If you are thinking about buying a PDA or are ready to upgrade, you need to decide whether you want a handheld PDA or a smartphone. Both have advantages and disadvantages that you need to think about before making a purchase.
The largest advantage of a smartphone is that you only have one device to bring with you. Trying to juggle a cell phone plus another device can get cumbersome. Most of the PDA functionality plus a cell phone is housed in one place.
Along with having less to carry, you will also only have to purchase one set of accessories and software. As these extras can add up in cost quickly, having only one device can be a cost-savings.
Yet another plus of the all-in-one device is that internet access is available without needing a cell phone or modem. Otherwise, you would need a separate cell phone for tethering for internet access.
Another benefit is that your contacts and other information is all stored in one spot. As cell phones and handheld PDAs can both store contact information, often users have some info store on one device and some on the other.
Handhelds usually offer more functionality than smartphones, although this can vary among the various models. In general, screen sizes are larger, so if you are reading ebooks or spreadsheets, this feature may be critical to you if you do not want to have to scroll frequently.
They usually offer more storage space, sometimes considerably more. Many smartphones now can be expanded with expansion cards, but the storage capacity can have a bearing on how quickly the device responds. Some programs will also not run off of expansion cards.
A handheld often has better technical specifications such as faster processors and better screen displays. If you have kids or let others use your phone for calls, you may not want to give your device that has all of your valuable information to them to make calls for fear of damage or loss of your valuable information.
The decision of which device to get is really dependent on how you use it. A power user may still want a handheld PDA to eek out as much performance as possible. Some may like the convenience of only one device. Are you ready to buy? Visit smartphone and PDA Deals to find your new device!
