How to Use Storage Space Wisely on a Palm PDA

A Palm handheld device or PDA is more than a simple organizer. Depending on the model, a Palm can offer a wide variety of functions, from checking email to playing games and media files. The drawback is that a Palm has limited storage space and cannot handle as many files and applications as a desktop computer. A Palm user must therefore make wise use of the limited storage. Follow these steps to learn how to use storage space wisely on a Palm PDA.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Palm PDA

Storage Space 101

1. First you want to determine how much free space is available on your PDA. Bring up the "Home" screen by tapping on the house icon with the stylus. Then tap on the clock icon. From the menu that appears, select “Delete.” This will open a screen with a meter that indicates the amount of free space in your device.

2. View the Delete screen. The Delete screen will show a list of items in storage and the amount of memory they use. To free up memory, select an item from the list and tap on the “Delete” button. Select files that you don’t need or can do without.

3. Make use of a file compression utility. If you have little-used programs and files that you do not wish to delete, you can compress them to a fraction of their original size, so they will take up less storage space when not in use.

4. Avoid installing programs you do not need. Even if you uninstall them later, they may still leave some files in your device.

5. Look into third-party applications that allow you to optimize and manage storage space. These include programs that remove unnecessary bitmaps and programs that dispose of useless files and databases left over from uninstalling applications.

6. Purchase a memory card. If your Palm PDA can use a memory expansion card, get one. A memory card will not only allow you to store more files, but can be used to backup your important data. It is more convenient to do backup and restore functions on your Palm with a memory card than with a computer.

Tips & Warnings

• Some third-party Palm applications offer a variety of functions. You may find it more efficient to have a single versatile program suite rather than to have separate utilities for file compression and cleaning.
• Aside from memory cards, there are various Palm accessories that offer extra file storage and backup functions through the sync attachment. This is another option to consider.
• Some third-party applications may have compatibility issues with your Palm model. Study reviews and user comments on any application before you decide to install it.