The Paper vs. PDA Review

Read this PDA review to see if you are ready to make the switch to a PDA. We will compare PDAs with paper planners to get an idea of the benefits and the challenges of both. I will also share my favorite software for PDAs to truly organize your life!

My personal experience

I could be accused of showing Public Display of Affection (PDA) with my Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). I won’t leave home without it and I use it all the time! It is more than a glorified address book for me. I have word documents, shopping lists, tasks, appointments, check book, pictures, and games etc.

However, I realize a PDA is not for everyone. I created this PDA review to help compare a PDA with paper planners to know which one is right for you.

Compare PDA vs. Paper

PDA Review —Benefits

Saves paper. I no longer need to buy refills.
Provides two back-ups (PDA and Desktop Computer). I say TWO back-ups because if something happens to your desktop computer, you have the info on your PDA that can be synced later on. If something happens to your PDA, you have the information on your desktop. Granted, this assumes you are syncing your PDA with your desktop on a regular basis ...preferably daily.
Allows for alarms to remind you of appointments and tasks. You can set alarms for days or minutes before the activity. This works wonders for birthdays and for having preparation time before meetings.
Easily expands with programs. For example: Pocket Quicken, Franklin Covey, Word, and Excel.
Incredibly portable. It can easily slip into your pocket.
Password Protection. You can assign passwords to protect specific addresses, appointments, and more. You can also assign a password to even use your PDA.
It looks clean and organized. I love this feature. I can delete or move items without the mess of pencil or pen marks. You can also set up the To-Do's so you only see what is left to do, not the entire list.
Talks to your phone. If you have bluetooth on your phone and PDA, you can actually send a phone number to dial on your phone from your PDA. How cool is that?
Search feature. Can't remember where you put the note on recycling options? That is okay, because you can just write recycle in your PDA and it will find everything in tasks, calendar, documents, notes, address book, etc. with recycle. It is really easy to find what you are looking for!
Stays the same size. No matter how much information you pack in the PDA, it will never get unmanageable in size. Note: This does not give permission to ignore the importance of decluttering your PDA on a regular basis. (wink!)
Possible Access to eMail. I don't use this feature because, frankly, I don't want to be that "connected." But for people who's job requires it or who can't leave home without their eMail, this can be a handy feature.

PDA Review —Disadvantages

Requires a level of comfort with computers. This can be a deal breaker for a PDA. If you don't like working with computers, I would highly suggest getting a paper planner. If you enjoy working with computers and have a knack at problem solving or have a willingness to learn about computers, then a PDA is for you.
Potentially expensive--ranges from $199 to $400.
Something new to learn. Although they are so much better than the original models, it still requires some getting used to. Taking a class on using a PDA is really helpful because you get to learn some tricks and ways to use the software better. You can also read about tips and tricks from the Palm website for your particular PDA under Owner Resources. Just know there are resources available to help with the learning process.
Used best with access to a desktop computer for full benefits. The PDA is really the "on the go" version of your life. The desktop software really has more benefits and can often times be easier to maneuver and enter data.
Requires time to practice and feel comfortable with writing on the screen. Again, the newer models can recognize your handwriting better than before. When I got my first PDA several years ago, I had to learn almost a new alphabet! Now, you don't.
Small Screen. The small screen makes it difficult to see a week or a month at a glance with detailed appointments. But remember, you have your desktop that can provide those views in a snap!
It needs charged. The batteries last longer, but it can also make you forget to charge them as often. At least that has happened to me. I have even left for a trip without the charger and had to buy one at the airport. At least I have one that goes in my suitcase from now on. You can get in the habit of charging it like your cell phone.
Human error still exists. It is important to trust your PDA, but please understand it is also possible to overlook the pm/am selection, or even enter the appointment on the wrong day. Unfortunately, I am talking from personal experience. The PDA is just a tool and it is up to us to make it work like we need it to.

Paper Planner—Benefits

Easy to jot down ideas, appointments, tasks. We already know how to write on paper. :-) We just have to make sure we can find it when we need it.
Easy to personalize paper available for your personality and interests. Franklin Covey does a really good job with this from binders, to weekly/daily layouts, to a variety of colors and styles of paper.
Smaller monetary investment. This can also go the other way, depending on the binder and refills you decide on. You may be looking anywhere from $50-$200 for the initial investment and then $20-$50 year on refills. So, if you like the $20 planner, you can use this for 10 years for the same cost as a PDA. If you like the more expensive selection, there may not be much price difference compared to a PDA.
It's Tactile. Some people love having paper to touch, read, and write on.
Easy to add other paper. If you get the binder, you can easily add paper for agendas, directions, notes, event flyers, etc. This feature also allows you to truly customize your own forms and add them to your planner. Beware you may need to purchase an specific whole puncher to make this work.

