Input options
Both Palm OS and Pocket PC OS feature text recognition as an input option. Palm OS requires that you write "Graffiti"--a hieroglyphic version of the regular alphabet--which requires time to learn (although Graffiti 2, which promises improved usability, is on the horizon). Pocket PC OS offers more recognition flexibility in that you can input text in (mostly) regular block text and it will be deciphered; additionally, Pocket PC OS offers a tool called "Transcriber," which lets you write anywhere on the screen, in any style, and your writing is converted to text in an application. But to be fair, neither platform offers 100 percent recognition accuracy, and scribbling with a stylus on a miniscule, touch-sensitive screen isn't exactly conducive to productivity.

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Some PDA models--such as Sharp's Linux-based Zaurus--feature Blackberry-type thumbpad keyboards, but these have tiny keys that take some getting used to, and they're not for everyone. Nevertheless, some users will need to do full-fledged data entry or document editing, and this is best accomplished via some kind of external keyboard. Targus' Stowaway models, for example, fit easily into a briefcase or suit pocket, yet are pretty much full-size when unfolded; Pocketop offers a wireless keyboard that connects to a PDA via the infrared port. Using a keyboard with a PDA is a good way to work on the road without having to lug a notebook PC, though it's important to note that third-party keyboards are generally designed for specific devices and aren't interchangeable.

Displays
While PDAs are still available with monochrome displays, most PDAs these days--aside from a few Palm/Handspring models--have color screens. If you merely need PIM functions such as contacts and calendar, PDAs with monochrome displays would be adequate and can certainly help you cut costs. But many users have more complex needs, especially those who read and send e-mail on the go. These users may need to view attachments, images, charts, or graphically rich documents, and such tasks usually require a color display.

Memory
All PDAs ship with a certain amount of built-in memory, usually broken down into flash ROM for the system software and flash RAM for applications and storage. On the low end, some Palm and Handspring devices ship with 8MB total memory, which is adequate for basic PIM functionality; at the other end of the memory spectrum, certain Pocket PC units now ship with 64MB, which is more suited for running resource-hungry mobile apps like Pocket Word and Excel, and provides ample storage space for data. And there are many models in between, with 16MB and 32MB capacities. But how much memory will be enough depends on how many applications you'll need, what kinds of applications you expect to run, and how much data storage you'll require.

Expansion
If 64MB isn't enough memory, most PDAs come with expansion slots (or add-on sleeves that have slots) that can accommodate either compact flash (CF), secure digital (SD), or multimedia memory (MMC) cards--sometimes all three. Storing extra data on these cards can free up internal RAM for applications, and many applications can be installed directly to a memory card. So instead of shelling out big bucks for the latest and greatest 64MB devices, you could pick up a fleet of 32MB models and add extra memory cards as needed.

Extra memory isn't the only expansion option. CF-based devices such as wireless modems are also available. Some PDAs can accommodate PCMCIA cards (usually via an expansion sleeve) or proprietary add-on cards (as with Handspring's Springboard), which makes available a wider range of devices, including network cards, modems (wired or wireless), GPS radios, and other devices.

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