| PDAs are not yet hand-held PCs, but have been | | | | In order to meet the PDA definition, standard |
| used by many people over the years. PDAs are | | | | software should include an appointment |
| better-known as pocket pc's or palmtop | | | | calendar, a task list, an address book for |
| organizers. PDAs have many uses including: | | | | business and personal contacts and some kind |
| mathematics, use as a timekeeper with | | | | of notes program. Internet connected PDAs |
| calendar subroutines, browsing cyberspace, | | | | also usually include E-mail and Web |
| sending and receiving e-mail, video, | | | | support.Most units also include memo |
| typewriting and word processing, name and | | | | recording software for audio notes. Very |
| address book functions, making and compiling | | | | handy for remembering important details. |
| spreadsheets, reading bar codes, receiving | | | | |
| radio broadcasts or stereo listening, playing | | | | Not Quite A Laptop Replacement...Yet |
| computer games, entering poll results, and | | | | |
| GPS. More modern PDAs also have color | | | | Possibly, to a higher degree than any other |
| screens, MP3 music and telephony | | | | computer device, the personal digital |
| capabilities, allowing them to be employed as | | | | assistant lacks the raw computing horsepower |
| cellphones (smartphones), web browsers, and | | | | and Wireless Broadband capabilities of a |
| portable media players. Several now also | | | | desktop or notebook computer. Presently, |
| include cameras that can photograph scenes | | | | costs of laptop computers are coming down. |
| which can then be uploaded to Flickr and | | | | Although a good deal bigger in size, laptop |
| mySpace accounts. Virtually all newer PDAs | | | | computers have more full-size screens and |
| can surf the Net, intranets or extranets via | | | | keyboards and are have greater computing |
| Wi-Fi, or Wireless Wide-Area Networks just | | | | power. |
| about all PDA's utilize touch screen displays | | | | |
| leaving out Smartphones which depend upon | | | | However, the OQO Model 2 has been brought out |
| menu systems attributable to their tinier | | | | in recent times as a fully desktop PC |
| display screens. | | | | compatible PDA with a USB port so that people |
| | | | can use their normal work and business |
| PDA's Past | | | | software or play computer games compatible |
| | | | with ubiquitous operating systems such as |
| The term "personal data assistant" was first | | | | Windows XP. It can also connect to regular |
| used on Jan 7th, 1992 by then Apple Computer | | | | PC peripherals. Costs still have a way to |
| Chief Executive Officer John Sculley at the | | | | fall prior to mass adoption takes place in |
| Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, | | | | the market but OQO is no longer the exclusive |
| Nevada, concerning the Apple Newton. | | | | manufacturer of these types of units, so |
| | | | costs should fall possibly within the next |
| PDAs are occasionally denoted as "Palms", | | | | few years. |
| "Palm Pilots" or "Palm Tops" so-named after | | | | |
| an early personal digital assistant produced | | | | Conclusion |
| by USR and Palm Inc called the "Palm Pilot". | | | | |
| Today however, the term is much more | | | | The PDAs strength is that it is easy to |
| encompassing and includes a very diverse | | | | transport and less bulky than full-sized |
| range of products developed by a host of many | | | | computers.It slides easily into a dress shirt |
| manufacturers including HP, Dell, Blackberry | | | | or trousers pocket. The additional features |
| and Sharp to name a few. | | | | like cameras, Global Positioning System, |
| | | | telephony and MP3 player make it flexible |
| .Characteristic capabilities | | | | unlike any other type of computers in the |
| | | | market. |
| Presently, a regular PDA has a touch screen | | | | |
| for data entry, a memory card slot for data | | | | Many people do not require full desktop |
| storage and at the least one of the following | | | | capabilities while on the go. As long as they |
| for device-todevice communication: IrDA, | | | | can access their information and sync their |
| Bluetooth and/or WiFi. All the same, many | | | | data to a full-sized computer when they |
| PDAs (normally those used primarily as | | | | arrive at their homes and offices, that's |
| cellular phones) may not have a touch screen, | | | | really all they need and want to do. So at |
| alternatively using softkeys, a directional | | | | least in the short run, the PDA will most |
| pad and either the numerical computer | | | | likely remain as a portable helper for |
| keyboard or a thumb keyboard for idata nput. | | | | millions of users for years to come. |
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