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Welcome back. This is Part 2 of a 10 part series on Choosing a PDA. Here’s a list of the top 10 things you should consider when choosing a PDA:

1 - Standalone PDA or all-in-one smartphone?
2 - Wireless connectivity?
3 - Touchscreen or non-touchscreen PDA?
4 - Graffiti or on-screen input or keyboard/keypad input?
5 - Palm, Pocket PC, Blackberry or other similar devices?
6 - Screen resolution
7 - Memory (RAM)
8 - Battery (life and removable or non-removable characteristics)
9 - Processing power (clock speed)
10 - Expandability and accessories

So, we’re now on #2: Wireless connectivity.

This should be a somewhat straightforward choice. Do you or do you not need to connect to another electronic device such as your computer, or another PDA or your cellular phone, wirelessly? If you have a wireless home network set up, this may be something important to consider. If you are currently still on a wired home network or just only have one computer at home, then you may not need wireless capabilities in a PDA.

Wireless connectivity can be broken it down mainly to one of two popular choices: bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi. Infrared is also a wireless communication protocol but it is much less used for transferring data nowadays, except between PDAs since you need to align both the ports of the infrared beaming source and its target directly at each other. If it’s blocked by anything, it won’t work. So, in terms of using infrared as wireless communication, it is very limited and not very reliable. But infrared can still be used effectively when you are dealing with accessories that can work closely with the PDA device, such as an infrared wireless portable keyboard, TV remote controller, etc.

Although both bluetooth and Wi-Fi are popular wireless solutions for data transfer and communications, both are completely different protocols and they don’t work with each other. So, in order to connect via Bluetooth, you need at least two devices that can communicate via bluetooth, such as a bluetooth supported cellular phone with a bluetooth supported computer, or a bluetooth supported PDA. Bluetooth is normally for a short range wireless connection (up to 32 ft/10 m) while Wi-Fi can extend for a bit further from 150 ft/46m indoors to 300 feet/92m outdoors. Of course, the range can vary quite a bit depending on the model and brand but this is to provide you with an idea of the differences.

Even if your computer doesn’t come with bluetooth support, you can easily purchase a USB bluetooth adapter and then use it to transfer data via bluetooth between your computer and other bluetooth supported devices.

Many people have long connected their laptop or PDA to their bluetooth cellular phone so that they can surf the internet via that cellular internet connection. Or just send that important email or even check your email. Wireless connectivity has its advantages.

So, would you need to connect wirelessly? Only you can answer that question. If you are planning to go to school and want to use the PDA for school work, you may want a PDA with wireless connectivity. This may hold true if you buy a PDA that doesn’t have a built-in keyboard and you need to get a wireless keyboard. Then, you may need to consider what wireless capabilities and support the PDA you are looking at supports. Most PDAs will support infrared and some will support bluetooth. If you are looking at an infrared keyboard, you may not need a bluetooth supported PDA. But, if you are also looking at being able to transfer files between your bluetooth supported computer, or, if you are hoping to be able to connect your bluetooth supported cellular phone to your PDA so that you can surf the internet wirelessly, you may want to consider getting a PDA that supports the wireless protocol like bluetooth. And, since the same can apply to a laptop (if it supports bluetooth), having a PDA with bluetooth can add an extra device you can transfer files to and from.

Along similar lines, Wi-Fi is an important wireless protocol to think about as well. If you have a wireless network at home already, choosing a wireless supported PDA will definitely be a wise choice. Again, you have to consider your own personal circumstances and what you current have and if you don’t have it and wish to upgrade, you should also take into account the extra costs of getting the wireless support in your home network and devices.

Wi-Fi is very popular in many parts of the world and a lot of coffee shops like Starbucks, Second Cup and even restaurants like McDondalds offer Wi-Fi. Some offer free wi-fi access if you’re a paying customer while others will allow you to access the network if you have a hotspot account via one of the many cellular carriers that offer them like T-mobile, Rogers, Bell, Telus, Sprint, Cingular, etc. You can pay via credit card on the spot, or have the minutes deducted from your account. This can be very convenient especially you normally aren’t at home, or in the library and still want to be able to access the internet to do work or schoolwork or just check your email or the sport scores.

Although Wi-Fi is great to have, do you really need it? It may be helpful to have a PDA with you to keep you organized, but keep in mind that the screen is quite small for most people to seriously browse the internet on. I have heard so many complaints from people about how silly it is to view a site on a scrunched up screen. Unless you have actually seen what a web page looks like on a PDA, you should really check it out first before putting your hard earned cash for a Wi-Fi supported PDA. You may be quite shocked and disappointed. If you have friends that have a Wi-Fi supported PDA, ask to check it out so that you have a good idea. Or, ask about trying them out at your local computer or electronics store that sells the Wi-Fi supported PDAs.

Again, depending on your current setup at home or school, if you don’t have wireless internet or home network at home, it would cost you a lot of money to get it set up, just so that you can use your Wi-Fi supported PDA. So, take that into consideration. The advantages are there but you should weigh your budget and your current circumstances with your choices.

That’s a wrap on Wireless Connectivity. Continue on with Part 3: Touchscreen or Non?

NEW! Palm Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard for $99!

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