The Control Panel comes with a special MobilePro Settings application that lets you change a number of the configurations. For one thing, you can reset the unit to display 256 colors instead of 65K. I did this and saw no appreciable difference with the applications. I did see a difference with some graphics on the Web. The Settings application also lets you set the VGA-out port to display a 800x600 or 640x480 screen and to display the screen on both the MobilePro and the VGA monitor. You can also change the keyboard layout from U.S. to international English; change the speed of the IrDA port from 115.2 kbps to 4Mbps, and set up the built-in 56.2 modem to operate in the U.S., U.K, Japan, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, or Italy. Finally, there is an option (on the 800 only) to configure the five Quick-Launch keys. Search as I might, I could not find the Quick Launch keys and had to call tech support. It turned out that they were staring me in the face all the time.

The Quick Launch keys are not really keys at all. They are located on the right side of the 800's touchscreen. You can configure the 800 to launch any five applications you like and simple tap on the permanent icons (1 through 5) on the right side of the screen. The 800 has five other "keys" on the left side of the screen that let you access your World Clock, MobilePro Settings, Power Properties (to check your batteries), Systems Properties (to check memory and other systems stats.), and your Volume & Sound properties.

I only tested the Mobile-Pro 800's 56 kbps modem. Connecting to my local ISP was easy, and browsing the Web faster than before. The full screen made it easy to view the Web sites not optimized for the H/PCs with Þ VGA screens.

The MobilePro 800 has its serial, VGA-out, and USB ports located in the back-edge of the unit, behind easy-to-access covers.

Operating system and built-in applications

The NEC MobilePro 800 comes with the Windows CE 2.11 operating system and H/PC Pro applications built into ROM. These include Pocket Word, Pocket Excel, Pocket Outlook (Calendar, Contacts, Tasks, Inbox), Pocket PowerPoint (presentations), Pocket Access (database), Pocket Internet Explorer, InkWriter (a pen-entry note taker), and various Accessories (Calculator, World Clock, Terminal, Solitaire, Voice Recorder).

It provide all the basic software you'll need for keeping an appointment book, tracking names and addresses, listing your tasks, word processing, using spreadsheets, and more. New to the built-in applications with the H/PC Pro are Inkwriter and Pocket Access. Inkwriter  lets you make quick, handwritten notes or draw sketches, diagrams or maps. Pocket Access lets you create Access databases on the H/PC Pro, or download existing Access databases from your desktop PC. You lose some features from the desktop version, but Pocket Access is still a great addition.

The other built-in applications are still there. But they're displayed a little larger on the MobilePro 800.

Is the NEC MobilePro a "Notebook Killer?"

That's the big question on everyone's mind, and it applies to all of the Handheld PC Pros. All of the MobilePros look a lot like small notebook computers. They have keyboards like small notebook computers. And the MobilePro 800 even has a screen as good as some of the best notebook computers. MobilePros are instant-on/off devices, which means there's no long bootup process. The operating system and most of the applications you'll ever need come built into the unit. You (or your MIS department) won't have to install them or re-install them. Finally, the battery life surpasses Win95/98/NT notebooks and the price is very competitive.

I don't think Windows 95/98/NT notebook computers will die out, but two things will happen. First of all, I believe that MobilePros and other H/PC Pros will carve out a fair chunk of the notebook niche in a year or two. There will always be a few users that need the power of an 95/98NT notebook, but most don't. Sales of H/PC Pros will be driven by corporate adoption of the devices. They get the job done, are generally less expensive and easier to maintain. Secondly, I think that the competition from H/PC Pros will cause manufactures of traditional notebooks to adapt. Expect to see smaller, faster, less power-hungry notebooks. This will be good for notebook power users.

Is a NEC MobilePro for you?

It really depends on how you use, or plan to use a PC Companion when you're away from a desktop PC (office or home). Below are some user categories, along with recommendations.

