. I used to try stor­ changed at the proper mileage can in a file called START.WK1 and ing most of this information in my cause future mechanical problems. then each month I just copy it to head. Now, while on the road, I I keep track of all repairs on the the spreadsheet for the currant enter all the information about the worksheet so that if I have a repair month like JUN96.WK1. trip in 1-2-3 and later, when I get made and the same part fails again Wherever I am, I try to take paid for the trip, I enter the rev­ six months down the road then I time each night to enter travel data. enue. This way I know my exact can quickly check the date of the When I get home, I transfer all of gross income at all times. first repair for warranty purposes. the data over to Lotus 1-2-3 on my Another important use of 1-2-3 When I sell or trade the truck desktop using the HP Connectivity is for tracking fuel mileage. With (for a new one with toilet and Pack. Then with all of my expenses the high price of diesel fuel these shower) I will be able to print out a already entered, my wife can add days a sudden drop in fuel mileage nice spreadsheet of all maintenance the business expenses that she pays due to a mechanical problem can and repairs for the new owners. from home, and we'll have a com­ cost me a significant amount of They will know exactly what has plete record. money. After entering my mileage been done to the truck, when it was The Quick LX typing aid pro­ in column B, the gallons in column done, and what shop did the work. gram, which I purchased from A, a formula entered in column D Before the Palmtop, I would list all Shier Systems and Software, has figures mileage. Every time I fill up of this in a small spiral notebook. been a big help with 1-2-3 work­ I have my fuel mileage in a few After three or four years the note­ sheets. I often stop at the same quick easy seconds. book would fall apart. A neat truck stops, motels, and restaurants The last 1-2-3 worksheet that I spreadsheet of the maintenance on a weekly basis. Quick LX use is for truck maintenance. I can and repairs will be a good selling "remembers" words you frequent­ quickly check the date of a repair point. ly type. Enter a few characters, and or see if it's time for an oil change. I the program finishes typing out the have my oil changed every 10,000 word. This saves a great deal of miles and a grease job every 5,000 Built-in applications time when entering receipts. miles. This is usually a monthly organize life on the road I also keep track of the loads I expense and I need to keep close I used to have business cards scat­ have hauled and incoming revenue track of it. Not getting the oil tered throughout the truck. Fortunately, PhoneBook replaced 1: (F2) [W8] that mess. I keep contact informa­ tion on friends and co-workers, along with truck repair shops and dealers I do business with - all in one PhoneBook file. , For hotels, since I travel a lot, I try to keep track of where I stay so I can call ahead for reservations in the future. I store hotel data in a

- u] - 96 11.:52 RM file named HOTEL.PDB. I use a macro to toggle between the two A portion of the expenses templet I use to track meals, repairs, tolls, insurance, and *.PDB files. (The only reason I keep all truck-related expenses. Expense categories continue to the right off screen. hotels in a separate file is that

THE HP PALMTOP PAPER JULY/AUGUST 1996 43 when I am looking for a hotel they Staying in touch Staying on top of things are all together in one file and it with acCIS and CompuServe In a changing world makes it easier to find the one I want.) Last, but not least, I use acCIS and Trucking has changed so much I use the Appointment Book CompuServe to communicate with through the past years and good application more for personal uses family members and friends while maintenance and financial records like recording birthdays, anniver­ I'm on the road. I started out with a are a must. Good financial records Zoom PK14.4 external pocket saries, etc. One anniversary I didn't really make it a lot easier in an IRS modem with acCIS on a 2MB SRAM think I needed to include in the file audit. If you have your expenses was my own. Guess what? I forgot card but it didn't take long before I needed much more storage capacity. printed out in a nice summary or it this year. It is now in the file. I just purchased from Shier Software spreadsheet it makes the audit go If you happen to have a job in Systems an EXP 8MB flash/modem faster and usually puts the auditor the trucking industry where you card. This card has modem capabili­ in a very happy state of mind. have several appointments on each ties and flash memory built into one The HP 200LX Palmtop has load for pickups and deliveries, PC Card. It works great. I now have definitely made my life much easi­ then Appointment Book is very plenty of memory and don't have er. It's provided me with much helpful. You can enter all of the any extra equipment to carry into appointments in APPT and then more accurate bookkeeping and a the truck stops when I want to log number of very useful built in the daily greeting every morning on to CompuServe. applications. It does everything for when you turn your Palmtop list Most truck stop restaurants your daily appointments. have phones at the tables, so I can me that a laptop would do at a NoteTaker is great for keeping usually just unplug them and plug much lesser cost and without tak­ route information, and it's easy to in my modem. Where phones are ing up a lot of storage space in a read the directions from the permanently mounted to the table I small truck cab. It definitely would Palmtop while driving. Before the use an acoustic coupler, though I be an asset for any truck driver or Palmtop, I would always write this don't always have the best luck small business owner. information on scrap paper that I logging on with it. Eventually, I would usually lose very quickly. would like to get a wireless modem Now I keep them in NoteTaker for so I don't have to bother going into Pricing and Contact future reference. For example, if a truck stop, but that is on my wish Information for products I'm at a pay phone taking down list. When I am in a truck stop it is mentioned in this article directions, I have my Palmtop with amazing how many people will come up and say "What's that? "or All prices are manufacturer's suggested me and enter the information "Is that a computer?" I have yet to retail price. It may be possible to purchase directly into a NoteTaker file. It see another truck driver with an the product for less at third-party vendors. may be a year before I will need the HP 200LX. They seem to be a well directions again, but it will save me kept secret. Laptops are getting CompuServe - $Varies a phone call at that time. Every fairly popular with a lot of drivers, Contact: CompuServe Information month I will delete entries that I probably because they haven't Service; Phone: 800-848-8199 or 614-457- know I will never use again. heard of the Palmtop. 0802 (ask for operator 231). There are several forums on CompuServe that I access. HP­ Lotus 1·2·3 V.5 (for Windows) - $119 NoteTaker useful HAND is a must for anyone with a Contact: Lotus Development Corpor­ for storing load Information Palmtop, especially a beginner like ation; U.S.A.; Phone: 800-343-5414; Fax: myself. The members there are 770-698-7694. I use Pocket Quicken to keep my very quick to respond to your checkbook balanced. It is very easy questions and are most helpful. acCIS 3.1 - $79 to use and has eliminated my Another popular forum that I and a Quick/LX-$39 monthly mistakes. If you are lot of truck drivers visit is Contact: Shier Systems and Software, Motorsports (Go Racing). NAS­ uncomfortable using 1-2-3 then it is Inc., 920 Hampshire road, Suite A, CAR and Indy car racing is also a great way of tracking your Westlake Village, CA 91361, USA,· Phone: extremely popular and I can keep expenses. You can create categories 805-311-9391,· Fax: 805-311-9454; E-mail." up with qualifying and racing as like fuel, repairs, hotels, etc. Then the events happen. I usually just [email protected] at the end of the month or year you have time to check race results, but can print out a nice summary of all if I read something that I want to EXP 8MB Flash/modem card. -$479 your expense categories with the comment on, I do. When time per­ Contact: EXP Computer,· Phone 800- totals. It's neat and really quite mits I "lurk" around in a few other EXP-6922 ext. 641 or 114-453-1020,· Fax: easy. CompuServe Forums, like the 114-453-1319. Wine forum and the Car forum.

44 THEHPPALMTOPPAPER JULY/ AUGUST 1996 W TO USE YOUR PALMTOP USER PROFILE

When Palmtops Deserve a Name

For many users I their HP Palmtop has become an endeared family member and close companion. So why not name them?

