The pocket-size CASSIOPEIA weighs less than a pound and
features a 480 x 240-dot LCD display with a backlight, a pen
touch sensitive screen, an easy-to-use keyboard, and a
standard PC card expansion slot. CASSIOPEIA also features a
CPU, which was optimized for the Microsoft? Windows? CE
platform, through joint development with Casio and Hitachi.
The CPU is based on the SH-3 processor which is one of
Hitachi's high performance SuperH? RISC engine.
CASSIOPEIA comes built-in with Windows CE, a Windows-based
operating system specially developed by Microsoft Corp. The
result is a high level of data compatibility between
CASSIOPEIA and Windows-based desktop computers. It also
offers the same user interface as found in Windows for the
desktop. The open architecture of the system helps ensure a
rich supply of software applications from third-party
developers.
CASSIOPEIA comes pre-installed with a number of other useful
applications, including Information Manager (which is
synchronized with Microsoft Schedule+ for Windows 95),
Microsoft Pocket Word and Microsoft Pocket Excel -- HPC
versions of well-known PC software applications, such as
Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel, a world clock, and a
calculator. In addition, e-mail capabilities and Microsoft
Pocket Internet Explorer, together with various ports perform
powerful data communications. CASSIOPEIA comes bundled with a
selection of business-oriented applications that will allow
fax transmission, remote e-mail access, information service
reception using a 1-way pager, wireless e-mail for use with a
2-way pager. The CASSIOPEIA will also include QV camera
Connection software and a financial calculator.
CASSIOPEIA is designed and engineered as a companion to
Windows-based desktop PCs for "mobile professionals."
CASSIOPEIA's portability, PC connectivity and communication
capabilities, enables the user to update or edit data
anywhere.
As the first manufacturer of the Digital Diary, Casio was
able to draw upon\ years of experience in developing the
next-generation mobile information hardware. In addition, the
Windows CE platform and CASSIOPEIA are the result of a
three-year collaboration between Casio and Microsoft, the
world leader in the development of computer operating
systems. Both companies plan to work closely together in
further development of Windows CE and the Handheld PC.
"In today's office, everything from personal data to official
documents is being stored and managed using personal
computers," said Mr. Kazuo Kashio, president of Casio
Computer Co., Ltd. "Next-generation mobile information
devices will make it possible to freely access these
resources no matter where you might happen to be. CASSIOPEIA
is a revolutionary new tool that expands the range of
PC-stored data to on-site applicability for worldwide usage."
"Microsoft applauds Casio's introduction of CASSIOPEIA, a new
Handheld PC from a world leader in consumer electronics,"
said Craig Mundie, senior vice president, consumer platforms
division at Microsoft. "The introduction of CASSIOPEIA, which
incorporates and complements the Windows CE platform, helps
pave the way for the success of the HPC category."
One of the greatest assets of the Windows CE-based unit is
that it is an open platform. A number of software vendors
have announced their support for this platform, which will
enrich the selection of HPC versions of major PC software
packages. Casio will continue to support and cooperate with
these software vendors to further develop the HPC category.
