GITEX **the Middle East biggest IT Exhibition is going and I was eagerly waiting for the new Nokia 9500 communicator. I’ll wait for the price to come down when it is commonly available in the market instead of selected distributors only.
Just saw The Bourne Supremacy where they scan the finger print of the PDA’s screen. please that don’t happen even with James Bond!. serious’lamba phenku’ there.
Gone are the days when you had to carry a mobile phone and a digital diary. Digital diary? Gosh thats seems like such an outdated term now. Carrying two devices?
Bulky pockets, fear of losing one of them. limited functions. Not anymore. with the PDAs(Personal Digital Assistants) you can have all the functions in one device. Most of the new PDA’s now come with mobile phones and latest technology add-ons, and a perfect organizer for all your needs.
Owning a PDA is like carrying a laptop in your pocket today. the difference. a laptop doesn’t come with a camera, MMS, phone.
The PDA is today’s mini laptop, organizer, digital camera, MP3 player, mobile phone and many devices into one.
What to look for to choose a PDA and what’s available in the market.
Larger Screens
Many new models still exist with Black and white screens, but colour screens(65, 000 colors)are more common and not that expensive.
For web browsing this is very important and you feel at ease to operate with wider visual.
Standard is a 4-inch screen coming with wider and bigger options too.
Processor speed
Faster processor of 400MHz or more
Memory
128MB of internal memory minimum is atleast required. I think the days of 64 MB are gone.
Check if it has expansion memory card support.
Connectivity
IrDA(Infrared)
Blue Tooth -Some PDA’s that don’t support it can connect through their slots like the Toshiba e805, that can be plug a Bluetooth module into the SD slot.
Wi-Fi technology to connect to hotspots
GPRS- many user now need this or GPS support for road maps.
USB for connection to Pcs, laptops or other devices.
Software
Palm OS or Windows CE/ Microsoft Pocket PC
Look for Microsoft Office compatibility, and can also offer support on Word and Excel files, and to view your presentations on PowerPoint files.
PDF viewer.
Instant messaging- yes chat on the move!.
Windows and Apple support.
You may add a dictionary to it too!
Translation softwares commonly available.
I-mate’s can download the Quran onto it.
World Time.
Handwriting recognition
For jotting down stuff in a hurry- half of owning a Tablet Pc with the same function.
Games
Why not? All phones and PDAs come with them.
You can download games of your choice from the internet just as you would for a Pc.
Video support
To view Mpegs, Avi’s and other video files, at the same time you may be able to plug your PDA to a projector and view presentations too.
MP3 support
Many PDA’s support MP3s too(just don’t drain your batteries out) using head phones. If you PDA has that, then you wouldn’t need a MP3 Player.
Phone
Yes, this option saves the option of carrying 2 or 3 devices.
PDA’s with phones are called smart phones. Some models include vibrating alerts too.
Battery life
Many people use this for a whole day, and if combined with a phone it needs a whole day battery support something with a capacity of 1000mAh or even more.
Keyboard
QWERTY keyboards are plus point today and this bridges the gap between organizers and pocket pcs.
It can be a thumb key board or the touch screen type. Every essential to reply to lengthy emails and quite convenient for SMSs too.
Camera 1.3 mega pixel is out now, but soon that too will be out dated. Video recording small clips.
Cradle To synchronize and backup files on to your pc, which also doubles as a charges and you.
Internet
Most PDA’s and Palm organizers too come with a web browsing and Email feature for those always on the move.
Messaging
Email MMS SMS Fax
Triband
If you travel you would need network coverage of 3 continents.
Ergonomics
The look, do you like Metallic colour like me?
Sony Ericsson’s P800 was in baby blue, Palm’s Zire had orange, Palms other models come in various colours. How heavy is it? How rugged is it?
Additional
Just came across something interesting the other day, a protective cover for your PDA’s screen: https://nushield.com
Casing
Many have a leather casing for your PDA, Palm has great plastic and Aluminum cases too.
Over all
Do you really need all those functions?
If you are not looking for a business purpose and with so many function also, limitless models are available and you will be able to have something match your personality.
Also the more the functions the more the price!
Though i’m a Nokia user, still Nokia has disappeared since making the 9200 and Sony outbeat them with the P800 communicator adding functions like GPRS, bluetooth, camera which Nokia maybe able to challenge now with the new 9500.
If you are looking at the perfect PDA with 98% of all functions above I recommend the P901i of Sony Ericsson or the I-mate. I still haven’t tried the Nokia 9500 but I’m sure it would have all these too. The Blackberry has some good reviews on it, but I haven’t come across one.
Models to check out:
HP’s ipaq models are very famous, HP iPAQ 6315 Pocket PC Phone (https://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/us/en/sm/WF06b/215348-64929-215381-314903-f60-430120-430121-405360.html)
In the Middle East i-mate is dominating the market, in Europe its called XDAII.
(https://carrierdevices.com)
Sony Ericcsons’s P901i
(https://shop.store.yahoo.com/1800mobiles/sony-ericsson-p901i-cell-phone.html)
ASUS MyPal A730 (https://asus.com/products/pda/a730/index.htm)
From Palm check out the TREO range or the new Tungsten T5