REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK

In the never-ending race to build a useful hand-held computer, 3Com’s Palm Pilot appears to be holding its big lead. Even IBM is now selling a version of the hand-held organizer under its own name.

But numerous companies are now pushing hand-held products that use Microsoft’s Windows CE operating system. Among the most impressive at Comdex was NEC Corp.’s MobilePro 700. The 1.5-pound computer looks like a slightly elongated paperback. It sports a small keyboard, but with a 16-millimeter space between each key, it’s surprisingly comfortable for normal touch typing. It goes on the market in December for $699.

Another interesting entry in the miniaturization derby was Mitsubishi’s Pedion. The ultra-thin machine is just over half an inch thick, weighs 3.6 pounds and has a 12-inch screen. The company hasn’t announced pricing or a launch date, but the computer is expected to be sold through Hewlett-Packard Co. for $4,000 to $5,000.