Choosing a PDA is like choosing a car: What do you need it to do? It can keep track of your schedule and your to-do list. It’s a handy reference tool for work, and it’s an entertainment center in the palm of your hand. Some can connect to the Internet; others offer phone service. Just as you would distinguish between sports car, minivan, sedan and sport utility vehicle, you can narrow down choices among hand-held devices.

Have you tried your hand at one yet? Dataquest Inc., a division of Garner Inc. (Stamford, Conn.) research and advisory firm, estimates that there are as many as 32 million Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) currently in use worldwide. Add to that a few million phone/PDA hybrids, plus some subnotebook-sized hand-held personal computers. The array of choices can be overwhelming.

Choosing a PDA is like choosing a car: What do you need it to do for you? You wouldn’t choose a Miata to ferry the kids to soccer games, and you probably don’t want a Hummer for your long, daily, solo commute. Just as you would distinguish between sports car, minivan, sedan and sport utility vehicle, you can narrow down choices among hand-held devices.

What’s in it for me?
A PDA can handle basic Personal Information Manager (PIM) tasks – schedule, contacts, task list, notes – and synchronize the information with your desktop or laptop software via a serial or USB interface, “beaming” via an infrared port or through a wireless connection. But it doesn’t stop there.

A PDA can be a reference tool: Use it to read e-books or access data relevant to your work, including inventory and work orders. Edit information by typing on a portable keyboard or keypad; use a stylus to tap an onscreen keyboard; or write directly on the screen. Record digital voice memos, play games, listen to music or add a digital camera, scanner, printer and other accessories.

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