DualCor's pitch is that the device provides mobile workers with a powerful desktop system that can operate as a PDA when they're on the move. It quotes a runtime of over 12 hours in Windows Mobile mode, switched from the other at the press of a button. Because both OSes run simultaneously on their own CPUs, the transition is instantaneous. Running in XP mode reduces battery life to around three hours, DualCor said, but it doesn't expect many users to do so.

The unit's not as compact as a true PDA - it's 16.3 x 8.3 x 3cm - but it does provide a 5in, 800 x 480, 262,000-colour display. There's a mini VGA port to hook the unit up to an external monitor. The screen is touch-sensitive to work with a stylus, but the cPC also features a flat joystick-like mouse control.

DualCor touted the cPC's wireless readiness, but in fact that amounts to the provision of three USB 2.0 ports and a CompactFlash II slot into which users can connect Wi-Fi, 3G and Bluetooth dongles and/or cards. You'd add wired networking in the same way.