Personal Digital Assistants Palm Pilots and Beyond: A Brief Overview David V. Bloniarz USDA Forest Service Northeast Center for Urban & Community Forestry

What is a PDA? Hand-held computer Hand-held computer Store, access, and organize information Store, access, and organize information Windows-based (Pocket PC) Windows-based (Pocket PC) Palm operating system (Palm PDA) Palm operating system (Palm PDA) PDAs can be screen-based or keyboard- based PDAs can be screen-based or keyboard- based

Common Applications Personal Information Management Personal Information Management –Store and retrieve addresses and phone numbers –Maintain a calendar –Create to-do lists and notes Software Applications Software Applications –Databases –Word processing –Spreadsheets – & Internet access

Synchronization Exchange information with a desktop or laptop computer Exchange information with a desktop or laptop computer PDAs come with cables or docking stations to connect them to your desktop or notebook computer PDAs come with cables or docking stations to connect them to your desktop or notebook computer For wireless and Internet access available for a fee For wireless and Internet access available for a fee

Screen Display Monochrome or gray-scale Monochrome or gray-scale Color 256 to 64,000 colors Color 256 to 64,000 colors Screen size will vary among PDAs Screen size will vary among PDAs Larger screen means more readable space Larger screen means more readable space Active matrix – Better display Active matrix – Better display Passive matrix – Uses less battery power Passive matrix – Uses less battery power

PDA Power Permanent rechargeable batteries Permanent rechargeable batteries Standard alkaline batteries Standard alkaline batteries Removable rechargeable batteries Removable rechargeable batteries Length of service varies on the PDA Length of service varies on the PDA Recharge time may also vary depending on the battery Recharge time may also vary depending on the battery You can use the PDA while the battery is recharging You can use the PDA while the battery is recharging

Memory Typically 2MB to 64MB of built-in memory Typically 2MB to 64MB of built-in memory Two MB of memory is generally sufficient to fill address books, maintain an active calendar, take notes, and load useful programs Two MB of memory is generally sufficient to fill address books, maintain an active calendar, take notes, and load useful programs More memory may be needed to store large files like digital photos, databases, or large software programs More memory may be needed to store large files like digital photos, databases, or large software programs You can expand memory of some PDAs with small storage cards that can be inserted into the PDA You can expand memory of some PDAs with small storage cards that can be inserted into the PDA

PDA Software Options Palm OS Palm OS –Palm Pilot PDA Windows CE Windows CE –Pocket PC

Palm Pilot PDA vs. Pocket PC Palm OS devices work best basic contact management, the Palm OS PDAs are generally smaller, cheaper, lighter and have vastly better battery life Palm OS devices work best basic contact management, the Palm OS PDAs are generally smaller, cheaper, lighter and have vastly better battery life Pocket PC units have flashier color screens and more multimedia capability, but are more expensive and have short battery life Pocket PC units have flashier color screens and more multimedia capability, but are more expensive and have short battery life

Palm Pilot PDA Manufacturers Palm OS – Palm Pilot PDA Palm OS – Palm Pilot PDA –Palm Pilot –Sony Clie –Handspring Visor

Pocket PC Manufacturers Windows CE – Pocket PC Windows CE – Pocket PC –Compaq I-Paq –HP Jornada

For more information USDA Forest Service, Northeast Center for Urban & Community Forestry USDA Forest Service, Northeast Center for Urban & Community Forestry