Purchasing a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)?

We want you to know that we have specific opinions of which PDA's are best. We are all currently using the Palm OS on Visors and Palm Pilots.

Do I want one and why?

  • Because they are cool and you too can acquire the "Geek" look.
  • Coordinate multiple calendars, address books, memos and other information.
  • Central and portable location for important information.
  • Hotsyncs with one or more computers for easy entry of information and backup.

Glossary of PDA Jargon

Things to think about:

  • IT'S NOT LIKE BUYING A PC. They don't all come with Windows.

  • PALM OS has about 50% of the market, while Pocket PC has about 30%.
    Currently there is more freeware and other third party applications (Documents to Go) and peripherals for the Palm OS than for any other.

  • Palm OS vs Windows OS varients (including Pocket PC) for the PDA:
    The Palm OS is more "tightly" written than Windows. The Palm OS needs 2-8mb of memory and the Windows OS varients require much more, usually 16-32mb.

  • View a Palm vs Pocket PC Quick Comparison Chart

  • While Windows OS may come with versions of Word and Excel, there are applications that do the same thing for the Palm. Some articles have classed these PDA's as computer stand-in's.

Usually purchased for the Date Book/Calendar features, then you find out you can hold a lot of data/information in one little space including:

  • Memos/Notes
  • Email
    (You can download & upload email. To do live email you must purchase a modem.)
  • To Do/Check Lists
  • Documents You Can Create and Read
  • Databases
  • Alarm
  • Calculator
  • Shopping Lists/Organizers
  • Software for Students and Professionals
  • and more ...

Is there anything I should be aware of?

  • The PDA is only as useful as the time you spend inputting data.
  • You still have to check your calendar.
  • You have to learn how to write in Graffiti (Palm OS) or use the on-screen keyboard (Graffiti Demo)
  • It can be stolen, lost, broken (most will replace with fee), and crashed. It is little, cute and disappears quickly.
  • Everyone wants to play with it.
  • There are security issues (privacy/encryption, viruses).

How do you choose? Start by asking yourself these questions:

  • What are you going to use it for?
  • How much memory you feel you will need?
    If you are going to be using databases, you will need more memory.
    In order to determine how much memory you need on your palm, you first need to forget everything you know about the amount of RAM utilized on Windows (95/98/NT and CE) machines because those operating systems are known for being memory hogs. Also keep in mind that most of the 3rd-party Palm software utilizes 50k-80k of PalmOS memory.

    For many Palm users, 2MB of memory is more than enough. These are users with several hundred addresses, several hundred datebook appointments, a hundred-or-so each of todos and memos, and a handful (less than 10) of average-sized 3rd-party applications. In total, this would utilize less than 1 Meg of memory.

  • How much do you want to spend?
  • Do you want a color screen?
  • What about wireless applications?
  • What company do you want to buy it from (customer service reputation)?
  • Is size/weight a factor?
  • Do you want a PDA that is a color other than the basic gray/black?

Compare PDA's

Peripherals or Add-ons

Home Jenny Lynne Semenza
semejenn@isu.edu
Reference Librarian
Eli M. Oboler Library
Idaho State University
 Marcia Francis
franmarc@isu.edu
Idaho Health Sciences Librarian
Eli M. Oboler Library
Idaho State University
 Kristin Haderlie
Former Reference Librarian
Eli M. Oboler Library
Idaho State University

Last updated December 4, 2002