pda

Classification of PDA vs Smartphone from Gartner

Decision making criteria for purchasing a handheld devices-PDA categories.

1. PDA. Handheld, personal digital assistant. A planner and organizer with a custom operating system such as Palm or Psion.

2. PDA with phone capability. Mainly a PDA but has cell full phone capability.

3. Pocket PC. A PDA like device with a Windows based operating system.

4. Non windows Smart phone: Mainly a cell phone with PDA capability – Palm or similar OS

5. Windows Smart phone: mainly a phone with a Pocket PC Windows Mobile CE, 2003 or 5 operating system.

6. Handheld computer. Slightly bigger than the PDA family. Is a scaled down version of a notebook computer that can be held in the palm of the hand. Can be based on a Windows or other proprietary operating system.

7. Industry specific PDA’s. Not covered here. A great # of selections.

8. Mobile computing devices: continuous connection to Email servers, plus all othe PDA features. Blackberry is the most common.

PDA entry level classifications of Palm products by Palm

When making purchasing decision for a PDA consider your level of aptitude, interest and and needs. Some Palm recommendations: if you are buying used products you may find some of the older model numbers on this list helpful. 2005 model updates included.

First time user - Palm 100. As of year 2003-5 a Zire 21 would be similar but has larger memory (8MB).
Young Student and Professional - Palm 105
Use for work and play - Palm 111c
Power Users and Mobile professional. - Palm Vx now Zire 72 or Tungsten
Corporate users and early adopters - Palm m500. Tungsten, Life Drive (new model) and Treo 600 or 650, 700 plus
The true technophiles - Palm m505. This would be replaced by the Tungsten in 2003 and the Treo.

If you are purchasing a non Palm product you can still use the above guide to gauge your technology savvy and purchase a product that you can manage easily. The KISS principle was never better used than in this field. Keep It Simple............What is is that you want to do? Does the unit do it? Chances are no unit will do everything that you want to do, or the costs are prohibitive. Check my guideline for making a cost benefit analysis. http://www.timemanage.com/techsw.html

More details about above PDA categories.

1. PDA. If you want basic Scheduling and a database a PDA will suffice. Palm operating products are a professionally reviewed as reliable. Buy with a minimum of 8 MB of RAM. Remember many manufactures use the Palm OS. Stay in the lower price range and become familiar with functions. Migrate your database to a unit with more functions when your business grows. Can synchronize all products to your desktop. $200 +/- if you shop. Choices, Palm, Handspring, Sony Clio.

2. PDA with phone capability but be prepared to buy a new cell phone plan if you purchase Treo. $700 or Blackberry 6750 from Bell $599. With phone plan purchase on a one or two year contract the cost of these phones can be as low as $200.

3. Pocket PC. If you have over $400 to spend and wish to sync. all your desktop Windows programs seamlessly with your handheld device or use this as a computer, this is your choice. Preferably buy with Wi-Fi capability – can connect to network without wires. So if you use MS Word and XL while “on the go” this unit will useful. As powerful as many laptops. But no keyboard unless you buy a collapsible add on or a thumb operated add on. You will need to have a separate cell phone. You will also need to choose a “pocket edition” of a contact manager if you want more than MS Outlook. Processor speeds up to 400 Mhz. and 64 RAM available. Buy units with slots for additional memory cards. Hp.iPAQ, Toshiba, Dell and most major electronic manufacturers.

4. Non Windows Smart phones. This is the 'hot' item for 2005. The smart phones were using Palm operating systems until Microsoft entered the fray. Now the choice software is Windows Mobile (2003-05). Handy for quick checks into to a higher capacity database, scheduling functions and note taking etc. Keypads for typing are an issue and some innovative shortcuts are appearing. E.g. Samsung, Kyocera. 7135 - $699

5. Windows Smart phone. Windows compatibility will be found in these phones as Microsoft tries to take market share from the PDA's. A good choice if the phone is your first priority. Choice software is Windows Mobile (2003-05). $350 and up for phone and PDA.

