| The Personal Data Assistant (PDA) has won rapid | | | | Look for integrated Bluetooth 1.1 and a built-in 802.11b |
| acceptance among university students and executives | | | | Wi-Fi adapterSmartphone - Combines the functions of |
| who are constantly on the move because of its ability | | | | a mobile phone with a data management device in a |
| to package a lot of different data requirements into a | | | | single unit. Phone capability requires a separately |
| palm sized device. The PDA is designed to make a | | | | purchased service contractAudio Output - A |
| busy life easier by providing sensible connections to all | | | | headphone jack is essential for listening to your audio |
| the information you need, have it at your fingertips | | | | filesCradle/Charger - This device allows for easy |
| when you need it, and transport it to other systems. | | | | connection and synchronization with your PC while |
| Once 'organised' with your PDA, you will have all of | | | | simultaneously recharging your battery. Consider buying |
| your contact phone numbers, be collecting your emails, | | | | an additional cradle for the office for maximum |
| process your business orders, display your | | | | convenience. Some PDAs include a cable or a special |
| photographs and relax to your mp3 library. Many | | | | cradle that provides an interface with your desktop |
| PDAs also act as a digital recorder and have windows | | | | computer to synchronize data.Battery life - Each |
| based compatibility for word processing and | | | | device will have its own battery-life characteristics. |
| spreadsheet financial calculations.PDAs At the simplest | | | | Battery recharge life is also dependant upon the data |
| end of the market, a PDA can help you manage your | | | | you are processing. You can use manufacturer's |
| daily to-do lists, keep track of your diary and record | | | | specifications as a guide to compare between brands |
| your memos. But it's important for people moving into | | | | and models, but these specifications are laboratory |
| using a PDA to understand that it is a tool that is most | | | | measurements and may not reflect your actual |
| beneficial to an already organised mind: it won't actually | | | | use.Bluetooth - This wireless technology lets you to |
| do the organising for you. But if you find you need to | | | | exchange data with other handheld devices or any |
| view and manage documents on the go, keep track of | | | | other Bluetooth enabled device such as a cell phone, |
| your appointments and have instant access to your | | | | fax machine, personal computer, laptop computer, |
| name and address book, then the basic functions of a | | | | headset or printer. The Bluetooth feature will allow you |
| PDA will probably enhance your productivity. And of | | | | to add an external keyboard.Digital camera - PDA |
| course the added bonuses of listening to your mp3s, | | | | cameras usually capture low resolution images (around |
| watching short video clips, reading ebooks and being | | | | 1.2 megapixels), which are perfect for emailing but not |
| able to rehearse and review your presentations can | | | | ideal for printing.GPS - Global positioning system allows |
| only help.PDAs with the Windows Pocket PC | | | | you to navigate from any point on or near the surface |
| operating system and gutsy memory are compatible | | | | of the earth.Music/Audio - The MP3 playback quality |
| with your normal windows and office environments. | | | | will depend on the bit rate of the audio file and the |
| Screen size and image resolution can be critical if you | | | | quality of the built-in speaker. The audio quality is often |
| intend to use the device for reading books and | | | | better when played back through a quality |
| managing text-heavy documents. While sales of PDAs | | | | headset.PDA Screen - PDA screen sizes are |
| have steadily declined over the past two years, losing | | | | measured in inches diagonally and are available from |
| to smartphone technology, the main manufacturers | | | | 2.6 inches up to 5 inches on the very high-end. Larger, |
| have advanced the usability of PDA devices with | | | | brighter screens require more power to operate |
| faster processors, increases in memory and | | | | therefore increase battery consumption.Processor |
| multimedia capability. In many situations, smartphones | | | | speed - refers to the speed in which a PDA |
| have been able to replace many functions of the PDA, | | | | coordinates its internal functions. Processor speeds are |
| combining data management with mobile phone | | | | measured in MHz (megahertz) and range between 4 |
