PDA Buyer's Guide

Need information on the go? Keep yourself informed, organized, and entertained with a handheld computer, also called a personal digital assistant (PDA). Handhelds are mobile computers that manage your calendar, contact information, and to-do lists.

Some provide a voice recorder and note taker, and others even let you read e-mail and information downloaded from the Internet.

Overview

Handhelds are small portable computers, usually handheld or pocket-size, that organize data, such as your schedule, appointment calendar, address book, and to-do list, and often include connections to your desktop PC or to the Internet. Once the domain of early adopting gadget lovers, handhelds now organize and update millions of mobile business professionals. They're ideal for anyone who needs portable information but doesn't want the size or expense of a laptop computer.

Handhelds are usually designed to work with your desktop PC. First, you connect the two devices with a serial or USB cable. Then you use the handheld's included software to manage tasks on your desktop PC and to synchronize tasks with the handheld.

When shopping for a handheld, start by identifying your needs. Do you want just a basic electronic pocket organizer with personal information management (PIM) functions? Will you need to coordinate your information with others who are connected through a network? Will you need to download e-mail and other information from the Internet to your handheld? Will you use your handheld to jot down notes during meetings? Will you need a larger handheld with a bigger screen and more memory, or will you want to travel with your handheld in your pocket?

Knowing what tasks you'll use your handheld for will help you decide what body size, display type, memory, operating system, handwriting software, power source, and other amenities you'll need.

Handheld body sizes

Handhelds range from the size of a credit card to a notebook computer. The number of features and the computing power increase with the size.

Credit-card-size units typically offer only basic PIM functions and have about 512 KB of RAM. Because the units are so small, the screen may be difficult to read, and there's little room for buttons, so entering data can be tedious or require you to connect to a desktop PC and to use the PC's keyboard. Still, these handhelds can sound an alarm before your appointments and keep track of your business contacts, addresses, and phone numbers in a tiny, convenient package.

Palm-size computers are the most popular handheld body style. In fact, may people consider "PDA" or "handheld" and "palm computer" to be synonymous. Smaller than a paperback but larger than a deck of cards, palm computers fit easily in the palm of your hand. The units are too small to include a keyboard, so you enter commands and data by pressing surface-mounted buttons or by tapping the display with a stylus. Most handhelds also let you "write" text and include some sort of handwriting recognition software; a few recognize spoken commands.

Larger handhelds range in size from a thick checkbook to a small notebook computer. These units have room for more memory and expansion slots, a half-height or even full-size VGA display, and a keyboard with touch-type capabilities. With increased size, you get increased computing power and versatility, but you lose the advantages of pocket portability. These larger units also usually cost more than smaller ones.

Next Section > Operating Platforms

Note: This buying guide is courtesy of Amazon.com and was written by Mike Brown, a consumer electronics editor for Amazon.com, covering phones, PDAs, printers, scanners, and other products.