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Bots /The Ultimate Palm Robot/ Mukhar & Johnson / 222880-6 / Chapter 1

Chapter 1 Meeting the Palm Robot 19

We use the term “Pocket PC” for any device that runs the Windows Pocket
PC operating system. Pocket PCs are sold by a number of companies, includ-
ing Hewlett-Packard, Toshiba, Dell, ViewSonic, and others (see Figure 1-9).

Figure 1-9
Pocket PCs,
regardless of
how they’re
branded,
can all run
the same
software and,
in fact, all
work more
or less the
same way.

Since Pocket PC devices run a version of Windows, you may be familiar
with many of the programs for these devices. Many Pocket PC programs are
smaller scale, “pocket” versions of the same programs that run on a full-sized
PC running a Windows OS.

Where to Find New and Used PDAs
So, you’ve decided to build the Palm Robot. (If you’re still reading this in the
aisle of your local bookstore, now’s the time to decide. Stop procrastinating,
take this book to the checkout, and buy it.)
Obviously, you will need to get yourself the parts for the robot. We’ll talk
about robot parts in Chapters 2 and 3. But the other important ingredient is a
Palm OS PDA. How can you find a cheap PDA that will be no great loss if it
gets banged up a bit as part of a robot? Let us show you.

The most obvious place to get a PDAis to reach down to your belt and grab
your Palm out of its carrying case. If you already own a PDA, and you don’t

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Monday, May 12, 2003 10:09:14 AM