Difference Between PC Vs. PDA
A portable computer is a comparatively lightweight personal computer (PC) that can be carried from one place to another. The first portable computers, which came on the market in the early 1980s, were often nicknamed “luggables.” They were bulky machines that typically weighed more than 9 kg (20 lb). Next on the market were “laptop” machines, which weighed about 4.5 kg (10 lb).
The trend to portability has been fueled by a broad range of technological advances. Microprocessors have become more powerful, hard disk drives have shrunk in size, displays are brighter and easier to read, and plastics are replacing heavy metal frames and casings. Miniaturization has limitations, however. At a certain point it becomes necessary to sacrifice full-size keys on the keyboard and to restrict the size of the display.
A personal digital assistant (PDA) is a small handheld portable computer that operates on batteries; most models weigh 0.2 kg (7 oz) or less. Because of the size limitations imposed on keyboards, most PDAs rely on a form of handwriting as the primary input medium. They are used as organizers, to track appointments, addresses, and expenses; as note-taking devices; to send and receive e-mail; and to gain access to databases and information providers.
First-generation PDAs had a number of problems, including high cost, poor handwriting recognition, and a lack of communications facilities and software. By the late 1990s, PDAs that solved these problems were issued, and the devices’ popularity and utility grew. The Palm m505, for example, offers features such as a color screen, connectivity to a personal computer (PC) through Universal Serial Bus (USB), Internet access, compatibility with thousands of third-party applications, and the ability to read text input via stylus, on-screen keyboard, or peripheral keyboard.