6. Handheld computers. As powerful as medium price range laptops with all the same functionality but smaller screens. Pricing is just a little less than a laptop or notebook computer. So if you want reasonable computing power with a small keyboard built in and don’t mind a small screen, but bigger than a PDA screen this might be your choice. But cost is high, $800 - $1600+ All major computer manufacturers. HP has a good reputation in this area. Models upgrade every year. Note: If you need constant access to Email then a Blackberry would be the best current PDA choice and some have phone capability (e.g. Bell sponsored units). Treo (Handspring) has some good PDA/phone models, but read the consumer reviews before buying specific models. Remember with these products you need to buy a more expensive airtime plan to be connected all the time. We all have different needs. Match your product to your needs and not to fads and marketing schemes. It takes time to set up and learn all of these new electronic devices, not to mention the need and costs to upgrade them – if they can be. So if your focus is on developing your business, and you don’t want a relationship with technology, buy basic.

Note as of Nov. 2003 Palm and Handspring (makers of the Treo PDA/phone) have joined forces. The Treo 600/650 which is available as of 2005 is competitor to the Blackberry. The Treo can display web pages whereas the Blackberry is dedicated to Email and limited web sites.

The selection process would always be determined by, "What are you going to use the device for?"

Users perspectives. Dec. 13, 2006 Lexmark survey results re: Blackberry

Writer's perspective 2006.

I still use my Dyna-form paper based day planner for managing my time and Microsft Outlook on my laptop for maintaining my data base - tranferring to my Palm as needed.

I also use an IBM T42 laptop with Centrino mobile wirless connectivity, a Palm Zire 21 PDA (USB connection to laptop) and a Qualcom cellphone that can also be used as a modem for picking up Email. In the officer I use a phone headset when working at my desk, Card scanner, 6.2 HP digital camera (great time saver for many tasks), Samsung laser duplex printer (double sided printing - great money and time saver), HP copier, scanner, printer, Panasonic fax machine (the laptop can also send receive faxes). See below for features to consider when purchasing a laptop.

2005. My current perspective has not changed much in the past year since investing $300 in a Handspring (Palm Operating System 8MB PDA). I use my PDA as a database for phone numbers and the occasional note taking. I still prefer my paper day planner for planning and keeping track of my projects and commitments. I use a laptop extensively for all my computer related work including Email. I pick up my Email twice a day. Most of my Email involves sending or receiving attachments from my MS Word or XL applications and a PDA would be cumbersome for this. I like to use a phone as a phone with hands free whenever possible I use a collapsible full size keyboard for my PDA to enter most data – not the pen. I have a relatively good and inexpensive digital camera HP 315, 2.1 Mega Pixels (cost $230 CDN, new) and wouldn’t use the poorer quality images when a camera is built into a PDA or cell phone. I use a USB cable on my laptop to connect to LANs (Local Area Networks). I use a D.Link wireless card to connect to wireless networks. My cell phone has a cable ($100) that connects to my laptop and this enables me to get Email using my Bell Mobility account – right into my laptop. 25c a minute and slow. Or, if you buy a cell phone with the new 1x technology (and new phone plan) you get faster speeds but pay by the amount of MB that you download – so you probably wouldn't’t use the cell for cruising the web. In 1998 I bought a new sub notebook computer. It was about the size of an average hardcover book. Weighed 4 lbs. It enabled me to do all my important work on one unit. I used a full blown ACT contact Management program on it and could type, design, Photoshop, web design and Email as fast as I wanted, and with plenty of memory (for those days). I still use a laptop today as my main business tool. I still think this is the most productive approach. My PDA is my phone book if I need to look up #’s from an extensive database while away from my laptop. Appointments are only in one place. In my planner. “May I get back to you…”? I like to flip my day planner open to the appropriate pages when I am on the phone and write once, directly into the correct places. Contacting your Internet provider if you travel a lot and don’t use AOL or want their L.D. surcharges. The best long distance discount plan I know of is CI CI. I use it for all my long distance calls and to get my Email when I am out of town. 3 cents a minute. I connect to my Toronto ISP by adding a specified local numbers ahead of my Internet dial up number and placing,,,,,,,, (commas) to give time for the operators messages. I then download and send mail very cheaply. I used to buy the CI CI cards in convenience stores but now you can have a permanent account, without pin #’s for most calls. Call 1-888-836-2347 to set up account, have your various phone numbers assigned to the account and then prepay or credit your account from $20 and up. This can be done by phone or web. From that point on you just pick up the phone dial one number and you receive huge saving on long distance and you are advised how much available credit you have with every phone call. No surprises. Tell them Fred Pentney 416-697-7177 referred you and ask your friends to do the same for you. You get a token credit on your long distance account. If you have a product you like or a system that you would like to share please send me a brief summary and I will include it in my next write up. I am currently reviewing scanning software called "Paper Port" (available at Staples), after a referral from one the group in Whitby. This enables one to set a filing system for all documents scanned into your computer. I am encouraged to try going paperless in some aspects of managing my office/files after reading Bill Gate's book, "Business at the Speed of Thought" 1999, Warner books.

