iPhone Versus BlackBerry Versus Palm Pilot - The Choices
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Let's take a short look at the backgrounds of these three competitors.
The Palm Pilot is probably the device that most people think of as the original PDA. They have been around for quite a while, but don't let the Palm's age fool you into thinking that it will be an easy knockout. Palm Pilots have been keeping up with the times, and in some cases setting the trends for quite a while.
The BlackBerry is a line of phones with mobile capabilities that many people use as a PDA. Its multi-featured approach has made it a favorite in the corporate world, where the phones are marketed as an enterprise solution.
The iPhone is without a doubt the new kid on the block here, but Apple and AT&T, the companies behind this device, have a long an illustrious history in the technology game. So have no doubts; this new kid is no pushover and has some serious support to back it up.
Now that we know how these three products came to be what they are, we can get a look at what I know you really want to see: the hardcore statistics on each and every one of these models, no sparing the details and no holds barred. If you find the paragraphs to be confusing, have no worries; at the end of the individual descriptions I am going to lay it all out for you, in one easy to digest format at the end of this piece, so hold on tight because here we go!
The Palm Pilot
The Palm Pilot has 32 megabytes of memory and will work with a Windows or Macintosh computer for syncing purposes. The good news is that you can add a lot of different features to the Palm Pilot with the expansion cards; the bad news is that you have to pay out for the cards separately, but if you don't plan on doing a lot of work online, this won't be a major factor for you. It does boast an independent calendar and video playback, but in order to get the playback you'll need to get yourself another card.
The BlackBerry
This device is just as much a phone as it is a PDA, so it handles the web well. Its screen is a little bit smaller in pixels than its compatriots, but it offers you a great web experience and something that the other devices on this list just do not offer: the ability to use an instant messenger program to converse with the people in your buddy list in real time. Some users report that watching videos can be a spotty affair on the BlackBerry, so this is a "buyer beware" situation if you plan on using a lot of streaming media.
The iPhone
The iPhone is also designed to be a phone, and a full multimedia center. It does everything web, except letting you use an instant messenger program, and that may or may not be fixed with the addition of an application from the AppStore, which will let the users expand the features of the phone without having to track down cards. Note, however, that it will still cost you to add those features. In addition the iPhone will allow you to sync your calendar and e-mail wirelessly with your computer, whether it be a PC or a Mac, through a feature called Mobile Me. The wireless sync is automatic and will happen without you having to lift a finger.
The only major drawback to the iPhone is that you have no choice but to run on the approved partner network in your area, so if you have a cell phone contract with another provider you may find this to be a costly problem. Its screen is the largest in the group, but as a touch screen it will require you to treat it with kid gloves. The hard drive size will play a factor in your upfront costs.
Next: The Technical Specs >>
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