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