A PDA (Personal Digital Assistant, also called a pocket organizer) is a pocket computer composed of a processor, RAM (Random Access Memory), a touch sensitive screen, and network functions bundled in an extremely small compact case.
A PDA is a pocket computer originally designed as an organizer. A personal assistant generally supplies the following standard applications:
Personal assistants offer light versions of office automation tools such as text editors, spreadsheets, a calculator, and viewers for a wide variety of file formats (PDF files, images, etc).
In addition to these basic functions, more and more PDAâ€(TM)s offer advanced multimedia tools for playing videos (in different formats, including DivX format), music (notably in mp3 format) and Flash animation.
PDAâ€(TM)s are also used with increasing frequency for geo-referencing, mapping and road navigation by plugging them into a geo-reference device (GPS, Global Positioning System). In effect, it is possible to obtain a compatible, low cost and high performance GPS that helps with road navigation a using a map that continually displays the userâ€(TM)s location, speed and a visual representation of the road (eventually in 3D) with instructions both on-screen and from a synthesized voice.
PDAâ€(TM)s have operating systems adapted to their screen resolution and whose features correspond to the characteristics of the device.
Many types of operating systems exist for PDAâ€(TM)s, usually different for each type of PDA and each manufacturer, the same as there are Mac and PC computers. The two main operating systems are:
These two systems have almost the same characteristics and the same functions, but with different methods of holding them and with incompatibilities between systems.
Note that there are Linux operating systems that were specifically developed for both types of machines.
When purchasing a PDA, it is important to pay attention to the following characteristics:
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