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PDA shopping checklist

By Staff writers, CNET Asia on 08 September 2006

Handhelds started as simple organisers meant for managing appointments and contacts. However, you can rarely find PDAs doing just that, as these days it's the norm for devices to include multimedia features such as MP3 playback, voice and video recording, FM tuners and cameras. Some handhelds even come with onboard Global Positioning System (GPS) transceivers as well as fingerprint scanners. Phone-capable PDAs or PDA-phones are becoming increasingly popular as well. As PDAs continue to evolve with new features, it becomes all the more important to know what each handheld can offer, so as to find one that can better suit your mobile needs.

Platform | Screen | CPU | Memory | Expansion | Connectivity |
Camera | Synchronization | Power

Platform
Palm OS and Microsoft's Windows Mobile OS currently rule the market for handhelds. Depending on your needs, narrow down your choices by selecting a suitable platform. Palm OS devices are generally easier to pick up with their clean and uncluttered interfaces. Pocket PCs are multimedia powerhouses with the ability to multitask. Look out for Microsoft's latest Windows Mobile 5.0 operating system which can be found in many of the newest handhelds. (Read our quick guide to handheld OS for more information.)

Screen
As the display takes up a large chunk of real estate on a handheld, choose carefully and check for dead or stuck pixels. (Tip: When buying a PDA, it is always advisable to install the battery and switch on the handheld to check for dead pixels at the shop. This way, if there are dead pixels on the display, you can change it immediately. As the dead-pixel policies for many of the PDA companies differ, it can be quite a hassle asking for a change if you discover dead pixels after you leave the shop.) Many PDAs today feature TFT screens, but if you use your device outdoors often, opt for a transreflective screen. Most Pocket PCs have standard 320 x 240-pixel displays, while Palm offers different resolutions. The higher the display resolution, the better the viewing comfort. PDAs such as the Dell Axim X51v offer one of the highest resolution displays today at 640 x 480 pixels.

CPU
Most Pocket PCs today are powered by Intel's XScale 312MHz or faster processors (up to 624MHz), so don't go picking a slower CPU. Palm devices offer various processor flavours, from 200MHz to 416MHz XScale chips. Other handheld chips currently found in the market include those from Samsung and Texas Instruments. If you plan to use your PDA for multimedia purposes, it's best to go for one that has a higher processing horsepower. However, if you are using it mostly for its organiser features, the handhelds with the midrange processors are the better bet.

 

Memory
All applications and your important data are stored in RAM while the operating system is located in ROM. The general rule of thumb for memory is the more, the merrier. If possible, pick a Palm with 32MB of RAM. For Pocket PCs, opt for those with at least 64MB or 128MB of memory. If you are looking for handhelds with large onboard memory, the LifeDrive from Palm offers one of the largest storage capacities at 4GB.

Expansion
Handhelds these days offer a variety of memory expansion options, from CompactFlash (CF) to Secure Digital (SD) card slots. More recently, the smaller PDAs such as the HP iPaq rw6828 and O2 Xda Atom come with miniSD slots. If you have other gadgets such as a digital camera or mobile phone, it's good practice to choose a PDA that uses the same media type to take advantage of the large display for viewing photos. At the same time, the flash card can be used for both devices. Do take note that some PDAs accept flash card capacities up to a certain storage limit, so if you are planning to increase the onboard memory, this is one detail you should clarify.

 
 

Connectivity
Bluetooth and USB are pretty much standard features on most handhelds these days. However, you may find some entry-level PDAs dropping Bluetooth in favour of the traditional infrared, which offers a slower connectivity and requires line of sight. With the proliferation of Wi-Fi hotspots, it may be worth considering handhelds with integrated wireless LAN for high-speed Web surfing. A handful of PDAs such as the HP iPAQ hw6965 and Asus MyPal A639 come with onboard GPS support, which is great for those who travel frequently. Most of the PDA-phones in the market offer either triband or quadband GSM support, so making calls overseas should not be a problem.

Camera
Make sure the capture resolution is at least 1.3 megapixels to be useful. If you're expecting to print those images, choose one with a 1.3- to 2-megapixel camera. Increasingly, PDAs come with video recording and playback, too. Like mobile phones, the onboard flash lights on some PDAs typically offer minimal illumination but can double as useful torchlights.

 
 

Synchronization
As the PDA is an extension of your desktop, make sure it synchronises with your PC or Mac. While Pocket PCs generally don't come with Mac support, you can work around it with third-party software such as PocketMac.

Power
If possible, always select a PDA that uses removable Lithium cells. This way, you have the flexibility to purchase additional batteries when your current one is defective, saving you a trip to the service centre. You also have the option to buy a spare if you travel frequently.

 

Topics: handheld, palm, portable, pda, diy, shopping, checklist, pocket pcs, onboard, offer

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  Matib) commented on 04/08/2008 15:04 Report abuse

  I would like a PDA which has no phone and GPS capabilities. I currently have an HP Ipaq 6445. Problem is it won't sync with Vista!

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  ganesh commented on 16/03/2008 02:24 Report abuse

  i want asus p735 touch screen prices
  
  only touch pad

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  GANESH commented on 01/03/2008 02:43 Report abuse

  I WANT P735 TOUCH SCREEN

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  PDA user commented on 28/02/2008 14:01 Report abuse

  I own a HP IPAQ - since 2005. It is very useful in that it can sync with Microsoft outlook (calendar & contacts), has MS-excel, MS-word, MP3/video player, camera, etc. In reply to Sunny2007, it has handwriting recognition as well (although for some words, you'll have to re-learn how to write the words). You can also enlarge the storage capacity with SD card. My complaint re this machine is that it hangs too often (ie. the touch screen freezes and wouldn't work at all) - I've had the screen repaired once but might have to go back for a second time as it hadn't work properly since last week!

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  Jaxter commented on 05/11/2007 16:34 Report abuse

  Im travelling/ moving overseas and was wondering which phone would be most suited. I want normal phone features, plus MP3 player, easy to use internet which i can access email and websites, camera of 2+ Megapixal, plus Microsoft Word, Excel access. This would save me carting a laptop, camera, i-pod and phone on my travels. Any suggestions??

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  SUNNY2007 commented on 19/09/2007 16:19 Report abuse

  I AM LOOK FOR THE PDA WITH TOUCH SCREEN, SUCH AS HANDWRITING RECOGNITION. ??? ANYONE KNOWS WHICH ONE IS?? THANK YOU

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  hiptop3 wanter commented on 17/09/2007 13:52 Report abuse

  i want a hiptop 3 but i dotn know

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  Narayan commented on 21/07/2007 16:47 Report abuse

  I have purchased PDA 990 mobile phone(Touch Panel)on last Feb-07 through ebay online shopping, It's looking very cute, but now this mobile is not working properly, Buttons are not punctioning and touch screen also Broken(Glass), Instead I contact customer care Mumbai which I got phone, but they not responding, So Im requesting U kindly let me know the any PDA PHONES service centre in Bangalore

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  juanito commented on 01/06/2007 12:48 Report abuse

  Thanks for the TIP re: dead or stuck pixels

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  jolly commented on 17/03/2007 15:44 Report abuse

  I have donwloaded a great antitheft programme for my PDA and Smartphone. It has already saved me once. www.antitheft.net.au it is great safety net for locating lost or stolen PDA.

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