Writer's preference and update: Oct 12, 2003 with updated links to manufacturers, product pricing

.Writer's preference to Oct. 7, 2002. I purchased a Handspring Visor (has a Palm operating system) in Dec. 2001 and have slowly added its use into my daily routines. It has a vast capability. I like to use it as a portable data base for phone numbers. I still use my paper based planner (using custom designed forms), two laptops (one PC Pentium 2 and a Mac 2400) and occasionally a desktop computer. The desktop is a die hard, reliable machine (Mac 7600) that always enables the job to be done, especially if there are any problems with the laptop. For purposes of time management and planning a paper based (Dyna-form) system is still my main tool. Previous position. The need to have immediate electronic entry of new data while on the move has not yet happened. Yes, paper entries are often made and then considered for entry into the laptop/computer data base. (Act 4.0 is the current Contact manager, which has been added to since ACT1.0) What determines if a electronic addition is to made to the data base if whether there is likely to be any activity required related to the entry. If so then I take advantage of the many powerful features that a contact manager has over a P.D.A. e.g. numerous templates and completed letter files. Detailed histories of accounts, records of all contacts, etc. I still like the idea of compartmentalizing my day so that I am not constantly work connected. This means being focussed and productive when it is time to work. So to this day I have held off buying a P.D.A. The thought of having to transfer and then maintain yet another system for scheduling is daunting. Perhaps its not so bad if you are being paid employee wages while you perform the tasks.
Overview

P.D.A.'s (personal digital assistants). These electronic handheld devices provide some of the benefits of a paper based diary planner, plus many innovative features, minus the comfort that comes from knowing how to do something quickly and easily without having to learn yet another set of procedures and commands. As with using most computer/electronic devices there is the inevitable trade-off. Time in means time out from other activities which may give you a quicker and more measurable return. If, however, you are a committed technophile, then the main issue is which unit to buy, how much to pay and how long before you need the next model? Key strengths: the P.D. A.. provides a quick access and easy to maintain data base, calendering, flexible To-do lists, network connectivity, games and other features. What do P.D.A.'s look like? Something between a cell phone, a large pager and a handheld T.V. Optional or standard equipment may include small add-on keyboards or pen based computing and a hosts of plug ins. P.D.A.'s are small, light and versatile. They are a relatively new entry into the time management arena, gaining prominence in the past five years. Our purpose is to compare their value to, or in addition to, a paper based diary planner. So the critical issues with buying or owning a P.D.A. are: do I really need one, what are the benefits, how much does it cost, and do I want to add another item to my drawer full of electronic gizmos (yesterday's must haves), that have made somebody else rich or bankrupt? Will it make me more productive or less productive and/or reduce or increase the stress in my life? How reliable is the unit in terms of losing all of my data? Don't let influence of the P.D.A. enthusiasts who didn't personally have to shell out $800 for their company unit sway you. Those folks should be listened to with one ear only. Don't discard your current s paper system. If you do decide to buy a P.D.A. continue to choose which medium is best suited for the the particular needs you have and don't assume that you can use it for all your time management needs e.g. Will it help you get to an appointment on time, fully prepared?

Most common makes include the Palm, which uses Palm's own operating system (Palm). Models include the Pilot, 3, 5, 7, X series etc. Prices range from $150-$800 (Canadian). Wireless models are available in the higher price range but the transmission is only as reliable as the network services you subscribe to. Other manufacturer's of P.D.A.'s include the some of the major computer manufacturers such as Compaq and Hewlett Packard. Casio, Psion, are two other leaders. Many of the non Palm makes use their own operating system or Windows CE. (a scaled down version of the Windows operating system). Comparison of the technical and practical aspects of the various makes and models can be found in current computer magazines. Price comparisons, electronic vs paper. Comparisons of electronic organizers to paper organizers on price has to include the annual maintenance cost in addition to the initial outlay. A typical day planner in quality leather binder will cost about about
$150 CDN. Each year new dated inserts will have to be purchased. If one considers an average of $75 as the annual update costs for a professional edition of inserts, the total outlay after three years will be about $475. This happens to be the midrange price point for the P.D.A's. Assuming that you kept your P.D.A. for three years your costs are about the same.

