# PDA's, Which is better? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 23, 2001, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdas-which-is-better/73555 "2001-07-23T18:48:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2001, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdas-which-is-better/73555/1 "2001-07-23T18:48:53Z")
Ok dopesters, I am looking to buy a PDA for the ever busy Mrs. Amp but do not have enough knowledge on them to make an informed decision. So I need your help. What do you guys, and gals, recommend or use? She isn’t going to need anything fancy, just something with and address book, calender, notepad, text conversion and maybe a game or two. It would have to be able to synch with a desktop. She won’t need anything with internet access or e-mail. A color screen would be a plus. ---
**Author:** ![Medea\_s\_Child](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Medea\_s\_Child](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Medea_s_Child)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2001, 7:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdas-which-is-better/73555/2 "2001-07-23T19:27:36Z")
I have a handspring Visor. Runs on the Palm OS and can hook up to a whole bunch of neat-o expansion deals. [http://www.handspring.com](http://www.handspring.com) The Visor Edge is the toy of my dreams at the moment, but I adore my Blue Visor Deluxe. (Plus I have a full size folding keyboard for mine. That helps a lot.) Good luck! ---
**Author:** ![flyboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4da419/32.png) [@flyboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flyboy)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2001, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdas-which-is-better/73555/3 "2001-07-23T21:53:11Z")
I’ve got a Palm V and I love it, although my biggest complaint is the screen. I’m always tilting it to find the best viewing angle. It can be backlit for night use, but it’s too dim to help out during the day. A lower model Palm might be the way to go. Mine has all features you mentioned except text conversion (not even sure what that is), but I’m not sure if the lower model Palms have 'em as well. I think they do. I have to say that now that I have one, I don’t know how I survived without it! ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2001, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdas-which-is-better/73555/4 "2001-07-23T23:22:20Z")
Not to hijack, but this just goes to show how non-techy I am, despite my adoration of my computer and the internet. My first thought on seeing the thread title was “How do you rate public displays of affection?” jayjay (the sex-minded) ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2001, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdas-which-is-better/73555/5 "2001-07-23T23:33:07Z")
When I wrote text conversion I meant when you write on the screen with a stylus and it converts your handwriting to text or can save it a a hand written note. ---
**Author:** ![Sultan\_Kinkari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@Sultan\_Kinkari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sultan_Kinkari)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2001, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdas-which-is-better/73555/6 "2001-07-24T00:28:08Z")
Everyone who’s anyone uses the Blackberry, AKA the **Crackberry**. [url=“[http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/review/2001-05-07-blackberry.htm](http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/review/2001-05-07-blackberry.htm)”]Check it out.\*\* I know the owner of Canada-based Informationlab. He tried everything on the market and settled on the Blackberry. He told me he never goes anywhere without it and that his laptop use has dropped by 50%. ---
**Author:** ![Sultan\_Kinkari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7bcc69/32.png) [@Sultan\_Kinkari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sultan_Kinkari)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2001, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdas-which-is-better/73555/7 "2001-07-24T00:35:20Z")
[Mea copa.](http://www.usatoday.com/life/cyber/tech/review/2001-05-07-blackberry.htm) 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2001, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdas-which-is-better/73555/8 "2001-07-24T00:44:53Z")
Ha…stupid me…“PDA= public displays of affection”…now insert that into the subject title… ---
**Author:** ![Tyklfe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@Tyklfe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tyklfe)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2001, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdas-which-is-better/73555/9 "2001-07-24T00:51:20Z")
Oooooooooooh! Ooooooooooooooh! [waving hands franticly] “Pick me, Pick me” I own and love my [“url=http://www.handspring.com/products/visoredge/index.jhtml”]Handspring Visor Edge. I started off with a visor Platinum and them upgraded to the Edge. Here’s why Handspring is Better than Palm: (I can make this compairison b/c my mom has a palm) All Handspring Products come with USB Cradles, Palm comes with Serial unless you get the most expensive one. (this means that info transfered between your computer and handheld will go much faster Handsprings computer s/w is _ **much, much easier and intuitive** _ to use. From the time I got it out of the box it took me less than five mins. to have my visor working, get the software installed on my computer and sync the two. When I set up my mom’s Palm, I swear to all things holy, It took thirty mins. and I screamed at the computer at least twice. Handsprings has better tech support Plus: The other day a screw came out of my Visor so I called up Handspring and they sent my a Brand New visor, free of charge. I didn’t even have to pay to send the old one back. It was so easy! They are fantastic. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2001, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdas-which-is-better/73555/10 "2001-07-24T00:59:50Z")
> [@](#): > > She isn’t going to need anything fancy, just something with and address book, calender, notepad, text conversion and maybe a game or two. It For these purposes get a palm os system, I wouldn’t consider the win ce for the above. That being said your main choices are palm and handspring. Is color a deciding factor or is size? I personally have the palm vx and the biggest + is that it is small enough to take with me (other models 3,7 would be too big and I’d leave them home more often). The m505 have gotten bad reviews and many recomend the greyscale model over it. Also check out the visor edge - Don’t know much about it but it’s as small as the palm V and m500, m505 units. ---
