What kind of PDA?

jeepgirl, LPN, NP · Jun 15, 2005

My hubby and I are sooo disgusted by PDA!!!

J/K.

There is a ton of info on PDA's (personal digital assistants). The most common brand is the Palm. www.palm.com

If you do a search, you will find more info than you know what do with. That is your best avenue to find the wealth of info that is here... it is just really hard to repeat it all.

I have a Palm and love it. I was able to find a software version of almost all my nursings texts that was palm compatible.

Good luck

amber1142 · Jun 15, 2005

My hubby and I are sooo disgusted by PDA!!!

I'm not sure what to make of that, but thanks for telling me about the Palm.

The thing with these kinds of *discussion* boards is that new people will come in all the time. Yes, I could do a google search and never need to ask any questions, but I enjoy the near-live interaction and conversations. Old timers who have seen things discussed ad nauseam really don't need to participate in threads that don't interest them.

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Jun 15, 2005

Sorry if this has been asked and answered before. I've seen a couple of people mention their PDAs or Palms. I know nothing about them. Who has any recommendations on what kind to get, how much memory, which software to get, and where to get it.

Hi Amber

There are tons of good PDA's out there. I personally love the Treo 600 or 650. I own the 600 but the 650 is the lates version. It is a handheld smart phone (cell phone and PDA) for one reasonable price. It is loaded with things like planner, has a camera, internet, calendar, etc.... You can download lots of information and buy an expansion card to store more info. It is also small and does not weigh much.

You can use several wireless carriers like Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile and Cingular.

If this helps, you can check out their website as follows: www.palmone.com

You can also check out reviews, so ultimately you can decide if it offers all that you might be looking for in a PDA.

Good Luck,

Jessica

palesarah · Jun 15, 2005

There are tons of good PDA's out there. I personally love the Treo 600 or 650. I own the 600 but the 650 is the lates version.

I :heartbeat my Treo 600. Wish I had waited for the 650, but I will upgrade to the 700 or *whatever* comes out next, because I am a technology whore (is using that word against the TOS in this context?) I have Cingular for my carrier.

Did I mention that I L:redpinkheVE it??? I actually don't use it much on the job, unless you count checking my email on the sly or playing Pac-Man (which I'm wickedly bad at and always have been). One night when I was working our Level 2 nursery I used my MP3 player software (Pocket Tunes Deluxe) to play soft lullabies. Oh, and I have Documents to Go, which is very handy is you use Microsoft Office, you can create & edit word/excel files on either your computer or your palm and "hot sync" them to the other and continue to work on them on both, and your changes will be updated on both. But I mostly use that for crochet patterns. Way handy, I just highlight on my palm the rows on the directions as I finish them (occasionally, at work, on those wonderfully slow nights we have from time to time and hey, I just happen to keep a skein of yarn and a hook in my bag for these moments!) I also downloaded Adobe Reader for Palm, so I can buy e-books on Amazon.com in PDF format and this sends them to my palm in the proper format. Definitely need and expansion card when you get into this kind of fun!

I've purchased two 1GB SD cards on ebay for under $70 each (I didn't need the second one, 1 is fine)

Whatever you buy, palm OS (the operating system, which is availble on many other brands too) seems to be the easiest to buy software for.

Here's a great software/accessory site: http://www.palmgear.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=software.showsoftware&PartnerREF=&siteid=1&prodid=51196&searchtitle=Best%20Sellers&area=home.home

And you can get a cool stylus pen too, like this one, if you're not one who looses your pens a lot. It's my favorite with red & black ink, pencil, and a stylus tip all in one: http://www.mobileplanet.com/private/palmgear/product.asp?cat%5Fid=102&cat%5Fname=Palm+OS+Devices&dept%5Fid=3710&pf%5Fid=MP600804

If you do constantly loose pens like me, you get can a replacement stylus for most and PDA that has a hidden ball point pen but still fits in the stylus slot.

Now I want to go shopping for a nursing drug guide for my Treo... that would be handy...

**RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN** · Jun 15, 2005

Did I mention that I L:redpinkheVE it???

