| Besides serving as an address book, calendar, | | | | use a Mac. And you'll need Microsoft Office |
| and to-do list, many personal digital | | | | programs such as Word, Excel, and Outlook on |
| assistants offer multimedia functions. | | | | your computer to exchange data with a PDA. |
| | | | Pocket PCs have a color display and |
| PDAs can store thousands of phone numbers, | | | | rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Unlike |
| appointments, tasks, and notes. All models | | | | most Palm OS-based PDAs, replacing the |
| can exchange, or synchronize, information | | | | battery of most Pocket PCs is usually |
| with a full-sized computer. To do this, you | | | | straightforward. Price range: $200 to $700. |
| connect the PDA to your computer via a cradle | | | | |
| or cable. For models that run on rechargeable | | | | IMPORTANT FEATURES |
| batteries, the cradle doubles as a charger. | | | | |
| Infrared, Bluetooth, and WiFi let you | | | | Whichever operating system your PDA uses, you |
| synchronize your PDA with a computer without | | | | may need to install programs in your computer |
| the use of wires or a cradle. | | | | to enable the PDA to synchronize with it. |
| | | | This software lets you swap data with leading |
| Most PDAs can be made to work with both | | | | PIM programs such as Lotus Organizer or |
| Windows and Macintosh computers, but PDAs | | | | Microsoft Outlook. |
| with the Pocket PC operating system usually | | | | |
| require third-party software for Macs. PDAs | | | | All PDAs have the tools for basic tasks: a |
| with Wi-Fi (wireless) capability can access | | | | calendar to keep track of your appointments, |
| the Internet. Those without can as well with | | | | contact/address software for addresses and |
| the addition of a separately purchased modem. | | | | phone numbers, tasks/to-do lists for |
| Some PDAs can record your voice, play videos, | | | | reminders and keeping track of errands, and a |
| display digital photos, or hold maps, city | | | | calculator. A notes/memo function lets you |
| guides, or a novel. | | | | make quick notes to yourself. Other |
| | | | capabilities include word-processing, |
| WHAT'S AVAILABLE | | | | spreadsheet, and e-mail functions. A voice |
| | | | recorder, which uses a built-in microphone |
| Most PDAs on the market are the familiar | | | | and speaker, works like a tape recorder. MP3 |
| tablet-with-stylus types that feature a | | | | playback lets you listen to digital-music |
| squarish display screen, a design pioneered | | | | files stored in that format, and a picture |
| by Palm Inc. (now called PalmOne). Today the | | | | viewer lets you look at digital photos. A few |
| main choices are models that use the Palm | | | | models also include a built-in digital camera |
| operating system (OS)--mostly PalmOne--and | | | | and keyboard. |
| PocketPC devices from companies such as Dell, | | | | |
| Hewlett-Packard, and Toshiba. The latter use | | | | A PDA's processor is the system's brain. In |
| a stripped-down version of Microsoft Windows. | | | | general, the higher the processing speed of |
| A few PDAs use a proprietary operating | | | | this chip, the faster the PDA will execute |
| system. Kyocera, Nokia, Samsung, and Sony | | | | tasks--and the more expensive the PDA will |
| Ericsson offer units that combine a cell | | | | be. But higher-speed processors may require |
| phone and a PDA.Palm OS systems. Equipped | | | | more battery power and thus deplete batteries |
| with software to link with Windows and (for | | | | more quickly. Processing speeds are 16 to 400 |
| PalmOne-brand units) Macintosh computers, | | | | megahertz (MHz), and models typically have 8 |
| PalmOne units and their clones have a simple | | | | to 64 megabytes (MB) of user memory. Even the |
| user interface. You use a stylus to enter | | | | smallest amount in that range should be more |
| data on the units by tapping an onscreen | | | | than enough for most people. |
| keyboard or writing in a shorthand known as | | | | |
| Graffiti. Or you can download data from your | | | | Nearly every PDA offers an expansion slot for |
| computer. Most Palm OS-based PDAs can | | | | some form of removable memory card: |
| synchronize with a variety of desktop e-mail | | | | CompactFlash, MultiMediaCard (slots also |
| programs, such as Outlook Express and Eudora. | | | | accept SecureDigital cards), or Memory Stick. |
