When you purchase a PDA, you will find that there are PDA pros and cons. First, PDA pros make the product a beneficial technology. Conversely, PDA cons can exhibit a downside to their use. Let's examine the PDA pros and cons so that you can successfully determine if buying a PDA is a wise decision for you.

First, among the PDA pros is the fact that PDAs are so small; they are easy to carry anywhere. PDAs are easy to slip into a purse or even a pocket, and some are as easy as carrying a lightweight book. Thus, the portability is a great benefit derived from the use of PDAs. Conversely, the smallness of a PDA can also be a con. For instance, if one has a repetitive motion injury or if an individual has difficulty with their fine motor skills they may find that using a PDA is difficult, if not impossible. Thus, when purchasing a PDA, it is a good idea to keep these PDA pros and cons in the back of your mind.

Next, and closely related to the size of PDAs, is the idea that the text on PDAs is very small. Thus, if you do a lot of reading on your PDA-eye fatigue can be an immediate issue. PDAs are great for quick notes and organizing data, but ultimately if you plan on using it as much as a laptop or a desktop computer, you might be far better off purchasing the latter. With laptops and desktops there is easier visibility and if you need portability, you can still derive this benefit from using a laptop. Again, when purchasing a PDA, keep these PDA pros and cons in mind at all times.

Another of the cons associated with PDAs is the fact that not all software that is found on PDAs is compatible and there is even a lower level of software integration possible. This is partially due to the fact that there is limited software available for PDAs. Although this fact is rapidly changing, currently the compatibility of various software applications still comes into question when using PDAs.

Further, when purchasing a PDA, individuals may find a con in the fact that a PDA, because it is so small, has limited memory. Of course, this issue with PDAs is easily remedied by the purchase of additional memory; however, the idea that additional memory has to be purchased can seem like a nuisance. Therefore, if you need more memory, you may benefit from purchasing a laptop over a PDA device.

Ultimately, a PDA device is limited and if a user is willing to work with a PDA's limitations, then they will find wonderful assets in the features afforded to them through the use of PDAs. PDAs can put information at the fingertips of a user and ultimately, help them get organized. Yet, one must consider the limitations of a PDA, when they decide to purchase one and then weight the limitations against the benefits.