I am new to the PDA world and they interest me greatly. I would really like one to use in my work.?

Question

I work for a non-profit & don’t feel right about asking them to buy a PDA and I can’t afford much. So, I really want to get what I need and “will use” at low cost. So far, I realize: don’t want a cell phone or need a camera. Do need it to be able to exchange, or synchronize, information with my PC and would prefer using, infrared, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi (wireless) to synchronize. I it should work well with Windows. I’ll need use of Microsoft Office programs Word, Excel, and Outlook. Of course I’d like the basics, appointments, tasks, and notes. It would be wonderful if it could record voice notes as ideas come to me. So, recording voice, display digital photos, and hold maps would be wonderful, but don’t NEED them. I’d love playing MP3 music files, but again I’d only want that if it didn’t rise cost much. I need a card slot, to be safe. Also, the screen needs to be easy to read with my poor eyesight. Please help me! Thanks in advance for you time and help in this matter.

Answer 1

I would recommend the following Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) for your needs:

- Palm Tungsten T/X (retails for $299)
http://www.palm.com/us/products/handhelds/tx/

The Tungtsten T/X is a powerful PDA that offers built-in WiFi and Bluetooth, an SD card slot (for expansion), and a gorgeous large screen. You can use it as an mp3 player, view, create, and edit Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files, browse the Web, and even watch your DVDs on it (with special software). It is one of the top-of-the line PDAs today.

- Palm LifeDrive (retails for $399)
http://www.palm.com/us/products/mobilemanagers/lifedrive/

The LifeDrive is the top-of-the line PDA from Palm. It offers everything that the Tungsten T/X offers PLUS a built-in voice recorder, and a 4GB hard drive for a lot of storage of music, photos, vidoes, and any other files.

If the cost of the two units above is above what you wanted to spend, you may want to look at older Palm models, such as the Tungsten C (which was released in 2003, and discontinued in 2005 -- it has a built-in WiFi and keyboard, and is still a very powerful PDA). You can find the Tungsten C on eBay at http://www.ebay.com. If you do buy it on eBay, BE SURE that the unit comes scratch free, and has all the needed accessories. You can find the Tungsten C on eBay for $150 - $200.

Answer 2

I have had several PDAs, all Palm Pilots. The first, an XIIIe, also had infrared communications. It was a nice, robust instrument. Since then I have moved up(?) to an m105 which feels more plasticky.

My first was bought from a colleague at work, all the subsequent models have been bought from Ebay at very good prices.

I would still recommend a Palm XIIIe as the instrument of choice. It has the essential features, calendar/diary, notepad, address book and to-do list, as well as a calculator and a good support base of other software readily available.

Answer 3

You seem to have thought it through (you might reconsider the cell phone).

Look at the Palm TX and any number of Pocket PC devices.

I just switched from a Palm to a PPC 6700 and couldn't be happier.

Mike Honeycutt