PDA Recommendations?

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Hey All,

I was just browsing PDAs and there are just so many choices. What PDAs do you guys have and what do you think of them?

Any insight would be great.

Thanks

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I have Palm Tungsten E2. I like it. With PDAs you have to make sure the software you want comes in that kind. Ex: I hear some blackberry's you can't download some programs onto. (not compatibility) You have to find out if you go to school if you are allowed to have a pda phone. I was considering getting the palm treo. But HFCC does not allow them. If you can afford palm tx thats the best one I guess. It has internet access. I like mine just fine though...however it has no internet access. If you want a lot of opinions on pdas (you won't get to much in the state forum) go to the pda forum. Overall though PDAs are very helpful for drugs and words I don't know ha.

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I have Palm Tungsten E2. I like it. With PDAs you have to make sure the software you want comes in that kind. Ex: I hear some blackberry's you can't download some programs onto. (not compatibility) You have to find out if you go to school if you are allowed to have a pda phone. I was considering getting the palm treo. But HFCC does not allow them. If you can afford palm tx thats the best one I guess. It has internet access. I like mine just fine though...however it has no internet access. If you want a lot of opinions on pdas (you won't get to much in the state forum) go to the pda forum. Overall though PDAs are very helpful for drugs and words I don't know ha.
Would you recomend one to someone that will be eventually starting the program? I have heard mixed things about them.including that you wouldn't use it much. I really would like one but if they are not used much what is the point of spending that much?
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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I use mine quite frequently. Other people do not have them though. I got mine because 1st day of clinicals I almost lost my drug book (which we had to carry around all day) I find it much more convenient and practical to carry around a pda with the drug guide and medical dictionary around rather than books. :) They are a bit costly though...however you could technically not buy the drug book and dictionary in book form if you have it on your pda (which a few of my classmates did) I however got the books before ever considering the pda so I have all of the above :) It all depends on your preference...I like mine.

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actually a friend just gave me a whole rubermaid container of nursing books she used a few years ago. it has the dictonary and stuff in it and damn i think I will be investing in a new toy instead of carrying those around.

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Specializes in M/S, MICU, Hospice, Homecare.

I have a palm t|x and I love it....I just got accepted to a nursing program and I have already bought the drug guide and dictionary from Skyscape...I also got the desktop version of it too so I can use it while writing papers or care plans. I don't plan on buying the book form of the drug guide or dictionary...I like my pda just fine. Although I think it would have a lot to do with how much you really like technology...I know some people prefer books...It all boils down to personal preference.....

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Ha there fun...just don't buy it till you get into the program because you want the newest stuff available for your classes...because you are not going to update it every year (do you buy new books every time they make a new edition...no) If you are starting nursing school in the fall you can buy it now...but if you are not going in for another year or two you might as well wait...unless you want a glorified calender. Which I do use it as too...its quite nice. Anyways they are fun little toys to play around with as well as being helpful tools. You can even put games on them...which I do NOT have because I would waste to much time playing (including while in class...I get fidgety. Ha) So I decided against them. But I use mine has a drug guide, dictionary, plus I have a few other nursing things (I have the nursing constellation from Unbound.) Plus I use it as my calender. Which is quite nice cause it has day, week and month view. Plus I can write memos to myself (ha if I need to remember something), and my favorite part I have an excel sheet that automatically calculates my grade as soon as I put in my grade in from a test. Oh and I also keep pictures and the like in it. Make sure whichever one you get has enough memory (don't get the cheap palm you can't use it cause you can not add memory to it) The palm e2 you have to get a memory card...I got mine on ebay (from a seller with high score) with a memory card for cheaper then it was selling at best buy. And I don't believe you necessarily need a memory card for the palm tx cause I think it has a lot of memory...but double check if you get that one.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

I agree with Serenity...I like technology...I don't like books :)

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I have the palm that has WiFi picked out. I was told to expect to get in in the winter, but who knows. All my pre reqs are done now, and i'm chomping at the bit to get into classes. I guess i'll do some light reading in my med-surg book.:D

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Great, thanks for all the info. I am starting at MCC in october so I will probably be buying one soon so I can play with it and get used to it.

What medical dictionaries did you guys buy? I knw they said at orientation that our profs would tell us some programs to buy but I wasn't sure if those were included.

Thanks

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

The nursing constellation that I got from unbound (from fadavis.com) included davis drug guide and tabers encyclopedia. My school required those books..some schools require other books. And it only took me a few days to figure everything out so you don't necessarily have to get it too early...unless you want to of course. :)

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Specializes in Acute/Crit,Sup/Mgmt,Peds,Home/PriDuty,Ed.

Why can't we opt for putting the same book information onto our DS's? A DS does pretty much everything that a PDA does. Can someone give me a few website addresses (for electronic book purchases) so I can call and ask? We've been using our DS's for reading a long time. We rarely have a problem finding a book title.

Help me save a buck and still have the essentials! :loveya:

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