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I remember when PDAs came out one year around Christmas. I thought they were the coolest things ever made. What could be better than a cute little organizer disguised as a computer? I went into to Best Buy and found my way to the PDA section. I looked at one that said, “Try Me” underneath it. I had no idea what I was looking at. I asked a sales person and he sounded similar to a computer himself, listing off all of the billions of features that each one of the small machines contains. I decided that I wasn’t smart enough, popular enough, or disorganized enough to own a PDA…but then they got to be simpler.

While they’re still not simple, press-a-button gadgets, PDAs have come down in complexity and are more manageable to the average person. In fact, many individuals today have purchased PDAs and are happily using them. When you’re in the market for one, though, there are so many choices and features that it’s difficult to know what would be best for you. But basics are basics, and all PDAs have elements such as date books, memo pads, calculators, to-do lists, address books, onscreen keyboards, character recognizers, email, and backlights. Additional software you can purchase lets you play games or music, take pictures, or watch a movie. These are the extras you have to determine whether they really come in handy for you or not.

There are so many choices when it comes to what model of PDA to buy, and because technology is rapidly changing, it would be impossible to rank them; although, there are some important things you should consider when buying a PDA. The most important thing to remember when buying a PDA is that whatever you buy today will be out of date tomorrow. The computer world advances rapidly everyday, and it is impossible to keep up. You need to remember that PDAs are not a personal computer. They need a personal computer to access the Internet and to back-up data. You need to consider what, if any, compatibility issues need to be addressed between your home computer and your PDA. Considering what you will be using your PDA for will help to minimize all of the endless possibilities that you have to choose from. Also, don’t forget to ask other people who own a PDA what kind they have and what their likes and dislikes are regarding their machine. Of course if you operate a small business or home based business you’ll want to keep your special needs in mind.

Personally, I never did return to buy that PDA. I certainly should have and all my friends who have one think I’m way out of touch with reality to not have a neat little organizer tucked away in my pocket. I’ve managed for over thirty years without a gadget and I think I can manage a few more… or maybe I’m just used to living in pleasantly chaotic disorganization.