Tech Team Newsletter - Volume 4 Issue 6

Tech Team: In the Trenches

June 2006 Volume 4 Issue 6

Table of Contents

PDA 101
By Kai Isaacs

Welcome to PDA 101! For those of you that just received your first Personal Digital Assistant, this will provide you with a better understanding of your new device. For those of you that do not currently have a PDA but are thinking about purchasing one, this will be an informative overview of PDAs and assist you in finding the right one.

What is a PDA?
The acronym, PDA stands for Personal Digital Assistant. PDA’s are also commonly referred to as a “handheld” which is short for a handheld device. A PDA is not a computer; however it can be used for many small tasks and operations typically done on a computer. Just like a computer, additional software or programs can be installed on it This will help to increase its capabilities and functionality, making it a very flexible device. This means that you can add programs to a PDA to support your increasing business needs instead of purchasing a new one.

What can I do with a PDA?
A PDA can handle many tasks typically done on a computer like synchronizing, browsing, organizing and viewing documents.

Synchronization: One of the most common uses for a PDA is accessing e-mail and contact information. If you are currently using Microsoft® Outlook™, your PDA will have the ability to synchronize with your Outlook mailboxes, contact list, calendar, and tasks. You can also send and receive emails directly from your PDA. Even if you are not using Outlook, you can still use your PDA to access your AOL®, Yahoo®, and Gmail® accounts, as well as accounts provided by your internet service provider.
Browsing: A PDA can also be used to browse the internet. The only thing you need is an internet connection. When using a PDA, you may have up to three ways of connecting to the internet: Wi-Fi, wireless or cable. A PDA’s ability to connect to the internet is also known as its “connectivity.” A Wi-Fi connection is the kind you would find in proximity to a wireless router. A wireless is one you would receive from a wireless cell phone provider. And last, a cable connection gives you access to the internet when your PDA is connected to a computer with internet via a USB cable. Once a connection is established you can quickly and easily access online websites. Many MLS’s provide support for PDA’s. This means, depending on your local board, you can access the MLS and even conduct downloads from the MLS directly to your PDA.
Organization: Current PDA’s have the ability to serve as a calendar, planner and alarm clock all rolled into one. The PDA’s ability to synchronize with computers shows their versatility. You just set your schedule in Outlook on your computer, and then synchronize it with your PDA. Changes made in your PDA can be copied to your computer and vice versa.
Documents: PDAs typically support any document format that you use on your computer, such as Word™ files (.doc), Excel™ files (.xls), PowerPoint™ (.ppt) and forms (.pdf).. PDAs make it easy for you to transport documents, or if need be, edit the document on your PDA.

Key starting points for any PDA user are connectivity, storage, display and size. When conducting a web based task, your connectivity will determine when and even if you can use your PDA. If you used your PDA to connect to the internet around your home or office, you would want to have a Wi-Fi connection so that you could connect to a wireless router. Someone who plans to use it when traveling would need a wireless connection to connect to cellular towers. Keep these points in mind when you check the Cool Tools chart to help you select the best device for your needs.