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More than an organiser: multimedia handhelds

Early PDAs were glorified diaries cum address books, hence the PDA moniker (for Personal Digital Assistant). We've moved on since then, though, and in the modern world of iPods and camera phones, PDAs want to make your life fun. It's not enough that they get you to meetings on time, or enable you to call the right people if you're going to be late; they also have to keep you entertained while you're stuck in planes, trains and traffic jams.

These four PDAs all have built-in cameras. They won't replace your regular digital camera, because they lack all but the most basic camera features, but they're handy for quick snapshots. They can also function as MP3 players, although you'll need to add a largeish memory card and a pair of decent headphones to make the most of this feature. The real beauty of this approach, however, is that you only have to charge and carry one device for work and play.

Editors:

3.5 stars out of 5

Users:

0 out of 5

Not yet rated

Asus MyPal A730

The A730's screen and camera are lovely, but its mediocre performance and lack of Wi-Fi make it hard to justify the price Read more

£325

Reviewed on 29 September 2004

Editors:

4.0 stars out of 5

Users:

0 out of 5

Not yet rated

O2 xda IIi

We like O2's upgraded xda IIi handheld/phone combo as much as we liked the xda II -- which is to say, a lot Read more

£180

Reviewed on 29 April 2005

Editors:

3.5 stars out of 5

Users:

4.15 stars out of 5

HP iPaq rx3715 Mobile Media Companion

While the rx3715's Media Companion functions didn't inspire us, this PDA's features and top-notch performance make it well worth considering Read more

£245

Reviewed on 26 July 2004

Editors:

3.0 stars out of 5

Users:

0 out of 5

Not yet rated

palmOne Zire 72

If you can live without Wi-Fi, the midpriced palmOne Zire 72 is a well-rounded PDA with features suited for both work and play Read more

£170

Reviewed on 28 April 2004

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