| The Personal Data Assistant (PDA) has won rapid | | | | activities.Communication - Look for integrated |
| acceptance among university students and | | | | Bluetooth 1.1 and a built-in 802.11b Wi-Fi |
| executives who are constantly on the move | | | | adapterSmartphone - Combines the functions of a |
| because of its ability to package a lot of different | | | | mobile phone with a data management device in a |
| data requirements into a palm sized device. The | | | | single unit. Phone capability requires a separately |
| PDA is designed to make a busy life easier by | | | | purchased service contractAudio Output - A |
| providing sensible connections to all the information | | | | headphone jack is essential for listening to your |
| you need, have it at your fingertips when you | | | | audio filesCradle/Charger - This device allows for |
| need it, and transport it to other systems. Once | | | | easy connection and synchronization with your PC |
| 'organised' with your PDA, you will have all of your | | | | while simultaneously recharging your battery. |
| contact phone numbers, be collecting your emails, | | | | Consider buying an additional cradle for the office |
| process your business orders, display your | | | | for maximum convenience. Some PDAs include a |
| photographs and relax to your mp3 library. Many | | | | cable or a special cradle that provides an interface |
| PDAs also act as a digital recorder and have | | | | with your desktop computer to synchronize |
| windows based compatibility for word processing | | | | data.Battery life - Each device will have its own |
| and spreadsheet financial calculations.PDAs At the | | | | battery-life characteristics. Battery recharge life is |
| simplest end of the market, a PDA can help you | | | | also dependant upon the data you are processing. |
| manage your daily to-do lists, keep track of your | | | | You can use manufacturer's specifications as a |
| diary and record your memos. But it's important | | | | guide to compare between brands and models, |
| for people moving into using a PDA to understand | | | | but these specifications are laboratory |
| that it is a tool that is most beneficial to an | | | | measurements and may not reflect your actual |
| already organised mind: it won't actually do the | | | | use.Bluetooth - This wireless technology lets you |
| organising for you. But if you find you need to | | | | to exchange data with other handheld devices or |
| view and manage documents on the go, keep | | | | any other Bluetooth enabled device such as a cell |
| track of your appointments and have instant | | | | phone, fax machine, personal computer, laptop |
| access to your name and address book, then the | | | | computer, headset or printer. The Bluetooth |
| basic functions of a PDA will probably enhance | | | | feature will allow you to add an external |
| your productivity. And of course the added | | | | keyboard.Digital camera - PDA cameras usually |
| bonuses of listening to your mp3s, watching short | | | | capture low resolution images (around 1.2 |
| video clips, reading ebooks and being able to | | | | megapixels), which are perfect for emailing but |
| rehearse and review your presentations can only | | | | not ideal for printing.GPS - Global positioning |
| help.PDAs with the Windows Pocket PC operating | | | | system allows you to navigate from any point on |
| system and gutsy memory are compatible with | | | | or near the surface of the earth.Music/Audio - |
| your normal windows and office environments. | | | | The MP3 playback quality will depend on the bit |
| Screen size and image resolution can be critical if | | | | rate of the audio file and the quality of the built-in |
| you intend to use the device for reading books | | | | speaker. The audio quality is often better when |
| and managing text-heavy documents. While sales | | | | played back through a quality headset.PDA Screen |
| of PDAs have steadily declined over the past two | | | | - PDA screen sizes are measured in inches |
| years, losing to smartphone technology, the main | | | | diagonally and are available from 2.6 inches up to |
| manufacturers have advanced the usability of | | | | 5 inches on the very high-end. Larger, brighter |
| PDA devices with faster processors, increases in | | | | screens require more power to operate therefore |
| memory and multimedia capability. In many | | | | increase battery consumption.Processor speed - |
| situations, smartphones have been able to replace | | | | refers to the speed in which a PDA coordinates |
| many functions of the PDA, combining data | | | | its internal functions. Processor speeds are |