Compiled by Avi Meshar

People develop a very personal tions on the HP such as Hewey, relationship with their Palmtops. A Baby Heuy, Hou Pe, the HP, and while back I discovered that some Haych Pee. Also LXander or were even giving their Palmtop a LXandra, Lex, Mainframe, Pocket name. I posted a message on the Rocket, Speedy, Lommecomputer, Fireside section of CompuServe's Obelisk, and Deep Thought. HPHand Forum. I received res­ Other people label their ponses representing 10 languages, Palmtops in accordance with their including Swiss German to Farsi to own perception: "That Thing in Computerese. Along with some Your Pocket" or "Cute Little very interesting names, I received Computer." Jesper Siig's son calls some stories worth sharing. his dad's computer his "puter." Some of the names have liter­ Someone's wife is quoted as say­ ary background, such as "Lug­ ing, "Do you have to bring that gage" named by Martin Breid­ 'Thing' with you everywhere?" enbach for the magic traveling The stories that follow demon­ Linda Worthington has a "chat" with chest which always follows its strate not only the meaning of the Palmella while she (Linda) sits on a owner, from Terry Pratchett's name, but the fun and significance rock in the middle of the Catoctin Discworld series. Others have deep of having a computer companion. Mountains of Maryland. cultural roots, as in "Geek," or proclaim "Palm ella knows all!" commercial origins, as Jeff Rod­ What more can I say? These little riguez' name "Go, Hewey Go!" Palmella computers are much more than which was given when HP stock By Linda Worthington technology ... they are, to many of reached a new level on the stock [email protected] us, almost personalities, a kind of market. member of the family. So how Names are not always perma­ When my husband needs a phone could I call her "the LX," "the nent. Depending on his mood, number I say "I'll ask Palmella." 200," ... that would be like calling Steven Speairs calls his Palmtop, When we need to know our (com­ my daughter "the girl," the "ENIAC.Jr" or "Nag," (he must set plicated) schedule I say "I'll ask "human" ... ! many alarms). Some are more Palmella." In all things I proudly impersonal, like "It" or plainly, "200LX." But more often names reflect what is dear to a person's heart. Rob Mitchell, a physician, ABOUT THE AUTHOR named his LX "Sophia" because of Avi Meshar is a principal in D&A Software Inc., a com­ his fondness for wisdom (Sophia is pany which develops and markets software for the Greek for wisdom). Another Palmtops. He is also the Technical Support Manager at Shier Systems & Software, and the President of A W "Ecosse," the French name for his Meshar Associates, a company involved in technology favorite country, Scotland. assessments. He can be reached by phone at 805-371- There are the inevitable varia- 9391 and e-mail [email protected].

THEHPPALMTOPPAPER JULY/ AUGUST 1996 45 recorded everything. After much Grandpa and Little Computer My Brain Z haggling they agreed to accept my By Stan Dobrowski By Avi Meshar statements. [email protected] [email protected] The agent wanted me to bring it all in. I offered to fax it! I opened I call my 95LX "Grandpa" because "My Brain 2" came about in the it in Lotus and printed the spread­ it is getting on in years. It is the aftermath of the Earthquake in LA sheet to a file. Then I edited it and ancestor to all the other HP in January 1994 ("The Northridge saved it. I used DOSCIM to fax it Palmtop products and I don't think Quake"). I suddenly had to deal from my Palmtop to the agent. Ten I will ever part with it because it is with a huge number of details, minutes later a call comes in. "How near and dear to my heart. Even from relatives and friends, in and did you do all this so fast?" asked though there are several newer and out of the area, to insurance, FEMA the agent, "Do you have two faster models out now, I will (Federal Emergency Management brains?" I confirmed his supposi­ always look up to old Grandpa. Agency), to sorting out the extent tion. My children (ages 4-1/2 ad 7) of the damages to my property, call the 200LX "Little Computer." I helping some friends and neigh­ keep a couple of game programs bors with similar types of activities. Mon JouJou on the 200LX to occupy the kids I probably kept the machine run­ By Marc Steingrand when things get dull like during a ning over 15 hours per day, using it [email protected] long drive in the car. The children to record names, phone numbers, will ask me, "Dad, do you have and addresses. I added approxi­ The name Mon Joujou for my any games on your little comput­ mately 200 entries in the first Palmtop was given by my col­ er?" month after the earthquake! The leagues in December last year. I NoteTaker application came in had just bought the HP and spent handy to write down EVERY­ all my free time at my work in Ecosse THING. The trauma affects your Paris, France, discovering all the By Gary Spiers memory and the ability to memo­ things I could do with it. Since my [email protected] rize and recall. So writing every­ co-workers had seen me often thing in the computer saved me working with it, they asked me one Ecosse is the French word for from more losses and bad moves. day where I had "mon Joujou," Scotland. I began calling the Palmtop (French slang for my toy, as in a I am an Englishman living in "My Brain 2," because it contained child's favored plaything) and so Huntsville, Alabama. Before work "a branch of my brain" as one of the name was born. brought me here I spent five years my friends said. Friends also called Mon Joujou is my favorite toy. living in Edinburgh, the Scottish it "the Annex" to signify that it was I use it for all my work and person- capital, and greatly enjoyed the a part of my own brain. natural beauty of the land. The Then came the time to deal weather is very mixed (an under­ with the insurance companies. I statement) and creates interesting won't share all the gory details, just interplay of light/ shade storm and one anecdote: I was given a huge sun etc. with very rich (but muted) form with something like 5 or 6 colors. The rugged nature of the pages. "Fill this out in detail, sub­ land bred a fiercely independent stantiate all dates and amounts nation (even now Scotland main­ with records of purchase, prices, tains a separate legal system from dates ... " yeah, right! I had pepper­ the rest of the UK) which has a corns and other assorted herbs strong sense and perspective of its from my kitchen, hiding in the liv­ place and contributions to history. ing room carpet and 5.0 aftershocks My Palmtop was named after to deal with, and they wanted sales Ecosse not only because of my love slips. for the land and its people but also I quickly duplicated the form because the independence from the as a Lotus spreadsheet, including desktop that it gives me symbolizes all the crazy formulas the original Mark Steingrand and "Mon Joujou" the independence of the Scottish form specified. It took no time to share an upbeat moment. Mark has spirit. walk through the inside the house, even taken Mon Joujou to the top of then around the perimeter and the Eiffel Tower (not shown).

46 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER JULY/AUGUST 1996 with, but then it reminds me or Sophia beeps at me when it's time for a By Rob Mitchell company meeting or one of the Boy Scout meetings I'm in charge of, or Sophia is Greek for wisdom. One of whatever needs my attention. My my favorite places (not yet visited) "Brain" prompts me to meet my is Istanbul which has the most regular Sunday night responsibili­ beautiful church in the world. ties as a HAM radio operator. I can Haghia Sophia, the church of be relaxing with my family (9 chil­ divine wisdom, was consecrated in dren) and when I get my five 535 AD! So I think of the Palmtop minute warning, I get up, go to the as containing wisdom and call it next room, and send morse code Sophia! messages through the national HAM radio message system.

Thaddeus Computing's own Jim Lasley named his Palmtop "Brain" OW TO USE YOUR PALMTOP because it helps him remember things he would normally forget. Jim is pictured here holding Brain in front of shelves full of HAM radio equipment. Not shown in the photo are Jim's nine children. HP 200LX, LapLink al planning. I have had Mon Joujou only since 7 month, and it goes with me almost everywhere I go. I and Windows 95 have even used Mon Joujou at the top of the Eiffel Tower. This user explains how to use your Palmtop's

It! built-in LapLink Remote Access application By Dennis Terazawa to access, backup and swap files between your [email protected] Palmtop and a PC running Windows 95. If I leave my briefcase at home and get to work- I don't worry about that. By Pete Jordan If I leave my wallet at home - I won't have a fit. If I forget and put on different col­ ored socks- I certainly won't sweat. LRA is LapLink's "remote the HP Palmtop to the desktop Pc. But if I forget my 200LX at home­ access" software built into I have been able to install the I'll drive home to get "It!" ..... L the HP 200LX that lets you version of LapLink that comes with connect to and access the disk dri­ the HP Connectivity Pack onto a ves of another PC computer. What PC running Windows 95 and make Brain this means is that with the HP the connection between the two By Jim Lasley Palmtop connected to a PC via the computers. The Palmtop's drives MIS Coordinator HP Connectivity Cable, and with show up as drives under the Win95 Thaddeus Computing Lap Link running on both ma­ "MyComputer" application. I can chines, you can copy, delete, "drag and drop" files between the Why call it "Brain?" My Palmtop merge, or access files on either of two computers and open and save remembers things I would forget. I the two computers disk drives. files on the HP from your Win­ do have to enter them to begin This is very handy for backing up dows applications.

