This document compares and contrasts three personal digital assistant (PDA) models: the Palm IIIxe, Handspring Visor Deluxe, and Casio Cassiopeia EM-500. It discusses the price range and basic features of PDAs in general, then examines the screen size, resolution, battery type, operating system, and other specifications of each specific model. It concludes that the Palm IIIxe is the best overall choice due to its low cost, light weight, and high screen resolution compared to the other options.

1. By: James M. Breeden

2. What’s A PDA Determine the Price on PDAs Comparison of Three Types of PDA’s Palm IIIxe Palm Continued The Handspring Visor Deluxe Visor Continued The Casio Cassiopeia EM-500 Cassiopeia Continued Cassiopeia Continued Conclusion Sources

3. designed to be battery-operated organizers generally contains: a calendar address book memo pad calculator use a pen-like stylus to enter data include handwriting recognition software have onscreen keyboards have buttons that control Power Scrolling Other functions can interface with PCs and other PDAs

4. LOW PRICE HIGH PRICE Lowest retail price is about $250 PDAs at this price are very basic Very low memory Not many features Highest retail price about $500 PDAs at this price are highly advanced High in memory Has many features

6. classic palm-sized PDA is a top-seller AAA alkaline batteries 3.4-inch diagonal monochrome screen 4-bit resolution 16 shades of gray wide 3.2 inches thick 4.7 inches weighs 4 ounces

7. OS operating system quick start-ups compatibility with variety of e-mail programs software applications

9. is a Palm clone Comes with choice of five case colors a close competitor with the Palm in sales AAA alkaline batteries. LCD screen is the smallest (3.25-inch diagonal) 2-bit resolution four shades of gray 4.8 inches 3 inches thick weighs 5.4 ounces.

10. OS operating system quick start-ups compatibility with variety of e-mail programs software applications.

12. comes in a variety of case colors internal rechargeable battery costs twice as much as the Palm and Visor, have same retail price. Its 3.9-inch diagonal screen brightest of all the models best display quality of the models tested the only color display among the three.

13. is bigger and heavier than the other two 3.125 inches wide is the thickest PDA tested (5.1 inches) the heaviest, weighing 8 ounces Windows CE operating system like its desktop counterpart is slow to start its format is difficult to use on a PDA's smaller screen

14. limited to synchronizing with Microsoft Office and Microsoft Outlook only

15. The Palm is inexpensive weighs less than the other two has better monochrome resolution than the Visor uses OS operating system It is the best overall choice of the three PDAs

16. Sources include "The Palm in Your Hand." Consumer Reports (June 2000), 28-31; "Personal Digital Assistants: How to Buy." What's the Best PDA.com. 2000. wysiwyg:/22/http://www.whatsthebest-pda.com/PDA_tutor2.shtml (31 January 2001); Comparison of Palm IIIxe, Handspring Visor Deluxe (Blue), and Casio Cassiopeia EM-500 (Slate Blue)." Amazon.com. 2001. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/handle-generic-form/102-8809447-9212906 (31 January 2001).