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It's Christmas Again!
By: Dave
- December 24, 2001
It is that time once again
when sleigh bells ring and our community grows with all the people receiving
new PDA's. Though this year sales are down, I still think PDA's are
a trendy, yet very practical, item that many people will find under the
tree, and hopefully you are one of these people! It really doesn't
matter if you received a Pocket PC or
Palm OS device
because there
is a wealth of new technology at your finger tips. Even if you already
think you know how you are going to use your PDA, you might find there are
few things you never thought you would be able to do in the palm of your
hand.
Before you look to far around on
the internet for any PDA related material, play with your device.
Explore all the options and play with all the included software. If
you are so inclined, you might even read the manual and see if there is
anything of any real importance in there. Most devices come with
some kind of extra software packages that you can install through your
desktop computer (some companies preinstall the software).
Often, you will find important PIM (personal information management)
tools, news/text readers like "AvantGo", and probably some games or
multimedia type programs are included.
Ok, now you might not have
found everything you were hoping for on that CD included with your
device. Maybe you had an idea of what you wanted to use your device
for, but the manufacture didn't include it. No problem.
Chances are
someone else wanted it or already thought of it and has developed an
application that can fit your needs. There are many large PDA
Software sites (like"PDAGold")
and often times large software sites like "CNet" or
"Tucows" also have
software sections. Sometimes you might get lucky finding a few pieces
of PDA software at a local CompUSA, the best place to buy software
is on the web at a site like "Handango".
Now if you are already
wanting to expand, you want to defiantly want to take a look around
the market because there are a lot of hardware options for almost every
device and chances are they are priced well at this time of year.
For the unplugged and mobile user,
WiFi (802.11b networking) is a hot item
right now, allowing you to wirelessly connect into your home or work
network without having to hassle with cables. Many major cities
across the USA also have unofficial WiFi networks that you can get on when
you are out roaming around the town. If you are into music or
movies, you might start looking into buying more memory for your
device. You can never have to much and Compact Flash
memory (and
other types) prices lower then ever.
There are so many wonderful
hardware and software options out there right now, it is a great time to
be a new PDA owner. With companies like "SnapStream" (watch TV shows
on your PDA) and "Jimmy Software" (Games), your PDA can become a mobile
entertainment center. With more memory, your device can play hours
of music, or can be your ears since many have microphones and recording
software. With an external keyboard or a little practice learning
how to write right, your PDA can become a digital notepad making searching
and storing much easier. With no extra software, your PDA can keep
track of thousands of phone numbers, addresses, contacts, appointments,
tasks, and other data.
It is a good time to join
the PDA community...I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
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