The question of the P.D.A. having a resale value has yet to be determined. There does not seem to be a glut of used units in the market which would perhaps suggest that obsolescence and wear and tear may take their toll. Quality leather binders should have a minimum life expectancy of 5 years. Factoring in all the variables, the initial long term cost of either type of system is roughly the same, but, the cost of the electronic adds on for the P.D.A. plus batteries, chargers etc. may eventually result in a significantly higher outlay. I would also suggest that if you buy a P.D.A. you will still need a good looking leather binder, of some type, for notes
and other tasks that paper is well suited to. Final conclusion, no savings by buying a P.D.A.

Competing. Are the P.D.A.'s competing with the computer? No. There is a distinct market differentiation between the two. Note the P.D.A. is not a PC computer. The P.D.A. can perform some of the tasks that are typically done with with a computer, but the software is not industrial strength. However, the P.D.A. may soon been competing with the handheld computer. The handheld computers such as the Compaq, Jornada, and the Hewlett Packard HHC's (see our technology pages for more makes ) are just slightly larger overall and are just a little bigger than a hand, but have a great deal more functionality and memory. Price however ranges from $1000 to $1500 CDN. The next class of product beyond the handheld computer is the sub notebook computer, which now has the power of a full sized desktop and weighs as little as two to three pounds. I have personally used an Apple 2400c sub notebook (call it a very small laptop) for over two years. It weighed four pounds and I found it very comfortable to carry and easy to make inconspicuous. I am currently working with a PC notebook computer weighing 6 lbs. and still find it quite manageable. I like the convenience of the CD player and the floppy drive built in, which gives me immediate full range of activities, which is much more important to me than lightness. Remember, the tools we use are a means to an end and the not end itself - unless we are rich or product reviewers.

T.M. perspective. Comparisons of the time it takes to retrieve information from a paper organizer or from a P.D.A. show
that there isn't a significant difference. Obviously Perhaps the advantage the P.D.A. has is that it will provide more detail in less space. One can load a lot of electronic information into a P.D.A. whereas the paper planner has an obvious limitations. Bulging and loose paper tend not to promote the professional image one might need. The deciding factor might be what do you need to access, how often and under what circumstances. The use of the expression, "Let me get back to you" has some advantages and doesn't me that you don't know or can't decide. It does create the opportunity to do more research under some circumstances.

Strengths: So what are some of the reasons for buying a P.D.A based on strengths/benefits . If your company uses them to communicate with its employees then you have instant access to the latest company information, including tapping into the data base and getting some or full client information without having to do more than log onto the company network. If you are a single user you have immediate access to all your appointments, data base of all contacts, and a mass of other select information and games. Both types of users can enter data on the spot, by keying in (made by Research in Motion, Blackberry model), or using pen based computing, or collecting the data via an infra-red link with someone else's unit or a computer with an infra-red link. The key strength is the amount of storage than can be kept in a very small and portable unit. Some units are much more powerful than computers were a few years ago. Current common range is 2MB to 8 MB. 2 MB will allow you to store about 6000 contacts. The increase in memory is not exponential, and the average user would not need
more than space for a thousand contacts.

Weaknesses. As with any other computer related product other issues include cost, obsolescence, crashes and data wipeouts, battery life and charging cycles, ease of data entry and retrieval and functionality for the specific purpose you are going use it are all potential hazards. I have heard complaints that the unit have crashed and all the data has been lost. Not so bad if you can reload with the infra-red from the computer, but not very reassuring if you are with or preparing for a client, or don't have a paper back-up. But more than anything else is the time needed to learn the new technology and the possibility of having to buy expensive add ons to do the specific things we need it for. I notice there are a huge variety of carrying cases available that can reflect your personal image. That's $35 CDN for the first add on. Next the flexible fold up keyboard, and the special software for many of the applications that you use your desktop/laptop, and the memory cards,
and your expenses start to add up to the equivalent of a sub notebook (4lb) computer. And the obsolescence issue is still present.
Will your current add on be functional on the next model of P.D.A.

