PDAs and Smartphones – Which is the Better Choice?

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 which you need to consider before you make a purchase.

The biggest advantage of a smartphone is that you only have one device to carry. Juggling a cell phone and another device can be a burden. 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. Since these extras can quickly become costly, only having one device can be more affordable.

Another advantage of the all-in-one device is that that you have internet access directly on the device. Otherwise, you would need a separate cell phone for tethering for internet access.

Yet another plus is that all of your contacts and other information are stored in one location. 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.

Handheld PDAs generally offer more features than smartphones, although this varies among the different models. Screen sizes are generally larger, which is useful if you are reading ebooks or spreadsheets so that you do not have to scroll as frequently.

They also generally offer greater store space, sometimes considerably more. Many smartphones can be expanded with expansion cards, but the storage capacity on the device can affect the response time. Also, some programs will 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. Power users especially may still prefer handhelds so that they can get as much performance as possible. Others may enjoy the convenience of only having one device. Are you ready to buy? Visit smartphone and PDA Deals to find your new device!