Technology Should I get one now or wait?

[prettymd05]

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I went to electronic stores this week and I liked the Palm TX. I wish that Dell had a store so that I can compare it to the its x51v but oh well. So, should I get a pda now (before I start med school in aug) or should i wait till i am in school. I heard that new pdas come out around oct/nov but i wasnt sure if that is the case with the palm. any thoughts anyone?

 

[PeterGriffin]

I went to electronic stores this week and I liked the Palm TX. I wish that Dell had a store so that I can compare it to the its x51v but oh well. So, should I get a pda now (before I start med school in aug) or should i wait till i am in school. I heard that new pdas come out around oct/nov but i wasnt sure if that is the case with the palm. any thoughts anyone?

I would wait. I suppose it depends on where you are going, but I'm getting ready to start my 3rd year and have just started looking at PDAs. Just think of how much more advanced they will be in 2 years.

 

[bulldog]

if u need pda now,, get one. if you don't, then wait. honestly, u don't need the most recent pda. get the z22...for like $80. it's all that 90% of people need. bluetooth on pda's are worthless to me. only useful thing is wi-fi, and that's for checking emails while sitting in the back of conference. but to get wi-fi, u'll have to pay premium like for a $300 pda. if u're getting pda, i'd suggest getting a palm treo pda/phone combo. many classmates who spent $4-500 on axim or expensive palm regret it since they never have it around when they need it. on the other hand, those who have the pda/phone combo will have both available.

 

[deleted87716]

get the z22...for like $80. it's all that 90% of people need.

The Palm Zire Z22 only has 32MB of memory and no expansion card slot. The lack of expansion capability severely limits its utility for anyone in medicine. The entry-level Palm OS device for medical users is the Tungsten E2 ($199).

 

[Adcadet]

If you start doing clinical work in years 1-2 it might make sense to get one then. I know we did a fair amount of clinical experiences in year 2 for which I found my PDA useful. And I loved my Tungsten C's wifi while sitting in class. I also think a decent drug reference can be useful in years 1-2. And if you need a good organizer, Palms and PPCs do a nice job for many people.

Right now I recommend Palms for most people (I have both). I think an expansion card is a must. For entry level and basic stuff, I think the E2 does a good job. The E2 is $200 new, and $160 open box at Overstock. If you need a keyboard, Wifi, and a good processor, a Tungsten C is good. If you don't want a keyboard in favor of more screen real estate, a TX is nice. If you think you need a phone/PDA combo (I've avoided them due to concerns about getting yelled at by attendings who think I've got a phone on even though I've turned the phone part off) a Treo 650 is nice. I love my new Dell Axim x51v, but so far I think a Palm will suit most basic medical needs better - simpler, more free software, better battery life (I think), and it seems quicker to do things on it. On the other hand, if you want a PDA that can stream MP3s over Wifi, display the current weather on your Today screen, play 3D games, and run some medical programs all at the same time, then PPCs are great.