EXECUTIVE PLAYTHINGS
A review of the current generation of PDAs.
By CFO writers

It’s rare these days to find a CFO without a personal digital assistant (PDA) in hand, whatever brand it might be. Minimal memory, lack of expansion support, clunky dials and old-fashioned styling have been replaced by sleek, lightweight designs, clear resolution, longer battery life, fast processors and powerful software features. Indeed, the next generation of handheld computer-mobile phone devices are already breaking hearts and burning holes in CFOs' pockets worldwide, providing a sexy combination of all that PDA users love about a personal organizer with the convenience - and cost - of wireless telephony.

Even for those who have shunned them up until now, PDAs are fast becoming a fact of the finance manager's life. eCFO writers take a look at seven of the most popular units available in Asia.

Blackberry: Messaging in Monochrome

Let's get the technical details of the Blackberry Communicator out of the way: it works. It manages well its headlined function of sending and receiving e-mails, and it triples-up as a phone and a personal organizer.

The device is most closely identified with former US vice-president Al Gore, who reportedly clutched his Blackberry with devotion while on the road. It has overcome that association to become a hit in the executive market, the latest 'must-have' business tool.

It's easy to see the corporate attraction: Blackberry is designed for utility. It gets its data via an 'always on' GPRS network, which transmits at a faster rate than normal mobile phone services. When receiving a message over the device, the user can decide whether to reply by e-mail, phone or SMS, all with the scroll of a wheel.

Users will find this function somewhat revelatory. Many mobile phones have WAP and SMS abilities, which likewise promise e-mail or some text-messaging facsimile. But Blackberry is much easier to use, better equipped to handle e-mail and is so much better at integrating these functions.

Blackberry's difference? A keyboard and a big screen. While SMS experts are able to squeeze text out of a mobile phone's tiny number pad, many of us think it not worth the bother. The Blackberry has a full QWERTY keyboard with space bar and control keys. The larger screen lets users view text in full sentences and paragraphs, which makes for a much more natural reading experience.
While Blackberry's laser focus on utility makes it popular with executives looking for a simple, effective communication tool, its lack of flash threatens to leave it lagging behind the many Microsoft-powered pocket PC devices on the market. Blackberry is monochrome, while pocket PCs dazzle in thousands of colors. Blackberry's WAP-based Internet browser is a dud, while Pocket PCs can scan the Internet as would a desktop machine. Blackberry cannot handle images or attachments, while pocket PCs accept Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint files, along with music and video downloads.

Clearly, the momentum in the consumer market is all pocket PC. Executives may now favor Blackberry's pared down utilitarian approach, but there will come a day when CFOs and their brethren will also want to download attachments, 'talk' smoothly with their desktop PCs, and access a little multimedia flash. JM

Handspring Treo 90: Mental Gymnasticsg

Weighing in at only 113 grams, Handspring's Treo 90 is one of the lightest PDAs on the market. Despite its diminutive size it packs a broad range of organizer functions plus several useful extras - Document to Go software for reading PowerPoint and using Microsoft Word and Excel, for example - that, alas, one has to purchase separately.

But the Treo 90 does come with some useful functions incorporated. CityTime is great for those who conduct telephone conferences with different time zones; tapping the stylus on the different parts of the world shown on the screen shows the local time. The expense function is handy for keeping tabs on expenses in different currencies. The infrared beaming function is essential for e-mail and Internet access, but can also be used for beaming files to another handheld unit; it works best within a five feet radius.

Hotsyncing the Treo with a PC through its USB port is relatively easy. Internet and e-mail set-up is simple, and the unit works with both GPS and GPRS wireless systems. Handspring specially downloads and formats Internet content through its central server to the Treo's Blazer browser but slow download times and the screen's limited size make surfing a time-consuming process. A busy executive, however, would probably use the efficient one-touch e-mail system and Palm SMS text messaging functions often.

Unfortunately, the Treo's color screen is hard to see under bright light. The stylus isn't really necessary but can be convenient for accessing certain functions within applications. The keyboard is not easy to use without dainty digits, and constant switching from stylus to keyboard can be tedious, although with practice no doubt one can accomplish the task efficiently. The keyboard can be locked so there is no anxiety about wasting battery time when the unit jiggles around in pocket or briefcase. The battery lasts for more than four hours and recharging takes 90 minutes. Vital information can be backed up onto a Secure Digital or MultiMedia expansion card in case of battery failure.

Aside from the small screen, minute keyboard and slow Internet download, the biggest hindrance with the Treo 90 is its stylus; the pesky thing slips out of its slot whenever the PDA isn't lying parallel to the ground. But the unit is a value-for-money, color PDA with plenty of useful functions for the
busy CFO. RC

iPAQ H3870: Surf Lifesaver

The iPAQ pocket PC H3870 has a no-nonsense style that's worth raving about. Minimalist in its sleek silver design, it is uncluttered and lacks a keyboard, leaving more room for the color screen, the brightness of which can be set to automatically adjust to its surroundings. The case allows for a non-slip grip, with a see-through cover over the screen that protects it from dust and the fingerprints of envious colleagues.

