The Casio Pocket Viewer PV-750 is touted by Casio as an entry level PDA and comes in an ttractively styled metallic blue plastic casing. A flip top cover reveals a sizeable grey-scale touch screen that comes with a backlight function for ease-of-use. A plastic stylus is housed within the body of the PDA.

However, the PV-750 also has a one-handed Action key. This is basically a disc button on the top left hand corner of the PDA. Once the PDA is turned on the disc may be used to scroll through menu items, and then depressed to activate a function. Of course to perform any functions with efficiency, such as keying in new entries, the use of the stylus is necessary.
The PV-750 operates on two AAA batteries with a continuous life-span that varies from 14 hours through to 160 hours depending on the type of usage involved. A serial port cradle is provided with the PDA to allow synchronisation of data from the PDA to a PC. The PV-750 also has 2Mb of what it calls fail-safe Flash memory. This will store up to 8,000 Contacts, 24,000 Schedule items and 1,400 Memos. The fail-safe part kicks in when the batteries are removed, storing data for up to 30 days until the batteries are replaced.

Infrared functionality has also been built into this PDA. It has a direct line of sight operation of 20cm, and allows the PV-750 to connect with certain types of GSM mobile phones. The types of mobile phones supported are on the packaging, and include certain models of Nokia, Ericsson and Siemens phones. The infrared capabilities are an advantage, considering the fact that emails may be sent from any location at any time via the users mobile phone. Furthermore, software may be downloaded from the Casio Web site which allows the user to compose and broadcast multiple SMS messages from a single source.

This is not a Windows CE product and as such the software runs its own race in stock standard PDA software. The PV-750 has a scheduler/calendar which has a daily, weekly, one month, two month and three month views. Added to this is a to do and reminder list. There is a contacts section to keep all business and personal contacts handy, as well as email software. Email can be synchronised with Microsoft Outlook 97/98/2000 via Enterprise Harmony software, which can be downloaded from the Casio Web site. Other software includes a standard memo function whereby a memo can be typed into the PDA.

Otherwise there is a quick memo section which allows the user to write freehand memos into the PDA. This is then saved as a graphics file. Finally, there is expense management and currency conversion software standard on the PDA.
Criticisms of the product include the fact that the touch screen in some instances was not sensitive enough to the stylus touch.

Furthermore, the PV-750 does not have handwriting recognition like Graffiti. It uses a soft QWERTY keyboard on the screen which can be used to input data. I found this a hassle to operate and extremely slow to type (imagine typing with just one finger). Finally, in the PDA stakes one of the biggest advantages competitors on the market have over the PV-750 are a multitude of third party programs. Overall quite a competent product, but in terms of a wow factor it is found wanting.

Stephen Teh