If you
spend part of your day away from your desk or outside of your home, you'd probably
like to have a convenient way to access your most important
personal or business information from your desktop computer, no matter where
you are.
There are all sorts of new handheld
computers on the market today that will let you do just that. These
devices synchronize and exchange data quickly and easily with your Windows 98 computer, allowing you to
keep important information handy and keep up with your work, whether
you're across the hall in a meeting or across the country
on vacation.
Personal
Digital Assistants Handheld
computing devices go by a number of different names, the most common
being Personal Digital Assistants (PDA) and PC Companions. They come
in a variety of shapes and sizes, and with different displays,
options, peripherals, and software configurations. Mainly they are
all small, lightweight, and easy to carry in your
hand.
PDAs store information that you load onto
them from your computer, allowing you to take some of the
functionality of your desktop computer—such as e-mail, Web browsing,
or your calendar—with you when you are away. You can view and edit
data on one device and then transfer it to the
other.
But a PDA is not a replacement for your
desktop computer, but rather an adjunct, or a companion. It extends
and enhances the capabilities of your Windows-based desktop or
laptop computer, and provides the convenience of being very small
and portable. There are two main types of
PDAs.
Stay organized with a palm-sized PDA Palm-sized
PDAs are the smallest portable computers. Small enough to fit in the
palm of your hand or slip easily into your pocket, they are designed
for quickly recording and accessing small amounts of data. Palm-sized PDAs are best for
organizational tasks like maintaining an appointment calendar, storing addresses and telephone
numbers, taking notes, or creating a list of tasks you
need to accomplish.
High-end palm-sized PDAs also allow you to
download e-mail or Web content from your desktop or laptop computer
so you can read it on the go—on a bus, airplane, or at a meeting. In addition, some
even allow you to record voice memos, play MP3 music files,
or download Internet content like news or stock quotes from
your desktop computer.
For on-screen navigation,
palm-sized PDAs have a few basic buttons for common functions, but
they mainly use handwriting-recognition software and a stylus for entering
or editing information.
Work on the go with a handheld
PDA Handheld PDAs, also called handheld personal
computers (H/PC), offer more portable computing power than
palm-sized PDAs. They look and function more like standard laptop
computers, though they are smaller, lighter, and cheaper. Handheld PDAs let
you work on text documents and spreadsheets, browse the Internet,
or send e-mail.
Handheld PDAs use a smaller version of a
standard keyboard for entering information, and have larger screens
than palm-sized devices. They also feature scaled-down, or “pocket” versions of common desktop applications
like Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to let you work on
the go, then transfer your work back to your desktop
or laptop computer.
If you plan to use your Microsoft Office
applications from your portable device, or if you
plan to send e-mail or enter and edit large amounts of
information, a handheld PDA is considerably easier to use than
a palm-sized PDA.
Synchronization gives you power on
the go Since both palm-sized and handheld PDAs are
companions to Windows-based computers, connectivity between the
devices is of primary importance. This connectivity is achieved
through a physical connection—you plug the device into
your main computer using an infrared or a cable connection—and through
the interaction of the software on the PDA and on
the desktop machine.
A PDA has its own operating system and
software that links with Windows 98. The operating system a PDA uses depends on its manufacturer and
its particular hardware configuration. Many manufacturers use Microsoft’s Windows CE operating
system, though all PDA operating systems will synchronize with your
Windows 98 system.
If your PDA uses Windows CE, it comes with a
CD-ROM containing Windows CE Services with Microsoft ActiveSync™, an
information synchronization technology that works between your
Windows-based desktop and your PDA. When you install the software on your desktop computer, it
automatically synchronizes information with your PDA, and enables the devices to
exchange e-mail messages, documents, schedules, contacts, task lists, and other
kinds of information.
Whichever type of PDA you choose, it will
extend the power and convenience of your Windows 98–based computer,
and help you stay organized, on top of your work, and in touch with
your friends and business associates.
![Mark Reed](../../../../images/edtMark.gif) Mark Reed has been known to give a public display of affection for his PDA.
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Additional resources: If you have recently
purchased or are considering buying a PDA, the following resources
will help:
Product
Guide: This guide provides detailed
descriptions of the features and software found in different types
of Windows CE devices, as well as a comparison guide to help you
decide which type is best for your needs.
Using
Your PC Companion: This selection of
columns and articles provide useful information and timesaving tips
to help you get the most out of your PC Companion.
Download
Central: Here you will find an
extensive list of downloads, add-ons, updates, and Internet content
to help you enjoy your PC Companion and be more productive.
Windows
CE Forum: This MSN site offers message boards and chats
to help you communicate with other users, and provides downloads and
links to lots of other resources. |