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Handheld technology
Handheld technology
"Wouldn't it be cheaper to just use a paper and pen?" Many years ago, this was a common criticism of PDAs (personal digital assistants). These were small handheld gadgets that boasted the ability to hold thousands of phone numbers, appointments, checklists, and memos. Just as good as a Franklin planner, and only two hundred dollars more expensive! Now things are different. PDAs are holding their own with no problem - even against laptop computers and far more expensive equipment. Part of this is technology and miniaturization improvement, as we can squeeze better technology into a smaller package: If created today, the Six Million Dollar man would be about two inches tall! Besides miniaturization, there's also a performance increase. More functions are packed into a handheld device. Having the electronic equivalent of a Swiss Army Knife allows me to carry less with me. In one hand, I've got a phone, planner, email system, web browser, camera, games, books, word processor, spreadsheet, MP3 music player, network analysis tools and remote access to other computers. As early as one year ago this wasn't possible. If you're shopping for a PDA, the options are overwhelming. Keeping things simple, there are two competing types of the most popular handhelds: "Palm" and "Pocket PC". The Palm emphasizes simplicity and ease of use. The benefits are an easy to use interface, longer battery life, and rock-solid, fast performance - crashes are extremely rare. The Palm's drawbacks are directly related to its benefits: The interface can be boring, and the graphics and sound capabilities aren't very impressive. The Pocket PC device has better graphics and sound. The increased complexity allows for utilities and games more visually and functionally impressive than those of the Palm. However, Pocket PC devices suffer from short battery life and a less stable operating system - program crashes are more likely than on Palm devices. For the average user, both types have similar functions. Instead of looking at specific features, start at the conceptual level. If you're of the "simplify, simplify, simplify" mindset, focus on Palm devices. If you want to work with quality graphics and sound, intend to play games, or feel comfortable with the Microsoft look and feel, check out Pocket PC devices. All types have plenty of software - if you can imagine it, chances are someone has already written software to do what you want. The links attached to this article can help you narrow down what model you'd like and provide resources for reviews and software. Don't purchase a PDA without touching it first! You may think the built-in keyboard looks cool, but it's too small for your hands. The unit may be too heavy or bulky to fit in your pocket or purse. Just like a car, a PDA is an expensive investment and may require a test drive to make sure it's got the right feel and performance. Any local electronics store should have plenty of demo PDAs on display. Have fun driving!
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