What Is a Palm PDA?
A Palm PDA (or personal digital assistant) is a handheld device that can help you organize media and information as well as browse the Internet. Most Palm PDA models (including the Palm PDA smart phones) require you to use a stylus in order to operate the handheld device, with the exception of the touchscreen smart phones which only require your fingers. All models can sync information to and from your computer, and are powered by one of two operating systems (which differ significantly).
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Basic Palm PDA Handheld Devices
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The basic Palm PDA handheld device allows you to organize your calendar, contacts and music, as well as view office files, images and browse the Internet.
You can also write on the screen itself by using a stylus (which is held just like a pen), which interprets your various strokes as letters or numbers within the handheld device. Writing with a stylus differs slightly than writing on paper, although, according to Palm, Inc, you should be able to easily write on the handheld device after a few minutes of practice.
Palm PDA Smart Phones
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A Palm PDA smart phone is similar to a basic Palm handheld device, although, unlike the latter, a Palm PDA smart phone allows you to edit information through a physical QWERTY keyboard (instead of through a stylus), as well as record video and take pictures on the device.
According to Palm, you can also browse the Internet on your Palm PDA smart phone without having to rely on a WiFi network. Some Palm PDA smart phones also allow you to download files from the Internet, although only specific formats are supported on the device.
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Palm PDA Touchscreen Smart Phones
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A Palm PDA touchscreen smart phone allows you to surf the Internet, organize information and check your e-mail by using your fingers instead of having to rely on a physical QWERTY keyboard or a stylus.
The touch screen on a Palm PDA smart phone also allows you to download hundreds of mobile applications from its App Catalog (or application store), which can range from games to social networks to business software.
Syncing A Palm PDA Device
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Most Palm PDA devices (both smart phones and handheld devices) will only allow you to sync information to and from your computer through a specialized USB cable using either third party software or official software by Palm.
Only the Palm PDA touchscreen smart phones can sync data through your mobile wireless network or through a WiFi network, as well as through your computer.
Operating Systems Of Palm PDAs
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A Palm PDA is powered by one of two operating systems, both which differ significantly from each other. Most Palm PDA devices are powered by PalmOS, which was released to the public in 1996 and includes Palm OS 1.0 to Palm OS Cobalt 6.1, debuting in 2004.
Only the touchscreen Palm PDA smart phone devices are powered by webOS, which Palm released in January 2009. The webOS is the only Palm operating system to feature the App Catalog, released in September 2009.
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