Needing PDA for school--anyone got advice?

[uncballzer]

GOOD MORNING, Club Stogie! Was wondering if any B/SOTL could help me out. I'm probably going to need to pick up a PDA really soon. I know NOTHING about these things and would like to query the board to see if anyone had any advice on what to get or stay away from.

Since I'm peculiar about my electronics, I've got a few specs and questions.
First question--do PDA's get internet? I'm assuming so, this way I'll be able to surf CS from anywhere.
Second, it's going to be used for medical school purposes. I know we've got a few docs on here, so your input would be great here. I'm pretty sure I'll be running epocrates and uptodate.
Also, I'll be using loan money, and since I'm a couple hundred grand in dept already (no thanks to c-bid also), I can't spend an exorbitant amount on it.
I'll be near a best-buy, AT&T store (already use ATT, so no problem there), circuit city (that's about the extent to that; I'm in WV, nothing much here where I'm at).
I suppose I'll be needing a calendar application; hopefully I can use gcalender, but not sure about that.

Is there anything I'm missing that seems pertinent? Any input will be helpful and appreciated.

[TideRoll]

Whether or not PDAs get internet depends on the product and your service. There are still PDAs out there that are not cell phones, though the trend certainly seems to be stronger in the other direction. Internet packages from AT&T seem kind of steep to me (unlimited runs around $30 a month for mine). On the plus side, if you are nearing an upgrade point in your service contract, you might be able to pick up some darned fine units from AT&T; the refurbs can be great deals.

I just picked up a Moto Q Global, and I'm really getting to like it a whole lot. It is in fact a bit of overkill for me; the thing even has built-in GPS for crying out loud. I've had Palm devices in the past that were not also cell phones and liked them, and they do have a pretty robust bit of software (free and commercial) available for them. I seem to recall running across some medical-type applications for the Palm, in fact. The Blackberry is highly thought of and also a bit more mature a product than my Moto Q. NinjaVanish (and I am sure quite a few others here) likes his iPhone, but I don't know if it is quite as PDA-ish as a Blackberry or Palm or similar unit.

There are a few out there that are capable of finding WiFi hotspots and using that for Internet surfing (and some will even call using it) while you are in range instead of your own airtime. That is nifty and something I wish the Moto Q had. Heck it might have anyway without my knowing it: these new phones are a huge step forward from what I am used to.

[yellowgoat]

I've got a Pantech Duo right now,It's small and does most what a PDA can do. It isn't a PDA but you can download apps and PDF's and a number of other thing,has calendar or you can download a number of other calendars.

You would need a micro sd card for more memory. I think it can only handle 2gb memory cards.

[jaharr]

I am a big fan of Palm Treo's, or the newer and smaller Palm Centro. Both are PDA & cell phones, or "smartphones." With Sprint, unlimited data (web) is only $15/month. The phone itself can be had for as little as $50. There are, indeed, medical app's that you can put on the phone itself or on a mini/sd card. (I have a 4gb sd card in my Treo.)

[SUOrangeGuy]

Are you looking at a windows mobile or Palm software?

I had the ATT tilt for a while and was very happy. WIFI, 3G capability, and GPS.

Also had office mobile and pdf reader.

[uncballzer]

Thanks for the advice so far guys! I'll take all I can get right now.

Originally Posted by SUOrangeGuy

Are you looking at a windows mobile or Palm software?

I had the ATT tilt for a while and was very happy. WIFI, 3G capability, and GPS.

Also had office mobile and pdf reader.

What is the difference? Probably, I'm assuming at this point, windows since I know it vaguely.

[Darb85]

I have the Moto Q as well. I love it!

[scoot]

Get a Palm TX. Its a real PDA and not just a phone with some PDA features, and has built-in wifi and a pretty nice browser. The screen is big and beautiful, the GUI is stellar, and the features list is extensive.

http://www.palm.com/us/products/handhelds/tx/

[uncballzer]

Originally Posted by scoot

Get a Palm TX. Its a real PDA and not just a phone with some PDA features, and has built-in wifi and a pretty nice browser. The screen is big and beautiful, the GUI is stellar, and the features list is extensive.

http://www.palm.com/us/products/handhelds/tx/

Ooooo, I like that one

I'll check that out; I'll also look for links to the others above. Keep em coming guys if you got any more suggestions!

[Mtmouse]

I have been using a Dell Axim X51v for a few years. It has wifi and Bluetooth. You can add a SD and a CF card. I use it for everything. I have GPS software and a Bluetooth GPS.

When I'm on the road, I can check emails, surf the net or make Skype calls through hotels wireless network or any 'public' wireless hotspots.

I have a foldup Bluetooth keyboard that I can type Word or Excel documents.

I've converted videos and loaded them on the card to watch on the plane. MP3 player. Load games on it.

There's not much it can't do that a laptop can.

No phone capability, but I like my phone to just be a phone.

Dell doesn't sell them anymore, but you can still find them on eBay or you can go to www.aximsite.com and look in the classifieds.

[BostonBull]

I have been using and LOVING the new HTC Mogul. It is a full touch screen smartphone, with some shortcut buttons if youd like.
I am VERY happy with Sprints new Rev A internet.

[BigDilly]

Typing this from my iPhone.

[JacksonCognac]

My advice would be to get an all in one device with windows mobile and a cell phone built in. I'm on sprint and the attractive thing about sprint is their unlimited internet and email service for $15. The reason why I know about this stuff is because my parents recently got everyone new phones, and we were looking at AT&T and iphones, and the internet package was 40$ a month!

Anyhow the phone I settled on is the HTC Mogul. It has Windows Mobile which allows you to install all sorts of 3rd party programs, comes with a mini version of office (word, excel, and PP I think), has a camera, calendar, GPS... all the stuff you would need / expect from a PDA / Cellphone. I've had it for a month now and it is pretty cool. I say look into it.

[The Professor]

Dude ... I think iPhone might be your best bet. Epocrates for iPhone will be the most advanced version ever. Check it:

http://www.epocrates.com/iphone/compatibility/

Uptodate uses a web interface, so you should be golden.

As for web, calendar, email, etc. ... I think the recent Apple WWDC keynote says it all. Oh ... and games. All for $199 plus the monthly phone/data fees ($30 unlimited data on top of your voice service).

All that said, I'd seriously consider an iPhone. (but I'm an apple whore, so yymv)

[JacksonCognac]

Originally Posted by The Professor

Dude ... I think iPhone might be your best bet. Epocrates for iPhone will be the most advanced version ever. Check it:

http://www.epocrates.com/iphone/compatibility/

Uptodate uses a web interface, so you should be golden.

As for web, calendar, email, etc. ... I think the recent Apple WWDC keynote says it all. Oh ... and games. All for $199 plus the monthly phone/data fees ($30 unlimited data on top of your voice service).

All that said, I'd seriously consider an iPhone. (but I'm an apple whore, so yymv)

If you already have AT&T and can handle the data fee, I tend to agree with the Prof... the new iphone looks pretty excellent. For one person $30 a month isn't so bad (although my dad claims it's closer to 40, YMMV)... but for a family of 4... well... you can see why we have sprint.