The latest, Communicator 9110, accepts standard flash memory cards and can send and receive e-mail and fax without any extra peripherals or a phone line. It doubles as a cell phone and the package is the size cell phones were four years ago. The Communicator runs on the GEOS operating system which, though licensed from someone else, is almost proprietary. Nokia will soon release its first EPOC device, which will be more widely compatible and invite more third-party programs. Communicators cost R4 000-R6 000.
Battery life is measured in days but the device is recharged like a cell phone.
Before you splash out on a R40 IBM ThinkPad take a second look at one of the newest executive cell phones. These have diaries or organisers built in and almost as many functions as an electronic diary. These make great companions to all portable computers, except of course for the Communicator, which has all this built in. If you're constantly communicating with your notebook outside the office consider the ultimate device - a dedicated card phone. This is a cell phone built on to a PC card that slots into the PC card adapter on a notebook.