| technology. But if you want to work with spreadsheets | | | | MHz and 624 MHz. Although these specifications can |
| and web pages on your PDA, smartphones are at a | | | | change rapidly as technology develops, it is |
| disadvantage from smaller screen sizes and data | | | | recommended to have a processor speed of at least |
| storage capability and sometimes cost, but they | | | | 16 MHz for general day-to-day functions.Video capture |
| obviate the need to carry two devices.What to look | | | | - Video playback often requires an additional |
| forThere's a hand-held PDA device to suit practically | | | | expansion card and a third-party software download, |
| every budget and need. You need to consider just | | | | and higher memory capability.Web Browser - Used |
| how much data you want to carry with you and how | | | | with a Wi-Fi connection, lets you browse the internet |
| connected you want to be. Obviously more memory, | | | | as you would from a desktop computer.Wi-Fi - |
| faster processor and bigger screen attract higher price | | | | Integrated 802.11b WLAN (wireless local area network), |
| tags. You can compare brands, models and prices by | | | | enables you to connect to the internet in any hot spot. |
| searching au using the following specifications to guide | | | | Enabling the Wi-Fi features tends to consume battery |
| you.A budget basic unit might offer a processor speed | | | | life quickly.In summaryYou may like to consider |
| of 16 MHz, 8MB of memory and at 2.5 inch (diagonal) | | | | whether you are a novice (that is, new to PDA |
| screen. At the high end, you can get a 4GB micro hard | | | | technology), an entrepreneur or a technophile, and |
| drive, WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity, 400 MHz | | | | make your search based on your level of |
| processor, 256MB memory, with expansion slots, 4 | | | | understanding of the technology involved. As a novice, |
| inch (diagonal) LCD screen with 65,000 colours and | | | | you will be searching for a basic unit, as a technophile |
| 640 x 480 display resolution, GPS functionality, MP3 | | | | you will be looking for all the bells and whistles. An |
| player, digital camera and instant messaging. In the | | | | entrepreneur will be searching for the most adaptable |
| middle of the range you will find devices with 64MB of | | | | capabilities. The following might assist.Choose amongst |
| memory, a 200 MHz processor, 3 inch screen and | | | | functionalities. Consider you need for mp3 players, or |
| built-in microphone or audio input jack. Bear in mind that | | | | video players, or web browsing. Doubling the |
| all of these specifications and functionalities change | | | | functionality of your PDA may reduce the need to |
| continuously, and devices are upgraded with new | | | | have to carry another device around in order to enjoy |
| features over very short spaces of time.Apart from | | | | the benefits offered.How much internet access do you |
| processor speed, memory and screen size, some of | | | | need? Bluetooth connectivity can give you mobile |
| the critical specifications that you can use for cost and | | | | phone enabled internet access, Wife can give you |
| brand comparisons include:Data input - While some | | | | access from hot spots, and simple cable connection to |
| models have a full QWERTY keyboard built-in, you | | | | your desktop computer can let you read your emails |
| may want to consider adding a fold-up full-size | | | | on the road.Go for maximum memory for money. |
| external keyboard. Entering lots of text with the small | | | | Memory determines how much data your PDA can |
| built-in keypads or using the handwriting software can | | | | process and store, and its ability to handle applications. |
| be frustrating.Audio input - A built-in microphone or | | | | Memory can be boosted in many devices using |
| microphone jack is needed for recording voice memos | | | | expansion slots and flash memory cards.Search au to |
| and meeting notes and store audio files.Music playback | | | | compare models and brands, and vendors and |
| - MP3 audio file playback can sometimes need | | | | prices.Andrew Gates is a writer for comparison online |
| additional software.GPS - While there are a number of | | | | shopping site au. au helps you compare PDAs and buy |
| purpose-built hand-held devices for industrial | | | | online from top-rated online stores. You can also read |
| applications, your PDA's GPS capability may not be | | | | PDAs reviews and specifications. |
| suitable for rugged outdoor activities.Communication - | | | | |