My PDA, Myself
I used to be one of those people who kept everything in their
head. I prided myself on my ability to memorize phone numbers
and birthdays, and knew my schedule without writing anything in
a calendar.
Then I became a mom.
I am now one of the most forgetful people on the planet. I don't
know if it's due to the fact that I am no longer responsible for
just myself (keeping track of my schedule, my daughter's
schedule, the school's schedule, the play dates, the after
school lessons and more)... or if I lost brain cells during
pregnancy ... but my short term memory has turned to mush. These
days, I need to write everything down... more than ever, now
that I have a business of my own.
I made but one resolution last year: To do a better job of
tracking my family's schedule and recording my business
expenses. I started out great - I bought a spanking new
organizer with custom pages and pouches for receipts, stamps and
business cards. I kept a schedule for me and my family, wrote
down all my mileage (a must for tax purposes!) and tracked my
biz expenses...
...for about two months. The book was too big to fit in my bag,
it was heavy to carry - and I began leaving it at home more
often than not, which kind of defeated the purpose of having an
organizer at all. Then, I lost it and all the information it
contained.
So I bought another one. This time, I decided to go the deluxe
route. I headed to my local Franklin Covey store and purchased a
beautiful butternut leather book and pretty organizer pages,
which included Stephen Covey's system on becoming more
effective. The whole package cost me about $100 - I figured if I
invested this much into it, I would be less apt to lose it.
I started writing down goals and tracking all of my business
tasks, and was feeling quite on top of things...
...for about two months. Once again, the biggest obstacle to
using the system was that it was too bulky and heavy to carry
with me everywhere. I looked with envy at friends who had
invested in electronic PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)
organizers - small, light-weight devices that sync up with your
computer and fit easily into a purse. That, I thought, would be
a solution - if only they were not so expensive.
Well, PDA's are not so expensive any longer. With the
entry-level Palm model retailing at just $99, and Handspring
Visors available at similar cost, almost everyone can afford to
carry one now.
What to Look for in a PDA
There is a dizzying array of PDA models with various features,
so deciding which one you buy can be a confusing process. Since
a PDA is really just a small, hand-held computer, your buying
decision should be based on some of the same considerations you
make when purchasing a desktop system:
1. RAM 2. Speed 3. Expandability 4. Price
There are two major competing operating systems in the PDA
world. The most popular uses the system developed by Palm -
these include the Handspring Visor, the Sony Clie and of course,
the Palm Pilot. The other major OS is called PocketPC - this is
a Windows-based environment developed by Microsoft to compete
with Palm. It is somewhat easier to exchange information between
PocketPC handhelds and Windows based software - but at a price.
PocketPC requires more system resources - the popular Compaq
iPaq H3650 features a minimum of 32 MB of RAM, which makes these
devices slightly heavier and more expensive than the ones that
run the Palm OS.
The folks at ZDNet have created a guide to help you decide which
PDA models are best for you. While you're there, you can view a
list of the most popular models and user reviews and even shop
online for the best prices:
http://www.zdnet.com/products/stories/reviews/0,4161,2581305,00.h
tml
Using Your New PDA
All PDA models come bundled with the two most important
organizing functions: Address book and Calendar. If you use
Microsoft Outlook on your desktop computer, you can import all
of your current entries with ease via your new handheld's
syncing function.
Creating new entries is also a cinch. You have the option of
tapping an on-screen keyboard with your stylus or "writing" the
text using your device's built-in handwriting function (called
"Graffiti" on Palm based systems). Graffiti takes a little bit
of getting used to, but it's pretty easy to master. Most users
tend to fluctuate between the two entry systems.
There are thousands of third-party software programs that you
can download into your new PDA - many of them are free. My
personal favorite is AvantGo, which allows me to carry the movie
listings from every theater in my local area. These update
automatically whenever I sync my handheld to my desktop.
Each of the major PDA manufacturers carries software links.
You'll also find much to choose from at these sites:
http://www.palmgear.com http://www.handango.com/
http://www.pilotzone.com/ http://www.zdnet.com/downloads/
http://www.memoware.com/
Bear in mind that you are limited by the amount of RAM included
in your device. If you find yourself running out, you should
look into adding a new memory module.
Technology writer Mark Kellner offers the following advice on
getting along with your new PDA:
1. Synchronize and backup at least once per day. 2. Watch your
batteries. The more inexpensive models tend to use AAA-sized
batteries - make sure you have a steady supply. 3. Protect your
device with a case. Chances are, your new PDA came with a
catalog of third party vendors offering a wide variety of
products. Check them out. 4. Get a screen protector. These are
thin sheets of plastic that use static to adhere to the screen.
I received my new Handspring Visor as a Christmas gift and I
love it. Because it fits right into my handbag without adding
much weight, it is as constant a companion as my wallet and
cellular phone. I'm trying out some expense tracking and vehicle
expense software, as well as a diet and exercise log and feel
good about my prospects of meeting this year's resolutions...
I'll let you know in a couple of months!