PDAs range widely in terms of price and capability. You can find a basic handheld organizer for under $50, but it usually won't do more than store contact information and provide a digital day planner. On the opposite end of the spectrum are the high-end PDAs that feature ultra-fast processors, expansion slots, and wireless access. Depending on your intended PDA use, you can find an appropriate device anywhere in this spectrum.
Your first major decision regards the operating system. There are two major PDA operating systems, Palm OS and Microsoft Windows Mobile. Other operating systems exist, such as that found on RIM's Blackberry, but Palm and Windows Mobile are the major players. Palm OS is more streamlined and requires less power to run, but Windows Mobile has more versatility. Both operating systems work fine for most users. However, if you'll be viewing and editing a lot of Microsoft Word or Excel documents on your PDA, Windows Mobile may have an edge because it has Word and Excel abilities inherently built in. On the other hand, third-party software is often bundled with Palm OS-equipped PDAs to give them this capability. |
