Common handheld portable digital devices | Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)

Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)  These devices use a special pen, rather than a keyboard and can be used for storing and retrieving information. Like most computer devices, many can connect to the Internet. They are extremely compact. PDAs have many built‐in features such as a calculator, a clock and a calendar. Many allow you to send and receive emails and even browse the web.

PDAs can also be used for accessing the Internet, sending and receiving e‐mails, video recording, typewriting and word processing, use as an address book, making and writing on spreadsheets, scanning bar codes, playing computer games, recording survey responses, and Global Positioning System (GPS).

Newer PDAs also have both colour screens and audio capabilities, enabling them to be used as mobile phones (smartphones), web browsers, or portable media players. Many PDAs can access the Internet, intranets or extranets via Wi‐Fi, or Wireless Wide‐Area Networks (WWANs). Many PDAs employ touch screen technology.

Capacity: Much smaller storage capacity compared to a PC.
Speed: Much less than a PC unless you pay a lot extra.
Costs: In relative terms expensive when compared to a PC.
Typical Users: Mostly business users.