The PDA: Not A PC Replacement Yet

PDAs are not yet hand-held PCs, but have been used by many people over the years. PDAs are better-known as pocket pc's or palmtop organizers. PDAs have many uses including: mathematics, use as a timekeeper with calendar subroutines, browsing cyberspace, sending and receiving e-mail, video, typewriting and word processing, name and address book functions, making and compiling spreadsheets, reading bar codes, receiving radio broadcasts or stereo listening, playing computer games, entering poll results, and GPS. More modern PDAs also have color screens, MP3 music and telephony capabilities, allowing them to be employed as cellphones (smartphones), web browsers, and portable media players. Several now also include cameras that can photograph scenes which can then be uploaded to Flickr and mySpace accounts. Virtually all newer PDAs can surf the Net, intranets or extranets via Wi-Fi, or Wireless Wide-Area Networks just about all PDA's utilize touch screen displays leaving out Smartphones which depend upon menu systems attributable to their tinier display screens.

PDA's Past

The term "personal data assistant" was first used on Jan 7th, 1992 by then Apple Computer Chief Executive Officer John Sculley at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, concerning the Apple Newton.

PDAs are occasionally denoted as "Palms", "Palm Pilots" or "Palm Tops" so-named after an early personal digital assistant produced by USR and Palm Inc called the "Palm Pilot". Today however, the term is much more encompassing and includes a very diverse range of products developed by a host of many manufacturers including HP, Dell, Blackberry and Sharp to name a few.

.Characteristic capabilities

Presently, a regular PDA has a touch screen for data entry, a memory card slot for data storage and at the least one of the following for device-todevice communication: IrDA, Bluetooth and/or WiFi. All the same, many PDAs (normally those used primarily as cellular phones) may not have a touch screen, alternatively using softkeys, a directional pad and either the numerical computer keyboard or a thumb keyboard for idata nput.

In order to meet the PDA definition, standard software should include an appointment calendar, a task list, an address book for business and personal contacts and some kind of notes program. Internet connected PDAs also usually include E-mail and Web support.Most units also include memo recording software for audio notes. Very handy for remembering important details.

Not Quite A Laptop Replacement...Yet

Possibly, to a higher degree than any other computer device, the personal digital assistant lacks the raw computing horsepower and Wireless Broadband capabilities of a desktop or notebook computer. Presently, costs of laptop computers are coming down. Although a good deal bigger in size, laptop computers have more full-size screens and keyboards and are have greater computing power.

However, the OQO Model 2 has been brought out in recent times as a fully desktop PC compatible PDA with a USB port so that people can use their normal work and business software or play computer games compatible with ubiquitous operating systems such as Windows XP. It can also connect to regular PC peripherals. Costs still have a way to fall prior to mass adoption takes place in the market but OQO is no longer the exclusive manufacturer of these types of units, so costs should fall possibly within the next few years.

Conclusion

The PDAs strength is that it is easy to transport and less bulky than full-sized computers.It slides easily into a dress shirt or trousers pocket. The additional features like cameras, Global Positioning System, telephony and MP3 player make it flexible unlike any other type of computers in the market.

A lot of people simply don't need full desktop features while actively on the go. As long as they can access their information and sync their data to a full-sized computer when they arrive at their homes and offices, that's really all they need and want to do. So at least in the short run, the PDA will most likely remain as a portable helper for millions of users for years to come.

Rate Article

Related Videos
Play Video Small Business Solutions - How to Use a PDA	Play Video Sprint PPC-6700 PDA Review	Play Video Bioshock 2 Review	Play Video Working with Wikipedia 101 - #4 - Editing Wikipedia Entries	Play Video Working with Wikipedia 101 - #5 - Creating a Wikipedia Entry

Listed below are more articles related to the above article from the "Personal Technology" article category.

People interested in the above article "The PDA: Not A PC Replacement Yet" are also interested in the related articles listed below:

 

Must-Have iPod Accessories for Everyone

With the increasing popularity of the iPod, it only stands to reason that the accessories market is growing right along with it. Often referred to as the iPod ecosystem, the large number of available iPod accessories are designed to work directly with the iPod and are manufactured by a variety of different companies. Well known industry music leaders Bose and Kennsington are among the companies to create iPod speakers, which use the iPod's third pin dock connector. Various other companies create add-ons that permit the iPod to record sound, recharge, experience playback music on the radio and create wireless capability for the iPod to be operated with the use of a remote control.

New Google Phone has iPhone Up in Arms

Rumors have been circulating for a while now that Google is developing its own Android-based handset. The Wall Street Journal reports that the rumors are confirmed and that Google employees are currently using a prototype of the Google device, which will be dubbed the Nexus One.

Camcorder Jargon

If you are a layman who is just starting on buying on his first camcorder and humbly wish to only have device with which to record your memories, a list of imposing features can completely blow you out. Here is a quick understanding of basic specifications of camcorders so that it may not remain as technically scary as it seems and you get to know what to look for in which one.

Tweet Etiquette

Every conversation has rules. We know not to interrupt someone when they're talking. We know not to use bad language when we talk. We know not to talk too loudly. And we know too how and when to break all of the rules. Exactly the same is true for a Twitter conversation. The site hasn't been around for long, but Twitterers have already tried to figure out something like a Twittering etiquette.

IPods and iPod Touches

Not so long ago, if you wanted to listen to music while on the move you would have to carry around a chunky portable CD player, a large set of headphones and a case full of CDs. However, these days all you need is a small iPod weighing considerably less than the portable CD players used to.

Bluetooth Technology - Discover the Best Photo Printers, Mobile Printers and Gadgets

Bluetooth technology is becoming increasingly popular in the world of electronics, both for the home and office environments, and even on the road. Bluetooth technology can be found not only in hands-free headset devices for your cell phone, but also in printers, computers, laptops, entertainment systems and more. With the increase in electronic and technology products we use in our daily lives, it is no wonder we would all like freedom from wires. Bluetooth is one technology that does just that.

The Complete Features of IPod Shuffle

Music is loved by people all over the world, irrespective of language and in different forms and when it is feasible to listen to music even while on the move it becomes all the more appealing. The pioneers in the field of iPod-the Apple Inc. have made it possible by devising one small device, the iPod shuffle that has taken the music lovers by storm.