PDA Purchasing Guide
REV: 12.10.08

Which PDA operating system (OS) should I get? Palm?  Windows Mobile 6? And why not the iPhone?
We review the PDA requirement carefully each year. Since its inception, the PDA requirement has been limited to Palm OS (operating system) due to the plethora of medical applications for use by physicians and physicians in training available on the Palm OS units, administrative support issues, and lower cost for the student. 

This year for the first time, we are opening it up to Windows Mobile 5 and 6 OS units listed on the Class of 2011 PDA Requirement page. We did this because the primary applications that we require you to use now work on the Windows Mobile 6 Classic or Professional OS only.  The Standard version of this OS does not meet our requirement.  Surgery Flash Cards, Mini Mental Status and Growth Chart programs currently do not run on any Mobile 6 device.  These programs are useful to many students but not required.

We also investigated the iPhone. Unfortunately, a few of the primary applications that we require you to use are not supported on the iPhone yet.  We are hoping that it will meet the requirements for next year.

Should I get a handheld PDA or a Smartphone (integratedPDA & Phone)?
The integrated Smartphones have been getting high acclaim by students as it is much easier to manage one unit rather then two. There is additional benefit in having everything together on one unit in that you can maintain your contact and calendaring info on both your home computer and the handheld each time you synchronize the handheld. You simply click the phone number from the contact info, and it automatically calls the number. Students who have the Smartphone are more likely to use the required software on the handheld as it is always with them throughout their day.

Weight/Size
Some units are ultra thin weighing as little as 4.7 oz. while others have more features/options and can weigh up to 6.4 oz. Consider how you will carry your PDA - in your white coat pocket or in a case that attaches to your belt? You will want to have the unit with you on the wards.

What is the difference between WiFi and Bluetooth wireless connectivity? Neither WiFi or Bluetooth are required, we often get questions..  Bluetooth is used for Personal Area Network. This technology has a much shorter range than 802.11b and is used solely to connect devices located around the user. For example, you can print from a Bluetooth enabled PDA to a Bluetooth enabled printer, or you can use your PDA contacts to dial out on a Bluetooth enabled cellular phone. It, in most instances, cannot be used to access the internet. A possible exception to this may be through a cell phone. The best way to think about Bluetooth is as a cable replacement among peripherals

WiFi, 802.11b in this case, is a method of accessing an existing network, and thus the internet. It has a much wider range, up to 100m compared to 10m for Bluetooth.

Neither UCLA nor any of our affiliated hospitals have student applications that will use the wireless capability at this time.

What does it mean when it says that a PDA is branded?
This means that a company has purchased some PDAs and has had them marked with their company name. The unit themselves will be virtually identical to a regular store bought unit, but may come with some special software or expansions from the company.

How do I find the best deal?
To share information about good deals, post your bargains on the DGSOM Medical Student Bulletin Board .

Some classes in the past have made bulk PDA purchases.  If your class would like to do this, please contact Evie Kumpart or call 310-825-1045 for assistance.

Other resources for PDA deals include:
AMSA
ASUCLA Bookstore: Models not on the website.

To find the best price available through online retailers, try:

BuyDig (http://buydig.com/shop/home.aspx)

My Simon (http://www.mysimon.com/)

Best Price Finder   (http://bruinwalk.pricegrabber.com/index.php)
Froogle (http://www.froogle.com)