Buying decisions. For those of you who make the buying decision, factor in the time you spend in researching and buying, plus the learning time, and the time for needed to maintain the data base and other entries so that it becomes a useful tool. The issue of whether a P.D.A will do a delegated job faster than using a paper based planner has been explored in various media articles, and we suggest that unless the article is very current it has little value because of the speed at which new models and new features are being added to the P.D.A.'s. How often do you think you will refer to P.D.A. What types of information do you need as part of your daily routines. Is this information already available from other sources. If you can make up a to do list on a piece of paper each day, and it works for you, do you need to digitize it. However, if you focus on the data base and your day is made up of meeting sand contacting more than a few people then this feature may be your key consideration. The small size is obviously a strong point. The portability has been main part of the marketing focus and is a definite strength. I haven't seen the statistics on the number of units that are lost or stolen each year but if you do have a tendency to be lax in this area it might be worth investing in some behavior modification courses first. Do the strengths alone make compelling reasons to buy. Not necessarily. How are you performing you time management tasks now? What degree of improvement can you project? How many more productive or leisure hours will this new tool generate for you? Could you invest the same amount of money in some software for your computer that would allow you to develop new marketable skills sets? If money is not an object buy one for a niece or nephew and let them provide a product review and then train you when they are experts. If you are not enthused about another round of computer type buying considerations, but feel it is important to know and keep up with common technologies, you can do so without buying each new item. Most of the components and functions of the P.D.A. ar available on the computer. If you don't have a computer, we would suggest buying one before you by a P.D.A.

Rex the credit card sized P.D.A.
I recently purchase a REX PCMCIA card for my laptop that allows me to transfer my Act data base onto the removable card. The unit also has a hot sync cradle to transfer data to a desk top computer. The length and breadth of of the P.D.A. card is the same as a business or credit card, and the thickness in its protective plastic case is about 1/4 inch. Cost of the card was half of the cost of the cheapest Palm unit and storage is about 6000 contacts. The Rex includes a to do list, calendering and memos. It is classified as a wearable information accessory. It fills the gap between my preference for a paper dairy planner and the compactness of an electronic data base. The view in the picture is with the case on.
The images are quite clear when with or without the case on. The unit has many features including being able to make manual entries (slowly) without the computer. It develops an intelligence with use. The small buttons on the right are the controls, which activate menus and sub menus. For more details visit the web site for Xircom above.

Case study - learning to discriminate. Time management includes using tools and resources based on priorities. However, self management allows that we use what makes us feel comfortable. I will give you an example. In one of my seminars we discussed the P.D.A. when it was in its first generation. It is now about 3rd generation. One attendee endorsed his P.D.A as the best tool he had ever used for time or personal management. He liked the pocket size, portability, versatility in storing different types of information, speedy access to important phone numbers and the sense of being technologically up-to-date. This person was not interested in whether he could plan a complex day with multiple projects, cross references, data files, and ever changing priorities. That was my type of problem. He may not even had a time management problem before he made his purchase. His life and work seemed to be very straightforward. His solution to the purchasing decision for P.D.A. was straightforward. i.e. "I like the idea. I'll buy it. I'll use it If it works for me." His conclusion, "It worked for me. I'm satisfied. " Based on this case I would suggest that the more complex your needs the more consideration given to alternative methods of control, rather than thinking of the P.D.A. as a comprehensive solution. It may be useful for some of the tasks we perform, such as quick access to phone numbers. It may not help provide a solution to scheduling when we have ever changing priorities.

