Philips Velo

Velo 1
DeveloperPhilips
ManufacturerPhilips
TypeHandheld PC
Release date1997 (1997)[1][2][3]
Introductory priceUS$599.99 (equivalent to $955.58 in 2019)
Discontinued2001 (2001)
Operating systemWindows CE 1.0 (Optional ROM upgrade to Windows CE 2.0)
CPU36.86 MHz Philips MP3910 (32 bit)[4]
MemoryRAM 4 MiB[5]
ROM 8 MiB
DisplayGreen back-lit 5.1-inch resistive touchscreen
Graphics480×240, 2 bits per pixel, 4 grey shades
InputBuilt-in QWERTY-type keyboard
Power2 x AA batteries or a rechargeable NiMH battery pack.
Dimensions172 x 95 x 32 millimetres
Mass374 grams (battery included)
SuccessorVelo 500
Website"www.velo1.com" at the Wayback Machine (archived January 29, 1997)

The Philips Velo was a Handheld PC.[6][7]

Velo 1

The initial Velo 1 was a PDA device released by Philips in August 1997.[8] The device was typical of the HPCs at the time, being powered by two AA batteries or a rechargeable NiMH battery pack. The device had a green back-lit 5.1-inch resistive touchscreen with a resolution of 480×240 pixels at two bits per pixel which allowed for the display of four shades of grey. It originally shipped with Windows CE 1.0, with a ROM upgrade to Windows CE 2.0 that customers could order for $99.99. Expandability was via two internal 'miniature' expansion slots, as well as a PCMCIA slot in the docking station.

The standard model included 4 MB of RAM and 5 MB ROM. An 8 MB model with NiMH battery pack was also available for $839.99 with a free upgrade to Windows CE 2.0 when it was available.

Unlike most other HPCs, the Velo 1 included a built-in low-power software modem, where most other devices required a PCMCIA card modem. PCMCIA cards quickly drain batteries, so the low-power software modem helped eke out battery life. The modem operated at 14.4 kbit/s. Other communication features included an infrared (IrDa) port and serial port, both capable of a maximum transmission rate of 112,500 bit/s.

The MIPS processor in the unit made its performance snappy compared to other devices, such as the HP 300LX or HP320LX.

Velo 500

In July, 1998 the Velo 1 was replaced by the Velo 500, which included more RAM and ROM and a much faster Philips PR31700 MIPS processor running at 75 MHz. The Velo 500 had a widescreen resolution of 620×240 pixels, which was becoming the norm. Not only did the screen feature more horizontal pixels, it now displayed in four bits per pixel, allowing 16 shades of grey to be displayed. It featured up to 24 MiB of RAM as well as an upgrade to the software modem, which operated at 28.8 kbit/s, a digital voice recorder and shipped with Windows CE 2.0.[9][10][11][12][13]

See also

References
  1. PHILIPS VELO HANDHELD PC FINALLY ARRIVES IN CANADA. Abstract: TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, 1997 JUL 7 (NB) -- By Grant Buckler. Philips Electronics Ltd. launched its Velo handheld computer in Canada last week. The Velo was introduced to the US market last fall at the Comdex/Fall trade show. Report Date: 1997-07-07
  2. PLEASE! LEAVE COMPUTING TO THE EXPERTS!, By STEWART ALSOP; REPORTER ASSOCIATE SHEREE R. CURRY, June 23, 1997, FORTUNE Magazine, The second product was introduced in the U.S. last month: the Philips Velo 1.
  3. PHILIPS VELO 1: UNIQUE BUT NOT FLAWLESS, Page 94, 24 Mar 1997, InfoWorld
  4. Unofficial Velo FAQ Page - Velo Series Specs
  5. PHILIPS VELO 1 FAQ Archived 2016-01-18 at the Wayback Machine, Joe Blow's Windows CE 1.0 Software Archive - FAQ
  6. "Products - Phillip" at the Wayback Machine (archive index)
  7. THE WHOLE WORLD IN YOUR HANDS, Velo 1, Designer: Lunar Design and Phillips Electronics, Consumer Products:Bronze, By Julie Tilsner, Page 44(page 7 of pdf) ,Annual Design Award Winners, Jun 2, 1997, Business Week, The Velo 1 was named Best Hand-Held Product at Comdex 96 by Byte magazine and is an Editor’s Choice product at PC magazine.
  8. Was senior product manager for mobile software for the Philips Velo 1 * Launched one of the first mobile Windows CE mobile devices into the consumer electronics market. * Device won Best of Comdex award. * Was the first PDA to include software for voice recording and compression, fax, software modem and built-in database.
  9. Unofficial Velo FAQ Page - My Velo 1
  10. ""Velo Official Site - Phillips"". Retrieved 2015-05-02.
  11. Philips Velo 500 HPC Review, by Julie Strietelmeier, June 5, 1998, The Gadgeteer
  12. Philips Licenses Spyglass Windows CE Technology for Velo 500 Handheld PC, 1997 July 15, PRNewswire
  13. Features - Philips Velo 500, By Dan Hanttula, 1998 ,Pen Computing Magazine
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