Using Older Technology in Today's World

In today’s mobile world, the focus is on the latest Smartphones and the ability to access the Mobile Web. Smartphone are mobile phones that can also function as a small, hand-held device complete with its own operating system. They are a fully-functioning mini portable computer. Smartphones use phone or data service to access the Internet. Smartphones have more evolved from PDAs than cell-phones

Before smartphones, there were PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants). A PDA is a small portable hand-held device that is also essentially a miniature fully-functioning computer; however a PDA can only access the Internet via WiFi, WWAN (Wireless Wide Area Networks), LAN (Land Area Network), or use phone jacks for dial up. A PDA allows users to sync to their pcs and carry their contacts and email with them while not having to carry a large laptop with them.

As PDAs have given way to smartphones, there really hasn’t been much development for older units. Sidekicks, BlackBerrys, iPhone, iTouch, MyLO’s, and others have left users of the Sony Clié, HP Jornada, Compaq iPaq, Dell AXIM, and Palm Pilots to tuck away their investments or trade them in for newer models. Cost for new and improved devices may play an issue, but die-hard PDA users can still find units on the Internet on sites such as Amazon, eBay, or similar sites. For users who are still using older PDAs or are just getting into using one, there are still a few sites left on the ‘Net that are still offering support and programs. The user may have to dig deep to find programs that will run on older PDAs and often can use updated versions quite easily, but it is good to know that programs are still available online, you just have to find them.

While smartphones use wireless phone and data plans, older PDAs do not have this functionality built into them. Some PDAs have built-in WiFi and or Bluetooth connectivity, while others require either a wireless card or compact flash WAN or LAN card. There are also PDAs which have phone jacks for dial up or can connect to a cell-phone which acts as a modem.

Palm and Windows Mobile and Windows CE are still the operating system for older PDAs, but now there is also Symbian, Android, and BlackBerry as well as other proprietary OS for newer devices. Unfortunately, the older PDA browsers may not support platforms such as Java and Flash, but luckily, many common-used sites offers a mobile browser-specific text version of their website that is easily accessed by newer and older devices. With the growing need to be fast and text-oriented, Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, and countless other sites realize just how invaluable their sites are to mobile users and want everyone to be able to access their sites no matter what device, old or new, is used. Most PDAs will also require a mobile browser installed as well. NetFront, Pocket Internet Explorer, and Opera Mini are still available for download

PDAs can not only be used for browsing the WWW, they can also be used for sending and receiving email, as well as keeping track of all of your appointments, even play games! For those who are text messaging addicts, you can also send and receive SMS (Short Messaging Service) which is text messaging. Many advanced PDAs also have built-in cameras for both flash and short movies as well as built-in voice recorders. Users can also bring along e-books as many PDAs have e-reader software installed. If you like to listen to music, a PDA can also play your favorite MP3 files and may even play movies. More expensive and later edition PDAs also have phone capability and GPS included.Touch screens were pretty much standard on PDAs, but a stylus was needed as images on the screen are often too small to touch using your fingertip. Since the release of the iPhone, smartphones are just now starting to heavily adopt touch-screen technology.

There are still many accessories available for PDAs including replacement batteries, charging and syncing cables and downloadable programs. Replacement parts are a bit harder to find depending on the model PDA, but there are still many websites that will have what the user is looking for, some even specialize in older PDAs.

So dust off your old, not-so-outdated PDA and give it new life. Learn to re-use it and start surfing the ‘Net again.