MainStreet Networks' improved 3-in-1 Clio

Still sleek and sexy, the new Clio C-1050 H/PC Pro is faster, has more RAM, and sports a sharp 64K color display.

BY CHRIS DE HERRERA

Vadem's original Clio C-1000 (MainStreet Networks has purchased the Clio C-1050 from Vadem) was one of the most unique and functional of the Handheld PC Pros (see review, Mar/Apr 99). The new Clio C-1050 has the same unique "Swing-top" hinges that let you use the Clio as a notebook, a tablet and presentation display. In fact, from the outside the new Clio looks identical to the C-1000. It still looks like a vanity mirror attached to a keyboard.

The improvements are inside the Clio. The C-1050 is faster, has more RAM memory, and sports a sharper screen than its predecessor. Under the hood the new Clio is powered by a 168 MHz NEC Vr4121A MIPS processor (almost twice the speed of the previous version). The C-1050 comes with a healthy 32 MB of RAM standard (instead of optional as it was in the C-1000). Finally, the backlit 9.4" 640x480 VGA screen now supports 65,536 colors.

Three H/PC Pros in one

While operating as a traditional notebook computer, the unique "Swing-top" hinge lets the screen tilt forward and back as well as at angles to provide the best viewing angles and location. This design lets the user adjust the screen closer to them. It also moves the center of gravity forward so when you click or draw on the touchscreen you won't knock the unit on its back. The keys on the near full-size keyboard are angled out for easier typing.

You can flip the screen out and down on the keyboard to put the Clio in its tablet mode operation. When the user switches to this mode, the built-in Calligrapher 5.3 handwriting recognition software is automatically launched. Applications are launched, menus accessed, and data entered using the touchscreen. Calligrapher 5.3 is the newest version of that excellent handwriting recognition software. It includes improved cursive, print, or mixed handwriting recognition and a soft-keyboard that displays an image of the keyboard on the screen. You can tap the keys with your stylus to enter the characters.

Finally, you can flip the Clio's screen again to put it into Display mode. This is excellent for small group presentations using Pocket Powerpoint. As with the original model, the Clio C-1050 in Display mode slides easily on smooth surfaces. Be careful with it in this mode.

The Clio's unique "Swing-top" hinge lets you use the C-1050 as a traditional notebook computer (left), as a pen-entry tablet (lower right), or as a display for Pocket Powerpoint presentations.

New screen rotation capability

New to the Clio C-1050 is screen rotation capabilities. In all modes you can select the option to rotate the screen in 90-degree increments. When using it as a Tablet, you can flip the screen 90 or 270 degrees to make it long and narrow like a standard piece of paper. Flip the screen 180 degrees in Presentation mode so the image is not displayed upside down. The Clio uses the graphics controller to rotate the display, which means this feature does not slowdown the performance of the system.

New, faster modem

Much of rest of the new Clio is the same as the C-1000. The hardware specifications are summarized below. However, new to the C-1050 is the 56 Kbps Lucent hardware modem. This should make Web browsing and downloading e-mail a more pleasant experience for Clio users.

Like the earlier C-1000, the Clio C-1050 has a non-standard serial port. A small adapter is included to convert it to a standard 9-pin serial port. An unfortunate carryover from the C-1000 is the CompactFlash slot, located in the back of the unit behind the main 10-hr Lithium-ion battery. As with the previous Clio, you must remove the main battery to access the CF slot. This limits the type of CF cards you can use in the Clio. CF memory cards work fine, but you can't use a CF LAN adapter card because the main battery gets in the way of the connecting cable. You have to remove the main battery to access the CF slot. The backup battery lasts about 10 minutes, so be quick about inserting or removing a CF card.

Like its older cousin, the new Clio comes with ROM that can be upgraded by the user. That means that when Microsoft releases a newer version of the Windows CE operating system and built-in applications, MainStreet Networks may choose to make a user-installable upgrade chip available to its users.

Built-in and optional software

The Clio comes with the Windows CE 2.11 operating system and the standard H/PC Pro software, including Pocket Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Calendar, Contacts, and Tasks. Vadem has also built in the latest version of the Calligrapher handwriting recognition program, the Citrix ICA Client; bSquare's bFAX Pro and bUSEFUL Backup Plus; Westtek's JETCET Print drivers, utilities and PowerPoint Companion; a Contrast/brightness application; an Internet connection wizard; and Vadem ViewFinder.

ViewFinder allows users to view, edit and create new Calendar, Contacts and Tasks all on one screen at the same time as well as launch Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Calculator. ViewFinder is more useable than the similar application found on the HP Jornada (see Screen 1).

Screen 1: ViewFinder lets users view, edit and create new Calendar, Contacts and Tasks on one screen, as well as launch Pocket Excel, Word, Powerpoint and the Calculator.

Shipping with the Clio C-1050 on CD-ROM is Microsoft's ActiveSync 3.0 (synchronization software); Vadem's ViewFinder Notes (synchronizes with desktop PC); bSquare's bUSEFUL Suite (evaluation version of a utility suite); ParaGraph's NetWriter; and Westtek's JETCET Print Professional (evaluation version).

Adding power to a unique design

MainStreet Networks' Clio is one of the most unique and functional designs I have seen in an H/PC Pro. The added processor speed, enhanced RAM memory, sharper color display and faster modem make the Clio C-1050 one of the best H/PC Pros available. The Clio C-1050 retails for $999 and is available from MainStreet Networks' online store (access from www.clio.com).