Personal Digital Assistant

A PDA can also play mp3's if they are stored in the memory of the PDA. Just like a desktop computer, depending on the amount of memory on your PDA. The PDA has a built in windows media player, that allows mp3 files to be played. You can be doing other tasks on your PDA while the mp3's are playing, however it may slow your PDA down a little. Once again in depends on the amount of memory you have.

Another way to store your mp3's you want to play on your PDA is by the use of a memory card. The memory card slides into the top of your PDA in most cases, and then using your stylus you simply open the storage card folder and it lists the mp3's you have on the memory card. If you have enough memory, this is how you also transfer mp3's to the main memory of the PDA in order to play a specific mp3 at a different time.

You can listen to mp3's through the speakers that are usually found on both sides of the front of your PDA. Different models vary however. There is a place for a headphone set to be plugged into the PDA as well, so you can listen to mp3's without disturbing those around you.

Another feature with the PDA referring to mp3's is the windows media player. When it is showing on the touch screen and you aren't doing anything else with your PDA, it will display the name of the song that is playing. And, with a simple touch of the touch screen with the stylus the mp3 will be paused. Once the touch screen is tapped again, the mp3 will continue.

Your PDA will often times be able to play music in the .wma format as well, if it is set to do this. You have to allow it however, by going to the settings on your PDA and changing it, so it will accept those file types and play them as well as the Mp3's you have on your PDA or memory card. Additionally, you can't simply take a memory card out of a Mp3 player and play it in your PDA. The memory card must be formatted for the PDA specifically and then the MP3's you want added to the memory card, to play in the PDA itself. Usually if an Mp3 will not play or a .wma file doesn't play a format error will come up on your PDA screen letting you know.

Mp3 play lists can be created on the PDA as well. Usually the amount of Mp3's you actually store on the main memory of your PDA depends on other information that might be vital. Otherwise the Mp3's can easily be stored on the memory card and used for later. They do not have to be erased, unless you need the memory card for different use.

Mp3's however have to be in a certain format for them to play on your PDA but this depends on what kind of PDA you own as to the format the Mp3's will play.

Oh my, where does one begin when it comes to the considerable variety of games that can be installed and played on the PDA.  While some people choose learning games, still others like card games or games that are casino style. By putting games on their PDA, they have something to do while waiting for a meeting to begin, or an appointment. Playing games on your PDA does help to pass the time.

Most of the game software sold for PDA's are below twenty five dollars, they are not expensive at all. And in some cases if you have access to the internet you can actually download different types of games and versions for PDA for absolutely no cost to you at all.

The graphics on the PDA are pretty good, and depending on what style or brand of PDA you have will let you know how the game is going to perform. And how well you will be able to see the game screen shots too. Different games, such as card games or other games will play a lot more effectively rather than if you choose to play a game where the display screen is constantly. This of course uses memory and its best if you are playing games that no other programs are running on your PDA at that time.

For example, if you are playing a game and listening to mp3's at the same time your PDA is going to run slower, therefore the game you are playing will run slower as well. With this in mind, all you need to do is one or the other. Then, when you are finished start the program back that you need to or want to.

In most cases if you are adding appointments to your PDA and listening to mp3's your PDA shouldn't actually perform any slower, the main fact is that game programs need memory to perform the way they should. With setting appointments all you are using basically is your virtual keyboard, and this does not take much memory at all.

Also some game programs are bigger than others, so you might want to take this into consideration when installing them on your PDA too, the game you install does use memory space. You have to keep in mind the amount of space your PDA actually has.

Some games that are made specifically for the PDA can be transferred to another PDA by using "beam" or the infrared port. This doesn't always work, however for some of the games that don't use a lot of memory, it will work. This way you and your friend both have the same games. It is also a good way to share games that one or the other may not have but wants to play.

Unfortunately however, you both can't play the same game against each other using the beam technique it is only designed to transfer files from one PDA to the other. In some cases however, among the more expensive PDA's cables are sometimes used.

Although some newer laptops are coming out with reminders, you still have the problem of actually taking it with you wherever you go. The PDA has a program already installed on it when you purchase it called a task manager. As well as appointment book. This allows you to keep up with appointments and tasks that are upcoming.

The PDA can also be set to remind you of certain events that are coming up, that you don't want to forget such as an important meeting right down to a birthday. You can set a reminder tone on the PDA that will go off, and this of course lets you know of the appointment or specific date you wanted to remember. It will also do this if you set it in the morning, for say picking up files from an office at three that afternoon. The PDA will go off thirty minutes before whatever it is you have to do. The PDA can also be set days in advance for an appointment, this way your schedule is always at hand.

The PDA can come in handy if you have several things you have to do in one day as well. You can list everything you need to do for that day either the night before on that morning, then go by what is listed on your PDA and not forget absolutely anything. It is a good way to stay on schedule. Also, I should mention if your schedule changes it is very easy to delete or move an appointment on the PDA. Its just like a computer in the aspect of the way the program for the task manager is set up to function.

