Handhelds Buying Guide

Software

Added applications elevate your handheld to being more than a glorified organiser. We've already mentioned Documents To Go as a tool for working with spreadsheets and word-processing documents, but there's also Margi's Presenter To Go so that you can give PowerPoint slide shows right from your handheld (it requires a VGA adaptor). FileMaker, among others, offers handheld database software and frequent travellers will appreciate expense-, time-, and mileage-tracking software such as BillQuick Palm and BillQuick CE that tie in with office accounting software.

To stop yourself getting lost while on the road, try loading street and transport maps (alternatively, you can use a Bluetooth GPS receiver add-on to navigate to your destination). And once you've got to where you're going, you may need help with the local language; electronic phrase books such as EasyTalk are ideal for the situation -- although sadly no-one's come up with a Geordie guide yet.

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Expansion cards

You'll find a variety of different expansion slot types in PDAs, including CompactFlash, SDIO and MultiMediaCard. A memory card is a great way to store more applications and files as well as back up RAM data, which can be lost if your battery dies. Other than the price per megabyte, all the form factors are roughly equivalent.

Use an expansion card to add more memory to your PDA or wireless connectivity

Other expansion card options include Wi-Fi networking cards, Bluetooth cards, digital cameras, FM tuners and bar-code scanners. Some handhelds have two expansion slots so that you can simultaneously use a memory card and a wireless networking card. As noted earlier, if your PDA has an SD slot, see if it supports SDIO, a necessary feature when using peripheral devices rather than mere memory cards.

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Cases

Handhelds endure rugged lives as they get tossed from pocket to bag to desk. Some protection is in order, but even pricey PDAs come with decidedly cheap cases. If you know you're hard on your gear, check out metal and rubber cases. For gentler folk, a soft case is all you'll need. And don't forget the most fragile component on your PDA: the screen. Inexpensive plastic overlays are available to protect it from scratches or inadvertent taps with a real pen rather than the stylus.

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Batteries

Frequent travellers will need to have an extra battery for their handheld, provided the handheld has user-replaceable cells. When you miss a connecting flight and have to call all your contacts to alert them of the schedule change, running out of power can induce Incredible Hulk-like rage. Likewise, heavy Wi-Fi users will appreciate the extra juice.

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Chargers

If you don't have an extra cell or if your PDA's batteries aren't user-replaceable, then invest in a travel charger. Most manufacturers supply wall chargers with their devices, but some are too big to ever leave the house. If you spend a lot of time in your car, a car charger may be the best solution for adding juice to your PDA.

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Headphones

Considering the multimedia prowess built into handhelds, it's a shame that so many models come with subpar earbud headphones -- or none at all. The good news is that many handhelds today come with standard stereo jacks so that you can plug in better headphones to really hear what your PDA can produce. Some models, such as the Etymotic ER-6 Isolator, are designed to passively block ambient noise so that all you hear is the music. Still others feature active noise cancellation, a technique that can subdue outside sounds.

Plug in and listen to your favourite tunes with a pair of headphones such as the Etymotic ER-6 Isolators

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Keyboards

If you want to send emails from your PDA or take notes during lectures, adding a keyboard is a good option. There are several types to choose from: plug-in mini keyboards, foldable models or ultracool virtual keyboards. However, if you plan on typing out a lot of emails or notes from your device, a handheld with a built-in keyboard may be better suited to you.

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