Hand held computers such as PalmPilot are experiencing exponential growth. The computer research firm International Data Corp., estimates that annual sales of handheld computers will grow from 3,058,000 to 13,080,000 units in the next three years.

REALTORS^® require fast, easy remote access to networked resources and electronic communications, which makes the hand-held computer the perfect tool for the industry.

Since 1996, 3Com Corporation has led the way with the introduction of its Pilot 1000 and Pilot 5000 products, which serve the needs of those industries which require information management on-the-go, such as the real estate industry. The company, according to Dataquest industry analysts holds a 63 percent share in worldwide localized markets.

The PalmPilot offers a number of applications, but requires a short learning curve as you familiarize yourself with this new kind of organizer. You'll have to learn a whole new language (the Graffiti alphabet utilized by the PalmPilot) and a new operating system (the Palm OS.)

The PalmPilot is available in several varieties. The original Pilot, available in 1000 or 5000 models, was released about two years ago. The second-generation PalmPilot added e-mail support, TCP/IP connectivity, and a backlit screen; and the latest model "Palm III" boasts 2MB of RAM, infrared beaming capability, and flash memory. If you're using an earlier version of the PalmPilot, you can upgrade your OS and RAM to give it these new capabilities. To find out how, you are welcome to visit the 3Com upgrade page at http://palmpilot.3com.com/custsupp/downloads/indexdl.html.

You can download these extra applications through your desktop software. You can create a shortcut on your desktop to the installation file (called instapp.exe on the PC and InstallApp on the Mac), which is located in your PalmPilot directory. Then run this program and browse to your downloaded PRC file. During your next HotSync, your add-on will be included in the data transfer.

If you are a Mac user, you can pick up a Mac Pac before you synchronized your PalmPilot with your desktop. Because the PalmPilot has PC compatible software, you will need this commercial package instead. The package includes Mac desktop software and a Mac adapter, and costs about $15. Mac users should also note that most PalmPilot programs are compressed in the ZIP file format, which some Mac compression programs can't accommodate. Mac users can get around this problem easily by downloading ZipIt, a program that will decompress ZIP files in a jiffy. Finally, Mac users should expect to encounter some limitations in the level of connectivity they can achieve with the PalmPilot.

New improvements are constant. The newest generation of PalmPilot features improved handwriting recognition, a slimmer design, and a faster processor. Code-named Razor, the new product edition will be slimmed down and feature a rechargeable lithium-ion battery as well as increased memory capability. It will be available this November.

3Com, along with Intel, IBM, Ericsson, and Nokia, is part of the Bluetooth wireless technology initiative announced in May, which is expected to play a large part in the 1999 PalmPilot's wireless capabilities.

The wireless communication protocol will allow the Pilot to communicate via cell phone to an expanded docking station, which can then connect to the user's PC.

Published: September 4, 1998

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