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© Kondinin Group This article has been reproduced with permission from Farming Ahead. For more information about Kondinin Group phone 1800 677 761. Further duplication of this article is not permitted.
Computers
Te c h n o l o g y
Pocket PDA puts data within reach A personal digital assistant (PDA) can provide a useful and efficient means to ensure contact and calendar information is always up-to-date and that notes and memos are backed up with each synchronisation with a computer. But unlike an ordinary computer, a PDA is easy to carry. by
Alethea Raspa, KONDININ GROUP
P
ersonal digital assistants (PDA) have placed computers in the hands of users who can carry it in their pockets for quick and easy access to information ‘on the go’. Two features placing a hand-held PDA above a basic electronic organiser are its ability to connect and communicate with other electronic devices and the extensive abilities of PDA software, making it a powerful and versatile personal tool. Managing information A PDA is a hand-held computer that can store and retrieve phone numbers and addresses, maintain a ‘to do’ list and a calendar. It is also a memo pad for taking notes at meetings and for capturing ideas, observations and personal comments. The system developed from the popular paper-based diary. Slightly larger than a pack of playing cards, the small size is designed to allow PDAs to be stored in a pocket or purse without becoming too small to be useful. Developing technology means a PDA also can be used as a portable multimedia centre, which can display photos or play MP3 files, as well as providing information management. Some newer mobile phones with PDA capabilities also offer internet connectivity for checking email or even web-browsing.
At a glance • Computers are convenient tools that enable users to record and organise large amounts of information about a business but they are too big to carry. • Alternatively, personal digital assistants (PDA) offer a hand-held device which can fit into a pocket but still allow users to retrieve personal data quickly. • PDAs can be as simple or as powerful as the user requires, from basic calendar and contact information to synchronising business management programs.
FA R M I N G A H E A D
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July 2006
The most useful attribute of a PDA is that information is input only once and synchronised later with the home computer. This reduces duplication or errors and enables users to synchronise several sources of information which are combined into a single database or spreadsheet program on the home computer. Buying a PDA Typical applications on a PDA are the ‘address book’, ‘date book’, ‘tasks list’ and ‘memos’. The choice of additional programs is limited by the size of the memory available. PDAs hold their applications’ information in read-only memory (ROM), either hardwired as part of the factory settings or installed during synchronisation with the user’s main computer. All other information is held in random access memory (RAM), which requires a tiny but steady drain on the battery. Hand-held units can be powered by standard or rechargeable batteries or charged via the synchronisation cradle. Many newer models also have provision for memory cards, similar to those used by digital cameras or MP3 players. To use a PDA as a multimedia unit as well as an information unit requires more RAM, usually a memory card. As MP3 players and digital cameras also use these, ensuring all digital accessories use the same type of expansion card would make transferring information between units more convenient. Information in and out Individual needs will dictate which type of PDA is suitable. Basic models would suit users mainly wanting to access the calendar and contacts, while more powerful models would be more suitable if integrating the PDA with farm or business management programs. There is less difference today between the Palm and WindowsCE operating systems of PDAs and both are supported by the Windows and MacOS platforms. With the range of models available, the choice of PDA depends on the type of tasks it will be required to perform and how comfortable the user is with the technology. Information is viewed on a small liquid crystal display (LCD) screen and is input using a stylus on the screen. Optional colour screens can drain the batteries faster than a
Portability is the key to new technology, which provides handy information such as a calendar and contacts list (as pictured on the iPAQ) for people ‘on the go’.
monochrome screen and are less visible in bright light. For entering larger quantities of information, a clip-on keyboard could be useful, although some of the smart-phones incorporate ‘thumb keyboards’ (such as the Palm Treo650 and RIM Blackberry). Some smart-phones are bluetooth-enabled, allowing connectivity to accessories such as similarly enabled mobile phones or headsets. Some PDAs also have global positioning system (GPS) capabilities. But not all phone
The i-mate Jasjar PDA uses a mini laptop design with a pivoting screen.
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Te c h n o l o g y
Computers
service providers provide support in Australia for these small computers and could charge extra fees depending on the amount of information downloaded to the unit. Typical PDAs are listed below.
Casio BE-300 Pocket PC • System: NEC VR4131, 166MHz, 280 MIPS (64 bit CPU). • Display: 3.2-inch, 320x240 pixel, 32,768 colours. • Memory: ROM 16MB (flash), RAM 16MB. • Operating system: Windows CE 3.0. • Connection: serial port (USB client support), card slots compact flash type II. • Power: Litium-ion rechargeable battery. • Battery: life of about one week of use (based on normal use). • Dimensions: about 121x76x17.9mm . • Weight: 167g (without flip cover). • The Casio BE-300 does not include Microsoft Activesync. The BE-300 can synchronise with a personal computer via the included Casio software. Price: $209.95.
