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The Honeywell WebPad is an interesting device. With its excellent display and integrated 802.11b NIC, we had no problems networking this blue and white wonder. E-mail and Web browsing are a snap as well, but the lack of a calendar of any sort irritated us. The WebPad has a selection of built-in buttons for easy access to a set of applications -- e-mail, the desktop, the keyboard and Honeywell's WebPad support Web site. We were frustrated by the nonresizable keyboard but found that the easy access key to display or hide the keyboard was more acceptable than AquaPad's nonsolution.

The Honeywell WebPad (screen view) Click here to enlarge

Synchronization of e-mail and software installation via a PC or network connection is not possible -- a big minus -- though updates of the software and firmware itself can be done automatically by the unit online (similar to the Windows automatic updates) as well as via FTP. The biggest plus for the WebPad is the support of third-party applications: Microsoft PowerPoint and Word are supported out of the box, and the distribution of Citrix enables additional application support without much hassle.

Honeywell WebPad S7350B, $1,650. Available: Now. Honeywell International, (800) 554-4558, (612) 951-1000; fax (763) 954-5138. www.honeywell.com/yourhome/ or yourhome@honeywell.com

First International Computer of America AquaPad

This sleek Windows CE 3.0żbased device grabbed our attention out of the box for its look and feel as well as its weight. Tying with the ViewSonic ViewPad for the lightest entry in our review, at 2.5 pounds, the AquaPad just felt right in our hands.

Network support includes a large number of both 802.11b and 10/100 Ethernet PCMCIA NICs. We popped a Cisco Aironet 350 into the PCMCIA slot before powering up and had instant access to the network. The AquaPad, like the Honeywell WebPad and ViewSonic ViewPad, can store local settings and data on its internal storage card or external-based storage, such as a CompactFlash card.

The default distribution of the WinCE 3.0żbased AquaPad includes a Citrix client, as does the Honeywell WebPad. We liked this option, especially for a corporate install, because it offers access to applications that cannot be easily or affordably ported to Windows CE.

A big downside of the AquaPad, however, is the virtual keyboard. The keyboard is either in your face or in the system tray. We much preferred the sizing option on the ProGear. Also lacking is an indication on the virtual keyboard of the "state" of the keys -- you could never tell if the caps lock was up or down, or whether you had indeed hit CTRL or ALT.

The price of the AquaPad is temptingly low, providing an excellent solution for much less than the competition, but a lack of PIM applications and the issues we had with the virtual keyboard left us willing to pay a bit more for the additional features provided by the competition.

AquaPad, starts at $650. Available: Now. First International Computer of America, (510) 252-7777; fax (510) 252-8888. www.fic.com.tw or sales@fica.com

Technology editor Lori MacVittie has been a software developer and a network administrator. Most recently, she was a member of the technical architecture team for a global transportation and logistics organization. Send your comments on this article to her at lmacvittie@nwc.com