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To begin with, that we both love the product company Casio - even starting with an old, older than us, calculator Pocket LC-II (still alive!), Which we used to sneak a couple in the fifth grade in mathematics lessons. Well ... the fact he and technological progress! Waited. We got to explore industrial design PV-S450, but since one of us - the now famous "smoked" Palm m100, and the other - HP Jornada 720, and each of his "beast" values, then we would compare. The first thing that catches your eye - a solid screen size, which has, however, "palm" the resolution of 160x160 and the elegance of fine silver shell. And yet - the lack of Graffiti. Comfortable stylus, not a hint of IR. And the wheel (Sony, ay!) On the left side on top ... But let us not hurry. Casio, it seems, has positioned the average model in the line Pocket Viewer as the nearest competitor Palm m100, although the size it looks more like a Palm V. Like any respectable PDA, PV cradle is equipped to communicate with the "big" computer (via a COM port) and drive with appropriate software, called PC Sync (similar, in many Sync'ah we will soon get confused:).
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Since the Palm in this world - the trendsetter, the Casio necessarily have to go on the patterns: "Contacts" are very similar to the Address Book, "Notes" remind Memo Pad, "Recording pen" - Note Pad, and the "costs" - Expense, which however, thrown out of the m100. From "his" - spreadsheet, synchronizing with Excel for PDA is very powerful. It seems, then take into account the feelings of people who have to download it separately QuickSheet for "pilots" and lose it every sloppy replacing batteries, and then agonizing sync. There is a converter for currency effects, which are provided and Ruble (PV issued separately for Russia, but Russification ... sore - and then), and the latest fashions, the euro. Toys by default turned in our machine 3, and all deserve a separate description. In the Russian version is also installed arsenalovsky dictionary for a few tens of thousands of words in each direction (for business communication will suffice). Clock, calculator and calendar from a common menu available, but for them a special place called "Inst", in common parlance - "Pop-up funds." This section is accessible from anywhere, but not from the main menu. It is strange that used such a solution - possibly to avoid patent hassles with Palm Inc., Perhaps in an attempt to improve. In any case, despite the beautiful digital-analog clock, calendar, and quite a good standard calculator, a place chosen unsuccessfully.
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Highlighting seems to be one of the favorite destinations Casio. Illuminator system can sing praises, but here it has caused us to stream bewilderment. No, she lights above all praise, but that it turns off by itself after 15 seconds, just annoying, especially in the experimental dark when we are painfully searched stylus Light button and found it, after a couple of times off and on PDA (Button "OFF" is located directly above the "Light"). In addition, lights off at the time of synchronization, and included not want to end the conversation.A handheld - not hours ... The total absence of "graffiti" life very difficult, because we know from personal experience that on the subway or in the car, it exceeds the on-screen keyboard to get to the button that even at very weak shaking of the train highly unlikely. So if you want to record something quickly and clearly, there is only two options - wait until the system is designed Russified handwriting PocketViewerOS, or use the "write a feather." After Palm Note Pad, it caused us just the joy of children - notes made in this application, great read, even if written by a doctor's handwriting, it is possible to draw straight lines and squares, which is not enough (from our point of view) Palm OS. The only negative - in contrast to the Note Pad, screen does not scroll, which is not always convenient. Incidentally, among the advantages of PV must be attributed, and a surprisingly soft, accurate and convenient stylus - in any case, you can draw even a quality cartoon.
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Investigating the machine, we have three remembered the commandment, "read the manual first." But even the repeated reading of the descriptions do not help us understand the application, "expenses". Honestly, palm Expense much more pleasant in communication! Another financial tool - Currencies - offered hope. But here's the translation of different currencies we are slightly surprised by the results ... It turned out that the default rate of the ruble against the dollar, "hammered" at a ratio of 28.1 rubles per 1 USD, and cross-exchange rates refer to the beginning of 2000 ... To status change, you need to make artful manipulation click Menu Bar. We say that a change in the exchange option, apparently, is not considered very popular, so hidden away thoroughly. Came to rubles and it's time to talk about Russification. That's really what surprised so surprised! Casio all of its products for the Russian market from the perspective of linguistics tries to "lick" "to perfection. But Pocket Viewer ... Whether because of the fact that this free sample, or (God forbid!) And decided, but where the Russian language would be very useful (the same "cost"), his strange way a substitute for English. Reduction is sometimes laughable. Very inconvenient to change the layout - the main menu to call Menu Bar, choose there's Layouts and layout - between QWERTY, AZERTY (French) and the Russian Windows-like. True, in case you need to write a few letters in a different layout, there is a shortcut button "SMBL" (symbol), under which, in alphabetical order are the letters of all known Viewer'u layouts, but in comparison with the Palm is a solution of half-hearted. Experiment's sake, we have established English language - no problem, everything is much clearer than in the other cases in Russian. And finally, one of the biggest drawbacks Casio Pocket Viewer, in any case, today - not even a hint of connection to the Internet. However, this is partly compensated by the potential of cable to connect to another PV, and even with notebooks Casio "Advanced Series" SF, CSF, and NX. Very good for a manager whose employees use these devices to conduct business, or an employee service center (in the presence of special programs). Perhaps this deficiency will be corrected later. Two AAA batteries for long enough, and to replace them has a special switch on the rear of the PV, which is also the lock on the lid and switch batteries when replacing the memory on an internal power supply, preventing information loss. So - conclusion. To date, the Pocket Viewer - Organizer for those who are dealing with spreadsheets, including financial, statistical, many rides, but do not need to connect the handheld to the web. The relative scarcity of opportunities (in fact, they are limited to only pre-installed software again, so far) does not allow him now to fully compete with Palm. Let's hope that all the PV front.If the software bugs are relatively easy to fix, then the hardware - not a very good layout of buttons, especially OFF and Light, the absence of infrared port - much harder and it seems they will remain disabled in this series of handheld computers. Discussion of the article in the conference authors, translation: