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Home | Library Services & Information | Computing | PDA Resources & Information | PDA Recommendations

Choosing a PDA/Mobile Device: the Medical Library's View

• What do you want to do with your mobile device?
• Palm OS versus WindowsMobile OS
• Palm PDAs & Smartphones
• More on PDA/Smartphones
• SD Memory Expansion Cards
• Where to Buy

A few years ago the major consideration was whether to buy a Palm or a PocketPC. There has been a great deal of convergence in the features, price and applications of the competing platforms so that the differences between them today are much less than before (not unlike the relative convergence of Windows and Macs). More recently there are ever more mobile device options: combination PDA/phones, mobile phones with data capabilities such as iPhone, Blackberry and other Web-enabled phones.

Some devices are better at one thing than another. Our particular interest is in recommending devices that will maximize your access to medical resources available through the Medical Library. Here are answers to a few common questions we get:

• I have a Macintosh. How does that impact my choice of a device?
  • You don't want a WindowsMobile device. Palm OS devices are the choice for a PDA. Have you What about the iPhone? We'll address that later. Whatever your choice, you may be able to improve connectivity between your mobile device and your Mac by purchasing Missing Sync software.
• Do I really need one more thing to carry around?
  • That's up to you. If you choose to get a PDA, you may prefer on of the devices that combines one or more of the following: cell phone, PDA, MP3 player, Email device, Web browser and digital camera. The solution that brings all of these things together is a PDA/Smartphone (either Palm or WindowsMobile).
• What are the options for wireless access?
  • Wireless access can mean several different things. WiFi is the fastest option although this requires you to be in range of a WiFi hotspot. YSM and YNHH have WiFi networks but you won't find this at most healthcare facilities. Cellular broadband service is potentially more universal but there several caveats: It is slower than WiFI (MUCH slower, depending on the network), service isn't available everywhere and there is a monthly service fee over and above mobile phone plan charges. You will need to purchase VPN software for both Palm and WindowsMobile devices to access the Medical School's WiFi network. Some devices include both wireless options while other devices (Palms, not notably) offer one or the other.
• What about the iPhone/iPod Touch and the Blackberry?
  • The iPhone is one of the top rated and best-selling smartphones ever. It has a number of great features but its utility as a tool for medical information is limited primarily by the inability to install medical applications onto the device. This may change depending on how much Apple opens the device to 3rd party developers but the capability doesn't exist as of today (March 2008). WiFi and cellular broadband connections on the iPhone provide access to web-based medical applications, a few of which are optimized for the iPhone platform.
  • There are some Blackberry applications although these are fairly limited and most are individual commercial products the user must purchase. Neither VPN nor proxy services are available on the Blackberry the Blackberry offers limited possibilities for remote access to Yale's many Web-based resources.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              >>> For more information, go to Accessing Medical Resources on iPhones and Blackberries

Palm OS vs WindowsMobile OS (aka PocketPC)
Approximately 30% of US Medical Schools now require PDAs for their students. The only Yale program with a PDA requirement is the Physician's Associate program. The Medical Library tries to support the use of these devices specifically as platforms for accessing information resources in support of education and clinical care. Most, though not all, of the software we offer is available for both platforms. You may already have a WindowsMobile deviceor have a reason why you want to purchase one over a Palm. There may be a particular program you wish to use that is only on one platform, the hardware options available on a particular model of PPC might be exactly what you want or you may just prefer the PPC interface.

We generally recommend the Palm OS over WindowsMobile. Our reasons (some objective, some subjective) are:

• All programs we offer run on Palm OS devices and there are more free medical apps for the Palm
• Palm OS will work for those with either Windows and Mac computers
• Palm devices are easier to use, especially for the novice
• Palm devices have typically have longer battery life
• Palms are a bit less expensive; VPN software is much more expensive for PocketPCs
• Library staff and ITS staff are more familiar with Palm interface which translates into better support for Palm devices

The Bottom Line for a Standalone PDA
The best bet for most prospective PDA purchasers who just want a PDA is the T|X. Budget minded purchasers may go for the E2 but, with a discounted price difference of less than $90, the T|X offers much more that the more basic model.

Palm OS PDA--- Palm T|X with a 1GB SD card ..... Price: $$270-$300

- T|X or Palm Treo/Centro users may want to add $30 for the Mergic VPN client (details on the PDA WiFi page)

But don't just take our word for it. Talk to others using the devices, play with them at stores, check out online reviews at places like C|net.

