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American Politics  » My PDA, Myself

My PDA, Myself

I used to be one of those people who kept everything in

their head. I prided myself on my ability to memorize phone

numbers and birthdays, and knew my schedule without writing

anything in a calendar.

Then I became a mom.

I am now one of the most forgetful people on the planet. I

don't know if it's due to the fact that I am no longer

responsible for just myself (keeping track of my schedule,

my daughter's schedule, the school's schedule, the play

dates, the after school lessons and more)... or if I lost

brain cells during pregnancy ... but my short term memory has

turned to mush. These days, I need to write everything

down... more than ever, now that I have a business of my

own.

I made but one resolution last year: To do a better job of

tracking my family's schedule and recording my business

expenses. I started out great - I bought a spanking new

organizer with custom pages and pouches for receipts, stamps

and business cards. I kept a schedule for me and my family,

wrote down all my mileage (a must for tax purposes!) and

tracked my biz expenses...

...for about two months. The book was too big to fit in my

bag, it was heavy to carry - and I began leaving it at home

more often than not, which kind of defeated the purpose of

having an organizer at all. Then, I lost it and all the

information it contained.

So I bought another one. This time, I decided to go the

deluxe route. I headed to my local Franklin Covey store and

purchased a beautiful butternut leather book and pretty

organizer pages, which included Stephen Covey's system on

becoming more effective. The whole package cost me about

$100 - I figured if I invested this much into it, I would be

less apt to lose it.

I started writing down goals and tracking all of my business

tasks, and was feeling quite on top of things...

...for about two months. Once again, the biggest obstacle to

using the system was that it was too bulky and heavy to

carry with me everywhere. I looked with envy at friends who

had invested in electronic PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)

organizers - small, light-weight devices that sync up with

your 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 the

entry-level Palm model retailing at just $99, and Handspring

Visors available at similar cost, almost everyone can afford

to carry one now.

What to Look for in a PDA

There is a dizzying array of PDA models with various

features, so deciding which one you buy can be a confusing

process. Since a PDA is really just a small, hand-held

computer, your buying decision should be based on some of

the same considerations you make when purchasing a desktop

system:

1. RAM

2. Speed

3. Expandability

4. Price

There are two major competing operating systems in the PDA

world. The most popular uses the system developed by Palm -

these include the Handspring Visor, the Sony Clie and of

course, the Palm Pilot. The other major OS is called

PocketPC - this is a Windows-based environment developed by

Microsoft to compete with Palm. It is somewhat easier to

exchange information between PocketPC handhelds and Windows

based software - but at a price. PocketPC requires more

system resources - the popular Compaq iPaq H3650 features

a minimum of 32 MB of RAM, which makes these devices slightly

heavier and more expensive than the ones that run the Palm

OS.

The folks at ZDNet have created a guide to help you decide

which PDA models are best for you. While you're there, you

can view a list of the most popular models and user reviews

and even shop online for the best prices:

http://www.zdnet.com/products/stories/reviews/0,4161,2581305,00.html

Using Your New PDA

All PDA models come bundled with the two most important

organizing functions: Address book and Calendar. If you use

Microsoft Outlook on your desktop computer, you can import

all of your current entries with ease via your new

handheld's syncing function.

Creating new entries is also a cinch. You have the option of

tapping 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 a

little bit of getting used to, but it's pretty easy to

master. Most users tend to fluctuate between the two entry

systems.

There are thousands of third-party software programs that

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you can download into your new PDA - many of them are free.

My personal favorite is AvantGo, which allows me to carry

the movie listings from every theater in my local area.

These update automatically whenever I sync my handheld to

my desktop.

Each of the major PDA manufacturers carries software links.

You'll also find much to choose from at these sites:

http://www.palmgear.com

http://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 RAM

included 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 advice

on 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 I

love it. Because it fits right into my handbag without

adding much weight, it is as constant a companion as my

wallet and cellular phone. I'm trying out some expense

tracking and vehicle expense software, as well as a diet and

exercise log and feel good about my prospects of meeting

this year's resolutions... I'll let you know in a couple of

months!

About the Author

Donna Schwartz Mills writes about the specific needs of

work at home parents at her website, The ParentPreneur Club

"For Parents Who Want Choices, Not Office Politics." The

latest news, tips, and tools you need to help grow your home

based business while raising a family.

< http://www.parentpreneurclub.com >

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