PDA Guide
PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) or Pocket PC is a pocket size computer primarily used as a pocket organiser. The price of a PDA ranged from £75 to £700. They can be made to perform many functions like simple organiser, taking notes, going online, reading downloaded e-mails. You need to consider the purpose of the PDA to decide upon the model.
The main considerations while choosing a PDA are:
Size
Display
Memory
Synchronization capability
PDA size ranges from a credit card to a notebook. Most of the computing power is allied to the main unit. You should ideally look for models that are less than five inches thick and weigh less than five ounces. Display features include resolution, colour, and kind of matrix. The higher the resolution of your handheld, the greater would be the clarity. A PDA usually has a resolution of 320x240 pixels. The hues can give you blues here. Colour is more expensive and the cheaper options can prove worse than the monochromes. There is usually very little difference between the display of a 12 and 16-bit colour screen. Most PDA’s have a RAM (Random Access Memory) of about 12-16 MB. You can go for a bigger RAM if you can afford it. Check out for unites with a slot of Compact Flash or SD Memory if you are looking for more space on the hard disk. You should buy a handheld that has the hardware (cable or cradle) and the software to connect to your PC.
While most PDA’s have an onscreen keyboard, you may consider a keyboard if you want regularly input large amounts of data. You can also buy an attachable keyboard as an accessory. In order to update your handheld or add new accessories, you must buy a model with expansion slots for extra memory, modems, Bluetooth, and camera modules. A built-in or attachable modem is must if you need your PDA for going online.
Power is important for any machine and the more sophisticated your handheld, the more will be the battery required. Most PDAs come with rechargeable battery packs and a back-up battery to protect unsaved data in case of a power breakdown. Go for models that have power management software and power saving utilities.
Tip: Choose your PDA according to size, display, memory, compatibility, and look of expansion slots and power saving features.
| 
