Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs)

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A Guide for Online Information About: Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) by Rick Prescott Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) can be seen everywhere but what do they really do for their users? Most PDAs have common basic functions such as calendars and address books that make them electronic organizers. Each particular PDA has its own set of features beyond the basic functions that differentiate them from one another. In addition to the functions already built into the device, additional software programs can be downloaded. For example, there are thousands of applications written for Palm OS. The basic set of functions common to most handheld devices are: date book, address book, to do list, memo pad, calculator, and e-mail. Some PDA devices use a keyboard as the input device. In handhelds without a keyboard, information is usually entered by writing it onto the screen using a pen-like device known as a stylus. Letters are represented by easy to learn symbols that minimize pen strokes and make writing faster and convenient. The operating system is the basic software that drives the PDA device. The most common operating system for keyboard type devices is Windows CE. The most common operating system for keyboard-less handhelds is Palm OS; this operating system is found in devices such as the Palm brand and Handspring Visor handhelds. PDAs can run software applications depending on what operating system they run on. The amount of addresses, dates, etc. that handhelds could store depends on the available memory. Most devices have memory ranging anywhere from 2 to 8 MB. The available memory is usually more than enough to meet a regular user's needs. For example: A typical 2 MB device may store approximately 6000 addresses, 3000 appointments, and 200 emails. There are many features, other than keyboard or operating system, that differentiate one handheld from another. Some of the things to consider when choosing a handheld device are: amount of software applications available, memory, rechargeable vs. disposable batteries, appearance (choice of color & look), available accessories (e.g. leather case), infrared beaming, monochrome vs. color, and built-in wireless Internet. Here is a look at the products offered by the main PDA Manufactures: Palm, Casio, Compaq, Handspring, and Hewlett-Packard Palm Palm IIIe Palm OS 3.1 installed, 2MB RAM, Windows 95/98/NT, MacOS compatibility built in Palm Vx Palm OS 3.3 installed, 8MB RAM, Windows 95/98/NT, Mac OS8 compatibility built in Palm IIIx Palm OS 3.1, 4MB RAM, Windows 95/98/NT compatibility built in Palm IIIxe Palm OS 3.5 installed, 8MB RAM, Windows 95/98/NT compatibility built in IBM WorkPad c3 PC Companion Palm OS 3.1 installed, 2MB RAM, Windows 95/98/NT compatibility built in Palm III Palm OS 3.0, 2MB RAM, Windows 95/NT compatibility built in Palm VII Palm OS 3.2.0 installed, 2MB RAM, Windows 95/98/NT compatibility built in Palm V Palm OS 3.1 installed, 2MB RAM, Windows 95/98/NT compatibility built in 3Com Palm VII Palm OS 3.2.0 installed, 2MB RAM, Windows 95/98/NT compatibility built in Palm IIIc Palm OS 3.5 installed, 8MB RAM, Windows 95/98/NT compatibility built in Palm M100 Palm OS 3.5 installed, 2MB RAM, Windows 95/98/2000/NT compatibility built in Palm VIIx Palm OS 3.5 installed, 8MB RAM, Windows 95/98/2000/NT compatibility built in IBM WorkPad C3 Palm OS 2.0 installed, 8MB RAM, Windows 95/98/NT compatibility built in Palm Vx (Champagne) Palm OS 3.5 installed, 8MB RAM, Windows 95/98/2000/NT compatibility built in Casio Casio Cassiopeia E-100 Windows CE 2.11 installed, 16MB RAM, Windows 95/98/NT compatibility built in Casio Cassiopeia E-125 Pocket PC installed, 32MB RAM, Windows 95/98/NT/2000 compatibility built in Casio Cassiopeia EM-500 Pocket PC installed, 16MB RAM, Windows 95/98/NT/2000 compatibility built in Casio Cassiopeia E-115 Pocket PC installed, 32MB RAM, Windows 95/98/NT compatibility built in Casio PV200 Pocket Viewer 2MB PIM proprietary OS, 2MB RAM, Windows 3.x/95/98 compatibility built in Compaq Compaq iPaq H3650 Pocket PC Pocket PC installed, 32MB RAM, Windows (all) compatibility built in Compaq Aero 1530 Windows CE 2.11 installed, 16MB RAM, Windows 95/98/NT compatibility built in Compaq Aero 2100 Windows CE 2.0 installed, 8MB RAM, Windows 95/98/NT compatibility built in Compaq Aero 1520 Windows CE 2.11 installed, 16MB RAM, Windows 95/98/NT compatibility built in Compaq Aero 1550 Pocket PC installed, 16MB RAM, Windows (all) compatibility built in Compaq Aero 2130 Color Palm Size PC Windows CE, 16MB RAM, Windows 95/98/NT compatibility built in Compaq Aero 2150 Windows CE 2.0 installed, 16MB RAM, Windows 95/98/NT compatibility built in Compaq Aero 8000 H/PC Pro Windows CE 2.11 installed, 16MB RAM, color display, Windows 95/98/NT compatibility built in Compaq C Series 2010C Windows CE 2.0, 20MB RAM, color display, Windows 95 compatibility built in Compaq C-Series 810 Windows CE 2.0 installed, 8MB RAM, monochrome display, Windows 95 compatibility built in Compaq iPaq H3630 Pocket PC installed, 32MB RAM, Windows (all) compatibility built in Handspring Handspring Visor Deluxe Palm OS 3.1 installed, 8MB RAM, Windows 98, MacOS system 8.1 or later compatibility built in Handspring Visor Platinum Palm OS 3.5.2 installed, 8MB RAM, Windows 95/98/NT/2000, Mac OS 8 compatibility built in Handspring Visor Prism Palm OS 3.5.2 installed, 8MB RAM, Windows 95/98/NT/2000, Mac OS 8.1 or later compatibility built in Hewlett-Packard HP Jornada 820 Windows CE 2.11 installed, 16MB RAM, color display, Windows 95/98/NT compatibility built in HP Jornada 680 Windows CE 2.11, 16MB RAM, color display, Windows 95/98/NT compatibility built in HP Jornada 720 Microsoft Windows for Handheld PC 2000 installed, 32MB RAM, color display, Windows 95/98/NT compatibility built in HP 620LX Windows CE 2.0, 16MB RAM, color display, Windows 95/NT compatibility built in HP Jornada 540 Windows CE 2.0 installed, 16MB RAM, Windows (all) compatibility built in HP Jornada 548 Pocket PC installed, 32MB RAM, Windows (all) compatibility built in HP Jornada 690 Windows CE 2.2 installed, 32MB RAM, color display, Windows (all) compatibility built in I am always looking for more material about interesting subjects. If you would like to share more information about robotics or would like to see a Resource Page on a particular topic, contact me, Rick Prescott. Circuit Cellar provides up to date information for engineers, www.circuitcellar.com for more information and additional articles. ©Circuit Cellar, the Magazine for Computer Applications. Posted with permission. For subscription information, call (860) 875-2199 or e-mail subscribe@circuitcellar.com


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