More on PDA/SmartPhones
Palm OS and WindowsMobile combo PDA/Smartphones have become very popular in the last few years. A survey of YSM Class of 2010 taken shortly before their first 3rd year rotations found that nearly half of those who had a PDA owned a PDA/Smartphone. For some, having cellular Internet access is extremely important. For others, a major plus is not having to carry both a mobile phone and a PDA.

Palm OS PDA-Smartphones - The Treo 700p and 755p PDA/Smartphones have received very positive reviews. The CDMA models on the Spring and Verizon networks offer EvDO data service, by far the fastest data network available. The Treo 680 is a Palm OS PDA/Smartphone works on the AT&T and TMobile GSM/GPRS networks. The unlocked 680 has a removable SIM card so this might be a good choice for someone who travels internationally. The newest Palm PDA/Smartphone is the Centro. It has a smaller size and price tag that the other Palms. Models are available for both Sprint and AT&T.

Windows Mobile for PocketPC vs Windows Mobile for Smartphone - Several companies including Palm (Treo 700w and 700wx), HTC and HP make combo PDA/Smartphones running the full WindowsMobile operating system. These are good options if you prefer the PPC platform over the Palm OS. A point of confusion are devices like the Motorola Q, Blackjack and T-Mobile Dash smartphones. They run the "Smartphone" edition of Windows Mobile. These devices will NOT run much the medical applications supplied by the library. Nor do they allow you to edit MS Office documents as you can using Office Mobile on a PocketPC. These devices may be great for what they do but recognize that they do not have the same capabilities as the full WindowsMobile device. The Smartphone edition does not support touchscreens so make sure your WindowsMobile device has the touchscreen capability. That is the easiest way to differentiate between these two variants of the WindowsMobile OS.

Check for Discounts! - Many mobile providers will offer a discount to Yale affiliates. Sometimes the rate is different for students and faculty/staff. Verizon gives a 17% discount on both call plans and data service. Sprint offers a 15% discount to students and a 21% discount to faculty and staff. These amounts can change and you sometimes have to be insistent to get the discount.

The ITS Mobile Technology Website can help to answer some of your questions about specific devices and service plans.

Memory Cards
You will absolutely want to buy an SD memory card, no matter the model or OS of the device you purchase. A 1GB card is a good choice for many users although you may want a larger capacity card if you plan to listen to music or view media on it. Some Palm models including the E2 can not accept cards larger than 1GB. Specifics are in this Palm Knowledge Library discussion on Maximum SD expansion card size for Palm handhelds.

Make sure you get the right type of SD card for your device. Many newer devices use either a mini-SD or micro-SD as opposed to the full-sized SD card. The smaller sizes generally come with an adaptor to accomodate all 3 sizes.

Where to Buy a PDA
Standalone PDAs are available at some office supply superstores and at computer/electronics stores (Staples and Best Buy). You can buy from a variety of online vendors including Amazon, BuyDig and sites specializing in PDAs. Sometimes you can get a special deal when you buy direct from Palm.com (such as a portable keyboard included at no charge). Some students have reported finding good deals on eBay.

You will typically buy a PDA/Smartphones from a mobile service provider but you can purchase unlocked phones from the manufacturers or from other sources. "Yale Eportal" offers discount purchase options on hardware and software at a discount to students, faculty and staff. Some Medical students may be eligible for a discounted AMSA package although the licensed software available at no cost through the library may make the medical applications in this package redundant. The PDA Resources page lists these and other online PDA software and hardware vendors

Optional PDA Accessories
While addons are less common now that Bluetooth, WiFi and cameras are included in many models, you can buy specialized add-ons like external keyboards and GPS units. Here are several optional accessories you might find particularly useful. Particular models and prices are here for purposes of illustration.

Simpletech Memory USB Flashcard Drive - ~$8 (GovConnection Item#  4810609, Part#  STI-USB2BONZA)
       - Make your SD memory card double as a computer USB flash drive.
Palm Wireless Keyboard - ~ $50 (GovConnection Item# 5368234 Part# 3169WW)
       - A foldable, full-sized, compact keyboard for rapid input of information on your PDA.
Protective Case - ~ $20
       - Various styles; hard shell or leather.

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