| Do you know the Major Differences between | | | | In addition to the normal features of note-taking, |
| Laptops and PDA's? | | | | to-do lists, names and addresses, and calendars, |
| When most people hear the term 'laptop' they | | | | most PDA's also offer email, web, and cell phone |
| immediately think 'mini computer', the same can | | | | services. This allows the PDA user to download |
| be said about the term 'PDA' being a 'glorified | | | | the notes from the PDA quickly to a laptop or |
| address book'. In reality these items have | | | | personal computer (PC), research the internet, |
| become essential for students, businesspeople, | | | | and talk on the phone. You can do the same |
| and the average housewife for keeping track of | | | | things from your laptop by using instant |
| everything from appointments to phone numbers | | | | messaging with audio but unless you use |
| and addresses. While laptops and Personal Digital | | | | headphones (another bulky item to haul around) |
| Assistants (PDA's) share many of the same | | | | the entire room will hear your conversations. |
| features, it is important to compare the two and | | | | Music versus Images. Both features are available |
| determine exactly what you will be using it for | | | | on PDA's and Laptops with pro's and con's for |
| and the device that will fill that need. | | | | each. If you are at home it is much easier to use |
| PDA | | | | your laptop to play your favorite songs and |
| Advantages | | | | continue with what you were doing; but if you are |
| Lightweight | | | | anywhere else, a bus for instance, it would be |
| Downloadable to PC | | | | kind of silly to haul out your laptop, set it up, |
| Fewer Programs to sort through | | | | search for the song you want, and play it. The |
| Lightweight | | | | PDA, being easier to transport, makes listening to |
| Disadvantages | | | | music much easier, however, the small screen on |
| Less Memory | | | | the PDA will not allow you to fully enjoy the |
| Smaller Screen | | | | images and pictures sent to you. Memory is also a |
| Laptop | | | | problem for the PDA when it comes to storing |
| Advantages | | | | your images; a laptop offers more memory, a |
| More Memory | | | | bigger screen, and more detail. |
| Larger Screen | | | | The differences between PDA's and Laptops |
| Disadvantages | | | | become smaller every day with laptops becoming |
| Bulky | | | | more compact and lightweight and PDA's |
| Many files to sort through | | | | becoming more powerful and having more |
| As you can see, it would be much easier to walk | | | | features. It is important to weigh all the |
| into class or a business meeting with a PDA in | | | | advantages and disadvantages, pro's and con's, |
| your pocket than a laptop in your carrying case. | | | | and types of uses for each device before making |
| While having less memory may seem to be a | | | | a decision on which one to use. Making a list of |
| major disadvantage at first, in reality you will be | | | | how you will be using the device is a great place |
| better able to find the program you need much | | | | to start, and then choose the one that best suits |
| faster than if you had to search and wonder | | | | your needs. |
| where you saved it on the laptop. | | | | |