I’m always intrigued at how some people always complain about their PDAs. They start off asking me about my opinion on what would be a good device for them to use and within several days or weeks of their purchase, they start ranting about it. I realize that while these people see the advantages of owning a PDA, they make one or some of these mistakes:

1. Not finding out more about the device before purchase. A friend shows them how to use the built-in GPS to navigate and immediately they go out and get it. Not bothering to find out more about the device is will cause you more pain later. A PDA does more than just one function and if you buy one without finding out its shortcomings, you are setting yourself up for a ride through sad-ville.

Solution: Do your research before purchasing a PDA. Just like purchasing other items like a house or car, you need to know more about the device than just its technical specs. Does it have a shorter battery life than normal? Will the processor be powerful enough to run my common application? If it does not fulfill your need, it’s better to wait until you come across a device that does rather than to commit prematurely.

2. Not finding out more about the device after the purchase. These group deserves to be praised for actually doing their homework before committing to their device but sadly, they think that the work is done when they have decided. Nothing could be further from the truth. From my experience, an out-of-the-box PDA would function just fine for basic functions but if you really want to see the magic happen, you have to constantly keep yourself updated, such as reading this blog

Solution: Interact with other users who use such devices. Visit blogs and forums to keep yourself updated. A problem that you encounter now could be solved tomorrow. So don’t despair if something does not seem right at first. The solution may just be round the corner.

3. Not treating their devices properly. PDAs are much more fragile than mobile phones. The rule of thumb is, if your PDA has more functions, it’s even more fragile. Dropping a Nokia may not have any dire effects (but do not quote me on that) but dropping your Eten Glofiish X500 can cause the GPS to cease functioning. PDAs cost a lot of money.

Solution: Treat them as they are worth. You’ve already spent a couple of hundreds, sometimes over a thousand, on that device. Why not spare a few more dollars for the case or screen protector? It would definitely go a long way to protecting and sustaining the life of your device.

4. Expecting too much for a gadget. To first-time users, a PDA is the all-in-one solution to all their organization problems. I wish that was true but until that day happens, my advice would be to have a lower expectation. While I would like my PDA to remind me to buy bread when I am within close proximity of a bakery instead of the time I set the reminder, it is not possible at this time.

Solution: Your PDA is there to help you manage your life, not run it. Do not expect too much out of it and work with it to make your life better. If you lower your expectations of it (which is not necessarily a bad thing), you’ll find that you might actually enjoy it a lot more.

These are the 4 main groups that I usually encounter who will always hate their PDAs and complain about it. Hopefully by reading this article and blog, their mindsets can change. Do you know of people like this? What is your advice to them?

Tags: opinion