1. Names, dates and notes please. This person uses a computer to keep track of where he or she is, should be, check on phone numbers, and make very brief notes. They may want to play a game occasionally. You can do this on the MobilePro, but it's overkill. Unless you fit into one of the other user categories, consider a Palm-size PC.

2. I need to do a little work and a little play. This person checks appointments and phone numbers, but will also do a little work away from his or her desk. Maybe write some memos or letters, send and receive e-mail, work on a spreadsheet. For fun, they might play a few games or occasionally browse the Web. A portable computer will not be a huge part of their business or personal life, but a handy thing to have when they need it. I think they need more than a Palm-size PC. Of the HPCs I reviewed, I'd probably recommend the one of the HVGA MobilePros for this person. (Ironically, as Editor of Handheld PC Magazine, I spend most of my time at the office in front of a desktop PC. I fit more into this category and would go for the smaller HPC.)

3. Motel productivity. This person not only spends a lot of time away from the office, he or she needs to communicate with the rest of the world and use the basic functions of a computer on the road. In other words, they need to take their office with them wherever they go, to write reports, send email, track their contacts and schedules, browse the Web and more. If I were this person, I would choose the MobilePro 800 because of its larger screen. It's not only easier to browse the Web on a full-size screen, it's much easier to write and edit documents of any kind on a larger screen. You can see more of the document, and use the navigation keys less.

Some mobile users take a notebook with them, but leave it in their motel room or luggage when they out visiting a client. Although the MobilePro 800 is light enough to carry around in a briefcase, you might not want to. Some mobile users carry both a Palm-size PC (for appointments, phone numbers and quick notes) and an H/PC like the MobilePro (for memos, letters, and other keyboard-intensive work).

4. Corporate power user. This person absolutely has to have a computer that has lots of power, memory, or can run applications written for Windows 95/98/NT. This person would be dissatisfied with any H/PC or H/PC Pro, for now. However, more and more applications are being written for, or ported over to run on the Windows CE operating system. I doubt that sophisticated layout programs like Quark Express will make it to Windows CE anytime soon, but a lot of application developers are working on Windows CE solutions.

I was enamored by the larger screen of the MobilePro 800. My use of the machine would be to write and edit articles, browse the WEB for information, e-mail back and forth between authors and vendors, and track the progress of projects with spreadsheets and Pocket Access databases. Most of these tasks are easier to do with a large screen.

The NEC MobilePro 800 H/PC Pro will retail for $1,000.

Bonus software for the NEC MobilePro 800

IntelliSync for Act and Organizer.  Software that lets you synchronize date with Lotus Organizer and ACT! contact manager.

bFAX Express.  Mobile communications software that lets you fax text (.txt), rich text format (.rtf) and bitmap (.2pb) files from your NEC MobilePro. Includes fax preview function.

ImageExpert CE.   30-day trial version.  Lets you view images from a digital camera on your NEC MobilePro. Image Expert CE is compatible with any camera that stores images in JPEG (JPG) or Bitmap (.BMP) formats.

Connect Force.  An Internet Connection Wizard that lets you easily setup and configure any Internet Connection icon on your NEC MobilePro. Pre-canned ISP databases and phone numbers make it easy for users to simply select their ISP and their location, in order to configure their Internet Connection icon.

JETCET PowerPoint Companion. Print driver that lets you convert source files from your MobilePro Pocket applications into PowerPoint presentations.

JETCET Print.  Adds printer support for a wide range of high-speed printers.

HPC dbExplorer.  Lets you browse and manage databases on your MobilePro. Copy, Rename, Delete, Backup.

Randsoft Harmony 98.  30-day trial.  Adds embedded one-click synchronization between the NEC MobilePro and contact managers, including MS Outlook97, Lotus Organizer `97, Ecco Pro 4.0, ACT! 3.0.

View original review here:  http://www.smartphonemag.com/cms/_archives/Mar99/MoPro99?page=0%2C0