U of M Med Students
How to buy a PDA/Smartphone
What should I consider when purchasing a PDA or Smartphone?

This is a guide to help you decide what will work best for your needs. Everyone has different needs and circumstances. This is not intended to make a recommendation on a specific model; rather, it’s designed to help you make an informed decision.

PDA’s are broken down to categories of standalone, wireless-enabled, and Smartphones which are cellular phones with PDA features. Costs of PDA’s go up as the complexity and power increase. Also, PDA’s can have different Operating Systems. The two most common are Windows Mobile and PalmOS. Blackberry, iPhone, and Symbian are a few up-and-coming competitors.

 
Where can I get a device?

PDA’s and Smartphones can be purchased online on a retailer’s website, through retail stores, or even through unexpected places, such as Amazon.com. (This is not an endorsement, but Amazon offers many discounts on Smartphones above and beyond carrier discounts). One benefit of the retail stores is that you can handle and use the PDA’s before purchasing. Some give 30 days to truly experience the device (AT&T stores). Review sites are all over the Internet regarding PDA’s and Smartphones.

www.cnn.com

www.brighthand.com

www.mobiletechreview.com

www.pdatoday.com

 
What is Epocrates and why do I need it?

Epocrates is the all-in-one mobile guide to drugs, diseases and diagnostics which enable students to look up drug dosage, check medication interactions, and even evaluate costs per insurance program. Most students buy PDA’s to use Epocrates and most modern Palm & Windows PDA’s should be able to use Epocrates. We provide each student who is interested a subscription for Epocrates Essentials for the M3 year only (a $149 value). Epocrates Essentials is a suite of programs (Rx, Dx, Sx, ID, Lab). Epocrates Rx is FREE to anyone and some Smartphones will only run Rx. Detailed PDA system requirements can be found here:

http://www.epocrates.com/products/essentials/requirements.html

Instructions are included with the software and are very comprehensive. When you have a PDA/Smartphone, you can request a subscription code. To request an Epocrates registration, please fill out the Epocrates request form at http://sitemaker.umich.edu/mobiletech. You will be asked to register your PDA or Smartphone, as well as request an Epocrates code. The LRC will review and respond with the code and instructions within two business days.

 
What kind of features do PDA’s have and what is important to me?

PDA’s have a lot of features, but the most important features are:

1. Wireless – 802.11g also known as WiFi

2. Phone capability - can include voice and/or data minute plans

3. Price range ($100-450)

1. Wireless (WiFi):

WiFi enables a PDA to connect to the hospital wireless infrastructure (802.11g) in order to surf the web, send text pages, or update Epocrates via the Internet. In order to get onto the UMHS-Wireless network, the PDA/Smartphone needs to be registered. LRC staff can assist you with the configuration of wireless. Wireless is not necessary, but is a well-liked feature by students. The UMHS-Wireless network is also restricted to specific types of web traffic, which does not include email client software. This means on many PDA’s and Smartphones, users cannot get their GroupWise email through our wireless network. Only standard http: and https: traffic is allowed. Users can, however, access GroupWise through the web at https://mail.med.umich.edu on PDA’s and Smartphones with WiFi.

2. Phone capability:

The term “Smartphone” is used to describe a PDA with phone and Internet (data) capabilities. It can be used to describe Palm, Windows, iPhone, or BlackBerry devices. To add to the confusion, there are two versions of Windows Mobile devices. The benefit of a Smartphone is that you have fewer things to carry. Cellular companies offer voice and data plans. Commonly, students choose to not purchase a data plan in lieu of the onsite WiFi network. However, with the restrictions on our wireless, many students keep a data plan to fully use their Smartphone’s services.

Financial Aid can be used for a phone device ONLY if it has PDA capabilities such as a Smartphone.

• Windows Mobile Devices:

•  Pocket PC Edition – has a touch screen like a standard PDA. Screens can come in square, rectangular, or full device screens. Such as the Sprint Mogul, and the Palm Treo 700wx. Can run the full Epocrates Essentials suite of applications.

•  Smartphone Edition – does not have a touch screen and usually only has a square screen. Such as the Samsung Blackjack or Motorola Q. Can only run the free Epocrates Rx drug reference database, not the full Epocrates Essentials suite of applications.

• PalmOS Smartphones:

•  Several models to choose from. Can run the full Epocrates Essentials suite of applications. Such as the Palm Centro and 755p.

• iPhones and Blackberries:

• Unfortunately at this time neither iPhones nor Blackberries will run the full Epocrates Essentials suite of applications. However, the Epocrates Rx free drug reference database will work on BlackBerry and is expected to be available for iPhones in 2008.

3. Price Range: 

A stand-alone PDA will work as well as a Smartphone when it comes to Epocrates, datebooks, to-do lists, and memos, but has fewer features. Many students choose to use a PDA instead of a Smartphone so that in the event of damage or loss, they still have their separate phones. There are only a few manufacturers of stand-alone PDA’s. They are Asus, HP, and Palm. Each of the following features will affect the price range of stand-alone PDA’s.

• Stand Alone PDA’s all have the same basic features: calendar, to-do lists, memopad, and address lists

• Wireless PDA’s have the basic features above as well as the ability to surf the web over 802.11g (WiFi). Do not confuse WiFi wireless with Bluetooth.

• Palm devices have an older Operating System that does not surf the Internet as well as Windows-based PDA’s, but can be slightly cheaper.

The following table will help you identify a device in your price range, and a short list of features. Not all models listed have been tested in our environment, but they appear to meet the Epocrates minimum requirements and have good reputations for quality and support.

All prices were quoted using Amazon.com, dated 4/30/08, and using all available rebates and discounts. All Smartphones require Cellular Phone service and Data plans may apply for additional charge.

Brand/Model

Cost

Operating System

Category

Memory Capacity
(in MB)

Wireless (802.11b WiFi)

Asus MyPal A626

$275

Winndows Mobile 5 PPC Ed

WiFi PDA

64

Yes

Palm T/X

$258-299

PalmOS

WiFi PDA

100

Yes

Palm Tungsten E2

$188-199

PalmOS

Standalone PDA

32

No

HP iPaq (several models)

$200-400

Windows Mobile 5/6 PPC Ed

Standalone and WiFi PDA’s

32-128

Depends on model

AT&T Tilt
(aka: Kaiser)

$185

Windows Mobile 6 PPC Ed

WiFi PDA

256

Yes, and can use cellular data plan

Palm Centro

$50-150

PalmOS

Palm Smartphone

64

No

Palm Treo 750

$150

Windows Mobile 5 PPC Ed

Windows Smartphone

60

No

HTC Touch

$250

Windows Mobile 6
PPC Ed

Windows Smartphone

128

Yes, or use cellular data plan

Samsung i760 Black Phone

$199

Windows Mobile 6
PPC Ed

Windows Smartphone

64

Yes, or use cellular data plan

There are many Smartphones on the market and more coming out every day. However, there appear to only be a few non-phone PDA’s left. Asus, HP, and Palm are the only companies currently making PDA’s.

For a list of MCIT (Medical Center Information Technology) supported smartphone/PDAs click here.

 
What kind of support can I get for my PDA?

The LRC staff will help you with your PDA to be best of our ability. Each PDA is different, and problems can always arise. However, we will try our best to help you with any situation, or point you in the right direction.

 
Further questions?
Contact the LRC Help Desk at 734-936-2239 or lrc_help@umich.edu.