What To Look For
Explaining the Components of PDAs
What you should look for in a Palm Pilot/Smarphone:
1. Memory: the more, the better/more expensive. That’s
one thing that will never change. Less expensive Palm Pilots and smart
phones come with 32 MB of memory, which is not enough if you want
to load on the big three programs. Plus, it is also nice to have some
left over because installing and reinstalling programs on a Palm Pilot
is a minor headache. 128 MB of RAM is plenty of room for applications
out today. Some nerdy websites refer to this as ROM memory, not to
be confused with RAM memory, which you can’t store anything
on.
2. Processor Speed: This isn’t an overly relevant
piece of hardware the way it is with a laptop or a desktop. Some people
with the slowest processors (in the 200 MHz range) say that they have
some slowdown when switching between applications or especially on
the internet. Anything above 300 MHz should be very adequate.
3. Expansion Cards: These are used to augment the
ROM memory mentioned in step one. Theoretically you can get a Palm
with less memory and add more with a relatively inexpensive expansion
card, but in practice this is not a good solution. It runs slower
than the ROM memory built into your Palm, and it might make some programs
crash and freeze. This is used more for storing pictures, movies,
and MP3s, so get a card like this if you’re looking to procrastinate.
This isn’t a crucial part of using your Palm day to day, but
if you spring for this, BE SURE THAT YOU GET THE RIGHT KIND OF CARD
FOR YOUR DEVICE. Stand alone Palm Pilots often use SD cards, some
Treos use Mini SD, and a lot of smartphones and the Centro use Micro
SD. Each one of those is a smaller physical card than the previous,
and larger cards simply won’t fit into a smaller slot. You can
use a smaller card in a bigger slot with an adapter.
4. Operating System: Either Palm OS 5 or Windows
Mobile 6 are currently available, and both have their own strengths
and weaknesses. I am currently recommending Palm for most people because
more unique medical programs are available for it, and it is easier
to use. It is also the only way to get a stand alone unit, without
having to get a smartphone. Please check my presentation for more
information if you’re interested.
5. Wifi and Bluetooth: Wifi is handy for getting
on the internet if you have a stand-alone device or if you don’t
have a data plan for your phone, but don’t expect much out of
internet browsing on these things. They’re fine for checking
email, but Palm Pilots sadly aren’t iPhones, and you’ll
be reminded of that as web pages load slowly and get distorted as
your Palm tries to squeeze them onto its small screen. Some programs
offer a better internet experience than Palms browser, like Opera,
but it still isn’t a laptop replacement. Adjust your expectations
accordingly. Treo smartphones don’t offer Wifi, but some more
expensive Windows Mobile ones do. Bluetooth is handy for syncing your
device with your computer wirelessly, but it is painfully slow when
compared to using your USB plug. You can also use Bluetooth to pair
with headphones for wireless music and sending files. If you have
a smartphone, you can use this to pair a headset.
6. Screen Resolution: The higher the screen resolution,
the more information you can see. Older Palm Pilots have very low
resolution, but that’s not the case on the newer E2 and T/x,
which have sharp screens and good resolution. The current Windows
Mobile Treo smartphones have a lower resolution than their Palm OS
counterparts. You should check both models to be sure of your preference.
Note to Smartphone users: Some hospitals won’t look favorably
on the camera included on your phone due to patient confidentiality,
and it may be an issue for use around patients. Some companies offer
models without cameras, which you may want to consider. Check with
the hospital you plan to work in about their policy. You may also
want to get a case that just covers the camera too, avoiding this
problem. Also, if you intend to use your smartphone on a cardiac floor,
you’ll have to turn off your cell phone signal, wifi, and Bluetooth
to prevent interference
Email me at zitelli.2
for input.
