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Written by Brian J. Rosen
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Mobile Computing: More Than A Phone For Less Than A Laptop
You have needs.
HR professionals looking to move up need fully functioning mobile computers to edit documents and spreadsheets, wirelessly manage email, surf websites, run 3rd party programs like dictionaries and translators, display photos, play music, and read electronic books. Sure, you can buy a laptop for 7,000 Y , but this seems costly and cumbersome for such needs. And your phone can't be used for this..
Phones are just, well, phones..
Lately, mobile phones are trying to emulate computers. However, the phone's form and display size isn't big enough to adequately display graphics and data or accept complex user input. Most critically, phones can't run 3rd party applications , so forget about installing any new programs. Besides, phone manufacturers aren't good at building computers. So when they break, both phone and computer are shut down and all data lost. Many people say they want one device to do everything-make calls and organize their lives. In "I.T Speak", this solution is known as "single point of failure"- one device serving too many uses. Professionals avoid this like the plague and you should, too.
Moreover, you are likely to change your phone often to get something smaller, have dual lines, a different color or style, or a model that will also work in North America . Every time you change your phone, you have to export data into the new one. What a hassle!
Say Hello to PDA!
There is a class of computers called PDA, or Personal Digital Assistant. They barely exist in China presently, but will start making inroads as more people realize that phones are just phones, and laptops are functionally and financially overkill for standard needs. PDA's are one-third the price of a laptop, palm size, have screens large enough to comfortably display docs and photos, accept user input with a stylus or keyboard, and can run thousands of 3rd party programs to organize your life, be more productive, and have more fun.
Making the Case..
The professional solution is simple, keep your phone separate from your mobile computing functionality. You probably carry a bag, where you can put both the phone and the PDA easily. Besides, you will not always need to carry the PDA. For example, you don't need the PDA at the nightclub.
Plus, with the PDA's integrated MP3 player, you don't have to buy that IPod Nano for 1500 Y . Most PDAs have imbedded software that does everything the Nano does. Moreover, PDAs have built in speakers for when you and a friend want to listen to music together. Moreover, PDAs have built-in voice recording software and microphones. IPods cannot match such functionality.
PDAs also integrate nicely with most mobile phones. You can dial your phone and send SMS messages directly from your PDA, using a wireless technology called Bluetooth . To completely spoil yourself, purchase a wireless Bluetooth headset for your phone. Now, click on any name in your address book and the PDA sends a command to your phone to call, and soon your contact's voice is heard on your wireless headset. Another cool feature is that you can associate photos with names in your address book. You've just entered digital nirvana.
Wait, there's more..
Most importantly, your data is automatically backed up- in two places! Yes, when you input into the PDA, your data is stored on a memory card in the device. So, even if the device fatally crashes or dies altogether - your data is safe and transferable to any other computing device in the world. Your data is also stored on the hard drive of your home or office computer. Never worry about data loss again!
Meet the PDA
PDA's come in 2 varieties - Palm and PocketPC. Pocket PC is the most well known because it runs Windows operating system, in a scaled down version. HP and Dell also make PDA's using the Windows system. Palm's PDA is popular in America, because it does not use Windows. Instead, Palm makes both the operating system and the hardware. So it's fast and stable, but has less features and fancy icons than PocketPCs. For the most part, both Palm and PocketPC have very similar functionality and they are in the same product class..
What can I do?
Here are some user scenarios to give you an idea of how and why PDAs can enhance your personal and professional life.
No more Post-Its..
Walk around your office with your PDA while scribbling notes using the NotePad feature. You write directly on the screen in your own handwriting. And you will look so cool doing it!
Docs on the Go.
Import your critical credentials, like your degree and your other accreditations, in MS Word or JPEG format into the PDA to show perspective employers and partners. Also, import PDFs of your company's policies, procedures, and memos for fast on-the-go access. You never have to be tied down to your office computer again!
Music and photos on the Go..
It's not professional (or private) to store your MP3 s and photos on an office computer. You know company policy- your computer is for business related use only. And downloading from the Internet to your office computer is a clear violation of policy and introduces security risks. Be smart, and use the PDA to play your music and store your photos.
Stay connected everywhere. Read Email anywhere.
You are out of the office when an applicant called to tell you she emailed her resume. Or a partner called to ask you to comment on her proposal. Or you want to check out a company's website before walking into a meeting. Now with the PDA, you have a web enabled computer in your hand! There are many free Wi-Fi sites around Shanghai where you can connect on the go. Plus, you can view attachments, such as resumes and spreadsheets. Try doing that with your mobile phone! If you are hopping on a plane or train, you can quickly download your mail into an email program (like MS Outlook), then read it "offline" while traveling.
Explore Software Possibilities
There are literally thousands of programs you can run on a PDA. Programs that: tell you your horoscope, give recipes, display maps, play games, translate every language on Earth, draw and paint, and anything else a laptop can do.
Build Rapport
PDAs can also smooth communication around the office. Say a German manager is coming to visit your office, quickly install a German translation program and take it with you to the meeting. Or download a picture of the Eiffel Tower onto your PDA and show it to your French colleague and watch the conversation flow like wine! Or show your family photos with a slideshow- in landscape view. For those working in American offices, a nifty converter tool that translates Imperial measurements into Metric can be very useful for those baffled by miles and pounds. Of course, this only scratches the surface of what PDAs can do.
What's what..
Although it's close to impossible to find PDAs in Mainland China, there are some local dealers in the large cities. They sell one Pocket PC model made by HP, and two Palm models.
The Palm TX is the deluxe model, with built in Wi-Fi. So you can walk into a Wi-Fi coffee shop, restaurant, or hotel and surf the Web and get your web mail using a mobile browser like Internet Explorer. Moreover, it has an integrated email program similar to Outlook to download your email. Naturally, you can also view all Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and Adobe Acrobat PDFs.
You can purchase the less expensive Tungsten E2 if WiFi doesn't excite you. But for the money difference you would be crazy not to get the TX. Of course, if you buy the Tungsten and later decide you want Wi-Fi, you can always buy an adaptor.
If you to buy a Windows based product, the IPaq RX 1950 is fine - it's fairly similar to the Palm TX with a few minor feature differences.
Professional Recommendation
Having used both Palm and PocketPC products for a long time, I feel comfortable steering you towards Palm. I am partial to Palm because it's so very easy to use and has a huge developer base, writing thousands of titles for the device. Thus, it's perfect for NHR's professional and executive readers. Palm was the original professional PDA, while PocketPC is more for casual users who need more glam. Windows products have always suffered from bloat and frequent crashing, whereas Palm's OS is famous for reliability.
Where to Buy
Hong Kong Plaza on Huai Hai Lu/Huang Pi Nan Lu. Building 282, Floor 2, Booth 206a. See Ms. Yang or email at
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Make Contact.
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