Content area
Full Text
Picks of the Month
No longer glorified personal organizers but computers in their own right, handheld devices hold much potential for schools. Here, four entry-level models that make the grade.
Last month we explored how pioneering schools are integrating handheld computers into the curriculum. What we found is that these devices offer several benefits as educational tools. They're powerful enough to offer real-time data capture and display, with options for notetaking, e-mail, and Web access. They can be used in concert with a wide selection of accessories, including digital cameras and science probes. They're small enough to fit into a child's hand, and lightweight enough to accompany students wherever they go. And they're much less expensive than their desktop or laptop counterparts.
Most handheld computers run on either a Windows-based (Pocket PC) or Palm-based (Palm OS) operating system. Windows-based Pocket PC systems, manufactured by companies such as Compaq and Hewlett-Packard, come with scaled-down versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and Internet Explorer, and offer powerful features such as active matrix color displays that make it easy to see the screen from many angles and in dim lighting conditions. The latest models, bundled with Microsoft Pocket PC 2002 software, cost $500 and up.
While Pocket PCs are certainly worth considering (we will be reviewing Pocket PC devices in future issues, starting with the HP Jornada 565), entry-level Palm-OS based systems are a good choice if you're looking for a basic handheld computer that can support real-time data collection, simple math calculations, and basic productivity tools.
The four "starter" units reviewed here, ranging from $150 to $300, have much in common. All have a 33-MHz processor and 8MB of memory, a sufficient amount to support word processing and spreadsheet applications students might use. In addition, they all have monochrome display screens that users can tap on with a stylus to enter information. Finally, these devices connect easily to a computer via a bundled cable or docking station. What set these models apart, for the most part, are their physical design, battery life, and expandability.
Here, we take a closer look.
Visor Neo and Visor Edge (Handspring)
The Neo and Edge offer many of the features users have come to expect in handheld computers: support...