Software Shootout: Battle of the Handhelds

Software Shootout: Battle of the Handhelds Find out whether the Palm or Pocket PC operating system is stronger and faster. By J. Michael Jimmerson Apr/May '02 Issue
Personal digital assistants (PDAs) have been on the computer landscape for a long time. In the beginning, they were not user-friendly. Naturally, many PDAs came and went (anyone remember the Apple Newton?). All that changed however with the introduction of the Palm handheld computer. Suddenly, the masses had a device that was easy to use and inexpensive. As a bonus, the Palm operating system made it easy for software developers to create new applications and suddenly Palm Inc. had a hit on its hands. The Palm handheld (and its half-sibling, the Handspring Visor) dominate the PDA category. According to experts, more than 75 percent of handheld users choose Palm devices. The only other contender in this field is Windows CE devices or Pocket PCs. The major advantage these devices have is the marketing force of Microsoft. Pocket PCs attempted to wrest away Palm’s early lead by offering powerful processors, color screens and tight integration with Microsoft applications.	Program Information Palm Operating System Palm Inc. (800) 881-7256 www.palm.com Pocket PC Ť Microsoft Corp. (800) 426-9400 www.microsoft.com Ť Shootout Winner
Choosing between a Palm device and a Pocket PC often boils down to less about rational choice and more about religious fervor. The two camps in many ways resemble the feud between Wintel PCs and Apple Macintosh computers. One appeals to the masses and the cost-conscious; the other attracts the power user with a hefty pocketbook. Let’s take a look at some of the differences between these two types of devices. Memory & Processor The early Palm devices were limited in terms of their processor and memory. However, that made little difference to users who were using the simple gadgets as personal organizers. When I had a PalmPilot (and later a Palm III), I never once came close to running out of memory, even loading additional applications. Of course, the world continues to change, and the demand for more storage is ever increasing. Whether it’s Microsoft Word documents or MP3 files, you need more memory on your PDA. And Pocket PCs stepped into this void with devices that sport 32MB to 64MB RAM. Also, the newer Pocket PCs come with powerful processors that might just make your antiquated desktop look puny. Battery Life With your trusty Palm, you could go weeks without changing batteries. Again, the device was the perfect tradeoff between convenience and battery life. Also, Palm devices used AAA batteries that were readily available and cheap. Pocket PCs, on the other hand, have limited battery life and must generally be recharged on a daily basis. All of this is a by-product of color screens and wireless access. The newer devices, both Palm and Pocket PCs, are more dependent on battery life. If your battery dies, you lose all your data, so make sure you recharge regularly and sync often. Color Older PDAs were monochrome but users were soon demanding more. Pocket PCs took the early lead in this area, but Palm devices have been catching up. Overall, the nod here has to go to Pocket PCs. Over the last several months, I have been testing a couple of Hewlett-Packard Jornada devices. The latest, the HP Jornada 568, has a screen that is nothing short of stunning. Palm devices (both Palm and Handspring) also come in color, but I have yet to see one that matches those of the Jornada. Weight & Form Factor One of the big advantages of Palm devices early on was their size and weight. Small enough to easily fit into a pocket or purse, they were eminently portable. Early Windows CE devices were just too big and clunky. However, the new Pocket PCs are shrinking and getting lighter. The Jornada 568 is no bigger than my Handspring Visor Deluxe and may weigh just an ounce or so more. But the Jornada is a powerhouse compared to the Handspring. As processors get smaller and memory density grows, you can expect even smaller devices. Handwriting Some would say that what made the Palm such a smash hit was its handwriting recognition software, Graffiti. Because these small devices lack a keyboard, it’s essential to use a pen to input information. Many early PDAs (such as the Apple Newton) were powerful but impossible when it came to handwriting. Palm’s innovation was not to try to learn the user’s handwriting but to have the user adapt to its input characters. Generally, it’s easy to use a Palm device. Once you learn the proper strokes, you can enter practically any character, number or symbol in the ASCII chart. Still, it can be devilish entering certain letters (“v” or “y”) and symbols (“&”). Pocket PCs also use handwriting software. Older models had poor handwriting software and often forced users into a peck and type style using the soft keyboard onscreen. However, the Jornada 568 has excellent handwriting recognition. Although similar to Graffiti, it uses a natural handwriting style to interpret letters, numbers and symbols. After using the Jornada 568 for just a few days, I was able to enter information just as easily as with a Palm. Another interesting feature in newer Pocket PCs is speech recognition. The Jornada 568 includes Mobile Conversay to speech-enable