How to Buy a PDA

PDA Shopping Tips
Whether you want to buy a basic organizer or a more sophisticated pocket system, our purchasing advice will help you pick the right PDA for your needs.

Of course, before you buy a PDA, try to kick the tires first. Check to see how well you can read the screen with the backlight off. If the unit has a keyboard, try it out for size, and make sure the buttons are reasonably comfortable and solid.

If you're looking for a cell phone and a PDA, you should consider a hybrid PDA/phone like the Treo or Sidekick so that you don't end up lugging around two separate devices. If you tend to be on the road a lot and need to check your e-mail regularly, you might also consider models that offer Internet access--either through a built-in cell phone modem, a Bluetooth connection to a cell phone, or a built-in 802.11b or 802.11g wireless network interface.



Shopping tips for buying a basic organizer:
Choose your OS. If you simply need to maintain an up-to-date appointment calendar, contact list, and to-do list when you are away from your PC, your best bet is to stick with lower-end Palm OS devices, such as the Palm Zire line. They will also handle other applications (which can come in handy), but their easy-to-use data synchronization stands out. The higher-end Palms extend the no-brainer simplicity of the OS to other functions, such as color screen display and wireless e-mail and messaging.
Get a monochrome screen. It's all you need for viewing calendars and contact information, your batteries will last longer, and you'll save money.
Extend your PDA's abilities with third-party software. Thousands of applications have been written for Palm PDAs and are available for downloading at sites like Tucows and PalmGear.com. One of the most popular titles, DataViz's Documents to Go, allows you to edit Word and Excel documents and view PowerPoint files on your Palm-based PDA. Overall, you'll find much more third-party software written for the Palm OS than for Pocket PC devices, though FreewarePPC.com has a good selection of free apps for Windows Mobile handhelds.


Shopping tips for buying a PDA with advanced features:
Choose your OS. Because of their familial relationship with Windows, Pocket PC devices handle PC-like apps better while still offering conventional scheduling and contact synchronization functions. But Palm OS devices have recently caught up with the other features Pocket PC devices offer. Both can play digital audio, show video clips, and display digital photographs. In the end, it's a question of which you prefer, so try out both at a local electronics store and see which works best for you.
Get a storage card. CompactFlash and Secure Digital cards allow you to store music or video that you can listen to or watch on your PDA. CompactFlash cards are cheaper than Secure Digital ones, but they are also physically larger.
Consider opting for a color screen. Color means big bucks in PDAs, but it's great for games and video.
Keep connectivity in mind. PDAs with built-in Wi-Fi networking and/or Bluetooth will help you get more done, with fewer wires. If this appeals to you, check the connectivity options closely.

by pcworld.com