Personal Digital Assistants.

From Webopedia, PDA is short for personal digital assistant, a handheld device that combines computing, telephone/fax, Internet and networking features. A typical PDA can function as a cellular phone, fax sender, Web browser and personal organizer. Unlike portable computers, most PDAs began as pen-based, using a stylus rather than a keyboard for input. This means that they also incorporated handwriting recognition features. Some PDAs can also react to voice input by using voice recognition technologies. PDAs of today are available in either a stylus or keyboard version.

Apple Computer, which introduced the Newton MessagePad in 1993, was one of the first companies to offer PDAs. Shortly thereafter, several other manufacturers offered similar products. Today, one of the most popular brands of PDAs is the series of Palm Pilots from Palm, Inc.

PDAs are also called palmtops, hand-held computers and pocket computers.

I have owned numerous PDAs. I started with a Palm Vx (Palm Modem and Folding KB), then bought a Sony S320 for my son since he liked to play some of the games I had for my Palm. I later used a Palm m500 for work (with a Seiko ThumbBoard). I traded up to a Palm m505 (Logitech Keycase Keyboard) and sold my Palm Vx. My first Pocket PC was an HP iPAQ h1910 that I won at a Microsoft event. I upgraded to a Sony SJ-33 (using a Belkin Keyboard). I still use a refurbished HP iPAQ h4155 (HP micro Thumb board, and Stowaway IR Keyboard) at home. I used the HP trade-in program to trade-in the HP iPAQ h1910 for an iPAQ hx2755 (with Pharos i360 GPS and Epson Stylus R320 Blue Tooth-capable printer) that is great for work and travel.

Is the PDA Dead?

Searching the Internet on the subject, when Sony got out of the market for manufacturing PDAs in June 2004, it was a real concern that the PDA market would be replaced by Smart Phones. Similarly, Pocket PC manufacturers have been reducing both new product development and product lines for traditional PDAs. Smart handhelds like the RIM Blackberry and Palm Treo models that include cellular phone features with online wireless connection to internet and e-mail services have risen in popularity. But is the Treo a phone or a PDA? The Palm-branded Smart handhelds sales have soared, but is that because the PDA market is gone? No, it is because the Smart Handhelds can deliver services to mobile customers that are in addition to those normally provided to PDA users. Notable developments in PDA hardware and software has improved security and connectivity. They can encrypt files on the device so loss results in data destruction in lieu of unauthorized disclosure. They can provide quick access to wireless and blue tooth networks, just like a full-feature computer.

So what are you waiting for? My real concern is over new the Windows Mobile (WM) 5 “issues” that forced me to settle for an older product (iPAQ 2755) in order to delay upgrading my Pocket PC from Windows Mobile 2003. You can read about this in the HP iPAQ Forum from users who have upgraded their PDAs to WM 5. It seems this new Pocket PC operating system does not run well on the older PDAs without a bunch of tweaking. Even then, there appears to be some degradation in performance. WM 5 seems to run much better on newer devices that come from the factory with it already installed (even though these newer devices have also had their share of problems with WM 5).

I use the term upgrading loosely here because upgrading to WM 5 means the loss of some key features:

• With WM 5, you are no longer able to synch via wireless connection.
• You must upgrade to ActiveSync 4.x which does not support the Backup and Restore option for WM 5 devices (it does, however support this option for Window Mobile 2003 devices).
• There is no backup software included on new iPAQs with WM 5, so upgrading would remove this function from my current situation with IPAQ Backup. I am one of those that expect to retain the software to backup their PDA after upgrade.

The added feature gained in WM 5 is persistent memory, which is the most compelling reason to upgrade, but may be unnecessary if there is little chance of losing data in the first place. Most of the volatile information in the PDA is synchronized on my host PC using the Microsoft Outlook application that comes bundled with the iPAQ. If the PDA battery loses power, then the data in the flash memory is lost. So the work around is to keep the battery charged and have never have a dead battery. I keep a spare battery charged and in my briefcase. I backup my PDA regularly to an SD card, so even if I encounter a dead battery, the PDA data is easily recovered once charged.

I have never had a problem with either of my PDAs running Windows Mobile 2003. By the way, you may not be able to upgrade your iPAQ Pocket PC to WM 5. The only PDAs that are eligible for upgrade are the hx2000 series and the hx4700 series PDAs. If they ever deliver a suitable product version for WM 5, I may upgrade the hx2755 later. Or maybe, just go with a Treo or Blackberry device.