**Author:** ![Tyklfe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@Tyklfe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tyklfe)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2001, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdas-which-is-better/73555/11 "2001-07-24T01:05:56Z")
sorry, let’s try that [Visor Edge link](http://www.handspring.com/products/visoredge/index.jhtml) again ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2001, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdas-which-is-better/73555/12 "2001-07-24T02:34:33Z")
When I read this I was thinking “depends on what your aim is. If you just want to show a bit of affection, holding hands or a hug will do, but if you want to disgust everyone else in the room, you should start groping and french kissing.” Oh well, at least I’m not the only one who had no idea you were refering to a a piece of electronics. What did _you_ mean by PDA? I can’t figure out what the letters stand for, electronics-wise. ---
**Author:** ![Tyklfe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@Tyklfe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tyklfe)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2001, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdas-which-is-better/73555/13 "2001-07-24T03:09:10Z")
PDA= **P** ersonal **D** ata **A** ssistant ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2001, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdas-which-is-better/73555/14 "2001-07-24T07:08:59Z")
Chalk up another quite satisfied Visor Deluxe user (blue). Same OS as a Palm. Drawback - can’t upgrade the OS software. Plus - expandable port in the back that doesn’t require uploading more software and taking up memory. Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2001, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdas-which-is-better/73555/15 "2001-07-24T07:48:46Z")
Let’s see, on the desk in front of me there’s an Ipaq, a Jornada, two Handsprings, a Palm and a Sony. This, by the way, not because I’m the worlds worst gadget head - I’m working on an integration project, and I have to make sure the software is compatible with the lot of them. Sounds like you’re coming at this from the right angle. You know want you want it to be able to do, and you’re gearing your choice around that. From that perspective, put me with the Handspring vote - they’re cheap, they’re robust, they’ll more than do what you’re looking for in terms of functionality and the battery life is excellent. If you can spare more money, and want to buy a higher spec unit, look at the Sony Clie Definitely stay away from PocketPC. PocketPC is a pain in the ass to use, and the battery life is dreadful. The only real reasons to use one would be the Ipaq’s excellent display, easily the best of the lot to read. Oh, and it’s better for net browsing - ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2001, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdas-which-is-better/73555/16 "2001-07-24T07:50:29Z")
Let’s see, on the desk in front of me there’s an Ipaq, a Jornada, two Handsprings, a Palm and a Sony. This, by the way, not because I’m the worlds worst gadget head - I’m working on an integration project, and I have to make sure the software is compatible with the lot of them. Sounds like you’re coming at this from the right angle. You know want you want it to be able to do, and you’re gearing your choice around that. From that perspective, put me with the Handspring vote - they’re cheap, they’re robust, they’ll more than do what you’re looking for in terms of functionality and the battery life is excellent. If you can spare more money, and want to buy a higher spec unit, look at the Sony Clie 700. I just got one of these, and they really are a fantastic unit. Good build quality, easily the best screen of a Palm OS machine, and the ability to easily upgrade storage using memory stick. Oh, and they’re not too bad as an MP3 player as well. PocketPC is a pain in the ass to use, and the battery life is dreadful. However, the Ipaq’s excellent display is easily the best of the lot to read. The bundled software is the most useful from a business perspective (pocket word and excel are actually good enough to create reports on, if you’re using a stowaway keyboard). The handwriting recognition is easier to learn than Palm’s Grafitti system. The mail client is pretty good, and the net browser is way better than anything you’ll see on Palm. Despite all of this, judging by your requirements, I’d still go with a Palm OS system - either the Handspring, or the Sony. ---
**Author:** ![kanicbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/5f8ce5/32.png) [@kanicbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kanicbird)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2001, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdas-which-is-better/73555/17 "2001-07-25T00:29:14Z")
> [@](#): > > PDA=Personal Data Assistant I thought it was personal digital assistant ---
**Author:** ![Tyklfe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@Tyklfe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tyklfe)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2001, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdas-which-is-better/73555/18 "2001-07-25T01:17:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by k2dave \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > PDA=Personal Data Assistant > > I thought it was personal digital assistant \*\* Ehh, you’re probably right…I’m really not sure. Anybody out there know for sure? ---
**Author:** ![Tyklfe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3e96dc/32.png) [@Tyklfe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tyklfe)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2001, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdas-which-is-better/73555/19 "2001-07-25T01:22:54Z")
Never mind, Dave is right. PDA=Personal Digital Assistant. I looked it up in the Newton’s Telecom dictionary sitting here on my desk… [sniff] I’ll be crawling under a rock now [/sniff] ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2001, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdas-which-is-better/73555/20 "2001-07-25T18:18:51Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jayjay \* > \*\*Not to hijack, but this just goes to show how non-techy I am, despite my adoration of my computer and the internet. > > My first thought on seeing the thread title was “How do you rate public displays of affection?” > > jayjay (the sex-minded) \*\* I’m even worse. Whenever I see PDA, I think “pushdown automaton”. If you’re in the market for one of those, I definitely recommend the non-deterministic kind. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pdas-which-is-better/73555.md?page=2)