A PDA or Personal Digital Assistant is quickly becoming a must for anyone who wants to organize and stay on top of the vast sea of information. If you've ever looked at a calendar, jotted a note on a napkin, used a planner, wished you had a camera, carried a book, or searched in vain for a business card than a PDA is for you. 

Unfortunately, many people who carry PDA don't realize what a powerful little tool it actually is.  And just like any tool a PDA is only useful if it is used.

1.) Replace Your Daily Paper

Are you still paying 25 cents a day for the daily paper, only to get your fingers covered in ink, have to throw it away, or lug it around until you recycle? Any newspaper, magazine or newsletter with an online presence can be easy downloaded to your PDA.

Avantgo allows you to capture and access web content on your PDA without a wireless or modem connection to the Internet. A simple software download, a few choices in settings and every time you sync, your web content is uploaded to your PDA.

They have hundreds of different channels (content selections) and if you don't see what you like, you can easily create your own and turn any web site you choose into a channel.

Vindigo is a directory/ city guide for your wireless enabled PDA. It currently cost $24.95 for a subscription but a free trial is available.

Avantgo
https://my.avantgo.com/home/

AJR Newslink
http://www.newslink.org

Vindigo
http://www.vindigo.com/

Seattle Times Wireless
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/palm/download.html

2.) Save a Tree (say good bye to all those little slips of paper)

Many people who carry a PDA still reach for a pen and paper to scribble information or take down little notes. The most common complaint as to why they don't use their PDA to takes notes, is the amount of time it takes to write them on the device.

The more frequently one uses the graffiti feature of a PDA to take down information, the better and faster one gets at using it.

There are many programs out there that allow you to use your PDA as a memo pad. These programs do not rely on graffiti or keypad for entering text, instead you can simply write on the screen.

And finally, think of how much time you will save, not having to look for a small scrap of paper with some vital information.

3.) Stop falling behind on Email

For most of us, staying on top of one's email is a never-ending battle. A PDA can help turn the tides by allowing access to your email anywhere at anytime. PDA that are wireless enabled can actually check email live from any location. Other PDAs will allow you to sync your email storing messages on your PDA. Once there, messages can be read and replied to and then uploaded to your normal email account the next time you sync.

4.) Datebook (Is that today)

One thing common to most handhelds is the Datebook. A datebooks allows you to input appointments, important dates, schedules and todo list.

But unlike their bulky day planner counterparts, many PDA datebooks allow you to easily repeat events, set alarms or timers, print out schedules, sync information with your computer or share your schedule with the touch of your stylus.

If you have ever found yourself missing meetings or important events, a well-utilized datebook can act like a personal assistant, planner and alarm clock.

Academic Tip: Print out a schedule in the week view and paste to door to let students know your whereabouts…

5.) Turn Wasted Time into Productive Time

Frequently we find ourselves waiting. Waiting for appointments, classes, meetings, traffic or the bus. With a well-utilized PDA, this time spend waiting could be spent on any number of important tasks.

Many programs for the PDA now let you upload Microsoft Word or Excel files and view and use them anywhere.

Simple text programs let you take any text document and cut and copy it to your PDA. Once there, documents can be easily edited or read.

Hoping to learn French, master the guitar or get in some Yoga? Make sure that your PDA includes files and information that support your hobbies and interests. Download relevant articles, web sites and software to make your PDA more than just a work tool.

Academic Tip: Anytime can be grading time.. Save student essays as a text format and upload to your PDA now you can grade at home without lugging papers back and forth…

6.) Finally someone can read your writing

Is your handwriting difficult to read? PDAs let you input text by means of a keyboard or by writing it using PDA shorthand called Graffiti. Once composed any note on a PDA can generally be shared with other PDA users, by simply beaming it to their PDA.

Tip: Compose a business card on your PDA. This lets you to easily beam it to other PDA users when they request your information.

Sketcher
http://www.palmettologic.com/Sketcher.html
A free doodle program for Palm OS that even lets you draw in color.

7.) Procrastinate

You know you do it, now your PDA can help you do it well! A well-utilized PDA isn't just a powerful organizational tool, it can also be your portable stress reliever. There are literally thousands of games and programs that you can download to your PDA.

Whether you are looking for games such as Tetris, Flight Simulators, Backgammon or Chess or novelty programs such as Guitar Chord Generator or Palm Acupressure, there is a program out there for you. Many of these programs are free or under 10 dollars and most offer limited demo version at no cost.

Looking for some great applications? Check out these sites:

Tucows for the PDA
http://pda.tucows.com/

Palm Pilot Archives
http://www.palmpilotarchives.com/
Freeware, Shareware and for purchase software

Freeware Palm
http://www.freewarepalm.com/
A large collection of freeware for Palm OS.

8.) Read a Good Book

We may be a long way away from the paperless society, but the days of being caught without reading material are quickly coming to an end. Think of all the times you have been stuck somewhere where a book would have offered some welcome company or a diversion. The Internet is practically teaming with 100s of free ebooks. Download a free reader; select a book and you will never be caught unprepared again.

Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library: Electronic Books
http://www.stockton.lib.ca.us/ebooks.htm
Links to free ebooks, PDA programs and ebook readers

Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com
In addition to the thousands of titles for sale, Amazon.com offers easy access to free downloadable ebook readers as well as some free ebooks.

Memoware
http://www.memoware.com/
1000s or Free Ebooks and PDA Documents

9.) Learn the Lingo

So do you have a Palm, Visor, Pocket PC, Smart Phone or Handheld? Is your device Wifi or Bluetooth enabled? Do you prefer Windows CE or Palm OS? How many Styluses do you own? And how often do you sync? The first step to mastering your PDA is learning the lingo.

10.) Replace IT!

If you bought your PDA more than 2 years ago, now might be a good time to upgrade. The big three, Handspring, Palm and Sony CLIE have all released reasonably priced handhelds in the last year with a host of features.

• Higher resolution
• Rechargeable Batteries
• Color Screens
• Cameras
• MP3 Players
• Voice Recorders
• Cell Phones
• Wireless Internet Access

The $275 dollars I paid for my top of the line Handspring Visor 4 years ago… 8mb, sky blue, Could easily buy me Palm Zire 71 with built in camera, mp3 player, voice recorder etc….Prices still seem a bit steep? Try the Palm Justification Formula…Cost of the Item divided by (# of days you intend to use it before replaced )Palm Zire $275/1460 days (4 years)= $.19. $.19 cents a day to organize your life…. Now how can you pass that up?

Cnet
http://www.cnet.com
Thinking of getting a PDA Cnet is your one stop shop for comparison and value shopping.

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©2003 Pamela Wilkins pwilkins@sccd.ctc.edu