The scheduling program allows you to set dates well in advance and will keep track of those dates as they approach. You can also delete things on your schedule once the appointment is done, or if the appointment has been cancelled or changed. You have the option of changing the appointment you have scheduled as well. Most PDA's come with a task manager and sound alarms can go off letting you know of an upcoming task, as well as alerting you of appointments, meetings, even birthdays and anniversaries.

In the fast society now, it seems almost everyone goes by some sort of schedule, and by having a PDA and using it for this purpose, basically eliminates papers and pens that always seem to get lost, then you can't remember where or what time you were to be somewhere. Like going to the doctor, or a staff meeting. With a PDA you can stay on schedule and not be late.

The PDA stores the information on the memory and if it's a birthday or anniversary you are to remember you can actually use the settings so it is a reoccurring event, and select once a year and so forth. The PDA won't let you down in most cases as far as scheduling and things you have to remember to do, unless of course you forget to charge your PDA, if the battery is low, you can't use it very  well.

Some employers of corporate offices are using PDA's  with the use of the Excel Spreadsheet program to keep track of their many employees and their hours. The employers are not only able to keep track of their employees, but their schedules and the time that they have actually put in each week.

The employer can easily put the information in the appropriate area by using the stylus and touch screen, then later like at the end of the week, transfer the information onto a desktop computer where the employee records are kept. Each week a new spreadsheet is created and the records of the employees and the hours they worked are undisputable. This is effective if there is a discrepancy about the employee's actual hours. The documents can be reviewed at any point, either from the desktop computer, or if it is in the middle of the week, through access of the PDA itself.

Many employers who have a lot of employees working for them will do this now. There are even independent contractors who keep these sort of files on a PDA, because different workers work different hourly shifts or different days. It is easier to keep track of them. Some employers also use the PDA for inventory or shipments that are coming or going. The files of the inventory can be saved on  the PDA and also transferred to a main computer at a different location.

There are many uses for a PDA in the business field. And there are many programs designed for the PDA that you can purchase and install to assist you in the business field. Though some of the PDA's come with some programs, you might not have the one you need. You can usually look on the Internet to find out if a program you need can actually be purchased for your PDA. If you can't find a certain program for your business, that will work on your PDA try going to a business where computer software is sold. There are some places that can special order it for you. If it is available for use with your PDA. It may cost a bit more, but you'll then have the program.

Construction site managers often use PDA's now not only for the purpose of employees but also for the amount of progress done to the construction site has been done. For example the day concrete was poured, or wall beams were put in, all this information can be stored and dated on the PDA, and the on site manager of the construction site can then transfer the information to the main computer where it can be viewed by the actual owner of the construction site.

This gives the owner an idea of possibly an ending date, when the building will be finished, or if in certain areas there are more workers that are needed. And in some cases, if there is a shortage of building materials for the construction site. All this can be filed on a PDA and accessed later.

The most recent product out is the smart phone. Although it is almost like a PDA it is in addition in fact a cell phone. However, the standard or basic PDA isn't considered as being as bulky whereas the Smart phone of course is. Also, screens on the standard or basic PDA are larger than those of the smart phone, making it easier to see and navigate through web pages. Not to mention the creation of word documents and spreadsheets.

The standard and basic PDA also allows you to see pictures and videos much better than that of the smart phone.  So, some recommend that if you really don't need the use of the Internet access, the better choice is the standard and basic PDA.  This makes sense given the idea that people who just want the PDA for simple tasks and pictures, perhaps the use of Mp3's and keeping up with appointments, then nothing else is needed really.

True, the smart phone which is a newer type of PDA does have more features, access available to the Internet, it obviously has its draw backs too. Ultimately, this depends on who is buying the PDA and what they intend to use it for.

In comparison however, more people right at the moment would prefer the standard and basic PDA. I think the main reason people ran out to buy the smart phone was because of curiosity, and of course, they were determined to keep up with the times. Having the latest technology and advances that go along with the smart phone.

The smart phone also comes with fees, like when you use the cell phone, or access the Internet and do other things. Sometimes there are even fees for downloading things on the smart phone. But there are those people in the business field that believe they need these additional features to "move up in the business world." If this is the case there is going to be no stopping the person from getting the most advanced PDA on the market.

As for the standard or basic PDA things don't cost you, unless you actually purchase a program and download it to your desktop to add to your PDA. But even then, these programs are considered much cheaper. There are no additional fees obviously, because the standard and basic PDA is not a phone.

That's the biggest reason why people have run out for the newer PDA's because of the phone capabilities however, they didn't stop to think of the charges that would be incurred each month as they use the phone part of the PDA, or perhaps the text messages as well. If a person is not careful this can at the least be very expensive, and the person could probably have gone out and bought a couple standard or basic PDA's for the cost.

While the standard and basic PDA's don't have these capabilities they do however have many of the other capabilities and that's what makes all the difference in the world to some people. This is the real reason for PDA's in the first place.