PDA,Myself,used,one,those,peop technology My PDA, Myself

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I used to be one of those people who kept everything intheir head. I prided myself on my ability to memorize phonenumbers and birthdays, and knew my schedule without writinganything in a calendar.Then I became a mom. I am now one of the most forgetful people on the planet. Idon't know if it's due to the fact that I am no longerresponsible for just myself (keeping track of my schedule,my daughter's schedule, the school's schedule, the playdates, the after school lessons and more)... or if I lostbrain cells during pregnancy ... but my short term memory hasturned to mush. These days, I need to write everythingdown... more than ever, now that I have a business of myown.I made but one resolution last year: To do a better job oftracking my family's schedule and recording my businessexpenses. I started out great - I bought a spanking neworganizer with custom pages and pouches for receipts, stampsand business cards. I kept a schedule for me and my family,wrote down all my mileage (a must for tax purposes!) andtracked my biz expenses......for about two months. The book was too big to fit in mybag, it was heavy to carry - and I began leaving it at homemore often than not, which kind of defeated the purpose ofhaving an organizer at all. Then, I lost it and all theinformation it contained.So I bought another one. This time, I decided to go thedeluxe route. I headed to my local Franklin Covey store andpurchased a beautiful butternut leather book and prettyorganizer pages, which included Stephen Covey's system onbecoming more effective. The whole package cost me about$100 - I figured if I invested this much into it, I would beless apt to lose it. I started writing down goals and tracking all of my businesstasks, and was feeling quite on top of things......for about two months. Once again, the biggest obstacle tousing the system was that it was too bulky and heavy tocarry with me everywhere. I looked with envy at friends whohad invested in electronic PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)organizers - small, light-weight devices that sync up withyour 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 theentry-level Palm model retailing at just $99, and HandspringVisors available at similar cost, almost everyone can affordto carry one now.What to Look for in a PDAThere is a dizzying array of PDA models with variousfeatures, so deciding which one you buy can be a confusingprocess. Since a PDA is really just a small, hand-heldcomputer, your buying decision should be based on some ofthe same considerations you make when purchasing a desktopsystem:1. RAM2. Speed3. Expandability4. PriceThere are two major competing operating systems in the PDAworld. The most popular uses the system developed by Palm -these include the Handspring Visor, the Sony Clie and ofcourse, the Palm Pilot. The other major OS is calledPocketPC - this is a Windows-based environment developed byMicrosoft to compete with Palm. It is somewhat easier toexchange information between PocketPC handhelds and Windowsbased software - but at a price. PocketPC requires more system resources - the popular Compaq iPaq H3650 featuresa minimum of 32 MB of RAM, which makes these devices slightlyheavier and more expensive than the ones that run the PalmOS.The folks at ZDNet have created a guide to help you decidewhich PDA models are best for you. While you're there, youcan view a list of the most popular models and user reviewsand even shop online for the best prices: http://www.zdnet.com/products/stories/reviews/0,4161,2581305,00.htmlUsing Your New PDAAll PDA models come bundled with the two most importantorganizing functions: Address book and Calendar. If you useMicrosoft Outlook on your desktop computer, you can importall of your current entries with ease via your newhandheld's syncing function.Creating new entries is also a cinch. You have the option oftapping 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 alittle bit of getting used to, but it's pretty easy tomaster. Most users tend to fluctuate between the two entrysystems.There are thousands of third-party software programs thatyou can download into your new PDA - many of them are free.My personal favorite is AvantGo, which allows me to carrythe movie listings from every theater in my local area.These update automatically whenever I sync my handheld tomy desktop.Each of the major PDA manufacturers carries software links.You'll also find much to choose from at these sites:http://www.palmgear.comhttp://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 RAMincluded 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 adviceon 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 Ilove it. Because it fits right into my handbag withoutadding much weight, it is as constant a companion as mywallet and cellular phone. I'm trying out some expensetracking and vehicle expense software, as well as a diet andexercise log and feel good about my prospects of meetingthis year's resolutions... I'll let you know in a couple ofmonths!