THEHPPALMTOPPAPER JULY/ AUGUST 1996 47 1. Probably the simplest way to run the best for those who may just use You. Plllmrop PC Is this batch file is to press ~!I as LapLink sporadically. soon as you see the "Starting AlrelUly An Internet Windows 95" banner during boot­ 4. The final way is to load Mllilbox! up after you turn on your Pc. This LLRA.BAT directly from the Use the built-in cc:Mail application for aborts the loading of Windows 95 AUTOEXEC.BAT file. Open dial-up access to global internet e-mail. and takes you directly to the DOS AUTOEXEC.BAT in the Windows cc:Mail<->Internet prompt. 95's Edit or Notepad applications You have about two seconds to and add the following lines to the • Choose your own e-mail address • Only $9/mo flat, unlimited usage press ~ before Win95 loads. If beginning of the file (but after the • Handles binary me attachments you miss this two-second opportu­ command line referring to CaU or E-mailfor Free Trial: nity, you have to re-boot the sys­ MSCDEX.EXE): tem and try again. If you press ~ within the two seconds, a menu cd \cpack200 palmtop. com will appear that allows you to call1lra.bat select "Command Prompt Only." cd\ [email protected] Select this option and the DOS prompt appears on your screen. 408-450-3467 Load LLRA.BAT by typing Save the AUTOEXEC.BAT file and c: \ cpack200 \ llra and pressing restart your computer. I figured this out through a IENTERI (change the path in this com­ This procedure is the most combination of trial and error, mand if you have moved automatic of the four described, Microsoft tech support and a cou­ LLRA.BAT to another drive or and though it was very reliable on ple of ideas I received on Compu­ directory). Then start Windows 95 my Toshiba laptop, it is not reliable Serve's HP Handheld forum. I by typing win and pressing I ENTER I. on all PCs. It seems that if the PC would like to share these ideas and makes the switch to the Windows get input back from those that find 2. Another way to go directly to the 95 "protected mode" before the HP other ways of doing this. DOS prompt when you turn on and the Win95 machine attempt to your PC is to modify the MSDOS.­ connect, they will fail to connect. SYS file. This file holds information Getting LapLink on the configuration of the system. Remote Access to load First make a backup copy of your Establish physical link and run under Windows 95 current MSDOS.SYS (in case you before starting Windows 95 mess up and want to restore your First you need to install the If the physical link between the system to the way it was). Then Connectivity Pack software onto a Palmtop and PC is not established open MSDOS.SYS in the Windows Win95 machine. This creates an before starting Win95, the ability to 95's Edit or Notepad applications. Icon in Windows for LapLink make a link is sporadic at best. Remote Access. But if you click on Find the line "BootGUI= 1" and However, if you make the link the icon, you get an error message change the line to "BootGUI=O". before starting Win95 you can along the lines of "insufficient Save the file and restart your Pc. break the link and reattach reliably resources to load LapLink Remote This causes your machine to as often as you like. The drive map­ Access." The solution is to set up boot directly to the DOS prompt pings to the HP Palmtop will dis­ your PC so that it loads LapLink when you turn it on, without start­ from DOS before it loads Windows ing Windows 95. After you have appear and reappear in "My 95. loaded LLRH.BAT you can start Computer" as you disconnect and To do this, you need to use a Win95 by typing win and pressing reconnect the Palmtop. So before starting LLRA.BAT using any of batch file named LLRA.BAT I ENTER I. (found in the CPACK200 directory the above methods you should of your desktop PC after you 3. Another easy way is to select the have the HP 200LX physically install the Connectivity Pack). You Windows 95 "Shutdown Win­ attached to the Win95 machine and must run this batch file from the dows" option. From the menu, have LapLink running on the HP. DOS prompt before you load select "Restart in MS-DOS Mode." You should wait the 3 to 5 seconds Win95. Otherwise, it will not work. Load LLRA.BAT then return to for the connection beeps before There are four ways to do this: Win95 by typing "win" at the DOS typing "win" to start Win95. prompt. This method is probably

48 THEHPPALMTOPPAPER JULY/AUGUST 1996 More ... Knowledge Products From Thaddeus

.s ch Hevig.le Help _'''~(_'''''''''''1''., .. .. ~C_.,...... ~ """"""""'""''''-I ... ~.,,, I~C~"p.lrw;.mJ, .'"i ' .''''' IOO~.~ r.K," .H1I7' IThe HP Palmtop Paper's CD InfoBase I THE A MUST-HAVE FOR AU PMMTOP USERS HP Palmtop "Tbe contents of the CD Paper's This PC Windows based CD contains in are great! I love having CD InfoBase searchable hypertext format all 1991-95 HP Palmtop Papers, detailed product descrip- all the information in one tions from advertisers, the HP 200LX User's single place instead of Guide, and the HP lOO/200LX Developer's having to search through Guide. In addition, you'll find the over M piles of paper. " The HP Palmtop Paper's CD InfoBase pieces of freeware and shareware from the 1991-95 On Disk collection, from the Subscriber Thomas Rundel Power Disks, and from the Developer's Guide. PC in your Pocket PC New HP Palmtop book: ideal for users, great gift for interested friends IN YOUR The editors of The HP Palmtop Paper have organized some of their best mate­ POCKET! rial into a readable, practical book about the HP Palmtop. The book is filled How the organizing power of the Hewlett-Packard Palmtop PC will make you with hundreds of real-life examples of the HP Palmtop's features and capabili­ more effective! ties. Busy professionals describe how they use the HP Palmtop to organize their time, information, and money to be more effective. Order directly from us and we'll include a disk of much of the software mentioned in the book. Written both PC in your Pocket for users and for those considering purchasing HP Palmtop. MicroRef Quick Reference Lotus 123 and DOS 5 Guides

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The H .. tOOLX I HP 200LX Developer'. Gill.,. HP lOO/200IX Developer's Guide