applications. Although both the Palm and Pocket PC devices have good handwriting tools, you should really consider getting a keyboard for your PDA. The Stowaway Portable Keyboard from Think Outside comes in several models. This unique keyboard unfolds into a full-size keyboard that is hardly bigger than your PDA when packed. With one of these keyboards, you can type on your PDA just like a desktop computer. Applications Another reason why Palm has enjoyed such great popularity is that the operating system (OS) is a fertile ground for software developers. You can find hundreds of applications for your Palm ranging from expense trackers to New York subway maps. Web sites such as PalmGear.com and Handago.com are dedicated to Palm software. Most Palm software is either freeware or shareware. You can experiment and play to your hearts content. Pocket PCs also have a wide range of applications but not near that of Palm’s. Also, the software is usually commercial and more expensive. An interesting trend is that software manufacturers are releasing the same program in both the Palm OS and Pocket PC format. This is a great service to users who don’t want to be locked into one environment. In an attempt to lure users from the Palm environment, you can find some great software bundles on a Pocket PC. For example, the Jornada 568 comes with a full complement of Microsoft Pocket applications including Word, Excel, Outlook and Internet Explorer. All of these use Microsoft ActiveSync to replicate to the desktop. The unit also includes other Hewlett-Packard applications. Palm has responded by including software on its newest handheld, the i705, that gives the user the ability to work with Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents as well as a number of other programs for business users. Expansion Until the Handspring Visor, the Palm handheld was not expandable. The Springboard expansion slot changed the way we think about PDAs. Now, the simple personal organizer can double as a digital camera, MP3 player or Global Positioning System (GPS). The Pocket PC also includes the same functionality using CompactFlash or PC cards. If you are planning to buy a PDA, you must get one that has expansion capability. Desktop Integration Although you might have a PDA, chances are you still maintain your calendar, contacts and To-Dos on your desktop or notebook computer. Keeping the two in sync is critical. Palm devices use HotSync Manager to sync with whatever desktop applications you use. A third-party product such as Intellisync from Puma Software provides even greater sync capability. Using Documents To Go from DataViz, Palm users can load Word and Excel documents and work with them on their PDA. The Pocket PC is naturally tailored to integrate tightly with the Microsoft family of products including Outlook. Also, Pocket Word and Pocket Excel make it easy to create, use and edit documents. The Pocket PC also includes offline Web browsing capability using Pocket Internet Explorer. Combined with a color screen, this is a fantastic tool. Palm users also can download Web pages using AvantGo. Because Microsoft is pushing the Pocket PC standard, you can expect these products to push ahead of the Palm market in the future. Palm users will have to rely on third-party products to provide key functionality. Wireless & Web Access It’s no longer enough just to be mobile. Today’s user also wants wireless communication and Web access. Palms and Pocket PCs can get e-mail using a wireless modem. However, these services are slow and expensive. Web access is possible on either device and Web sites are optimizing their pages for the slower speeds of these devices. Also, screen size is limited, and the tiny screen on your PDA is Lilliputian in comparison with your 17-inch desktop monitor. Both platforms provide good functionality, but the Pocket PC might have a slight advantage with the inclusion of MSN Messenger. Instant messaging can become habit forming, and the Pocket PC seeks to leverage that craving. Price The biggest difference between these devices comes down to price. Palm devices start at $150, but color models will cost at least twice as much. You can’t get a Pocket PC for much less than $350, and the better models will cost more than $500. So the choice comes down to convenience and economics. Do you want a personal organizer and nothing more? Go for an inexpensive Palm or Handspring. If you want a powerful mini-PC that can substitute for a notebook or desktop on the road, the Pocket PC is an excellent choice, if you are willing to pay the price. And the Winner Is … For years I have loved Palm devices including the revolutionary Handspring Visor. However, the new generation of Pocket PCs offer features and power that are hard to ignore. I would not hesitate in recommending the HP Jornada 568. This unit is compact, has a beautiful screen and comes with a fantastic software bundle. In fact, you might find yourself carrying a notebook less. And that can’t be a bad thing, can it?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR J. Michael Jimmerson is an attorney, author and legal technologist. He is the vice president of Sales, Legal Markets, with CaseShare Systems and the co-author of “A Survival Guide for Road Warriors,” by the ABA. He can be reached at jimmerson@earthlink.net.