PC giant, Compaq Computer Corp has confirmed it plans to use Microsoft’s Windows CE operating system to develop a series of new products. The world’s largest PC manufacturer, said it was using the software to develop a number of products for the emerging market of domestic information appliances including set top boxes, games consoles, smart handheld PCs and screen phones. The news follows the launch, last week, of Compaq’s first range of handheld computers targeted at mobile business users. The C-series, which consists of one monochrome model – the 810 – and two color machines – the 810C and 2010C – supports version 2.0 of Microsoft’s CE as its operating system. But Neil Dagger, senior product manager for the C-series told Computerwire: This is just the beginning. We are planning to introduce further CE-based products, including more handheld PCs, by the end of this year and more devices are planned for next year. He said that Compaq could not divulge specific details of the new products at present but added that the company was very serious about the (domestic) market. Intelligent domestic devices, like set top boxes and Net TV’s, are the way the market is going, he said, At the moment, we’re exploring at all the options.