Attention: Palmtop Developers and Enthusiasts The Developer's Package includes everything you need to write software, design hardware, or simply understand the inner workings of the HP Palmtop. The Package includes: 1) Printed copy of 586-page Developer's Guide HP 100/200LX Developer's Guide 2) Disk containing HP-created source code and utilities for developers 3) Complete set of kits for marketing your Palmtop product ~hadde,!s 4) CompuServe starter kit (CompuServe's where Palmtop programmers hang out) omputlflg INC. 5) PAL: a C source code library for developing software with the look and feef ~ublisher : The HP P~lmtop Paper and HP OmniGo World of the HP Palmtop built-in applications )7 East Broadway FaIrfield IA 52556 . 800-373-6114 • (515) 472-6330 continued from page 8 Fax: (515) 472-1879. E-Mail: [email protected] Making LLRA a Windows 95 com­ nection is not reliable. If you shut Private=ABDE pliant driver off the connection by hitting F8 or shutting down LapLink on the HP To map the HP's A and C drive, You will receive the following error getting the connection back is pret­ Private=BDE message when starting Windows ty reliable. 9S with LLRA loaded. "Windows I never map the A drive however 9S has detected a new real mode if I need to back up a memory card driver "LLRA3" that may affect Mapping Drives ?r. need the data from it I'll just put system performance, would you It m my Toshiba notebook. OK, so now you can use LapLink like more information". LLRA3 is That cuts down on the number from Win9S but all those nasty not considered a "safe" protected drive mappings from the HP screw of drives being mapped. However, mode driver under Windows 9S it might also help to specify as up your network drive mappings. and will force Win9S to run under what drive letter we want it to map By default LLRA and your HP its slower real mode disk drivers 200LX map the HP's A, C, D, and E to. I map the HP 200LX to drive H which can negatively affect perfor­ on my Toshiba since it's easy to drives to your Win95 machine. If mance. The solution is to lie to remember and it's the only drive your normal Novell or NT drive Windows 9S and tell it that LLRA3 letter none of the five or six net­ mappings start at F: LapLink will is indeed a safe, tested driver and conflict with them and cause all works I plug into use. to run it though Win9S's protected sorts of trouble. For instance, if . To map the HP 200 to a specific mode disk and file access. We lie to your Win9S machine has one hard dnve letter add the following lines Win9S by doing the following. drive and two CDROM drives it to the TSI.INI file in the CPACK200 Win9S keeps a list of "safe" has already used up the available directory on the Windows 9S DOS drivers in a file in the win­ machine. These lines must be LAST drives to drive E. LapLink comes dows directory called "IOS.lNI". along and maps four more drives in the file. Simply make a backup copy of up to drive I. Then your network [Mappings] IOS.lNI then open it in any text administrator (me) has set all the editor such as Edit or Windows HP200=0000000COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO default login scripts to start at F 00000 Notepad and add the line LLRA3.­ and we now have problems. Using EXE under the section title the LLRA control panel from The name "HP200" must match [SafeList]. The next time you start Win~0:-Vs allows us to fix that by exactly the name that the HP Win9S it will now treat LLRA as a specIfymg what drives to map and 200LX uses, this can be set on the safe driver and run under optimal where. However, remember the 200LX under LapLink settings. The performance with it loaded. whole reason for this "how to" file default, however, appears to be I have tested LLRA under is that the LapLink Control panel "HP200." The drive mapping line Windows 9S protected mode dri­ does not run under Win9S. So here you will notice has twenty-six vers on three machines. I cannot are the following two suggestions. places followed by a space and guarantee safe results with whatev­ One I found myself and the other I three more digits. I have no idea er combination of drivers you may owe to Alexander Gutfeldt, a user what the last three digits do but the have on your machine. Remember here on the HPhandheld forum. first twenty-six represent A messing with disk drivers can Map only the drives on the HP through Z. Just edit that line to put result in data loss. I have no idea that you need to see. I only need to the HP 200LX drive to map (in this why Microsoft or HP ITraveling see the C drive on the HP 200LX so case C) in the ordinal place of the software did not test this driver. I that I can transfer data, open files letter you want it to map at. The can only conclude by its absence and do backups. To turn off all above example has my HP's C from the "UnSafe" driver list that it other drives from mapping, edit drive mapping at my Toshiba's H was simply never tested as the TSI.INI file on your HP 200LX. drive. H is the eighth letter in the opposed to being unsafe. See The TSI.INI file can be found in alphabet so C is put at the eight Microsoft Knowledge Base article C:\_dat\llraserv\. No need to position in the mapping order. You Q130179 and the Microsoft ba~k~p the TSI.INI file before you can add other drives from the HP Windows 9S resource kit for more edIt It, there is a safe copy in read­ at other places in the map. information. only memory on your D drive. To I hope this helps others get the I also recommend setting the just map the C drive add or edit most out of Windows 9S and their "Idle-connection timeout" on the this line from the second section of I:IP 200LX. If you have any sugges­ HP 200LX to its maximum of 60 TSI.INI, [ReDirector], on the HP to tIons or comments about this file minutes. If the HP shuts off auto­ say the following: please remember to drop me a matically, reestablishing the con- note.

50 THEHPPALMTOPPAPER JULY / AUGUST 1996 • •• BASIC TIPS •••

[All tips by HP Palmtop Paper Technical o The macro commands {BIG LEFT}, including 1-2-3 Sort Order which sets Editor Tom Gibson. You can contact Tom {BIGRIGHT}, {PGUP}, and {PGDN} the order 1-2-3 sorts its databases. (A on the Internet at: tom_gibson@thad­ will operate differently depending on few of the settings appear in both the deus.com] whether your Palmtop is displaying 6 Palmtop's Setup and 1-2-3, such as date columns x 13 rows or 8 columns x 20 format, time format, punctuation, curren­ rows (to change the size of your dis­ cy, and printing (interface and baud).) play, press ~ ISpacebar!). Here are some things to remember. In other words, if you are in 20 rows x 8 columns, the {PGDN} or o Setup's time and date formats do not Comparing {Page Down} command will go down affect 1-2-3 cells. 1·2·3 on the desktop 20 rows, if you are in 13 row x 6 col­ Setup supplies default or initial val­ and the Palmtop o umn mode, the {PGDN} will page ues to 1-2-3 for punctuation and cur­ The Lotus 1-2-3 version that is included down 13 rows. If these macro com­ rency, as well as for the printer inter­ on the 100/200LX (ver.2.4) is very simi­ mands are used and the zoom fea­ face, baud, and name. lar to Lotus 1-2-3 ver.2.4 for the desktop. ture has been changed, this can Here are some of the modifications that cause big problems. So be careful. o If you make a printer, punctuation or currency setting in 1-2-3, it overrides HP did to make 1-2-3 fit into the Palm­ o There is no 123.EXE file, so you can­ the setting in Setup. top's small amount of ROM. not start 1-2-3 from DOS. For a I MENU! Worksheet .Global o Write-protected cells appear no dif­ o o To save memory, the default status Default setting command to remain ferent from other cells. On the desk­ for the Undo feature is off (disabled). top version, the data in the write-pro­ in effect after the current session, Select IMENU! Worksheet .Global you must preserve it with the Update tected cells appear in different colors Default .other Undo .Enable to turn from the non-write-protected cells. command. Otherwise, the settings Undo on. for the next session will take default o "PR" appears in the control panel o Add-ins must be run from RAM. To values from Setup again. when a protected cell is highlighted. auto work, an add-in must: fit in o Because of ROM memory con­ RAM; must work with any size straints, the Help text, though still screen in MDA or CGA mode; and good, is less extensive - instead of must have been developed using the a paragraph or so for each help sub­ Add-in Toolkit specifications from Don't rename your ject, you get one sentence. Help is Lotus. C:'-DAT directory still context sensitive. For example, if o The collating sequence for 1-2-3 can The built-in Palmtop applications follow you are entering a date using the be set only in the Setup utility (see standard MS-DOS conventions for file @DATE command, but forget the screen below). exact syntax, type in @DATE, press and path names. You can, if you choose, remove or rename all files and directo­ I!Il (Help), and the following help CONFIGURATION SETTINGS message is displayed: ries on your Palmtop in Filer. However, 1-2-3 can specify many configuration you should not rename the _OAT direc­ @DATE (year,month,day) calculates settings (press I MENU! Worksheet .Global tory on your C drive. This directory is a date number for year, month, and Default). The Palmtop's Setup utility used by several of the built-in applica­ day. (IEJ Setup IMENU! .options 1-2-3) also tions and if removed or renamed, will contains settings that affect 1-2-3, render the applications useless.

