The PDA Buying Guide
by Meghan Greig
©copyright Future Shop 2003
The PDA Buying Guide
Although the market for PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants) is really only a few years old, there have been huge advances, and today, they can be much more than personal organizers.
What originated as simple personal organizers have evolved into sophisticated devices that grant us functionality and mobility at the same time.
PDAs (also called handhelds) can help keep us organized. These days, they have abilities that range from Contact Lists and Calendars to Web access, email and even Cellular Phone.
Sounds great, right? But your first trip to the store to buy one can leave you dizzy. There are so many out there…some very basic, others full of bells and whistles. How do you know which one to choose?
The first step is to carefully consider what exactly you will be using your PDA for. If you are someone who just wants to stay on top of things with a contact list and calendar, your choice will be different from someone who relies on their PDA for access to the Internet and email. The key to selecting your PDA is to know your needs, and secondly, to know a few features that PDAs offer.
Screen Quality
The first personal organizers were made with monochrome screens. These screens usually came in black and white, while others were made up of anywhere from 4 to16 shades of grey. Today, PDAs come with LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screens, just like the ones you find on notebook computers and flat panel televisions.
PDA screens are getting more sophisticated and many even come with colour screens. Some PDA screens can display thousands of colours and use TFT Technology. Naturally, these are more expensive. Although you may be tempted to go for the colour screen, do keep in mind that your batteries will drain much more quickly than with a simple black and white screen.
A colour screen will look washed out in direct sunlight. This is something you may want to consider if you plan to do your organizing outdoors. Whether you opt for the colour screen or the black and white, a backlight is a must. Backlights make reading your PDA screen easier in all sorts of lighting conditions, including the dark.
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