As college freshman year nears, I gotta start thinking about the little things I should bring. Organization is definately a big thing if success is wanted, and I was wondering about purchasing a PDA. If you have MS Outlook on a laptop, does that pretty much make a PDA pointless? I was thinking about getting a Zire 31 since it's kinda cheap, but with smart phones being the next trend...I don't think that spending $120 on a PDA and then buying a smart phone in the near future is a bright idea (I'm guessing 2 years). Thoughts?
I use Outlook heavily at work. Meetings, tasks, contacts, emails, even soccer matches. I have a Dell Axim that I've had for a couple of years. Worked like a charm. I'd sync it with Outlook a couple of times a day so I could keep track of things away from work and home. Then, I just got sick and tired of lugging the little thing around. It seemed to take over my life. Granted, I had music and games on it and it was fun to use when in an airport terminal, but I just became bored with it. I just need a wallet, watch, keys, and a cell phone. Nothing more. Just in case I need my schedule while away from the office, I always print (front and back on one sheet) the next two months of my calendar in an easy-to-read format. I can also check my Outlook from any PC. I'd save my money.
Man how things have changed since I went to college from '91 to '96. In the latter years of my illustrious collegiate career I used a DayRunner and Post-Its and it worked fine for balancing my social life, school, and a couple of parttime jobs. A PDA, which I also own and use ALOT instead of my DayRunner (which is used as backup), is just a snazzier version of a DayRunner. Don't get me wrong...I love my PDA, but my life would still be as organized if I used my DayRunner exclusively. I guess you need to ask yourself is how busy do you think you'll be in college? If you need a $300 PDA just to organize your class schedule and what time you are eating at the cafeteria....your priorities may be ********ed. When I was in school...we usually got a free organizer when we bought our books at the bookstore. Usually this was only a 12 month organizer with enough space in each day to fill out the important stuff with some room in the back for short notes and contact info. That's all you really need if you are a college student. Now if you are a CEO of a major international corporation and have endless meetings throughout the week...then maybe one of those powerful PDAs might be useful to you than chicken scratches on a $20 organizer. In conclusion I would suggest just using a cheapo DayRunner type of organizer. If you have spare $ (after buying books, clothes, dorm room crap, etc.) then maybe get a PDA. They are definately fun to have and pack alot into such a small package. Mine can be used as a MP3 player but I just haven't figured out how to do that yet.
Thanks guys. FearM9, I'm thinking the along the same line as you. The Zire 31 is like...entry level ($79 at some stores). Spending $300 for college is definately a joke. I just heard about Outlook and I think that is a much better idea. From what I understand, Outlook basically has everything you would get from a PDA? I've only looked at the Express version, so I'm not too sure. Also, with all of the Bluetooth technology and what not, I think the non-Bluetooth PDAs are gonna be out dated anyways.
But how much are you gonna lug around your laptop? Granted the laptops of NOW are lighter and more powerful than my several years old Dell, but still...they do take up space in your backpack or messenger bag or whatever you are gonna use on campus. The reason I like having a PDA or DayRunner is that they easily fit into a small pack or bag much more so than a laptop. Even though I graduated in 1996, I'm still on the campus of my alma mater cuz I have an alumni membership to our gym and still go to a number of sporting events held on campus. I'm amazed at the number of laptops being used by students. Those were a rarity when I was in school. I guess if you are lugging around your laptop the majority of the time, it's probably best to use Outlook instead of a PDA or DayRunner. But I still would argue that having either of those is much more convenient in everyday life than using your laptop as your primary organizer. A PDA or DayRunner is much easier to use than waiting for your laptop to power up and then having to bring up Outlook. With a PDA or DayRunner all you do is turn it on or open it up and voila you're ready to get organized.
Yeah, it is easier to have a PDA/DayRunner. I think my use will be more of a "Hey, what do I gotta do today?" type of person I just need something to remind me of specials dates or important things to do. I'm sure I'm just going end up looking at it at the morning and be done with it (unless more info needs to be inputted). I have tried to use DayRunners in the past throughout high school, but to me, they were pointless. I ended up memorizing everything I needed to do that day, week, or month. Because of that, I'm sure it'll be the same thing with a PDA. I've never used Outlook and from what was said here so far, I think it's a perfect tool since it kinda does everything a PDA does in a sense. So far, everyone has been telling me how much as strict schedule is important. I don't want to spend $300 an a tool I'm not going to really use when I can use something cheaper. But yeah, from what I understand, college today isn't anywhere near what it was 10 years ago. Today, in some classrooms, they have outlets for each student to plug their laptops! A lot of professors are doing more online work (tests, notes, etc.).Personally, I just love that kinda stuff. Schools will be so much fun in 10 years.
PDA cell phone like blackberry might be useful. all of our executive class use it for receiving email, scheduling meeting, and making/receiving phone call. it syncs wirelessly just fine with domino/exchange servers. you don't need to do the manual sync at all. you just use your laptop/desktop as usual and it syncs all by itself. calling plans are a bit more expensive than the regular cell phone though.
I had a used Palm for the last few years of college, and it *was* useful, especially since I was juggling school, senior projects, undergrad student gov't, job interviews, etc. I easily did without in the first half of my college education. Ditto for my cell phone - I didn't have it early in college, but near the end when I was away from my home for well in excess of 12 hours a day, it became very handy. Now, I don't use my PDA at all, and I only have a cell phone because my wife worries I'm going to end up in a ditch on my 10 minute drive to work (she's a worrier). PDAs are small and easier to lug than a laptop, especially as an engineering major. There were times I would have loved a laptop, especially the new tablet-style ones with mature handwriting recognition for note-taking, but I never would have had space for it in my way-overloaded backpack. Plus, I had regular access to powerful computer labs, so I could check email etc etc. You *could* set up some kind of web-based organizer for yourself, and just access it from computer labs on campus if that is convenient. Don't have to spend on a PDA, don't have to lug a laptop.