I've had a casio E-100 for about a year, thanks to my office, but I hate being passed over by all the new emulation and porting projects that only run on PocketPC's.
But what's been available has been discouraging. The E-125 is the slowest of the lot, but is well supported and has no controller issues. The Ipaq is fastest, but has a fatal controller flaw.
Now along comes the @migo, which at first glance seems to be the answer, but really isn't. It has good speed, a pcmcia slot, decent screen, removeable battery, basically everything I would want in a new PDA, but it's limited to 2 simultaneous button presses.
I've been debating if I could live with that, and after playing some NES platform games today I realise I can't. All too often you have to run and jump, which requires 3 simultaneous button presses. i.e. right arrow, run button, jump button.

So what does that leave me with besides the aging E125? It's slow and the screen in useless outdoors.

Suggestions? Comments?

> So what does that leave me with besides the aging E125? It's slow and the screen
> in useless outdoors.
>
> Suggestions? Comments?

Well, for one thing it would be nice if you posted this in the new Pocket PC Emu board here at Retrogames. It's new and needs more visitors.

As for suggestions, the Casios are the ONLY choice right now for having fully functional *built-in* controls. The only other option is to attach a serial gamepad using Larry Bank's driver to a faster PPC like the iPaq. The driver is available for download in the Pocket PC section here at Retrogames, plus check my Larry Bank Interview for more info.

If you can wait, the next few months will likely reveal several new Pocket PC's from all the big companies. Toshiba just announced their's Monday, plus Nec has one coming. And you just know Casio will come up with new models to compete.

Sadly most companies tryly don't yet see the PPC as a gaming device - when asked, most of them are clueless and just see it as a business device. So far Casio is the only company that really "gets it." Sad but true... You would've thought the age of "computers are not for games" ideology was over by now. :(

-Prophet-
www.retrogames.com

Thanks Prophet.
I copied this conversation to that board.
If I was aware of it, I would have started out there.
-LuSiD

>
> > So what does that leave me with besides the aging E125? It's slow and the
> screen
> > in useless outdoors.
> >
> > Suggestions? Comments?
>
> Well, for one thing it would be nice if you posted this in the new Pocket PC Emu
> board here at Retrogames. It's new and needs more visitors.
>
> As for suggestions, the Casios are the ONLY choice right now for having fully
> functional *built-in* controls. The only other option is to attach a serial
> gamepad using Larry Bank's driver to a faster PPC like the iPaq. The driver is
> available for download in the Pocket PC section here at Retrogames, plus check
> my Larry Bank Interview for more info.
>
> If you can wait, the next few months will likely reveal several new Pocket PC's
> from all the big companies. Toshiba just announced their's Monday, plus Nec has
> one coming. And you just know Casio will come up with new models to compete.
>
> Sadly most companies tryly don't yet see the PPC as a gaming device - when
> asked, most of them are clueless and just see it as a business device. So far
> Casio is the only company that really "gets it." Sad but true... You would've
> thought the age of "computers are not for games" ideology was over by now. :(
>
> -Prophet-
> www.retrogames.com
>

> I've had a casio E-100 for about a year, thanks to my office, but I hate being
> passed over by all the new emulation and porting projects that only run on
> PocketPC's.
> But what's been available has been discouraging. The E-125 is the slowest of
> the lot, but is well supported and has no controller issues. The Ipaq is
> fastest, but has a fatal controller flaw.
> Now along comes the @migo, which at first glance seems to be the answer, but
> really isn't. It has good speed, a pcmcia slot, decent screen, removeable
> battery, basically everything I would want in a new PDA, but it's limited to 2
> simultaneous button presses.
> I've been debating if I could live with that, and after playing some NES
> platform games today I realise I can't. All too often you have to run and jump,
> which requires 3 simultaneous button presses. i.e. right arrow, run button, jump
> button.
>
> So what does that leave me with besides the aging E125? It's slow and the screen
> in useless outdoors.
>
> Suggestions? Comments?
>

The @migo button problem is nearly a non-issue. You can move diagonally with the control pad and use the on-screen buttons (which are there for most @migo-compatible games specifically because the Ipaq needs them.)

PocketNes works like a champ with this method.

But, yes, only the Casio is the "perfect" gaming device as far as controls go.

Brian K