I think it would benefit me to get a PDA. I'm going into my clinical year of veterinary school and there are all of these programs, dictionaries, and references that you can download onto a PDA instead of having a kajillion zillion books.

Now I do love books but with all of the moving around that I'll be doing (from where I am now to the school where I'm going to be doing my clinical year to where I'm going to live my life, etc.) the fewer the heavy object, the better.

So I went looking for PDAs at Amazon.com but all I got was confused.

All I know right now is that most of the programs I want don't run on a Blackberry or an iPhone (although I do want an iPhone, too, but I guess that's for a different thread).

So what should I be looking for?

Not sure what software you want to run, but if Apple and bberry are out I think you are left with either a Windows Mobile PC device or a Palm device.

Palm has been sinking fast, but they just hired some engineers from Apple and it may be too early to count them out. I would probably go with a Windows Mobile PDA. Something like this, maybe: http://www.microsoft.com/...fault.mspx

Stax said:

Thanks!

The progams that I want to run can be found on this site: www.anmldr.com

JasmineFire said:

It looks like those run on either Windows Mobile or Palm devices. If you want the most cost effective solution, go with Palm. In fact, if you will eventually lay down the cash to get an iPhone, I would go with Palm.

Stax said:

well, i would like to get an iPhone but it may never happen. Or if it does happen, hopefully there will be more programs that will run on it at that point.

Thanks for the advice, though! It will definitely help with my search.

Get something running Windows Mobile 6.0. What carrier are you using?

I'd go for Palm, personally. I've used and hated Windows PDAs. . .I liked my Palm.

HP makes the best PocketPCs in my opinion. If you're looking for the most available apps for a device, PocketPcs are our choice. I would recommend you get a smartphone that runs Windows Mobile 5 or 6 though. (There is almost no difference between 5 and 6 other than the updated the look and feel on 6--literally). The reason for a smartphone is it eliminates the need to carry a PDA and a phone. I stopped carrying my PDA simply because it was too annoying carrying all that hardware with me.

HeretoRockYorWord's recommendation on palm is also another option. PocketPCs are still too damned buggy IMO. they lock....alot.

However, if I would really eyeball the iPhone. I know this doesn't do you much good, now , but if Apple ever, I mean ever, allows 3rd part vendors to write apps for it, it's my take that there will be a flood of high end apps available for it considering it can run desktop-class applications. No other PDA can do that at this time.

It's my assumption that in 5 years time, these devices will seem laughable compared to what's on the market then.

Imago said:

Yeah, my experience with PocketPCs is that they crash all the damned time. On top of the fact that I hate using Windows anyway. . .I hate 'em. My Palm never locked up.

You bring up a good point. . . methinks Apple will allow 3rd party apps for the iPhone before long.

JF, it might be worth holding off for that for as long as you can to see what happens with that, since you want one anyway.

Combine it with your phone and get an HTC - the Touch is probably the best model:

thanks guys for all of your advice.