Choosing a PDA Platform/Operating System

• The following table is a summary of an article from CNet comparing eight different characteristics of the Palm OS 5 and Windows Mobile operating systems. Although the CNet article makes Palm OS 5 out to be the clear winner, don't take this to meant that PocketPC isn't worth your time. For more detail, read the CNet article. 
• While not mentioned here, there are also Linux and Symbian devices, but they represent a small portion of the market.

PDA Operating Systems
Palm OS 5  Used by Palm (aka PalmPilot or PalmOne), Handspring, and Sony. CNet declared it the overall winner for: Ease of Use - easy user interface and icons appear on startup. Syncing - Palm-based machines sync easily with any computer, and are easily compatible with Macs. VersaMail - easy to use email client compatible with many email programs. Add-On Apps - there are over 20,000 third-party programs written for Palm OS 5 - which is a lot more than there are for the Windows platform. You should especially consider a Palm device if: You use a Mac - syncing will be easier. You use a program other than Outlook for your email and organizing. Palm OS 5 Manufacturers Palm  Handspring  Sony  Garmin	Windows PocketPC  Used by HP, NEC, Dell, and Toshiba. CNet declared it the winner in the following categories: Entering Data - CNet found the three different programs used for translating handwriting to text to be very useful (compared to only one program in Palm OS 5). Multimedia - the Windows system was superior for a long time at playing media; although Palm has caught up, not all Palm machines have the capability. On the other hand, all Pocket PCs can play media with ease. You should especially consider a Windows machine if: Your handwriting makes it difficult for you to enter information with a stylus. You want to use your PDA for a lot of multimedia purposes. You exclusively use Microsoft Outlook as an organizer. Windows Pocket PC Manufacturers HP  ASUS  Toshiba  Dell  Motorola

Everyone's A Winner

• Palm and Windows tied in two categories:
• For their basic functions (address book, date book, to do list, etc.) both systems came up about even.
• Each has a few advantages and disadvantages, but on the whole they came out as a tie.      
• There was no clear winner in the category of "ease of using Office files," either.
• In this situation, it was more a result of neither being especially good.
• So, with no clear winner, it doesn't matter much which you choose in regards to this feature.      

• The most important thing to consider is which platform will work best with your computer OS, the applications you use most, and how easy it is to connect it to your other digital devices.