What are the Latest Advances in Digital Camera PDAs?

In recent years, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants)Microsoft mobile software, and runs the Microsoft
have become increasingly available and moreWindows Mobile 2003 (Phone Edition) Operating
popular. There is now a wide range of productsSystem. Weighing in at 5 ounces, it will set you
that come under this category, including devicesback a little under $700.
that serve as little more than a glorified calendarIf you are more interested in the camera
and organizer, to top of the range tablets andcapabilities themselves, then you will want to
"Palm PC's". Miniaturization has taken leaps andconsider external cameras designed to be used in
bounds as developments have progressed, andconjunction with an existing PDA. These offer
PDAs continue to grow more powerful. For somemuch better camera quality, resulting in better
people, a PDA is something of a hobby, and theimage reproduction. Another 1.3MP PDA camera is
features, gimmicks, and novelties, whether theythe Lifeview Flycam. This small digital camera
use them or not, are the most important part ofplugs into your existing PDA by way of the CF
the fun. More often, however, they are put tocard attached to it. This is inserted directly into
use in business, across almost every modernthe CF slot of your tablet or PDA, and you have
industry, at nearly every level, to varying degrees.almost immediate camera functionality. It offers a
PDAs now feature massive amounts of storagefew more features as a camera, and it is the
space, whether on-board, or via flash cards whichcamera aspect itself that is important to you, it
keep growing in size, wireless networking, webmakes a lot more sense to buy your PDA
browsing facilities, telephone-PDA hybrids, andcamera and PDA separately. As better PDA
ever more advanced software. One other featurecameras are developed, you will be able to
that has raised some attention is the integrationupgrade the camera without having to replace the
of digital cameras into Palm PCs.whole PDA, which - as can be seen by the above
Digital camera PDAs are not really intended forexample - can be quite an investment. The
photography enthusiasts. They are intended moreFlycam retails for as little as $130, making it a
for people who depend upon and always carryvery appealing way to retrofit a camera to your
their PDA. Integrating a camera into thesePDA.
versatile systems has so far been a matter ofThe HP Jornada is another retro-fitted PDA
convenience and entertainment. The digitalcamera, also installed by way of an attached CF
cameras combined with modern PDAs do notcard. At a maximum resolution of only 640x480
have particularly advanced camera features, and(0.3MP), this camera retails for about $60. If you
tend to be relatively poor in quality compared to ahave an existing PDA, and have no desire to
separately purchased digital camera. While a $200upgrade it yet, and you only need a simple
digital camera may produce photographs at ascamera, then this could well be the option for you.
high a resolution as 5, 6, or 7 "mega-pixels", theWith an auto-focusing lens, this is a very easy
cameras found aboard a similarly priced PDA willcamera to use, however, it will not appeal to
be less than half a mega-pixel, and even moremore astute photographers. If all you want is to
expensive PDAs rarely boast a camera with abe able to take pictures of your friends whenever
resolution as high as 2MP. Digital camera PDAs areyou want, then this is a great purchase.
not just a trivial toy, though, and have manyChoosing a PDA camera is a matter of weighing
useful applications. And of course, no-one everup what you need. If you mostly just need a
knows just when they might need a camera.good camera, you are best off buying a normal
The Hewlett Packard HW6515 iPAQ is a fullydigital camera, completely independent of your
featured PDA featuring a 1.3MP camera, with anPDA. If it's a PDA-camera hybrid you need, along
LED flash. PDA cameras often use a highwith all the other functionality of a top shelf
powered LED rather than a conventional strobepalmtop, and you can afford the considerable
because they use significantly less power.outlay, but you don't need absolutely top notch
Unfortunately the intensity of the flash is alsophotography, then consider an integrated option. If
much lower, but using an LED is the mostthe idea of being able to swap the camera
efficient tool for the job. In addition to its camera,between different PDAs, and you like having the
the 6515 has a 312MHz Intel CPU, 320x240 TFToption of progressively upgrading as newer and
display, and 128 MB of on-board memory, ofbetter technology comes out, then you may wish
which, 55MB is available for to the user. It isto consider one of the retro-fitting options.
Bluetooth enabled and has all common digital cellThey're an ingenious solution that promises to
network compatibility (GPRS, GSM, EDGE.) Datastay within budget, and allows you to upgrade at
cable is USB, and it uses Secure Digital removablewill.
media. It comes with a very full bundle of