| (PalmOne models with VersaMail software are | | | | Models with two expansion slots can |
| good at handling e-mails with attachments.) | | | | accommodate a peripheral device, such as a |
| And all include a basic | | | | Wi-Fi wireless networking card, as well as |
| personal-information-management (PIM) | | | | removable memory. If you plan to transfer |
| application. Palm OS units are easy to use, | | | | photos from a digital camera to your PDA, |
| although navigation between different | | | | make sure the two devices use the same type |
| programs is cumbersome because of the | | | | of card. |
| operating system's "single-tasking" nature. | | | | |
| | | | Some PDAs offer wireless connectivity. Models |
| Most models make it difficult or impossible | | | | with a capability known as Bluetooth can |
| to replace the battery yourself. And beyond | | | | connect wirelessly over short distances to a |
| the warranty period, you can't be sure the | | | | properly equipped computer or peripheral such |
| manufacturer will do it for you. | | | | as a printer or modem. Models with Wi-Fi can |
| | | | connect over medium distances to a |
| Most Palm OS models have expansion slots that | | | | Wi-Fi-enabled home network or to the Internet |
| let you add memory or attach separately | | | | at "hotspots" in certain airports, coffee |
| purchased accessories. All Palm OS-based PDAs | | | | shops, and hotels. A PDA combined with a cell |
| can be enhanced by adding third-party | | | | phone can make voice calls or directly |
| software applications--the more free memory | | | | connect to the Internet via a wireless |
| that a model comes with, the more software it | | | | Internet service provider. It's possible for |
| can accommodate. There is a large body of | | | | a single PDA to have more than one of these |
| Palm OS-compatible freeware, shareware, and | | | | three types of wireless connectivity. |
| commercial software available for download at | | | | |
| such sites as Many Palm models come with | | | | HOW TO CHOOSE |
| "Documents to Go:" word-processing and | | | | |
| spreadsheet software similar to that used in | | | | Consider your ties to a computer. Pocket PCs |
| Pocket PCs but more versatile. Price range: | | | | provide a Windows-like interface that allows |
| about $100 to $800. | | | | simple PC-to-PDA file transfer with |
| | | | drag-and-drop capability. They're also better |
| PalmOne's top-of-the-line-model, the Tungsten | | | | than Palm OS models for setting up a Wi-Fi |
| T5, combines a PalmOS-based PDA with many of | | | | (wireless) e-mail connection. Most have |
| the best features of the PocketPC operating | | | | replaceable batteries, along with accessible |
| system. When it's connected to a Windows PC, | | | | flash memory to which you can back up data. |
| you can drag and drop files to the T5's | | | | |
| built-in "flash drive," even on PCs that | | | | Palm OS models run a wider range of |
| don't have Palm's desktop software installed. | | | | third-party software applications than do |
| | | | Pocket PCs. For the basics, they're still |
| Pocket PC systems. These resemble Palm | | | | easier to use. |
| OS-based models but are more like miniature | | | | |
| computers. They have a processor with extra | | | | While all PDAs can sync with Macintoshes, |
| horsepower and come with familiar | | | | only PalmOne models do so out of the box. |
| applications such as a word processor and a | | | | Sony units need software such as The Missing |
| spreadsheet. Included is a scaled-down | | | | Sync (available at That program and |
| version of Internet Explorer, plus | | | | PocketMac ( work for Pocket PCs. Both are |
| voice-recording and perhaps some financial | | | | priced under $50. |
| functions. The included e-mail program | | | | |
| handles Word and Excel attachments easily. | | | | Small size vs. extra features. As a rule, a |
| Also standard is an application that plays | | | | model with a larger display or physical |
| MP3 music files, as well as Microsoft Reader, | | | | keyboard won't be the lightest or smallest. A |
| an eBook application. | | | | PDA with two slots for memory and peripherals |
| | | | is more expandable, but will tend to be |
| As you might expect, all the application | | | | larger. |
| software included in a Pocket PC integrates | | | | |
| well with the Windows computer environment. | | | | Copyright © 2002-2006 Consumers Union of |
| You need to purchase third-party software to | | | | U.S., Inc. |