Current trends. As our work becomes more complex, and the environments we live in become more technologically connected I believe we will need tools to take advantage or stay abreast of developments . As P.D.A.'s develop greater memory capacity they will be adopted for a while by a greater number of industries. They will be made industry specific. Pen based computing, a forerunner of the P.D.A., has utilized hand-held electronic devices for many years, but they were designed to meet the specific needs of the user for the job at hand. Some industries that are currently using the P.D.A. include the financial services industry, service industries such as the home heating fuel delivery, some hospitals to record patient data, engineers and salespeople who are have access to Sales Force Automation software and data. The list will grow as the technology advances. We are advised that with wireless units we can read web pages on the units, send wireless Emails, get the weather, stock prices and a myriad of other information. I am not sure how much information we need beyond what we can enjoy reading in the newspapers and what is available to us in large chunks when it is convenient to log onto the web for a period of time. Observations made in studies show that people use their
P.D.A.'s more frequently than laptops in a conference setting. Dieter's can track their calorific intake and joggers can record their performance data. Industry specific. Purpose is an important issue because there are so many makes and models available. If there is already a standard model being used by your company or industry then this may not be a big issue. In fact the choice may not even be yours. Many companies issue laptops to employees, now many require that their employees record data on site and transmit via wireless or infra red transfer when back at your or their office. The company can tailor information to its employees based on immediate need. The employee in turn can provide instant feedback. Synopsis. P.D.A.'s are here to stay in one form or another. Hopefully your company will buy one so that you don't have to invest. The data that may currently be in your computer data base can be exported into the P.D.A. after some filtering decisions-so this means just one initial data entry. Calendering and scheduling are strengths. Multi tasking and priority management will still require personal skill sets. Moving through the various fields and department and locating and modifying data may not be as easy as using a well designed day planner. Paper back up will still be required for critical information, just as electronic back up is required for computer files. Redundancy is an issue. Hopefully the market for used units will offset the high initial costs. If you are going to maintain paper planner for some parts of your time management and selectively use the P.D.A. for other other parts you may find a workable compromise. E.g. carry a thin pocket size paper planner for appointments and notes and use the P.D.A. as a data base for phone numbers etc. If you haven't bought yet and already have a computer, spend the time getting your computer database up to date first, and by the time that is done the prices of the P.D.A.'s will have come down or you will get the latest technologies when you buy.

P.D.A.'s (personal digital assistants) evaluation from a time management perspective. Written in early 2000's but still relevant 2005.

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P.D.A.vs
computer

T.M. issue

P.D.A.'s (personal digital assistants). These electronic handheld devices provide some of the benefits of a paper based diary planner, plus many electronic features, minus the comfort that comes with knowing how to do something quickly and easily without having to learn yet another set of procedures and commands. As with most computer innovations there is the inevitable tradeoff. If however you are a committed technophile, then is issue is which unit to buy, how much and how long before you need the next model. What do P.D.A.'s look like? Something between a cell phone, a large pager and a handheld T.V. Some have small or add-on keyboards, some used pen based computing, and some are wireless. Common makes and models include the Palm series, which uses Palm's own operating system. Models include the Pilot, 3, 5, 7, X series etc. A wireless model is available (you have to pay the phone company for the plan. Bluetooth added in 2005 - which allows short range transfer of information - previously accomplished with Infrared.

Prices range from $200-$800 (Canadian). Other manufacturer's of P.D.A.'s include the most of the computer manufacturers. Many of these use the Windows CE operating system. Comparison of the technical and practical aspects can be found in recent computer magazines. Our purpose is to compare their value to or in addition to a paper based diary planner. So the critical issues with buying or owning a P.D.A. are: do I really need one, what are the benefits, how much does it cost, and do I want to add another item to my drawer full of electronic gizmos (yesterday's must haves) and gadgets that have made somebody else rich?

Competing with the P.D.A. is the handheld computer. Note the P.D.A. is not a computer (yet). It does perform some of the tasks that can be done on a computer, but the software is not industrial strength. The handheld computers such as the Jornada and the Hewlett Packard (see our technology pages for more makes ) are slightly larger overall and are just a little bigger than the hand but have a great deal more functionality and memory. Price however ranges from $1000 to $1500 CDN. The next class of product beyond the handheld is the sub-notebook computer which now has the power of a full sized desktop and weighs as little as two to three pounds. I personally used an Apple 2400c for over 7years. This is in the class of sub notebook (call it a very small laptop), it weighed four pounds and I found it very comfortable to carry and easy to make inconspicuous. I am currently working with a PC notebook computer weighing 6 lbs and still find it quite manageable. Updated Aug. 2004 to an IBM Thinkpad weighing 4.2 lbs including the CD burner, but no Floppy drive - a $60 add on. I liked the convenience of the CD player and the floppy drive built in on the 6 lb unit, which gives me immediate full range of activities, which is more important to me than lightness. Remember, the tools we use are a means to an end and the not end itself - unless we are rich or product reviewers.

