PDA Processor Types
- PDAs contain processors similar to computer processors.pda palm image by Rich Johnson from Fotolia.com
Several manufacturers make or have made Personal Data Assistants, commonly known as PDAs, for use in home and business. PDAs such as the Palm PC and the HP Pocket PC provided customers with quick word processing and computing ability without having to power up the laptop or sit at the desktop. These pocket computers each carry a different type of processor, each with strengths and weaknesses. - The Dell Axim X50V features a color 3.7-inch screen, card reader, 139 MB of usable memory and 64 MB of SD-RAM. This hand-held computer operates using an Intel Xscale 624 MHz processor which is also found in scanning kiosks and other industrial computing machinery. This processor was designed by Intel to provide support for Internet networking, high quality graphics and touch screen support while maintaining low level power consumption. This enables the battery in the Axim X50V to last longer while providing PC quality content and computing. Although this PDA is Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled, use of the Internet is limited since the processor does not support multitasking. This PDA also includes stereo sound and a microphone input for recording.
- The iPaq 211 PDA features a large 4-inch full color touch screen, support for Microsoft Office, flash expansion and Wi-Fi computer syncing. Processing all of this information is a Marvell PXA310, 624 MHz processor with Wireless Intel SpeedStep technology and an integrated video accelerator. This 32-bit processor maintains 128 MB of SDRAM and integrated Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Internet connections. The Compaq iPaq 211 operates on Windows Mobile 6 Classic. The Marvel PXA310 is also found in several smart phones including the Motorola Moto MT720 and the QiGi W86 2.
- The Apple Newton featured a monochrome touch screen, 640 KB of built-in SRAM, an internal 9.6 k modem and an infrared port for "beaming" information to other PDAs. Apple's only attempt to break into the PDA market before abandoning PDAs for the iPhone and iPod Touch, the system was first released in 1993 and featured an ARM 610 processer specifically designed for Apple that could process at speeds of up to 20 MHz. This PDA also featured a PCMCIA Type II expansion slot and was the first of its kind to attempt handwriting recognition.
- Toshiba also tapped into the PDA market with the Pocket PC e310 hand-held. This PDA featured a 3.5-inch color touch screen with 32 MB of SDRAM and 32 MB of flash memory with an SD expansion slot. This hand-held was operated by the Intel StrongARM SA-1110 206 MHz processor that features low power consumption, three power management settings and large data cash.
