I’m considering getting my first PDA, most importantly for being able to sync a portable calendar with my work calendar. It’d be nice for writing notes, having a calculator, and other things, too. Probably no phone involved, if that adds as much cost as I think, even though combining two appliances in one would be good.
How worthwhile is having a tiny QWERTY keyboard built in?
I type well. Likewise text messaging on my cell. The idea of fiddling with special alphabets and a little plastic pencil looks slow and clumsy.
But on the other hand maybe it isn’t, and maybe they build so many things into the PDA that require using the pencil it might be more trouble going back and forth between it and the keyboard.
What’s your advice?
Also, any web sites you recommend for learning about PDAs? Or other advice?
i’m a tapper. eg, use the stylus and virtual keyboard. I type very fast so find the two thumb thing awkward. I take meeting notes on my pda. handwriting recognition is getting decent but drawback is to slow for meeting notes as you have to verify and correct the text to type.
I would highly recommend getting the phone pda combo so you can surf the Dope like I am doing now. I never used a pda until the phone was added & now I do business trips & meeting with only pda
it’s a personal thing though. try the different form factors until you find what fits you. I need a pda, virtual keyboard & small enough to fit in my shirt pocket.
Unless I’m mistaken, there don’t seem to be any PDAs based on either PalmOS or Windows Mobile with keyboards that aren’t smartphones, so you might not have a choice.
I’m not familiar with using Windows Mobile, but as China Guy mentioned palm OS devices can bring up an on-screen keyboard. You can, however, get a keyboard accessory for your PDA, like the one here, though it works more like a regular keyboard on a normal computer. Older PDAs had keyboards you could plug into the bottom that acted like an extension of the unit, but they don’t seem to make those any more, curiously.
Alternatively, you could learn the handwriting recongition, although ease of use varies from person to person and it definitely requires checking, as mentioned previously. Personally I’d say that’s not really a problem unless you need to take down a lot of text. For messaging and stuff I think it would be fine.
I have used both for many years – starting with a Palm V and now up to my Treo. I strongly recommend having a built-in keyboard. It was one of the criteria I had when I was looking for my current device.
Some folks can write in Graffiti faster than they can type, but I’m not one of them.
Though the keyboard is not as easy to use as I would have hoped, these days I am more likely to add a contact directly to the phone rather then key it in on the PC and hotsync it.
One more advantage of a keyboard not mentioned here: you can get software that allows you to assign individual keys to different tasks.
For example, I hold down “P” for two seconds and my password safe comes up. I hold down “H” a few seconds and the phone dials my house. With the keyboard you have a bunch of customizable buttons.
Getting to be fewer and fewer PDAs PERIOD anymore, unfortunately. :rolleyes: But I’ll avoid discussing that issue; it’ll get me riled.
BTW, Napier, I find www.brighthand.com to be a pretty good resource, not only for reviews, but finding out what PDA’s are even out there exactly. Plus they’ve got news, which is useful if you’re waiting for Palm to actually DO something and fuc–ahem
…
Anyway, it’s a good site.
But I’ll avoid discussing that issue; it’ll get me riled.