| Trying to decide on a PDA? The first choice | | | | - Palm systems, are in our opinion, slightly |
| that you'll have to make is whether to go | | | | easier to use. Pocket PCs use a cut-down |
| with a Palm OS system or a Pocket PC (Windows | | | | version of the standard Windows interface, |
| CE) system: | | | | which while powerful, can offer too many |
| | | | confusing options. |
| - Palm systems run an operating system called | | | | |
| "Palm OS". | | | | - Palm systems have a simple and foolproof |
| | | | backup/restore feature which is triggered |
| - Pocket PC systems run "Windows CE". This | | | | automatically whenever you sync to your main |
| looks and operates a lot like the more | | | | PC. Pocket PCs don't automatically backup, so |
| familiar versions of Microsoft Windows that | | | | you need to remember to pick the option. |
| you use on your desktop or laptop PC. Windows | | | | |
| CE is not identical to the larger versions of | | | | And here are some reasons to choose a Pocket |
| Windows, and generally does not run the same | | | | PC: |
| software, but it does interoperate well with | | | | |
| other Microsoft programs. | | | | - Pocket PCs integrate better with Microsoft |
| | | | Word and Excel. They can read your existing |
| Some features are a dead heat between Palm | | | | files, and it's easy to transfer them across. |
| systems and Pocket PCs: | | | | Palm OS doesn't have built-in support for |
| | | | Word or Excel, but there are third party |
| - Both Palm systems and Pocket PCs can do | | | | programs available, at extra cost, that can |
| contact management, calendaring and | | | | do the job. |
| to-do-lists. | | | | |
| | | | - Pocket PCs integrate with Microsoft |
| - Both Palm and Pocket PCs can do reasonable | | | | Outlook. Again, for Palm systems you need |
| handwriting recognition. In either case, it | | | | extra software, although in some cases this |
| can take a small amount of getting used to. | | | | extra software may be bundled with your Palm |
| | | | PDA. |
| - Both Palm and Pocket PCs have models | | | | |
| available with digital cameras. | | | | - Pocket PCs often have a wider range of WiFi |
| | | | and other connectivity options. Of course, |
| - Some models of both Palm and Pocket PCs | | | | you'll need to check the specs of the |
| support music, multimedia and MP3 (MP3 is | | | | individual PDAs that you're considering. |
| supported pretty much on all models). You'll | | | | |
| need to check the specs of individual models | | | | Conclusions: |
| to see exactly what features they offer. | | | | |
| | | | Of course, your opinion may differ, but for |
| - Internet connectivity is available for most | | | | what it's worth, here's how I'd decide: |
| Palm and Pocket PCs. | | | | |
| | | | - I would choose Palm if I wanted a simple |
| Here are some reasons to choose Palm: | | | | low-end PDA. |
| | | | |
| - Palm systems are usually cheaper. This is | | | | - If I wanted more power and connectivity |
| because Palm OS devices often have less | | | | options, I'd look at both Palm and Pocket PC |
| memory and a slower processor. They can get | | | | systems. |
| away with this, without you noticing, because | | | | |
| Palm OS is highly optimized to run on low-end | | | | - If there was any special line-of-business |
| hardware. | | | | software that I needed to run, and it was |
| | | | only available on one or the other of Palm OS |
| - Palm systems are often lighter and smaller | | | | and Windows CE (Pocket PC), of course that |
| than Pocket PCs. Of course, that isn't always | | | | would dictate my choice. |
| the case, so you need to check the specs on | | | | |
| individual models when making comparisons. | | | | - As always, I'd carefully check the specs of |
| | | | any individual machines that I was |
| - Palm systems, especially those with slower | | | | considering. There are good (and some not so |
| processors, often will run longer between | | | | good) models available, of both Palm and |
| battery recharges. | | | | Pocket PC. |
| | | | |