Combination PDA and GPS

A GPS is a Global Positioning System which is basically a device which shows your current location on Earth to a high degree of accuracy. These devices are mainly used commercially as high-end maps which offer detailed directions to a plethora of locations in the country. An example of this is the Garmin Nuvi 350. Finding accommodation, food outlets, gas stations, and more is very easy with this device because it contains maps and points of interest.

In every day terms, a PDA is a small handheld pocket computer. Nowadays, PDAs have gained audio capabilities which allow them to be used as mobile phones too - an extremely popular example is the BlackBerry, owned by RIM. This phone has been dominating the PDA market over many years and continues to gain popularity due to celebrities such as Paris Hilton using them.

The addition of GPS to PDAs has made them even more useful and popular. This means that one can find maps and directions on them too. One of the first devices to include GPS is the Garmin iQue300. This device was driven by the Palm OS and contained the Garmin GPS system. A bonus feature in this product was that it could locate contacts stored on the phone through voice activation.

However, the debate rages on as to which is better? Are a GPS and PDA as two separate gadgets a wiser choice or should one opt for a converged device?

There are pros and cons to whichever one you choose. Buying the GPS and the PDA separately will definitely be harder on your wallet than a converged device. Some of the GPS devices can be quite bulky and can be a problem if you need to carry them around with you. In such situations you will be best suited with a GPS PDA phone. The downside of a single device is that you can use only one function at a time. A PDA also have a tiny screen, which could make reading the map quite cumbersome.

All in all, it depends on your needs. If your primary use of the PDA is as a phone and organizer, then two separate devices would be better. If you want to save some money and don't mind a little inconvenience, the combined device would be a better choice.

About the Author

Author - Brady Goddard. At pdas.besttipsonline.com you can get PDA information, as well as information on Blackberry PDAs.