IHP CALC I Prin~gr' HP LasgrJg~ . • - DOS: On Using HP Calc to calculate @ l~mm"2iOL""I'D!l J OK payments on a new house ! o !,g~~grs Firs~ I I kaling (singlg USg) The time-value-of-money (TVM) applica­ o BSCII [ Cancgl I F tion enables you to do compound-inter­ i~- A est, amortization, and interest-rate-con­ S version calculations. You can use TVM to Card ba~~gry: OK solve virtually any financial problem 1GDlII ______um!ID~ involving a series of cash flows (money received or money paid) that meets the following criteria: Setup's 1-2-3 Sort Order screen showing optional ways to sort 1-2-3 databases

THE HP PALMTOP PAPER JULY/AUGUST 1996 51 1:1 The dollar amount is the same for pletely in the 48 month duration of the world's coolest macro in System each payment. the loan, so leave it at O. Macros, only to quit the application for­ getting to save the macro first. 1:1 The payments occur at regular inter­ e. "Payments per year" should be set at vals. 12 (one payment per month). 1:1 Payment periods coincide with the Seven battery-saving tips compounding periods. f. B/E (Beginning/End) should typically Probably the largest ongoing expense be set at End as most mortgages you will ever occur for your HP For an example, suppose you are buying and real estate contracts are paid at 100/200LX is the cost of batteries. Here a house. The terms for the purchase are the end of each month (the opposite are some ways that you can extend your as follows: of paying rent which is usually at the battery life, both the AA main batteries beginning of the month). and the coin or Backup battery, and save Total price - $27,000 a little money in the process. Down payment - $8,000 Finally, press I!!I to find your payments Mortgage - the sellers will hold a con­ per month. You should have the negative 1:1 Quit DataComm and the Filer when tract for 4 years at 8.5% amount -468.32, or a monthly payment you're not using them. These appli­ interest per year of $468.32. cations use the serial port and there­ You can also work the equation fore require slightly more power than You can use HP Calc's TVM application using other variables. For example, if the other applications. to figure out your monthly payments. To you want to see how low your payment 1:1 When you see a low battery warning do this, follow the steps below. would be if you extended the loan to 30 message, replace or recharge your years, simply enter the amount of batteries as soon as possible. This 1. In HP Calc, press I MENU' Applications months (360), use the ArrowKeys to will keep your Palmtop from having IVM to bring up the Time Value of highlight the Number of Periods field, to fall back on the backup battery, Money application. and press I ENTER'. In this case your pay­ which will have to take over when the ments would go down to $146.09. main batteries fall below the mini­ 2. Press I MENU' Clear .D.ata to bring up a blank TVM template. mum power threshold. IMisc. I 1:1 Always install fresh, high quality bat­ 3. Enter the pertinent data. teries of the same brand, since dif­ ferent brands of batteries have differ­ a. Since you are paying the contract When you need to ent performance characteristics over 4 years, press 4*12 to get 48 manually save your data (rates of voltage drop, etc.). months (the length of the loan), then Data entered into most of the built-in 1:1 Remove high-current plug-in cards press (!!) to enter 48 as the number Palmtop applications (Appointment when you're not using them (this of periods. Book, Phone Book, Database, Note­ does not include memory cards). For Taker, etc.) is saved when you press example, plug-in modem cards are b. Enter 8.5, then press El to enter the I!I2) (Done) after entering information notorious for draining batteries annual interest rate in the Annual for each individual entry. This is the case quickly, even when you're not using interest field . whether the file you are working off of is the modem. Therefore, be sure to on the A or C drive. take out a modem card when you're c. Enter 27,000, subtract 8,000 (total However, in 1-2-3, Memo and not using it, and when you are using price minus the down payment = System Macros, a stored file is not it, use the AC adapter if possible. loan amount) then press (!!) to enter changed until you manually save the the total loan amount of 19,000 into changes by pressing I MENU' file ~ave 1:1 Use rechargeable batteries as the Present value field. (you will need to supply a file name if it described in appendix B of the is a new file) and press I ENTER'. 200LX owners manual. Get into a d. The future value of the loan will be 0 This is good to know since it is frus­ routine of regularly recharging or since you will be paying it off com- trating to spend a lot of time writing up ''topping off" the rechargeable batter­ ies.

WWADmi., ii"'¥,,,iIiW·i .;i'''i4'_*ti. ttNt.w:a,1I'Q1I1 1:1 Use the AC adapter (HP F1011A) whenever possible. When the Nu~ber of periods ...... N 48.00 100/200LX is plugged into the AC Annual inleresl...... I%YR 8.50 Presenl value ...... PV 1.9.000.00 adapter, the batteries are not being Pay~enl...... PMT -468.32 used at all, and therefore the life of Fulure value ...... FV 0.00 the batteries is extended.

Pay~enls per year ...... P/YR 1.2 1:1 Make an appOintment at least yearly Begin/End ~ode ...... B/E END to change your backup battery. If you normally run the main batteries ---- RPN ------PMT = -468.32 below 2.3 volts, or receive a lot of 1GDII1Ill:mIIIm!l!lD___ BallII.... ~~~~ "Main Battery Low" messages, you will want to change your backup bat­ HP Calc's Time Value of Money screen showing values entered to determine monthly payments tery more often, maybe every six (figure includes principle and interest) on house purchase example above. months.

52 THE HP PALMTOP PAPER JULY/AUGUST 1996 ...... QUICK TIPS ......

value is 2.lf you set the delay, DIRCMD default settings by tion. While APPMGR allows you must also set the rate. typing the SET command at you to suppress the "Press a the DOS prompt with a new key to continue" message, Speed up your By placing the above exam­ parameter or switch after the you are still left in Application keyboard's response ple command in your AUTO­ equal sign (=). The new Manager when the DOS time and repeat rate EXEC. BAT file, you set the default settings are effective application terminates. (A repeat rate to 30 characters for all subsequent DIR com­ real hotkey would return you You can dramatically speed per second and tell DOS to mands until you use SET to the built-in application you up the keyboard response pause for 1/4 second before DIRCMD again on the com­ were in prior to hitting the and increase the repeat rate repeating the character. mand line or until you restart hotkey.) when you hold down a key. To DOS. To clear all default set­ Here is a way to have do this insert the following tings, type the following com­ Application Manager auto­ command in your AUTO EX­ Revise your DIR mand: matically terminate in such a EC.BAT file: command to display situation by leaving an ESC newest files first set dircmd= character in the keyboard MODE CON: rate=32 delay=1 input buffer for Application When you type DIR at the To get a list of the variables Manager to process. Mode - Mode configures DOS prompt you get a dis­ you can use and the proper system devices such as the play of the directory you are syntax for DOS commands, 1. Create ESC.COM ii (an 11 parallel and serial ports, code in, as well as any subdirecto­ simply type the command byte size program). To do this, pages and the display. In this ries under that directory. You name followed by I? at the in Memo create a new file instance we have changed can revise your DIR display DOS prompt. For example, to (press I MENU! file New). Type the "typematic" rate (the rate so that newest files come first get help for the MODE com­ in the following information at which DOS repeats a char­ (subdirectories are listed at mand, type MODE I? exactly as it is shown below. acter when the key for that the bottom), and the display character is held down). The pauses after each screen Tom Gibson N esc.com typematic rate has two com­ automatically. To do this, Technical Editor ponents - rate and delay. place the following line in [email protected] E 0100 B4 05 B9 1B 01 CD The syntax for the MODE your AUTOEXEC.BAT file. 16B44CCD21 command to set the typemat­ (Thanks to Bever/ey Howard and RCX ic rate is: Alexander Glltenfield) SET DIRCMD=/o:-g-d/p OOOB W MODE CON[:] [RATE=r DELAY=d] 10 - List by files in sorted Create a small Q CON - Refers to the key­ order DOS program The second line and the last board. to exit AppMgr -g - Group directories last line of the file must be empty as shown in the screen dump RATE=r - Specifies the rate by using the - prefix Many of us start our favorite below. at which a character is DOS applications from Ap­ repeated on the screen when -d - Sort files by date and plication Manager. The I!:l 2. Save the file. To save the you hold down a key. Valid time, listing the newest files 1.etter sequence soon be­ file, press IMENU! file Save values are from 1 to 32, and first by using the - prefix comes second nature and As, then name the file equal approximately 2 to 30 comes close to being a C:\ESC.DMP. Make sure the characters per second, re­ Ip - Pauses after each hotkey for your DOS applica- spectively. The default value screen of information on your Palmtop is 20. If you MeMO ' ESC DNP SHartCaps(tH) Oi/10/96 1.45 PM This command presets the IlTI'I2iB ~ ~ set the rate, you must also set 1 2. 3 4 the delay. DIR parameters and switches N esc . com (the "switches" are the modi­ ~c~100 B; 52 B9 1B 01 CD 16 B; 4C CD 21 fying commands like /p DELAY=d - Specifies the 000B above, that modify the DIR W amount of time that must Q elapse after you press and command). You can use any hold down a key before DOS valid combination of DIR starts to repeat the character. parameters and switches with Valid values for dare 1, 2, 3, the SET DIRCMD command, and 4 (representing 0.25, including the location and 0.50, 0.75, and 1 second, name of a file. ESC.COM created in Memo. The second and last lines respectively). The default You can change the must be empty.

