[Lisa CCU RN]

Is this a PDA? If so, how good is it? If not, which one is less than $150 and is good quality?

[jov]

Originally Posted by CRNASOMEDAY25

Is this a PDA? If so, how good is it? If not, which one is less than $150 and is good quality?

I don't blackberry so I could be wrong but my understanding is that a blackberry is a combination of a cellphone, PDA and mobile internet device. It's main advantage is you can download emails on your blackberry and respond.

PDA is a personal data assistant. It's main purpose originally was to be a planner, sort of a digital date book but of course it can hold much more information digitally than you could ever write down with a pencil, and furthermore you can manipulate that data as well. Some people use their PDAs as a digital reference library as well.

You can still get PDAs under $150. As always, price limits features and data storage capacities so you will have to think about what you want to use your PDA for before you decide what features and storage capacity you need.

I bought a bottom of the line Zire off of Ebay for $40 to try out. I discovered I loved how my PDA could sync with my Outlook so both my desktop and my PDA were updated, and how I could keep every contact I ever had with me in my PDA. No more endlessly entering numbers into my cell phone...
I also loaded the free version of Epocrates on to my PDA and had plenty of room left over.
After using the Zire for a year, I sold it to another student for $20 and bought a Palm TX. I found I wanted the backlit, bigger screen. The TX I bought happens to have a big data card but that's irrelevant to me as I don't put that much on my PDA. Some people make flashcards on their PDA and textbooks, and whatever. I don't get off on reading an itty bitty screen rather than a textbooks and personally I think making flashcards and loading them into your PDA is problem some sort of subconscious way of avoiding getting down to studying LOL.

Getting a PDA is sort of like entering the work force as a nurse. Your first job is really a preparation for your second job. Your first job will help you learn what you like and don't like. Then when you go for your second job, you can actively scout out the advantages that are important to you...
so you might want to get your first PDA to find out what you will shop for in your second PDA.

[jbjints]

I am also in the market for a PDA. If you want a PDA go with Palm.

http://www.palm.com/us/

[trsa34]

I know that this may be a stupid question, but I've been curious for a while. Does the Palm OS work on a PC? Or is it just for Mac's? I want to get a PDA and I see that some PDAs have Palm OS and some with Windows Mobile. I want to get a Palm but I have a Windows PC. Thanks.
Tina

[jov]

Originally Posted by trsa34

I Does the Palm OS work on a PC? .

yes it does

[trsa34]

Thanks JOV. Do you have a PDA? If so, which one do you have? (if it's not too nosy). Which one would you recommend? I see that some people go with the Palm, some go with the IPAQ, and some Dell. I know that it's personal preference, but I don't like to buy expensive things until I get reviews.
Thanks again,
Tina

[midcom]

Originally Posted by trsa34

I know that this may be a stupid question, but I've been curious for a while. Does the Palm OS work on a PC? Or is it just for Mac's? I want to get a PDA and I see that some PDAs have Palm OS and some with Windows Mobile. I want to get a Palm but I have a Windows PC. Thanks.
Tina

To elaborate a bit more, the way I understand it, the PalmOS(operating system) is on Palm PDAs. Windows Mobile are on Palm Pilate type PDAs. You will find that there are more programs out there that run on PalmOS, surprisingly, since we are used to Windows products being more plentiful than Macs. However, so far, I everything commercial that I have looked at, they offer a choice of operating system for the program to run under. Take for instance buying from Skyscape. When you get to the order page you are asked if you want it for PalmOS or Win Mobile (they also ask if you want the version to run on your PC for free! SAY YES!!!! You can do this even with their free trails))

I ended up buying a Lifedrive & really like it. It runs on PalmOS. I went with it because of the large amout out there for it. I have looked at the way the programs look on the other operating system & to be honest, I like how they appear better. Guess it's just that Microsoft brainwashing.
Dixie