PDAs - For BeginnersInforMediaLRTS

Plamen Miltenoffpmiltenoff@stcloudstate.eduAvailable at: http://web.stcloudstate.edu/pmiltenoff/pda/pdaclass.pps

Whos Using a PDA?What kind?How long have you had it?What do you use it for?Would you get the same thing again?

PlanIntroducing the Technology

Basic functions & features

Getting more advanced: software

Where to find out more

I. Introducing the TechnologyWhat are these things anyway?More than an organizerAlmost a computer

Operating Systems: underneath it allPalmOS vs Windows (PocketPC)

Brands & modelsHandspring, Sony, Palm, Compaq

Palm Brand (PalmOS)

Other PalmOS Devices:

PocketPCs:

Alternative: Sub-Notebook

Shopping for a PDAFirst, select a platform

Things to considerColor: adds to cost, weight

Memory: minimum 8MB for PalmOS

Expandability / accessories

Batteries AAA adds to weight, cost

Wireless access: how expensive?

AccessoriesCasesKeyboardsModemsDigital camerasMobility (car power kits, etc.)Multimedia: GPS, Voice recordersMemory cards

II. Basic Functions: PalmAddress BookDatebook (calendar)Memo padNote pad (new Palm)ExpenseMailSystem utilitiesCalculator Basic Applications: On Computer: Desktop Version

Connecting the PDACradle to connect to computer Sync software copies newest information both waysInfrared for between-PDA beaming (some printers support IR)Wireless-equipped models can connect to Internet away from a computer

DemoMain ScreenAddress BookDate BookMemo PadNote PadTo-Do ListSystem Utilities

Mail on the PDANon-wireless: need to be able to move e-mail to PDAMay need an outside program depending on how you get your e-mail.Get e-mail at SyncRead, compose replies off-linePost replies at SyncWireless: e-mail can be live

PalmOS: Main Screen

Address Book

Date Book

To-Do List

System Utilities

Entering Data into a PDAWrite on screen: graffitiUse keyboard widgetEnter data in desktop software, Sync to transfer to PDAUse optional keyboardBeam to/from another PDA

PocketPC

PocketPC: Office Apps

PocketPC: E-Books

III. Getting More AdvancedExtend your PDA with softwareLiterally hundreds of programs available via download sites on the WebTUCOWSHandangoMemoware: documents & booksMany cost money, usually not much

Software CategoriesMost importantSecurity, especially for clinical usersDocument readers for .DOC, .PDB filesUseful utilitiesSecond calendar for your personal lifeReference contentFun stuff: good for first triesGames, doodlers, maps, restaurant guidesThink about: anti-virus software

Installing Software for PalmOSDownload (uncompress if needed)Is it a PROGRAM or a DATA FILE?Many programs: .PRCUse desktop software to mark files for installationSoftware is installed at next Sync Or: Transfer software directly via beam

The Net on a PDAMost PDAs are not well-suited to Web browsingSmall screensMediocre connectivity to InternetPocketPC has advantage over PalmOS

PocketPC: Web

Web on PDA: Palm OptionsPDAs with wireless modems: live, but use Web clipping to reformat contentMiddleman services: grab content, deliver it at SyncOur pick: AvantGoRegister with your computerSelect channels or create your ownRead updated content on PDA

AvantGo

Educational PDA AppsPalm OS mValTeacherPetLesson PlannerPocketPCSpareBrains!Student: arrange students dataCoordinators Scope: coordinates teachers schedule

Where to Get More Info

Vendors, magazines, newspapersColleagues and friendsElectronics, office supply storesWireless cards: Computer Store

Plamen Miltenoff Information Specialist / Librarian 204-J James W. Miller Center Learning Resources and Technology Services 720 Fourth Avenue South St. Cloud, MN 56301-4498 320-308-3072 pmiltenoff@stcloudstate.edu http://web.stcloudstate.edu/pmiltenoff/faculty/ Available at http://web.stcloudstate.edu/pmiltenoff/pda/pdaclass.pps

Before we start, lets go around the table and do some show & tell. If you have a PDA, please say what kind it is, how long youve had it, and what kinds of things you use it for. Are you happy with it or do you wish you had gotten something else?

Introduce myself had this IIIxe for just over a year, won it at a conference! I use it for my calendar, taking minutes, keeping track of to-do items. I also use it for personal stuff: videos I want to rent, reading news on the bus, shopping lists. Mary Linn?

Heres what todays session will coverTalk about the technology for those of you who dont already have a device or who are considering changingWhat PDAs DO and well be focusing on Palm type PDAs simply because thats what weve got access to today.

PDAs are sort of hybrid devices. Most people use them as organizers and they function very well as such. But they are also capable of handling more complex programs. You may have seen news stories about the 20th anniversary of the PC last week the PDAs you can buy today have more computing power than early PCs in terms of speed and the amount of data that can be stored.

Just like a computer, PDAs have operating systems. Just as with computers, there are two main competing operating systems. In this case Palm and Microsoft. Microsoft does not dominate this market yet.

There is a huge array of devices available, and you can refer to the handout. Prices on this sheet are manufacturers list prices, so you can expect to find better deals by shopping online or at discount stores.Here are some examples. This is the latest device from the Palm company. Color, tiny. In this picture, its sitting in its cradle the black thing at the bottom of the image.These are some models from Handspring, a competitor to Palm. Their devices use the Palm operating system and the layout is quite similar the same arrangement of buttons.This is one of the PocketPC devices, again, in its cradle. You can see that the screen is more graphically sophisticated colors, more computer-like text. Heres another cutie the Sony picturebook. Its got a 12GB hard disk, WindowsME, 2.2 lb. $1900.So. ShoppingOk. So lets take a look at what PDAs DO, and for our demo, were looking at Palm-based PDAs. PocketPCs have some similarities and also some differences.

There are a number of programs that come with the PDA: an address book, a date book calendar, a memo pad for writing documents, a quick note pad for short notes, a to-do list, a calculator, and some utilities for setting preferences, the clock, security, etc. Theres also a desktop version of all these main applications that lives on your computer and has the most recent copy of all your data.

Cradle: plugs into serial or USBIR: also for printingThis is the desktop version of the Palm software were looking at the datebook, with my appointments for one day, along with my to-do list. You can set this up in different ways. From here, you can easily move items like memos into word processing software on your computer, or print out memos or your address book.Now lets look at these applications on the Palm itself.Heres the main screen these icons represent different programs you double click with the stylus to activate them. You can categorize your programs in different ways. Heres the address book. You can store hundreds of phone numbers and addresses in here, and again, you can categorize them so that you can view your personal address book, office contacts, vendors you deal with, etc. You can enter your own address and mark it as your business card which you can beam to other PDA users. This is the date book. There are different views day, week, month, today. You can set meetings to repeat and add notes to meetings. One problem with the Date Book is that you CANT categorize things. The To-Do list is really great. You can categorize items and prioritize them, set due dates, add notes, etc. When you check off an item it disappears from view, but you can archive these completed items in the desktop version, and look at them later. These are a couple of examples of utilities - So how do you get data into your PDA?PocketPC claims to recognize your own writingSome of our picks:Gail: Vindigo, Jenny: additional calendar