THEHPPALMTOPPAPER JULY/AUGUST 1996 53 ASCII box is checked so the ILotus 1-2-3 ' Line 2: Runs I MENU 1 Bange Alternative uses file will be saved as plain Name ~reate. Enters the for Magnify! ASCII text, then press IENTERI. word 'Graph: presses (ENTERI Automate importing and waits for you to supply Magnify! is a commercial pro­ 3. Quit Memo and terminate and graphing with the range for 'Graph' and gram by ACE Technologies System Manager. To do this, an interactive macro press I ENTER I, then it presses that enlarges a section of the press IEJ I MENU 1 Applica­ I ENTER 1 again. HP 100/200LX's screen to Anytime you want to import tions Ierminate aIlIENTERI. make reading the screen eas­ text file data into 1-2-3 Line 3: Runs I MENU 1 G.raph ier on your eyes. I use (importing numbers into 1-2-3 4. Have DEBUG create G.roup (using the 'Graph' Magnify! mostly to show from an ASCII file), and graph ESC.COM for you by entering Columnwise), then runs ~iew another person something your data, you are required to the following line at the DOS to view the graph. that I don't want to take the execute a lot of keystrokes - prompt. time to explain to them. For for example, IMENUI file, Jesper E Siig example, when the Safeway Import, Numbers, enter the CompuServe 10:(100660,3503} debug < C:\ESC.DMP clerk asks me for my "air mail" name of the file, then enter card, I just highlight the row in 5. Create a batch file that the commands to graph - IMemo ' PhoneBook that I store the each time you call up a differ­ launches your DOS program number on, hit escape and ent file. There is an easier and calls up ESC.COM. Change margins show the clerk. Because the way using macros! To start a DOS applica­ when printing to a file number is larger than the rest To do this we will create a tion that will close Application it is obvious what I am show­ Lotus template that contains I often need to print a Memo Manager on termination, you ing them. This method may a macro we will use each document to a file so that I must create a batch file that take a few keystrokes, but it time we want to view our ''text can use it as a fax document. launches your DOS program, sure saves a lot of trouble file created" graphs. When you print to a file in then calls up ESC.COM. explaining things and en­ Memo, Memo inserts a car­ For example, suppose I sures that they get the num­ 1. In Lotus 1-2-3, press ~ riage return at the end of want to run ZIP.COM ij (a file ber. transfer utility), and when it is (GoTo), type AA500, then each line after the number of press IENTERI. This will be a characters you have specified done, have the Palmtop Blair Saunders return to the last opened safe place to enter our macro (on some systems a carriage Caigary, AB., Canada application instead of leaving - if we delete some rows or return counts as a character). CompuServe 10:(11520,210} me in Application Manager. some columns in the future, it You can set your margins at Let's also say that ESC.COM shouldn't delete our macro. Left 1 and Right 79 for a final and ZIP.COM are both stored 80 character output. This way Keeping the Palmtop in C:\UTIL. The batch file 2. Next give the macro a you won't have a lot of lines in its place might look like this: shortcut key combination by with only 1 or 2 characters in typing '\z, then pressing them when you send your Because the Palmtop is so C:\UTIL\zIP /s I ENTER 1 IMENUI Bange Name fax. small and light weight, it often C:\UTIL\ESC Labels Bight IENTERIIENTERI. Ron Vieceli moves around when I touch This creates a range CompuServe 10:(73310,3663} type on it. To remedy this 6. Load the batch file to name for our macro and problem, I have placed a strip Application Manager. (For makes the hot key combina­ of Velcro on the back of my information on how to add an tion (.!!!OJ I!l - any time we IMisc. ' Palmtop. This keeps it in one application to Application want to run our macro we place and it doesn't slide Manager see "Application need only key in these key To Hot Swap around when I don't want it to. Manager, Applications, Add­ strokes. or not to Hot Swap? I placed my Palmtop on a ing" in your HP1001200LX mouse pad made out of "wet User's Guide. 3. Press (RightArrow 1 to go to When you remove or insert a suit" material and was Don't forget to include an cell AB500 and enter the fol­ PC Card into your Palmtop, pleased to discover that the upside-down question . mark lowing lines into cells AB500 turn off your Palmtop first. If Velcro strip on the back of my (press ~I!I) in the com­ through AB502. your Palmtop is on, you are Palmtop secured the unit for ments field to disable the "hot swapping" the card. The typing better than I have "Press a key to continue" {Home }/fin{?}­ HP100/200LX is not de­ experienced on any other message. For other undocu­ /rncGraph-{?}­ signed for hotswapping PC surface. mented features of Applica­ /ggGraph-cv Cards. There have been Beverly Howard tion Manager like the upside­ reports of hardware problems CompuServe 10:(75533, 1112} down question mark, see Here is an explanation of the caused by hot swapping, and APPMGR.100 in Compu­ lines above: indeed my Palmtop wiped out Serve's HPHAND forum , its internal RAM disk when I Differences in library 11. Line 1: Goes to the Home inserted a modem card (stu­ Battery Software cell, runs I MENU 1 file Import pid me, I knew bette(1) while it Gilles Kohl [7eamHP} Numbers, then waits for you There are many different utili­ CompuServe 10:(100114,3146} was on. to supply the file name and ties and programs that moni­ press I ENTER I, then it presses Alexander Gutfeldt tor/assist in charging batter­ (ENTERI again. CompuServe 10:(100527,2461} ies on the HP Palmtops. Here