I know, it is the best

I too will upgrade when the next one comes out. I don't keep up with all technology cause I am poor :chuckle but..........the Treo is well worth it

Jessica

Ruby Vee, BSN · Jun 15, 2005

my hubby and i are sooo disgusted by pda!!!
j/k.
there is a ton of info on pda's (personal digital assistants). the most common brand is the palm. www.palm.com
if you do a search, you will find more info than you know what do with. that is your best avenue to find the wealth of info that is here... it is just really hard to repeat it all.
i have a palm and love it. i was able to find a software version of almost all my nursings texts that was palm compatible.
good luck

yup, there's a many a thread about which palm to choose on this site alone. the thing is, though, with pdas, that the market is rapidly changing. the information in those old threads is, well, old.

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[color=#4b0082]i think you're well advised to stick with the palm operating system because there's so much more software available than for pocket pc. also, more free software which is important unless you're independently wealthy or able to develope your own software. i know treo is being advertised heavily now, and there are many people that love theirs. something to think about: the screen is smaller than a standalone pda. if you're older and affected by presbyopia, you may want to consider something else. also, the phone is bigger than a standalone cellphone. and third, if your cellphone needs repair, you also are without your pda. and vice versa.

[color=#4b0082]

[color=#4b0082]i still thing the palmone tunsten e is a good buy, and has everything available that you should need -- beautiful color screen, lots of included software and great memory. you can get some good deals on the palmone site -- sometimes they include sd cards or special software. for the best prices, check office max, office depot, circuit city, best buy, etc. father's day is coming up, and you may find father's day sales.

[color=#4b0082]

[color=#4b0082]hope this helps.

grinnurse, RN · Jun 15, 2005

Amber1142-please ignore the rudeness of other people. I agree if you are tired of a subject, ignore the post please!!

I just began using a iPaq pocket pc and so far I have loved it. What I have read the main differences b/t the types are the operating systems. PalmOne is like a Mac computer vs pocket pc using more of the windows os. I actually found it alot easier to go and look at them first hand after reading a little bit about each of the different ones where I could ask specific questions. It helped me understand alot better than doing thousands of searches also was alot less frustrating in the end.

Memory is important to consider and what you want to get out of it. For software, check out epocrates.com or skyscape.com, both of these sites have nursing software that you can either down load or get on memory cards (kind of like the handheld games with the little cards with the games on them) you just put them in the slot and access the info that you need. I ended up getting software from skyscape. They had a bundle package called constellation that came with a drug guide, dosing calculator, and alot of other stuff. You can also add to the bundle like I added an IV drug guide, and a copy of Disease and Disorder book that I had in NS in hardback. So far, on the job, it has come in quite handy for quick look ups.

They come in all prices, styles etc........I would recommend getting a hardcover case for it b/c it is an investment. If you are computer illiterate like me, I found it very simple to use and to download and add the programs that I purchased. I think that the JD Powers and associates website had quite a few reviews on the different ones if you want to read those.

Hope this helps you somewhat and happy shopping!!

plumrn, BSN, RN · Jun 15, 2005

Ruby Vee, good information. You are so right, the older threads do hold a lot of great info., but technology races ahead so fast, and the newer models may not be discussed. It's nice to hear what everyone likes (or loves!!), or dislikes, about the newer ones.

austin heart, BSN, RN · Jun 15, 2005

My hubby and I are sooo disgusted by PDA!!!
J/K.

I don't think that jeepgirl was trying to be rude by saying that this topic has been discussed. I think that she was trying to make a joke, PDA= Public Display of Affection.

On the topic, I LOVE my Dell Axim with intergrated wireless.

Nurse Ratched, RN · Jun 15, 2005

I don't think that jeepgirl was trying to be rude by saying that this topic has been discussed. I think that she was trying to make a joke, PDA= Public Display of Affection.

Big hugs for making this post - that is the way I read it, too. Please everyone, be mindful of no flames. If you are concerned that a post is flaming, report it.

jeepgirl, LPN, NP · Jun 15, 2005

I wasn't being rude AT ALL. I was trying to make a joke. Apparently, some people forgot their sense of humor today.

If you go back and reread my post, there was nothing rude/mean about it. I have seen many requests for people to utilize the search function that weren't posed nearly as gently as I did. There is a LOT of good info on those threads (dated or not) that can drawn off of that would be useful to the OP.