What are they?
Remember Star Trek (the original), when Yeoman Rand or some other mini-skirted beauty was always handing Captain Kirk an electronic stenopad to sign? Fast forward to the 90’s, and hey—still no transporter beams, but we’ve got your electronic pad. Personal Digital Assistant is a very fancy name for an electronic organizer. They’re available in very simple formats—essentially digital datebooks—or the much more sophisticated handheld PCs.
Why do I need one?
For singers on the go, a hand-held PC can be a great substitute for the bulkier, pricier laptop. Most PDAs can be tucked into a pocket. You can jot notes on the run and feed them into your desktop without having to re-type information. Many also offer e-mail features, so you can stay in touch while on the road, though the external modems add bulk and cost.
The PalmPilot
There are many PDA’s out there. One best-seller, the PalmPilot, produced by 3Com, is available in four models—The PalmPilot Professional ($199); the PalmIII ($299); PalmIIIx ($369); and the newly-released PalmV ($449).
* Features include address and date books, to-do list, memo pad, expense tracker, and calculator.
* It’s easy to update and rearrange information with the drag-and-drop feature.
* Enter information directly into the PalmPilot using a stylus. To do this, you must learn a special alphabet called Graffiti; however, users report that it’s easily learned. There’s also a stick-on guide for quick referrals. In addition, the machine has an on-screen keyboard.
* You can transfer information to and from your desktop quickly and easily.
* An e-mail function permits you to read, write, delete, and organize messages. If you want to send and receive them, you’ll need additional software and an external modem ($129) or a cable ($20) that attaches to a standard external serial modem.
* For those of you who like specs: the Palm Pilot is a 3×5 unit weighing 5.7 ounces. It consists of a backlit LCD, 6 navigational keys, writing pad, and stylus. It uses two triple A batteries. Its 1MB memory is sufficient for up to 4,000 addresses, 2,400 appointments, 750 to-do items, and 750 emails.
Information on the PalmPilot is available online at http://www.3com.com, or from US Robotics Corporation, at 1(800)881-7256. And you can check out reviews and detailed specifications for both products at http://computers.yahoo.com/computers/review/.