54 THE HPPALMTOPPAPER JULY/AUGUST 1996 is a short list (far from writing to Flash cards. It is your Palmtop. BCC lets you VOLT/LX - is a commercial exhaustive) of some of the this last "active" feature that specify how long a time your program from DNA/Shier most popular battery monitor­ earns Battman the loyalty of batteries charge, at what volt­ Systems that monitors the ing programs now being used its users. BaUman is a small age the charging should stop, status of non-rechargeable by Palmtop users. TSR and is commercial soft­ and much more. Using BCC batteries. (See New Prod­ ware. together with the Palmtop's ucts, page 6 for more infor­ ABC/LX - This commercial AppOintment Book applica­ mation.) program from DNA/Shier BCC it - This PAL applica­ tion, you can automatically Systems, contois and mon­ tion gives you full control charge your batteries when Victor Roberts itors battery charging. After when charging batteries in necessary without ever hav­ CompuServe 10:[70413, 1423J you set up the charging pro­ ing to think about. cess, ABC/LX monitors the charging and turns it off Pricing and Contact based on: a length of time Information for prod. you specify; a maximum volt­ ucts mentioned in HP Product Index age you specify; or a stop in this section. voltage rise after a time you [Please find the price and contact information for specify. Though automatic, ABCILX - $34.95 commercial products mentioned in the articles at the you can choose to see a Controls and monitors battery charging. end of the article in which the product is mentioned,] graphed profile of the charg­ VOLTILX - $9.95 Monitors status of non·rechargeable bat· HP Products contact information: Authorized HP computer dealers ing progress if you desire. teries. worldwide (i.e. the same place you can purchase an HP LaserJet). To Contact USA: Shier Systems & locate an authorized dealer in the USA, call800-443-1254.You can also BATT100 it - is a simple Software, 920 Hampshire Road, Suite A, purchase the 95LX & 100/200LX and its accessories from ACE DOS program that reads the Westlake ViI/age, CA 91361, USA; Phone: 805·311-9391; Fax: 805-311· Technologies at 800-825-9977 or 408-734-0100; Fax: 408-734-3344; battery voltage. Must be 9454; E-mail."[email protected] EduCALC at 800-677-7001; Fax: 714-582-1445. Global Connections invoked by the user when Contact Europe and Asia: Rundel at 800-709-9494 or 608-752-1537; Fax: 608-752-9548. they want to check the batter­ Datentechnik, Rappenstr. 20, 13033 Goeppingen, Germany; Phone: +49 ies. Does not consume any (01161) 14101; Fax: +49 (01161) 24413; HP OMNIGO 100 PRODUCTS memory when not in use. E-maiI."[email protected] Batt100 is a "passive" pro­ HP OmniGo 100 (HP F1310A) - $349 gram - it provides informa­ BATTMAN - $39 HP OmniGo Connectivity Pack (HP F1311A) -$99.95 Monitors battery usage. tion for you to make decisions Contact: ACE Technologies, Inc., CLIP & GO (HP F1312A) - $64.95 on, but does not control your USA; Phone: 800-825-9911 or 408-134- HP OmniGo 100 Connectivity Cable (HP Fl015A) - $24.95 machine for you. BATT100 is 0100;Fax:408·134-3344. (Same as HP 100/200LX PC Connectivity Cable) HP OmniGo 100 Strategy Games (HP F1313A) - $49.95 freeware. Magnify! - $19 Enlarges section of 100/200LX's screen HP OmniGo 100 Accessory Pens (HP F1314A) Includes three pens. - $9.99 BUDDY it is a program for easier reading. that provides lots of short cut Contact: ACE Technologies, Inc., HP PALMTOP PRODUCTS USA; Phone: 800-825-9911 or 408-134- ways to use your Palmtop. 0100; Fax: 408-134-3344. One of its many functions is HP 200LX 2MB (HP Fl061A) - $679 to provide a continuous read­ Shareware!freeware HP 200LX 1MB (HP Fl060A) - $499 out (in Filer) of the battery mentioned in HP 1000CX Palmtop PC (HP F1203A) - $399 this section voltage and time since its last HP OmniGo 700LX - $NA full charge. Buddy is also a BATT100 iii - Reads battery voltage. (Combination HP 200LX, fax software and Nokia GSM cellular phone.) "passive" program with re­ Last available ON DISK on Best Tips 96. HP StarLink Service - $Varies Available on CompuServe's HP HAND (Wireless messaging service, for "one'stop communications solution." Contact: 800-917- gard to battery usage. Buddy forum, Lib. 11. is a TSR that consumes a LINK.) 1.8MB/12v Flash Card (HP Fl024A) - $199 substantial amount of memo­ BCC iii - PAL application for charging batteries in your Palmtop - you specify 5MB/12v Flash Card (HP Fl012A, with Stacker).- $365 ry (about 54K), and is there­ how long your batteries charge, at what 10MB/12V Flash Card (HP Fl013A, with Stacker) - $579 fore the battery management voHage the charging should stop, etc. Dictionary/Thesaurus Card (HP Fl005A) -$129.95 program of choice only if you New this issue. Available from Compu­ ACIDC Adapter (HP F1011A)-$34.95 want to use its many other Serve's HP HAND forum, Lib. 11. USA/Canada (Opt. ABA); Europe (Opt. ABB); Australia (Opt. ABG); great features. Buddy is BUDDY,ZIP iii - Adds a variety of short United Kingdom (Opt. ABU); South Africa (Opt. ABQ) shareware. cut procedures and extras to use your Palmtop. Last available ON DISK on Best PC Connectivity Cable (HP Fl015A) - $24.95 Tips 96. Available from CompuServe's MAC Connectivity Cable (HP Fl016A) -$24.95 BATTMAN - is a program HP HAND forum, Lib. 11. 100/200LX Connectivity Pack - $109.95 that monitors battery usage ESC,COM iii - Quits Application U.S. (HP Fl021B); International (HP Fl021C) and includes sophisticated Manager so you can run a DOS program, Connect/Adapter Kit - $24_95 algorithms for each type of then retums you to original built-in appli­ (HP Fl023A) 4 adapters for connecting the 100/200LX to modems, printers, and PCs. battery. Battman not only tells cation. New this issue. Available from Service Agreements (100/200LX, 2·year extension) - $85 CompuServe's HP HAND forum, Lib. 11. you the battery voltage, but For U.S. HP Palmtop users. Units must be under warranty to extend. Contact: HP, will shut down your Palmtop if ZIP.lIP iii - File transfer utility. Last Corvallis Service Center, USA; Phone: 503·151·2002. it determines that the battery available on ON DISK on Best Tips 96. Available from CompuServe's HP HAND voltage is too low to safely NOTE: Prices listed are suggested retail price. Dealer prices may vary. forum, Lib. 5. perform functions such as

THE HP PALMTOP PAPER JULY/AUGUST 1996 55 HOW TO CONTACT US Products advertised in this issue of The HP Palmtop Paper [Please note: The HP Palmtop Paper does not and cannot provide technical support.] COMPANY (PRODUCT) .. •.•..•• ••.•.•••••••..•..•••.•• [PHONEIFAX NUMBERS) .. PAGE NUMBER There are a number of ways to get in touch with The HP Palmtop Paper staff. You Accurite (Roppy Drives for 100 /2ooLX)...... [408·433-1980; Fax: 408·433·1716) .. 36 can write, mail us a disk with your com­ ACE (ACE) ...... [800·825·9977 or 408·734·0100; Fax: 408·734·3344) .. center fold ments, send CompuServe or Internet e­ (Palmtop/Omnibook Products includes: ACT! for HP Palmtops; ACE<->FAX Fax Software and Modem Bundles; mail, fax, or calL Our mailing address and ACE <->UNK File Transfer Software; BATIman Battery Monrtoring and Data Protection Software; Carrying Cases; contact information is: Desktop Card Readers; Acoustic Modem Couplers; HP 200LX Palmtop Systems; HP Color OmniBook Software; NiMH Batteries; Printers and Accessories; X·JACK Megahertz Modem Bundles. SkyTel2·Way Paging.) (DoubleFlash Plus PC Memory Cards. HP 200LX 5MB RAM Upgrade) ... back cover Thaddeus Computing, Inc., ASF [Palmtop Computer Ught) ...... [80()'771·36oo or 800·936-3636; Fax: 516·868-6897] .. 31 57 E. Broadway ConectUS Wireless Comm (Wireless Messaging) ...... (8oo·35().Q373) .. 17 Fairfield, IA 52556, U.S.A. DataViz (MacLink Plus) ...... [800-406·6504 or 203·268·0030; Fax: 203·268-4345) .. 4 Phone: 515-472-6330 DTS Wireless Messaging (Wireless Messaging Service) ...... [8OO·967.()943 or 908-602·1144; Fax: 908-602'()990) .. 39 or 800-373-6114 E&B (Leather Cases). . . .[800·896·2273; Inll: 916-344-5047; Fax: 916·782·9306] .. 13 Fax #:515-472-1879 EduCALC (HP 200LX Palmtop Upgrade Offer) ...... [800·365·9376] .. 24 Internet: [email protected] Eldata (Palmtop Accessories)...... [8()().409·1701) .. 26 CompuServe: 76125,1773 Envoy Data (PC Cards. PC Card Products) ...... [800·368·6971 or 602·892·0954; Fax: 602·892·0029] .. 39 EXP Computer (ThinFax Modem) .. . [8oo·EXP·6922 ext. 641 or 714·453-1020; Fax: 714-453·1319] ..inside front cover TO SUBSCRIBE, change address, or clear Greystone Peripherals (PC Cards/Drivers/Adapters) ...... [600·600·5710 or 408·866-4739; Fax: 408·866·8328] .. 15 up any problem with your subscription, Hewlett·Packard (ConnectivITy. Rashcards. AC·DC Adapter) ...... [800-443·1254 or contact nearest HP dealer] .. 30 contact Sharon Dilmore in our subscrip­ Inmax (CGA VGA Graphics Pack Vision) ...... [604·98()'9991; Fax: 604·985·5597] .. 22 IntelliUnk (Windows Connectivity Pack) ...... [603·868·0686; Fax: 603·688·9817] .. 36 tion department. Call phone numbers Intuit (Quicken Connect)...... [415·944·6000; Fax: 415-462·2955) .. 21 above. E-mail usat:orders®thaddeus.com MagicRAM (Rash CardlHard Drive/Card Drive) .... (800·272·6242 or 213-413·9999; Fax: 213-413'()828) .. 11 CompuServe: 76125,1773 Notebook Supply Warehouse (Mobile Computing Products)...... [800·586·6832 or 714-753·6810; Fax: 714-753-8812) .. 35 palmtop.com (E·Mail SubSCriptions) ...... [408·450·3467; Frx: 408·321·3603) .. 48 TO ADVERTISE in The HP Palmtop Paper Quatech (Parallel Port PC Card) ...... [800·553·1170 or 330·434-3154; Fax: 330-434·1409) .. 7 contact Brian Teitzman, Margaret Martin RadioMail (Wireless Messaging Service)...... [800·597·6245 dept. NT3) ..inside back cover or Tiffany Lisk at phone: 515~472-1660 or Shier Systems (CompuServe Access Software. other Palmtop acCessories)...... [805·371·9391; Fax: 805·371·9454) ... 3 800-809-5603; Fax: 515-472-8409 .. Steele Creek Technologies (CardLink Drives) . .. [PhonelFax: 704·588·1780] .. 40 Thaddeus Computing (Subscriptions: HP Palmtop Paper. HP Palmtop Paper ONDISK Technical Support HP OmniGo Wond) .. . ..[800·373-6114 or 515·472·8330; Fax: 515·472·1879) .. 8 (Knowledge products: HP Palmtop Tech Ref. Manual. Lotus/DOS Reference Books. HP PTP's CD InfoBase) ...... 49 HP Technical Support - HP offers these TImes2 Tech (HP 200LX 5MB RAM Upgrade) . . ... (Phone/Fax: 205·62()'1408) .. 15 options: TransDigital (Parallel Port Adapter) ...... [Phone: 510· 745·9m; Fax: 510·745·9937] .. 25 o FREE TECHNICAL SUPPORT - 8:00am. - 5:00pm. P.S.T. Phone: 541-757- 2004; Fax 541-715-5488. Or write: HP Mobile Computing Customer Support at: 1000 N .E. Circle Blvd., CorvalIis, OR 97330, USA. Shareware and Freeware Index (July/August 1996) o FREE AUTOMATED SUPPORT - offered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Software on The HP Palmtop Paper ON DISK or CompuServe Phone: 800-443-1254. (No operator is avail­ able.) PRODUCT FUNCTION CIS FORUM I LIBRARY TYPE PAGE

