PDAs and Pocket Computers

Palm m125
Handspring Treo 180
Compaq iPAQ Pocket PC H3670
Casio EG-800STD Industrial Cassiopeia

No longer the stuff of James Bond movies, computing devices that you can carry in your pocket are part of our daily, high tech lives as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) seem to be used by everyone.

The technology has evolved to the point that it incorporates voice and handwriting recognition. Current models have either a stylus or a keyboard and act as a mobile phone, personal organizer and fax machine.

Before shopping, it's important to decide how you want your "assistant" to help you. Do you need access to email, a basic organizer, fact-o-file and notepad, or do you require all of that PLUS access to your MS Word and Excel files, more-evolved graphics and loads of RAM? If it's the organizer you need then a PDA is for you, but if you need more, then you're shopping for a Pocket Computer.

Deciding on this will cut down your pre-shopping research time as you will be able to focus on the items that meet your needs. There are a lot of products on the market these days, so in this article we review four models in varying price ranges to help guide you through the technology jungle.

Palm m125

At the more affordable end of the market, one of the better PDAs is the Palm m125. The m125 fills the void between the higher-priced, higher-spec models like the m500 and the budget model m100, which can be a little too lightweight for some users.

The m125 has a small, clear monochrome LCD measuring two inches and, according to its manufacturers, will run for about two months on two AAA batteries. Its Motorola DragonBall VZ processor and 8MB of RAM mean that users will find the m125 snappy enough for most needs, however a memory slot is also included if you want to expand.

This model comes with the basic package of preloaded Palm software, such as a date book and note pad, and also allows you to work on Microsoft Word and Excel files as well as connect to the Internet by using your mobile phone.

At $199 US, the m125 is perhaps not as economically priced as it should be, but it offers enough versatility and room for expansion to be considered a good entry-level purchase.

Palm, incidentally, recently announced that it is responsible for some 43 per cent of the handheld market.

Handspring Treo 180

As comfortable to use as a phone, the Handspring Treo 180 has the advantage of a built-in keyboard, 16MB of RAM and a monochrome TFT screen. Another definite plus is that it is sleeker and smaller than many others on the market, making it even easier to transport. It has a familiar flip-lid design with a transparent window, which also acts as a screen protector.

As a communication device the Handspring Treo 180 does well, as it incorporates a good quality and attractive mobile phone with a fully featured PDA. Sixteen MB is enough for most users, but unfortunately, for those who wish for more, the memory is not upgradeable.

The Internet is explored using Handspring's Blazer browser, which can lead to slow surfing. We would also have preferred better volume on the speakerphone and the battery life is not as long as many would like. Still, At $399 US the Treo is certainly worth a look for what it offers.

Compaq iPAQ Pocket PC H3670

This Pocket PC carries a whopping 64MB of RAM, which is a huge amount of memory for a device of this sort, but unlike a lot of other models this removes the need for expansion features. This excess also means you have increased room to store MP3s.

All the basic handheld programs are available on the H3670 along with Pocket Word, Pocket Excel and Windows Media Player, truly making it a PC you can carry around.

The 206MHz StrongARM processor runs quickly and, even though it is limited to 4,096 colours, the screen is very bright. The control buttons are thoughtfully placed and the battery performance is reported to be in excess of the 12 continuous hours Compaq claims it to have. They also claim that the battery, a lithium-polymer model, does not degrade in lifespan when charged too often.

The H3670 is a great device with more memory than you will probably ever need. You'll find it priced between $400 and $450 US.

Casio EG-800STD Industrial Cassiopeia

This machine, wrapped inside a purple rubber casing, is well suited for the company that needs to furnish its mobile staff with robust Pocket PCs.

The VR4122 150-MHz processor works well with its 32MB of RAM to offer a fairly smooth operating system.

One of its best features is the rechargeable, removable battery that comes in three differing sizes. Each of these batteries offers a specific lifespan, which means you can choose what you need according to your routine.

The manufacturer claims that this model will withstand being dropped 30 inches onto a solid surface. It is also splash proof, although the unprotected screen looks a touch vulnerable. Also, companies that choose this machine will need to acquire a protective casing for their investment, as the provided nylon slipcover offers little protection.

Altogether, the Casio EG-800STD Industrial Cassiopeia is a versatile handheld that will be an asset to employees with Pocket PC needs. The cost is generally in the region of $900 US.

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