EdgeTech's PC Edge is an entry in what is already a crowded field of devices ranging from the iPhone to the Palm Treo. The difference here, though, is that the PC Edge is larger than those competing devices and does not offer cell phone capabilities. What it does offer is an easy way to surf the Web over a cellular network. Therein lies the problem. The device could be a real competition killer if it only included Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity. By limiting the PC Edge's connectivity to cellular networks, EdgeTech has seriously crippled a device that could otherwise have been a must-have for any technology professional.

When connected to the cellular network, the PC Edge offers a plethora of capabilities, including e-mail, instant messaging, PC remote control and full Web browsing capability, and it does all of that quite well. Users can also run Web-based applications, such as ThinkFree Office, a hosted Microsoft Office-compatible application.

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The device features a QWERTY keyboard, an integrated pointing device (emulating a mouse with arrow keys) and a bright 640-pixel (VGA) widescreen display that measures just under 6 inches by 3 inches. Battery life is about 5 hours with active use, and the unit weighs around 6 ounces. The unit retails for under $300 and data plans start at about $20 per month.

When it comes down to it, the PC Edge is a perfect exercise in how you can't judge a book by its cover. In this product's case, a sleek and impressive cover hides some serious limitations, and the forthcoming crop of Intel Atom-based devices will probably turn the PC Edge into a historical note of what was once "the world's fastest handheld Internet access device"!