LAS VEGAS, Jan. 9, 1997 — Microsoft Corp. today provided attendees of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas with a demonstration of the Microsoft ® Entertainment Pack for the Windows® CE operating system, the first game product to be released for the
Windows CE-based handheld PC platform. Introduced in November, the handheld PC with Windows CE is designed to provide the millions of mobile professionals using Windows-based personal computers an affordable, easy-to-use mobile PC companion to keep their most important information up-to-date and close at hand.
Developed exclusively for the handheld PC, the Microsoft Entertainment Pack for
Windows CE lets users of the handheld PC put the challenge and fun of classic electronic games in the palm of their hand. Like other Windows CE-based applications, the Entertainment Pack is easy to set up, learn and use. Flexible installation allows users to install as many of the games as they want and save the others for later. If users need to remove any of the games from their handheld PC, their high scores and preferences will be saved for later reinstallation.
“The mobile professionals who use their handheld PC to take control of their busy lives and manage their schedules, contacts and run their business applications can now afford to take a break with the Microsoft Entertainment Pack for Windows CE,”
said Jon Magill, director of marketing of the consumer appliance group at Microsoft.
“With 10 classic games, the handheld PC can now help them unwind and relax wherever they go.”
All Work and No Play …
Whether in the waiting room, the boardroom or in a taxi, users are ready to challenge the handheld PC to a showdown of the high-energy action game Space Defense or a more cerebral match of chess. They can take on a friend in a classic match of Sink the Ships using the handheld PC infrared port. Such a wealth of classic games is included with the Microsoft Entertainment Pack for Windows CE that it may be the only game package for the handheld PC that users will ever need.
These timeless standards are available:
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Sink the Ships. Track down and sink the enemy fleet.
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Space Defense. Protect star bases from incoming missiles.
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Blackjack. Beat the dealer in this popular casino card game.
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Chess. Use strategy and skill in this well-known favorite.
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Codebreaker. Break the secret code in this brainteaser.
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FreeCell. All the cards are showing, and it’s still difficult.
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Hearts. The challenging card game classic for one or two.
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Minesweeper. Clear the minefield using skill and speed.
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Reversi. Victory is uncertain until the last piece is flipped.
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Taipei. Match the tiles in this Far East favorite.
Pricing, Availability and System Requirements
Microsoft Entertainment Pack for Windows CE is scheduled to be available in stores by March 1997 for approximately $34.95. System requirements for the desktop computer are as follows: a PC with a 486/33DX or higher microprocessor (Pentium P90 recommended); 8 MB of RAM (12 MB recommended); CD-ROM drive; VGA or higher resolution card;1.8 MB of available hard disk space for installation; Microsoft Windows 95 with the HPC Explorer installed; Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device. Minimum requirements for the handheld PC are as follows: a handheld PC running Windows CE; complete installation requires 614 KB of available RAM on MIPS-based handheld PC (124 KB of RAM minimum required), 512 KB of available RAM on SH3-based handheld PC (108 KB minimum required).
About the Handheld PC with Windows CE
The handheld PC is the inaugural product category based on Windows CE, the new open, scalable Microsoft Windows operating system platform designed for a broad range of communications, entertainment and mobile computing devices. The first handheld PCs are available today in leading consumer-electronics and computer stores nationwide. Handheld PC devices from additional manufacturers are expected to roll out over the coming months, with international versions expected before the second half of 1997.
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