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LCD Display
PDAs have some type of LCD display screen. Unlike the LCD
screens for desktop or laptop computers, which are used
solely as output devices, PDAs use their screens for
output and input. The LCD screens of PDAs are smaller than
laptop screens, but vary in size. Hand-held computers
generally have larger screens than palm-sized computers.
Input
Device
PDAs vary in how the mode of inputting data and commands.
Hand-held computers typically use a miniature keyboard in
combination with a touch screen. Palm-sized computers use
a stylus and touch screen exclusively in
combination with a handwriting recognition program
.Eventually, most PDAs will incorporate voice
recognition technology, where one speaks into a
built-in microphone while software converts voice waves
into data.
Input/Output
Devices
Because PDAs are designed to work in tandem with a desktop
or laptop, they need to work with the same information in
both places. If an appointment is made on the desktop
computer, it needs to be transferred to the PDA; likewise
if a phone number is noted on the PDA, it should be
uploaded to ones PC. Everything on the PDA has to be saved
to a desktop computer in case the batteries go dead in the
PDA. So, any PDA must be able to communicate with a PC.
The communication between PDA and PC is referred to as data
synchronization or syncing. This is typically
done through a serial or USB port on the PDA.
Manufacturers
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Sony
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Palm
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Compaq
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Handspring
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HP
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Microsoft
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Casio
Sony
Clié Palm OS PDAs
Sony is
making some of the most innovative and feature-rich Palm
OS PDAs.
Current
Models
Announced
Oct.1st, 2003, this is Sony's latest entry level PDA. It
runs Palm OS 5.2.1 on a 200 MHz processor with 16 megs
of RAM and has a high res color display. It targets
business users and doesn't offer advanced multimedia
features. Est. $199 US.
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