Essential Software for Your Pocket PC

Once you've made the decision to buy a pocket PC you then need to decide how you'll customize your new device to meet your needs. Luckily, many of the best pocket PCs will accommodate the software you use on a standard notebook or desktop computer. I'd like to take a moment to give you some tips on equipping your unit with a few great pieces of software.

Search Wide and Deep

One of the easiest steps to take in your software search is to use a search engine like Google or Yahoo to find program that will be useful to you. After all, if you've made the effort to buy a pocket PC then you should tailor to your needs. An easy and valuable search term is "pocket PC software" (quotes included). Most of the top results you'll find will be pocket PC software directories that contain many applications for your device. You can "search wide" by visiting as many of these directories as possible. Then, you can "search deep" by exploring each of the sub-categories within each site for valuable additions.

Three Favorite Pocket PC Programs

I own an HP iPAC that I've loaded dozens of programs into over the years. Although I've added and removed many of program since I first bought my pocket PC, I've found the following three to be infinitely valuable:

1. DataGatherer - This is a nifty program that allows users to create databases that can be filled out on your pocket PC and uploaded to your desktop or notebook computer. This powerful program allows you to create checkboxes for easy data entry (I love this about the program). My good friend has created a health log on her Dell Axim pocket PC that she checks off the types of food she eats and the exercise she gets each day. Each week she prints the data from her desktop computer to see how she's fared. Neat, huh?

2. Mobiler - I really like this program, and it should convince you to buy a pocket PC if you haven't already done so. In essence, it allow you to "broadcast" what's on you pocket PC screen to a nearby desktop or notebook computer. When you have this working for you there's really no need to work on a larger computer because you can see the contents of your pocket PC in a format that most are accustomed to.

3. Men of the Bible & USA Today Free Subscription - Okay, I said there would be three programs but I slipped in a fourth. My Men of the Bible upload is essential reading. I see so much of the strengths and frailties of mankind in these figures that it constantly keeps me humble and in tune with my own character decisions. This alone is a great reason to buy a pocket PC. Another great reason is to stay in touch with news, entertainment and finances. The USA Today Free subscription can help you do just that.

We've logged thousand of hours on many models of pocket PCs and we're excited by two of the top competing Pocket PCs that were mentioned in this article. CLICK ON EITHER of these Pocket PC links if you want to learn more about the HP iPAQ hx2495b or the Dell Axim X51v. Discover why they're the most popular models on the market today.

What to Expect When You Buy a Pocket PC

So you've made your move and taken the plunge. You've decided to enter the digital age in a big way when you decided to buy a pocket PC, and now you're wondering, "What do I do now?" Thankfully, the process is fairly easy (and fun) for both novice and expert users.

Out of the Box

The first thing you'll notice when you buy a pocket PC and pop open the box is that the makers of the most popular units include everything you need to get up and running in no time. The typical start up routine includes setting the date, time and time zone. Then, most units will give you the option of setting a password to protect your pocket PC from tampering or theft.

Following that, you'll be asked if you'd like to take the tour of features that are included in your pocket PC. My recommendations is to always take the tour. Tours are a fantastic way to see some of the features included in your unit demonstrated in a professional way. We're partial to the HP iPAC here, and their demonstration of features exceeds all others.

Link Up, Sync Up

Now the fun begins! One of the REAL benefits of owning a top-of-the-line pocket PC (we also recommend the Dell Axim) is having the ability to load a great array of software and other goodies from your notebook or desktop computer. One of the first things you need to do is upload some music to your unit. That will make it feel like it's really yours from that moment forward. While you're at it, transfer a DVD or a few videos from YouTube to your pocket PC and you'll be in business.

We also recommend that you visit the manufacturer's website from your notebook or desktop computer to download any patches or upgrades of the pocket PC's software to take full advantage of any improvements the manufacturer has made. It's always easier (and faster) to find these upgrades on a faster computer and then "sync" them over to your unit instead of trying to download them directly from the pocket PC. I hope that you're starting to see that this flexibility through downloading is one of the key reasons why you want to buy a pocket PC.

Finally, go online with your pocket PC and bookmark a few of your favorite sites (as well as your workplace's website link) so that you'll have these resources instantly available to you when you need them. Again, are you starting to begin to see why you want to buy a pocket PC? We're absolutely convinced they're the "must have" personal and business tool for the next few decades. We hope that you are too.

We've done quite a bit of reading and testing of various devices and we're excited by two of the top competing Pocket PCs that we mentioned earlier in this article. CLICK ON EITHER of these Pocket PC links if you want to learn more about the HP iPAQ hx2495b or the Dell Axim X51v. Discover why they're the most popular models on the market today.

Buy a Pocket PC After These Two Steps

Don't feel left behind if you haven't made the move to buy a Pocket PC yet. Just because it seems like the rest of the world has one doesn't mean that you need to rush out and get one. There are two vital steps you should take before you consider getting a PPC, and here they are:

Step # 1 – Explore Your Motives

Before you take out your credit card or break into your Christmas account you should consider why you want to buy a Pocket PC in the first place. Do you just want to stay connected while you're on the go? Do you want/need the multimedia capabilities like mp3 ability and projecting Powerpoints at meetings?

If there are a combination of reasons that you want a PPC then you may want to look at the product features included in some of the more popular models like the HP iPAC series of mobile devices. Many of these popular models have gained wide user bases that have demand more performance at competitive prices. As a result, they've evolved into devices that are both useful and user-friendly.

So, examine your reasons for wanting to buy a Pocket PC. And if you decide that you want flexibility, power and a state-of-the-art device like the HP or a Dell Axim then you'll have a better idea of how you'll use it when you take it out of the box.

Step # 2 – Explore the Available Information

You really owe it to yourself to know some of the basic features and operating details of your device before you choose one. Most of the higher-end models perform similarly (e.g., web browsing, media player, wi-fi, etc.). But there are details like screen clarity and memory upgrading capabilities that you'll want to be aware of before you buy a Pocket PC. And relax...you don't have to be a major "tech head" to understand how they can meet your needs. Don't be afraid to explore just a little as you conduct your information search.

We've done quite a bit of reading and testing of various devices and we're excited by two of the top competing Pocket PCs. CLICK ON EITHER of these Pocket PC links if you want to learn more about the HP iPAQ hx2495b or the Dell Axim X51v. Discover why they're the most popular models on the market today.