Paper Planner—Disadvantages

Requires new refills each year.
Requires extra storage space for past and future months/years on your book shelf.
No backup. What happens if you lose your planner or if it is stolen? YIKES! That is all I have to say!
Have to manually add repeated tasks and appointments. With a PDA, you can set up birthdays to automatically be added for each year. Or if you have a monthly meeting. With a paper planner you HAVE to enter it each time.
Bulky and apt to be stuffed with unneeded items. I have also seen planners busting at the seams. Doesn't sound like much fun to carry. When it gets like this, people are less likely to take it with them to important meetings because it is so heavy and unruly.

Potentially messy if a lot of changes are made. Our lives change and so do our plans. It is unrealistic to think that just because you write it in pen, means it will happen that way. Pencil is the key for planners!
Starts on a predetermined date. Most of the planners start in January. If you decided in March you wanted to start with a paper planner, you would have to recycle the previous months and then be prepared to buy your refills sooner than a year. In some cases you may find a blank planner, but then you would have to enter all the dates yourself.
Choosing a layout and brand. All planners are not created equal! Read Ingredients of a Good Monthly Planner to help you figure out the best paper planner for you.

Share your OWN PDA review with us!

Do you have a benefit or disadvantage you want to add to the PDA review? Please share them with us so we can spread the word! This will help people find the right solution for them. Share your PDA Review here.

The PDA debate--another PDA review resources

Palm or Pocket PC ? I have only used the Palm Operating System (POS) and I am glad I did. When I decided to switch to Apple Computers, it was a nice transition. I would of had to buy a new PDA with the switch if it were a Pocket PC. Palm vs. Pocket PC is another PDA review on this specific topic.

Click here to see the PDA review in a comparison chart.

PDA review for the smartphone

I haven't had a PDA phone since they first came out. I had one for a bit and really loved it until my ear piece no longer worked. It quickly became annoying having the PDA held to my ear and to bring it down anytime I needed to check a date during our conversation. And then a major challenge happened...we moved to a place that did not provide that service!

So, here is my opinion about the PDA phone. I am not sure I would get one for me, especially since we move around a lot. I also don't like the buttons on the outside. The only two benefits I can see is that you are carrying one tool instead of two and you have access to all the phone numbers in your address book. But remember, I mentioned you can do that with a PDA with bluetooth anyway.

Ask for your own PDA review from friends, family or co-workers who use a smartphone. Ask what they like and don't like about it. See how many of them use a bluetooth earpiece. I bet a majority if not all of them do. Consider this an added expense for going this route. They range from $40 to over $100 depending on what you get.

The Apple iPhone is really cool, and I would almost consider getting that phone, but it really doesn't have the function of a PDA. I was really disappointed in this, since I am such an Apple fan.

PDA Review: Amazing software to organize your life

The following are programs I use on my PDA which help organize my life. The software requires an additional cost, but most offer a free trial to see if you like it before you buy. Take time to read the specific PDA reviews for each software to learn more.

Pocket Quicken I enter receipts into Pocket Quicken while I am waiting before meetings, or just enjoying a nice hot drink. I also have immediate access to my account information so I know how much we have in each one. Works best if you use Quicken on your desktop. $40

SplashShopper I use SplashShopper to keep track of books I want to read, movies I want to watch, articles I want to write, gift ideas for specific people, and my grocery list. $30 | Offers 30 Day Free Trial

SplashID I finally decided to get this because I became tired of all the passwords, login IDs, bank account information, and pins being in separate places. And this is password protected! $30 | Offers 30 Day Free Trial

If you are interested in either SplashShopper and/or SplashID, you may want to look at the special on SplashWallet. You get 4 programs: SplashID, SplashShopper, SplashMoney, and SplashPhoto for $60.

I also recommend checking out the Palm website. They offer oodles of programs ranging from work/life balance, eBooks, fitness, education, games, business, etc. Check them out.