Comparison of Pocket PCs for tuning

[Robert Scott]

Having had the opportunity to develop TuneLab for both the Compac iPAQ and 
the Cassio Cassiopeia and to use them for actual tuning, I would like the 
share my findings with those of you considering the purchase of one of 
these devices for use with TuneLab or the Pocket RCT.

The Compac iPAQ is the most expensive Pocket PC, although it is now being 
discounted, as are the other Pocket PCs.  It has the fastest processor of 
any of the Pocket PCs, but the difference is not great.  The screen has 
five levels of brightness, including the lowest level where the backlight 
is turned off completely.  Since it takes more power to run a bright 
backlight, the best battery life is achieved with the backlight turned 
off.  The iPAQ screen is quite readable in average ambient lighting without 
using the backlight, but if you are tuning in dim lighting, expect to use 
at least some backlight.  The most annoying thing about the iPAQ is its 
rounded bottom which makes it impossible to stand it up on its own.  It 
likes to rest flat on its back or on its side.  This is perhaps one reason 
why Dean felt it necessary to develop an alternate sideways display for the 
Pocket RCT.

The Cassio Cassiopeia has a rectangular case so it is a little easier to 
stand up.  Its screen has five levels of brightness, but the backlight 
cannot be turned off completely.  If you plan on tuning outdoors in bright 
sunlight, do not buy the Cassio.  Even with the backlight set to maximum 
the screen is unreadable in these conditions.  Unlike the iPAQ, the Cassio 
screen cannot make use of ambient lighting.  However, in most indoor venues 
the screen is quite readable even with minimum backlighting.  One nice 
thing that only the Cassio has is a second backup battery.  This backup 
battery cannot run the unit, but it will at least keep all the memory alive 
if you should completely run down your main battery.  (The iPAQ only has 
one battery and if that runs down completely then you lose everything that 
was stored in the unit.)

I did a side-by-side battery life comparison of the two Pocket PCs running 
TuneLab Pocket.  (The battery life depends on what kind of program is 
running.)  Both units were set for their minimum backlighting, which means 
completely off for the iPAQ and the lowest level for the Cassio.  Starting 
from a full charge, here is how they did:

  Cassiopeia    iPAQ
  ----------    ----
     6:30       5:00   Time when "low battery" warning appears
     6:45       6:30   Time when unit goes off

As you can see, even with its backlight on, the Cassiopeia had slightly 
longer battery life.  It is somewhat disturbing that the Cassiopeia offered 
only a 15 minute grace period from the low battery warning to the unit 
going off.  But then the backup battery makes that a less serious event 
with the Cassiopeia.  If your tuning day involves more than five hours of 
tuning, you probably should invest in a charger that plugs in your car, or 
else plan on using the AC adapter at some sites.

I am by no means an expert in the use of Pocket PCs, but if anyone has any 
questions regarding these units I will do my best to answer them.

Robert Scott
Real-Time Specialties