The iPAQ's special feature is its Bluetooth technology, which uses the GPRS network and allows for file transfer rates of 40 kilobits per second (Kbps). The Bluetooth Manager gets you online relatively painlessly with a Bluetooth mobile phone. Internet web pages generally take less than 10 seconds to load, even from graphics-heavy sites. A regular GPS mobile phone can also be used, but has a shabby transfer rate of 9.6 Kbps. GPRS is an expensive pay-by-file-size system, but turning off the javascript reader to surf text-only will save users from bankruptcy. Linking up a work e-mail account is a hassle, so let the IT department handle it. Once set up, e-mail access is a cinch, much like Microsoft Outlook.

Along with organizational features including contacts, tasks, appointments and notes, the iPAQ comes with Microsoft Pocket Word, Excel, Internet Explorer and MSN Messenger, allowing Windows users to move seamlessly from PC to pocket PC. The iTask feature is especially useful for switching between applications and changing settings, all at the tap of a button. PowerPoint files can be downloaded for viewing but unfortunately can't be hooked up for a screen presentation. Windows Media Player has adjustable bass/treble sound, allowing for hours of digital audio-visual amusement. The iPAQ's voice recorder works best at two feet from the sound source; recordings can be saved permanently in the 5-6 kilobits of iPAQ File Store ROM, and won't be erased if the battery collapses after 10 hours of use. One more interesting feature not included on our test unit but also available is ViaVoice, the voice-recognition program that allows functions to be voiced rather than tapped out with the stylus.

After swallowing the costs of iPAQ's US$649 price tag and a Bluetooth mobile phone, the iPAQ H3870, much like a St Bernard dog, can be a lifesaver. RC

NEC MobilePro P300: Color Burst

For those who can't resist blinking colors, NEC has paid plenty of attention to making the P300 aesthetically pleasing. The silver-cased PDA has a standard-issue display screen that portrays images in up to 65,536 colors but its differentiating factor is the notification LED at the top of the unit. In place of the usual single color, the indicator blinks in a rainbow hue of seven. Users can customize settings so the LED blinks a different color for different functions, such as when an alarm sounds or the battery is running low.

Ease of use is also high on NEC's agenda. Tapping the stylus onscreen calls up a panel that shows in one view the status of resources on the device, such as memory space and battery life (NEC claims the latter is good for 12 hours). The same panel shows the number of e-mails, appointments and tasks the user must contend with. Icons in this panel connect the user straight to the corresponding applications. A program called ActiveSync enables synchronization of information between the MobilePro P300 and a personal computer.

A thumb dial on the left side of the device is designed for single-handed navigation, whether responding to e-mail, working on files downloaded from a desktop PC, listening to audio or just surfing the Web - though lefthanders might find this clumsy, as they'll likely hold the stylus with their dominant hand.

The first device from NEC to incorporate the Pocket PC 2002 operating system, MobilePro P300 is fired by a 206 MHz Intel StrongARM processor and 32MB ROM, with 32MB RAM for storage. Some users may find this capacity light, but at least it comes with two much-needed expansion slots - a CompactFlash (CF) Type II and Secure Digital (SD) card slot - so flash memory cards can be added. To bolster the available RAM, the vendor provides a 32MB SD card on which data files may be stored. And the inclusion of a USB Host Interface (IF) Connector means that if you buy the optional USB Host conversion cable, a USB-compliant device, such as a keyboard, can be attached.

On top of the standard software that ships with the Pocket PC, the P300 comes with handy launcher software, called "My Menu". This enables the user to organize apps into categories and even apply different wallpapers to them - making the device look even more colorful. AL

02 xda: Breath of Fresh Air

Can one device do it all? Perhaps not yet, but 02's xda comes close. Combining a fully-featured handheld computer and a GSM/GPRS mobile phone, the xda attempts - for the most part, successfully - to boost familiar PDA functionality with the "go anywhere" portability of wireless Internet access.

One of the first achievements of the xda's designers is adding a mobile phone without increasing bulk. Weighing just 201 grams, the xda is similar in size to a regular PDA and is compact enough to fit comfortably in the hand when used as a phone. External buttons provide quick access to phone, calendar and contacts. The stylus for writing/pointing slots neatly into the integrated antenna when not in use.

The xda runs Microsoft's new Pocket PC 2002 Phone Edition with great success. As with regular Pocket PCs, there are miniature versions of Word, Excel, Outlook and Internet Explorer. Also included are Windows Media Player 8 for Pocket PC, MSN Messenger and a program for reading e-books. You can sync files, appointments, contacts, tasks and e-mails with your PC in the normal manner.

Where the phone edition of Pocket PC 2002 stands out, though, is in its integration of phone and PDA software. Selecting a name in the contacts list, for example, displays a pull-down menu with options to e-mail, call or send an SMS text message to that person. There is also a powerful call log with an easy-to-read interface and quick-dial facility.

