Buying a PDA - 7 Things to Know Before

7 things to know before buying a PDA

By Kim Komando

Handheld computers, known more widely now as PDAs (personal digital assistants), are the Swiss Army knives of the tech world. They began as address books on steroids and have turned into pocket-sized multimedia communication machines.

If you've been thinking about purchasing a PDA or upgrading your current one, you'll find endless choices. That's why I'm here to help.

I recently took a look at these seven machines: Dell Axim X3i, Hewlett Packard iPAQ Pocket PC h4350, Palm Tungsten C, Palm Tungsten W, Palm Zire, Palm Zire 71 and the Toshiba e405.

I'm done with my research, and I hope I can save you a headache. Here are seven things that should help you navigate the PDA thicket.

1. The Palm operating system remains the most popular.

No. 1 palmOne's (formerly Palm Inc.) products have long dominated the world market, but are starting to slip. Sales numbers from 2003 show that palmOne had a 36% world market share, down from 42% in 2002. Its closest competitor, Hewlett-Packard, had a 20% share.

The Palm OS is very versatile, able to connect with both Windows and Mac computers.

You input data with a keyboard or writing with a stylus. The Palm OS uses a handwriting recognition program called Graffiti. If you've never used it before, good luck. The learning curve is steep.

Different PDAs use different versions of the operating system. For example, the Palm Zire utilizes OS v.4 and the Zire 71 uses OS v.5. If you have a specific software need, ensure that the operating system is capable of running it. Upgrading the operating system is close to impossible.

2. Microsoft's Windows Mobile 2003 operating system is more user-friendly.

Windows Mobile 2003 for the Pocket PC is a sleek version of Windows. It is both multimedia and wireless friendly. All Wi-Fi settings can be saved. When you move across wireless networks, connecting is effortless.

Data entry with the stylus is much easier than with the Palm system. Pocket PC handhelds use the handwriting-recognition program Transcriber. It's very easy to learn. Instead of the PDA teaching you to write, you teach your PDA to read.

Pocket PC handhelds connect directly with Windows machines only. If you have a Mac, you'll have to use third-party software. Since there are fewer PDAs running the Pocket PC operating system, this software is harder to find.

If you own a Pocket PC 2002, you might be able to upgrade to the Windows Mobile 2003 operating system. Check the Windows Mobile-based Pocket PC link under "Related Links" to see if you qualify.

3. You can spend less than $300 for a PDA.

For this amount of money, you won't be signing directly onto the Internet. You can write e-mails, but you have to hook up to a computer to send them. And you'll need a computer to download Web pages, too. Some of the PDAs in this range allow you Internet access by linking with your mobile phone. But you'll have to use up your minutes.

If you're unsure about getting a PDA, you might want to start with a Palm Zire. For $79, you get an efficient organizer with 2 megabytes of RAM and very few extras. For $170 more, you might want to consider the Palm Zire 71. This gives you a color display, 16MB of RAM, a built-in digital camera and the ability to connect to a mobile phone to download and send e-mail.

For a bit more, there's the Toshiba e405, which retails for $299. This is a top-of-the-line budget PDA. It's not only good for business applications, but is instantly multimedia friendly. Plug in headphones and you've got an MP3 player.

4. You can easily spend more than $300 for a PDA.

The higher-priced units can cost as much as a low-budget laptop. But you will have less than a laptop to lug from meeting to meeting. Most higher-priced PDAs enable you to connect with projectors for presentations. They're also convenient to access the Internet while you're on the go.

The Palm Tungsten W retails for $419 and doubles as a cell phone. It has a built-in keyboard that makes entering information a breeze. For $499, the Palm Tungsten C removes the cell phone functionality but adds integrated Wi-Fi.

The HP iPAQ Pocket PC h4350 offers Pocket PC users a full-fledged multimedia and business device for about $499. You'll find a built-in keyboard and integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology.

If you want integrated Wi-Fi without breaking the bank, check out the Dell Axim X3i. It retails for $349.

5. You'll have a choice on how you access the Internet.

When looking at the high-end PDAs, you'll have an important decision to make: 802.11b (Wi-Fi) or cellular networks. The difference is price and accessibility.

Many hotels and coffee shops offer free Wi-Fi access to their customers. Free is always good. There are also pay networks set up through companies such as Boingo and T-Mobile. The surfing speeds are equivalent to a broadband connection on your desktop.

But there are two disadvantages. First, you must be within 150 to 300 feet of an access point. And, second, the connection may not be secure.

If you purchase a PDA without integrated Wi-Fi, you can always add it on later with a card. The cards cost about $100.

6. Cellular transmission is slower and more expensive, but more secure.

Cellular offers a much more secure method of data transmission. It also provides voice transmission, turning your PDA into a cell phone. Be prepared to pay. Pricing plans start at $20 per month and can easily exceed $100.

The Palm Tungsten W is primarily a PDA but doubles as a cell phone. There is a variety of voice and data plans. Check with the carrier to find the best plan for your needs.

7. In summary: Go for a Pocket PC or hybrid PDA/cell phone -- or stick with your laptop.

PDAs are fun little gadgets, but not much more than that. I found it very difficult to create any content in Word or Excel using a stylus. Of course, you can always buy a fold up keyboard and type away at normal speed. Still, in my opinion, it's very difficult to edit anything on a 3-inch screen. It's even more difficult to edit something using only a stylus.

If I were to buy a PDA, I'd go for the Pocket PC. Its Windows system is familiar and the handwriting-recognition program is fantastic. I was able to pick it up and start writing immediately. Learning Graffiti was more difficult than learning the Russian alphabet. It's just not very intuitive.

I would bet that a majority of owners probably only use their PDAs to store phone numbers or play games when stranded at the airport. Most cell phones already do this.

Combining PDAs with cell phones or digital cameras -- two handheld products in one -- makes the most sense. There is greater viability with the increased functionality.

But I'm not sure I need one of those, either. When it comes to full-fledged business applications, I'd rather use a laptop.