Portable Computing at Hand

By Autumn De Leon

Right now in the U.S., there are roughly 5.5 million people using handheld personal digital assistants (PDAs)--testament to their enormous convenience. For anywhere from $200 to $500, they offer calendars, address books, word processors, Web browsing and more. These aren't high-octane versions of the leading programs, but exchanging files with desktop machines is easy. This year's updates will get you MP3 music on your handheld, and Palm's wireless Net access is just the beginning of what promises to be a huge trend in portable computing. Like everything else in personal technology, there's no single standard for handhelds, with the Palm, Windows CE devices and Psion all going their own ways. You'll have to compare and decide for yourself, but one thing is certain: every generation is quicker, with more software to make PDAs truly personal.

--TIPS: KNOW WHAT YOU NEED

TASKS If you have some specific task, like working with a spreadsheet or planning a trip, compare software for different devices before you buy your pda. Look at mplanet.com for lots of choices.

HIDDEN EXTRAS Some handhelds require that you buy extra cards to increase memory or other functionality. Before you buy, think hard about what you need, check on the price of options and factor in their costs.

--By Autumn De Leon