| management with mobile phone technology. But if | | | | measured in MHz (megahertz) and range between |
| you want to work with spreadsheets and web | | | | 4 MHz and 624 MHz. Although these specifications |
| pages on your PDA, smartphones are at a | | | | can change rapidly as technology develops, it is |
| disadvantage from smaller screen sizes and data | | | | recommended to have a processor speed of at |
| storage capability and sometimes cost, but they | | | | least 16 MHz for general day-to-day |
| obviate the need to carry two devices.What to | | | | functions.Video capture - Video playback often |
| look forThere's a hand-held PDA device to suit | | | | requires an additional expansion card and a |
| practically every budget and need. You need to | | | | third-party software download, and higher |
| consider just how much data you want to carry | | | | memory capability.Web Browser - Used with a |
| with you and how connected you want to be. | | | | Wi-Fi connection, lets you browse the internet as |
| Obviously more memory, faster processor and | | | | you would from a desktop computer.Wi-Fi - |
| bigger screen attract higher price tags. You can | | | | Integrated 802.11b WLAN (wireless local area |
| compare brands, models and prices by searching | | | | network), enables you to connect to the internet |
| au using the following specifications to guide you.A | | | | in any hot spot. Enabling the Wi-Fi features tends |
| budget basic unit might offer a processor speed | | | | to consume battery life quickly.In summaryYou |
| of 16 MHz, 8MB of memory and at 2.5 inch | | | | may like to consider whether you are a novice |
| (diagonal) screen. At the high end, you can get a | | | | (that is, new to PDA technology), an entrepreneur |
| 4GB micro hard drive, WiFi and Bluetooth | | | | or a technophile, and make your search based on |
| connectivity, 400 MHz processor, 256MB | | | | your level of understanding of the technology |
| memory, with expansion slots, 4 inch (diagonal) | | | | involved. As a novice, you will be searching for a |
| LCD screen with 65,000 colours and 640 x 480 | | | | basic unit, as a technophile you will be looking for |
| display resolution, GPS functionality, MP3 player, | | | | all the bells and whistles. An entrepreneur will be |
| digital camera and instant messaging. In the middle | | | | searching for the most adaptable capabilities. The |
| of the range you will find devices with 64MB of | | | | following might assist.Choose amongst |
| memory, a 200 MHz processor, 3 inch screen and | | | | functionalities. Consider you need for mp3 players, |
| built-in microphone or audio input jack. Bear in | | | | or video players, or web browsing. Doubling the |
| mind that all of these specifications and | | | | functionality of your PDA may reduce the need |
| functionalities change continuously, and devices are | | | | to have to carry another device around in order |
| upgraded with new features over very short | | | | to enjoy the benefits offered.How much internet |
| spaces of time.Apart from processor speed, | | | | access do you need? Bluetooth connectivity can |
| memory and screen size, some of the critical | | | | give you mobile phone enabled internet access, |
| specifications that you can use for cost and brand | | | | Wife can give you access from hot spots, and |
| comparisons include:Data input - While some | | | | simple cable connection to your desktop |
| models have a full QWERTY keyboard built-in, you | | | | computer can let you read your emails on the |
| may want to consider adding a fold-up full-size | | | | road.Go for maximum memory for money. |
| external keyboard. Entering lots of text with the | | | | Memory determines how much data your PDA |
| small built-in keypads or using the handwriting | | | | can process and store, and its ability to handle |
| software can be frustrating.Audio input - A built-in | | | | applications. Memory can be boosted in many |
| microphone or microphone jack is needed for | | | | devices using expansion slots and flash memory |
| recording voice memos and meeting notes and | | | | cards.Search au to compare models and brands, |
| store audio files.Music playback - MP3 audio file | | | | and vendors and prices.Andrew Gates is a writer |
| playback can sometimes need additional | | | | for comparison online shopping site au. au helps |
| software.GPS - While there are a number of | | | | you compare PDAs and buy online from top-rated |
| purpose-built hand-held devices for industrial | | | | online stores. You can also read PDAs reviews |
| applications, your PDA's GPS capability may not | | | | and specifications. |
| be suitable for rugged outdoor | | | | |