On-Line Support-offered by these bul­ 42·LJ(.ZIP Game: 42·LJ( bidding game. 'Intemet Free 7 letin board services. ADVERT.ZIP Text: Descriptions of products advertised in this issue. NA NA NA BCC.ZIP Utility; Battery charging manager. HPHAND/ll Free 55 o COMPUSERVE: GO HPHAND BJ.ZIP Game: Blackjack for the Palmtop. ' Intemet Free 6 FORUM - Call 800-848-8199 or 614-457- DBV.ZIP Application: Database viewer. HPHAND/ll Free 9 0802: For FREE membership state #231 . DOMINOES.ZIP Game: Dominoes. 'Intemet Free 6 o AMERICA ON LINE: Keyword P ALM­ ESC.COM Application: Application for exijing Application Manager. HPHAND/ll Free 53 TOP - Call 800-827-6364 or 703-893-6288 FREECELL.ZIP Game; Solijaire. 'Intemet Free 7 for membership information. GOLF.ZIP Game: Golf for the Palmtop. ' Intemet Free 7 o INTERNET: comp.sys.palmtops; or HAMRADIO.ZIP Miscellaneous files from HAM Radio article. ftp (see p. 32) Free & Share 32 comp.sys.handhelds HP·SOK.ZIP Game: Sokoban game for the Palmtop. ')ntemet Postcard 7 KLONDIKE.ZIP Game: Another Solitaire game. ' )ntemet Free 7 How to Submit an Article PCREMOTE.ZIP Utility: Text·based remote control. HPHAND/9 Free 7 The richness of The HP Palmtop Paper PCX_VIEW.lIP Program; Program for PCX graphics viewing. HPHAND/ll Free 9 comes from the contributions of Palmtop PE.ZIP Application; PalEdit, a multi·featured text editor. HPHAND/ll Free 9 PC users. We and your fellow users wel­ PTP28.ZIP Text: The HP Palmtop Paper, July/Aug. 96. NA NA NA come your submissions. (We do not offer PTPDSK28.ZIP Database: PTP OnDisk Index in .GDB fonnat. NA NA NA pa)'I!lent for articles, your reward is know­ mg Jhat y,ou've helped others.) README.ZIP Text: Cover letter to the HP Palmtop Paper OnDisk. NA NA NA 1f you have a good idea and want to "go SLY.ZIP Database templates: From Pastoral Peace article. NA Free 37-40 for if," send it in via CompuServe e-mail TRUCKER.ZIP Lotus: Spreadsheet for calculating mileage. HPHANDI11 Free 43 [75300,2443], Internet: hal goldstein@thad­ UCALC.ZIP Application: Multiple featured calculator. HPHAND/ll Share 9 deus. com, or send disk ornard copy to Hal UNZIP.EXE Utility: Utility to decompress .ZIP files. HPHAND/l Free NA Goldstein or Rich Hall at the above address. Alternatively you can send an WINFILER.ZIP Utility; For file transfer between PT and Windows 95 PC. HPHAND/9 Share 9 outline of y,our idea. We will try to KUide YAHTZEE.ZIP Game; Yahtzee. 'Intemet Free 6 you as to when and whether we wowd use 'Intemet address for games; http://members.aol.comifreewhl44fJndex.html the article and contact you if we need clari­ fication or have any suggestions - please include your phone number. We may' Software mentioned and included in past issues of The HP Palmtop Paper ON DISK want to use an article but for a variety of Subscriber's PowerDisk, or CompuServe's HPHAND Forum reasons_you may' not see it for many months. Please unaerstand that we cannot BATI100.ZIP. (Best Tips 96) Utility: Reports status of Palmtop batteries (HPHAND, 11) Free, 55; BUDDY.ZIP, (Best Tips 96) pro~se to !UII any particular article at any Utility; Adds useful features to HP Palmtop (HPHAND, 11) Share. 28,38.43; VR100.ZIP, (Power Disk 94/95), Application; Vertical particular time. If you can, especially if you write a text reader (HPHAND. 11), Free; ZIP.lIP. (Best Tips 96) Application: File transfer program (HPHAND, 7) Free, 54. (A//1991-1995 Palmtop Profile, send us a pnoto of your­ software contained on The HP Palmtop Paper's CD In/aBase.) self - black and white is preferred, but color is acceptable. TO ORDER the HP Palmtop Paper ON DISK, see order card page 8

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RAM+Plus & Double Speed 1-800-825-9977 6MB HP 200LX ...... $8 9/ 5MB HP 200LX ...... '$749 5MB RAM + Plus Memory Upgrade {Made in Japa ~ ...... $449 A~OO ® 5MB TechRAM Memory Upgrade (M de in U.S. .J ...... $249 ACE Technologies. Inc. DoubleSpeed Upgrade ...... "" ...... $89 DoubleSpeed Upgrade purchased with Memory Upgrade .. . $50 See our complete catalog at http://www.ace-tech.com

ACE Technologies. Inc. 592 Weddell Drive #6. Sunnyvale. California. 94089 U.S.A. Tel: 408-734-0100 or 800-825-9977 Fax: 408-734-3344

DoubleFlosh. DoubleFIosh Plus and RAM+Plus are trademarks of ACE Technologies. Inc. TechRAM Is a trademark of TImes2 Tech