As with any other computer related product other issues include cost, obsolescence, crashes and data wipeouts, battery life and charging cycles, ease of data entry and retrieval and functionality for the specific purpose you are going use it. I have heard the complaint that the unit can crash and one can loose all the data. Not so bad if you can reload with the infrared from the computer, but not very reassuring if you are with a client. .

Industry specific. Purpose is an important issue because there are so many makes and models available. If there is already a standard model being used by your company or industry then this may not be a big issue. In fact the choice may not even be yours. Many companies issue laptops to employees, now many require that their employees record data on site and transmit via wireless or infra red transfer when back at your or their office.

For those who have to make the buying decision factor in the time you spend in researching and buying, plus the learning time, and the time for needed to maintain the data base and other entries so that it becomes a useful tool. The issue of whether a P.D.A will do a delegated job faster than using a paper based planner has been explored in various media articles, and we suggest that unless the article is very current it has little value because of the speed at which new models and new features are being added to the P.D.A.'s.

Before we continue, the writer will inform you that he uses a paper based planner (custom designed forms), a laptop, and occasionally a desktop computer. The desktop is a die hard, reliable machine that always enable the job to be done if there are any problems with the laptop. For purposes of time management and planning the paper based system is the main tool. The need to have immediate electronic entry of new data while on the move has not yet happened (to me). Yes, paper entries are often made and then considered for entry into the laptop/computer data base. (Act 4.0 is the current Contact manager, which has been added to since ACT1.0) What determines if a electronic addition is to made to the data base if whether there is likely to be any activity required or related to the entry. If so then one can take advantage of the many powerful features that a contact manager has over a P.D.A. E.g. letter templates and completed letter files. completed histories of accounts, records of all contacts, etc.

So what are some of the reasons for buying a P.D.A based on strengths? If your company uses them to communicate with its employees then you have instant access to the latest company information, including tapping into the data base and getting full client information. If you are a single user you have immediate access to all your appointments, data base of all contacts, and a mss of other select information and games. Both types of users can enter data on the spot, by keying in (the Blackberry model), using pen based computing, or collecting the data via an infrared link with someone else's unit or a computer with an infrared link. The key strength is the amount of storage than can be kept in a very small and portable unit. Some units are much more powerful than computers were a few years ago. Do these points make compelling reasons to buy. Not necessarily.

Discrimination. Time management includes using tools and resources based on priorities. However, personal management allows to use what makes us feel comfortable. I will give you a few examples. In one of my seminars we discusses the P.D.A.when it was in its first generation. It is now about 3rd generation (6th generation in 2005). One attendee endorsed his P.D.A as the best tool he had ever used for time management. He liked the pocket size, portability, versatility in storing different types of information, speedy access to important phone numbers and the sense of being technologically proficient. This person was not interested in whether I could plan a complex day with multiple projects, cross references data files, and manage ever changing priorities. That was my problem. He may not even had a time management problem before he made his purchase. His life and work seemed to be very straightforward. His solution was straightforward. I like it. I'll buy it. I'll use it.

As our work becomes more complex I believe we need more than one tool. As P.D.A's develop greater memory capacity they will be adopted for a while by a greater number of industries. They will be made industry specific. Pen based computing, a forerunner of the P.D.A., has used held electronic devices for many years but geared to the specific needs of the user and the job at hand.

Some industries that are currently using the P.D.A. The financial services industry, service industries such as the home heating fuel delivery, some hospitals to record patient data. The list will grow as the technology advances. We are advised with wireless units we can read web pages on the units, send wireless Emails, get the weather, stock prices and a myriad other information.

I am not sure how much information I need beyond what I enjoy reading in the newspapers and what is available to me in large chunks when it is convenient to log onto the web for a period of time. So to this day I have held off buying. The thought of having to transfer and then maintain yet another data base is daunting. Perhaps its not so bad if you are being paid employee wages while you perform the tasks. Note: Finally bought a PDA in 2000 order to provide a perspective to my readers.

We would be interested in your experiences using a P.D.A. Please use our Email link and specify the make and model. Thanks.

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