Microsoft's handwriting recognition software - which offers a choice of transcription modes from handwriting to stylized shorthand symbols - makes writing e-mails and SMS text messages, or chatting wirelessly via MSN Messenger, quick and convenient. The system will particularly impress those used to thumb-typing SMS on a mobile phone. Jotting down notes during a call with the speakerphone turned on is easy. Alternatively, the xda can record calls or conversations as digital sound files that can then be replayed or e-mailed to someone else.

For executives on the move, the xda can wirelessly access corporate e-mail and sync remotely with enterprise servers using Microsoft Exchange and Mobile Information Server. Other access options are also possible.

The xda is less impressive when it comes to wireless web browsing. The latest GPRS cellular networks are billed as offering "high-speed" data transfers. In reality, connections of 30-40 kilobits per second are too slow for web pages to load smoothly.

At about US$755-785, the xda is expensive. But buy this, and there's no need to buy a mobile phone. JS

Palm m515: Palm Reading

The Palm m515 promises to organize your life. It keeps you on schedule, allows you to send e-mail wirelessly, "beam" other Palms via an infrared port, calculate figures into the trillions, and write notes in your own handwriting.

Its reflected TFT color screen has an adjustable backlight and is easy on the eyes in most light, as long as it is on the "high" brightness setting (though the unit seems most often to be compared to Sony's CLIE, not reviewed here, where it loses out on screen brightness and resolution). In its defense, it is easy to learn and use, has a 16MB memory for large files, and a lithium ion battery that recharges in minutes every day, with a two hour initial charge.

The m515 is powered by a Motorola Dragonball VZ processor and comes with expansion slots - a plug-in stamp-sized MultiMediaCard and SD expansion cards (sold separately from US$30 for games to US$130 for a Bluetooth card) - to add software, additional memory and backup capabilities. Palm's Universal Connector (also sold separately) allows optional peripherals such as a wireless LAN module or a portable keyboard to be connected.

The Palm basics are easily mastered in about 15 minutes. In fact, the patented Palm operating system is so easy to use that the basics are about all you need to use the m515 effectively. Input data in the usual ways: type what you need in your PC or Mac and hotsync it to the handheld (the hotsync cradle attaches to the computer via a USB port and also serves as the battery charger). Or enter data directly into the handheld via the notepad function in your own handwriting.
For other functions, like the address book or writing e-mail, use either the keyboard or the predetermined Palm graffiti alphabet. This isn't difficult to pick up. But for longer notes or e-mails, the keyboard may prove faster.

The m515 comes with partner software that enables you to download books and magazines, documents from Word, Excel and PowerPoint, carry photos and video clips, and download web content and applications. You can also use a data-enabled mobile phone to connect to the Internet.

Unfortunately, its lack of sound or a wireless modem make its US$399 price tag seem a little high, when compared to the more recent crop of PDAs and pocket PCs, which benefit from additional features such as voice recording and digital audio-visual capabilities. JL

Toshiba e310: A pocket Pocket PC

The Toshiba e310 has a slim 138-gram body that feels almost like a passport and a design so simple it stands out in a window display of mutated handhelds. It is also, in fact, a pocket PC. Until the e310, the Pocket PC was an oxymoron: most devices running the handheld version of Windows were so thick and heavy they would only fit in your pocket if your family name was Tyson.

Now that Toshiba has broken the Palm monopoly in compact design, those considering a switch to Pocket PC may find a compelling reason: the e310 mixes design sensibility with office productivity.

Pocket Word and Excel, though they perform only simple tasks (no charts), run smoothly on the e310. Tap any e-mail address in the contact list, and move smoothly to composing a message via Microsoft Outlook. The task of writing, too, is less of a pain: Transcriber script recognition software is so good it not only accurately reads bad handwriting (trust me), but is also capable of predictive input.

But size and productivity are not the best features of the e310. The resolution of its color display, though not the highest in the industry, will spare myopics from squinting in broad daylight, while its backlight will not glow in your face while taking notes in dark meeting rooms. While processing speed is ample and memory is minimal, performance is stable even when most applications are open (the overly impatient will notice Excel slows down).

The Today feature, which shows pending tasks, appointments and messages in one screen, and the customizable Home button, which keeps tabs of running applications, also come in handy. Sound quality isn't bad through the built-in speaker, and is surprisingly good with earphones. This will please fans of MP3s, audio books, and video clips, which all run on Windows Media.

Lovers of simplicity will find two major glitches with the e310, and they are the two buttons on the left. The jog dial duplicates the functions of the navigation button, and is close enough to the sensitive recording button that setting it off accidentally is a risk. The recording feature also seems to be embedded unnecessarily in every application: let's see you try to ask your clients to record their voices in Contacts.

Those who cannot live without connectivity will also find the e310 lacking, as it has no support for expansion for modem, Ethernet or Wi-Fi. A Bluetooth card to enable these can be bought separately. But for US$399, the Toshiba e310 is real value for money compared with other Pocket PCs, so these shortcomings can be easily forgiven. ADR