| To help you and your clients get started on the | | | | Pay attention to vendor support offerings for |
| right track with handheld devices, here are some | | | | handheld devices. Technical support and |
| simple tips to help you find your clients' the right | | | | warrantees are not created equal! This is almost a |
| PDA to avoid frustrating tech support headaches. | | | | mantra of personal technology adoption: who you |
| Purchase Handheld Devices Wisely | | | | buy something from is often as important (or |
| Be very cautious when considering brand-new, | | | | even more important) than what you buy. |
| unproven handheld device models. Major design | | | | Make sure the handheld device is compatible with |
| and software bugs are usually fixed in the first | | | | the desired operating system. If your clients' |
| three to six months following the initial release. | | | | offices are wedded to a particular version of |
| Unless you and your clients are prepared for the | | | | Microsoft Windows or another OS, be sure your |
| risks and demands of being an early adopter, let | | | | PDA can sync up its data with their desktop or |
| "someone" else endure these all-too-common | | | | notebook PCs. |
| headaches. | | | | The Bottom Line about Handheld Devices |
| Get software, peripherals and accessories bundled | | | | Lastly, insist on a PDA that is "well connected". |
| with your handheld device purchase. This shopping | | | | USB interfaces tend to be the easiest to |
| approach will not only save you money and | | | | configure and troubleshoot, while providing the |
| installation time, but you'll also dramatically reduce | | | | best performance. Avoid older, legacy serial |
| the compatibility risks. | | | | interfaces whenever possible. |
| Know What You Are Getting Into | | | | |