Acer n50 Pocket PC • System: Intel PXA-272 at 312MHz. • Memory: 64MB; flash memory 64MB. • Display: LCD 3.5-inch high-brightness transflective TFT LCD (65,536 colours) with 240x320 (QVGA) resolution. • Connection: USB Host 1.1 serial port DC-in; expansion SD–MMC expansion slot with SDIO feature CF Type II expansion slot USB Host 1.1 serial port; wireless IrDA bluetooth 1.2 802.11b wireless LAN. • Battery: rechargeable and removable 1060 mAh Lithium-ion battery, eighthour life when backlight is inactive, three hours to fully charge. • Dimensions: 120x70x17.4mm. • Weight: 150g. • Four quick-launch application buttons (‘today’, ‘calendar’, ‘contacts’, ‘messaging’); five-way directional pad, soft reset button; power button; hold switch; battery lock; audio built-in mono unidirectional microphone; two built-in mono speakers; 2.5mm stereo earphone jack. Price: $559.95.
i-mate Jasjar GSM–GPRS Pocket PC • System: Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0. • Mini laptop design. • Display: high-resolution VGA (640x480 pixel) screen; 180-degree pivot clamshell. • Two cameras. • Built-in 62-key QWERTY keyboard. • 3V USIM. • Radio: WCDMA; GSM; GPRS PDA. 36
Users can choose PDAs to suit a range of tasks from note-taking to playing music, downloading management data from home computers, email and internet access. Some popular models pictured from left are the Palm Z22 model, Palm Treo and the i-mate Jam version.
• Boosts all the latest communications including integrated WLAN, GPRS and UMITS technology. • Integrated video and music players. • Stereo loudspeaker. Price: $1519.95.
Palm Z22 Sudoku Special Edition • System: Samsung 200 MHz ARM; PalmOS Garnet 5.4. • Memory: 32MB flash memory (nonvolatile); user available memory 20MB. • Five-way navigator Graffiti 2: via writing area or anywhere on-screen; virtual keyboard. • Display: 160x160 transmissive display. • Dimensions: 103x68x15mm. • Wireless: infrared. • Power: rechargeable lithium-ion battery. • Battery life: up to one week. Price: $184.95.
Palm Tungsten TX • System: PalmOS Garnet 5.4; Intel XScale 312MHz ARM; Wi-Fi (802.11b). • Input area: Graffiti 2 writing or virtual keyboard; writing anywhere on-screen. • Memory: 128MB flash memory 2. • Display: 320x480 TFT transflective display supporting 65,536 colours; works in portrait and landscape modes. • Connections: bluetooth 1.1; SD; SDIO; multimedia card expansion slot. • Power: rechargeable lithium-ion battery. • Battery life: up to five days. • Dimensions: 121x78x15mm. • Weight: 149g. • Five-way navigator; speaker; 3.5mm stereo headphone jack; infrared. Price: $479.59.
Palm Treo 650 plus bluetooth USB • System: Intel PXA270 312MHz; Palm OS 5.4 • Memory: 23MB stored non-volatile memory (22MB multi-lingual). • GSM–GPRS model: 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz world phone. • Power: removable rechargeable lithiumion battery. • Battery life: up to six hours’ talk time and up to 300 hours’ standby time. • Dimensions: 113x59x23mm. • Weight: 178g. • Display: colour TFT touch-screen; 320x320 resolution; 16-bit colour (displays more than 65,000 colours). • Expansion: supports SD, SDIO and multimedia cards. • Audio: RealPlayer (requires SD memory card); stereo audio headset-compatible. • Digital camera: VGA with 640x480 (0.3 megapixels) resolution and automatic light balancing 2xzoom; self-portrait mirror; captures video. • Full backlit QWERTY keyboard with number pad. • Five-way navigation button; speakerphone; polyphonic MIDI ringtones; infrared port; external ringer; on–silence switch; vibrate mode; stylus; keyguard; 2.5mm headset jack; customisable side button. Price: $1099.95. For more information on PDAs, visit the web site at www.expansys.com.au/product.asp?code= 123841&tab=1. About the author Alethea Raspa works as a librarian with Kondinin Group. Email:
[email protected]
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