My
Perfect PDA
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T |
here
is no one perfect PDA, no one device that can be all things to all users,
because everybody has their own unique blend of desired features. What would make a perfect device for me would
not be perfect for other users... This
is of course why manufacturers sell a range of devices. Although the article below described my
perfect device, this is constantly changing.
Form Factor
This
is one of the most important aspects of the PDA. It needs to be small and light enough to be
fully portable, otherwise I’m not going to take it with me everywhere I
go. But in addition to the device being
small and light, it also needs to be comfortable to use and ideally with a
reasonably large screen. Something with
a comparatively tough case and plastic screen is useful, similar to the ethos
behind the Palm 1xx range. My preference
is for something without moving parts.
Operating System
I’m
not especially bothered about what flavour the operating is, providing it is
stable and responsive. Because of the
nature of use of the device, it will need some form of multitasking, but I’m
not too bothered about full “proper” multitasking and it absolutely must be stable.
System Performance
As
I’ve detailed above, the operating system needs to be responsive. This links in with the processor, memory and
screen speed of course. The processor
specification may be more tied in with the requirement for communications, Bluetooth, WiFi and GSM / GPRS. I’m not
especially bothered if it has a Motorola Dragonball, Intel X-Scale, or whatever
– providing it does what it needs to do, doesn’t consume vast amounts of power,
nor chuck out huge quantities of heat.
Memory
Whilst
the device needs some form of expansion, there is no substitute for having
plenty of internal memory - although it is a two way pull, because internal
memory draws some current from the battery so having too much is detrimental to
battery longevity. Subject to how
efficient the operating system is, it must have a minimum of 32 Mb, with 64 Mb
or 128 Mb preferable.
Screen
A
colour screen is not particularly important but my preference is for a high
resolution screen – something like 320 by 320.
I would be happy with a greyscale screen - providing the screen is
crisp, responsive and easy to use across the full spectrum of light from bright
summer sun to darkness. I do not mind if
the screen requires use of the backlight or not, subject to battery longevity
of course.
Communications
Here’s
where it starts to get interesting, because I’m wanting a device that can
encompass both my ordinary PDA duties and act as my mobile ‘phone. Thus the device needs to have a built-in
tri-band GSM / GPRS antenna, covering 900, 1800 and 1900
MHz frequencies. It also needs built-in Bluetooth and 802×11g WiFi abilities, and it
needs to be able to use all three communications facilities at once. Infrared connectivity isn’t especially
important.
The
onboard communications suite is important since it will allow the device to be
used as a cell ‘phone. My ideal
communications device will allow me to use the handset in conjunction with a
Bluetooth-enabled wireless headset to make and receive calls, and if needed to
use the GPRS connectivity for email, web site browsing or for communication
with a corporate network. The WiFi
abilities back this up by allowing the device to connect to a high speed
network.
Personal Information Management
The
personal information management suite must be closely integrated with the
communications suite - I need to be able to email, telephone, text or
multimedia text my contacts direct from the contacts database application. Running PalmOS is an advantage here because
of DateBk+.
Multimedia
Displaying
video is neither important nor relevant for me, but the ability to play MP3s is
important. The necessary hardware for
this is of no relevance, and of course when decoding MP3s there is a reasonable
amount of processing power required, so the device must be able to switch off
the screen so as to reduce power consumption.
Expansion
The
unit requires at least one SD / MMC slot.
In Summary: My Benchmark Device
As I alluded right at the start
of this article, there is no one perfect device. What achieves near-perfection may be wide of
the mark for somebody else. But this
said, there are a few devices that went on to become a benchmark as a
comparison for all others.
There are two that I have owned
and used longer term and considered to be my benchmarks, the Palm m515 and Palm Tungsten T2.
Why these two when neither was
“cutting edge” technology when released.
Simply because their use is more than the sum of their parts and a
glance at the technical specification sheets.
The m515 because it has an excellent usable screen, very small form
factor and good battery life. The
Tungsten T2 because it has an even better screen, usefully small form factor
and respectable battery life. Both have
SD / MMC expansion, both are stable in use and both have decent standard
personal information management applications.
I replaced my Tungsten T2 with
the Tungsten T3, an excellent device that failed
in one key area: battery life. The T3
has now been replaced with a Sony Clié SJ33.