Check out my Casio E-125 Info page!
Check out my Casio E-125 Info page!
Now, I'll be the first to admit, this is a pretty expensive little toy. However, in addition
to being portable, it is extremely versatile. I just bought a Casio Cassiopeia at
a portable computer store, and I already love it to death. My unit came with 32MB of internal
RAM, plus I bought a 32MB Compact Flash (CF) card. This CF card can be transported between
the Cassiopeia and a laptop via a CF to PCMCIA adapter. This is a great way to copy MP3s. Now,
32MB can't hold much, but for the most part, driving from work to home, I usually listen to the
same songs. And when I get tired of them, I can just put more in. And, of course, I've got
my trusty MP-ROM MP3 CD-ROM player in the car, too :).
So what's the point? Well, this Windows CE based PDA can be used for GPS as well as MP3s. And
it can do both at the same time! The Casio Cassiopeia E-125 runs at 150MHz using a MIPS
processor. I've already got a serial GPS adapter from DeLorme, and using a cable from DeLorme
(basically just a glorified null modem adapter), the GPS adapter can hook into the Cassiopeia's
bottom serial port (using the Casio serial port cable). Using DeLorme's Solus Pro, your PDA can
use maps created via DeLorme Street Atlas and/or AAA Map 'n Go, and use the GPS adapter with
those maps!
There are drawbacks, however. Solus Pro for Windows CE is definately not as good as Street
Atlas or AAA Map 'n Go... not by any means. Solus Pro is black and white... no colors. And
it's a little messy to navigate around using the stylus.
But it does the job. DeLorme has a free version of Solus called Solus Basic, but this version
only supports one map, and will not use GPS.
I was able to create several different sized maps in Street Atlas 8, everything from a street
level guide of Toledo & it's surrounding areas to a map of Ohio's highways & Interstates, to
an overview of the mid- to eastern- United States.
The biggest qualm I have with Solus Pro is the size of the GPS pointer. It's a little to big
for some maps. But it works.
One of coolest features of this setup is the ability to play songs using Windows CE's Media
Player in the background while tracking GPS at the same time! I use a cord to go from the
PDA's headphone jack to my in-dash CD Player's AUX input jack.
Like I said, the 32MB card I
have doesn't hold may songs, but there are a variety of options. First off, they make CF
memory cards in many sizes. Some sizes include 32MB, 48MB, 64MB, 96MB, & 128MB. But beware,
they go up in price very quickly!!! Another option is the IBM MicroDrive. The current sizes
for these babies are 340MB & 1Gig! Yes, that's right, 1GB in a CF formfactor. I think the
340MB drive runs about $299, and the 1GB drive runs at $499.
More options include internet access via a cell phone connection! Mine hasn't come in yet,
but the guy I bought it from game me a demo, and I thought it was very cool. He had a CF
adapter made by Socket Communications which has an adapter cable that plugged right into
his Sprint PCS phone. He had a different phone than I do, but Socket makes an adapter for
it, too. In any case, he was able to dial in to his home ISP and get one the net. Now, at
14.4K, it certainly wasn't blazing fast. And, of course, don't forget about the size of the
screen... not that big. But for basic browsing & e-mail, it's great! And you can use your
existing ISP, you don't have to use WAP or no other crap like that... and no extra charges!
It uses your minutes up just like a normal phone conversation, of course, but no extra charges
above that!
And there is much more coming for the new Pocket-PC Windows CE based devices, so watch out!
Here is what I've bought so far, and have used in my car:
| Item | $$$ | Where to Buy |
|---|---|---|
| Casio Casiopeia | $600 | PC store, Best Buy |
| Socket Comm. PCS Phone CF Adapter | $130 | PC Store, Internet |
| 32MB Compact Flash (CF) Memory Card | $100 | PC Store, Best Buy |
| Delorme Street Atlas W/Earthmate GPS adapter | $160 | DeLorme |
| Delorme Solus Pro 1.5 & Windows CE cable | $70 | DeLorme |
| Cell Phone Holder w/suction cups for windshield (modified for PDA) | $10 | Murrays |
| $1070 |
joe@joethielen.com
www.joethielen.com
Last Modified 11/20/2000