I confess -- I have a weakness for tchotchkes, which naturally makes me fond of Targus.

For those who don't know Yiddish, a "tchotchke" refers to a small item such as a knickknack or trinket. Or the kind of computer accessories in which Targus specializes.

The Stowaway -- previously recommended here in its other PDA incarnations -- comes out of the box as a flat rectangular casing about the size of most handhelds. You flick a latch, and it unfolds into a full-size keyboard, with a docking mechanism for your handheld. Stowaways come with driver software that you need to install on the handheld so that they will accept the keyboard input. Thereafter, you simply snap your PDA into place and start typing.

You can touch type without problem. The keys have a feel something like that of most notebooks. The driver software allows you to assign function keys to specific tasks. And the drop-dead factor when you unfurl it on an airplane or wherever is totally huge.

I would not attempt to write the Great American Novel with a Stowaway. But it is a key accessory in being able to use a PDA on the road. A stylus may be fine for a few keystrokes, but writing that way gets old very fast. With the keyboard, you can take care of email replies, prepare short notes, memos, and other documents, fill in Internet forms, and the like. In other words, you are equipped to handle the simple road warrior tasks for which lugging a full notebook would be overkill.

If there is any downside it's that each Stowaway is specific to each PDA model. You can't use a Visor keyboard with a Palm or an iPAQ with a Jornada. Company spokespeople acknowledge that they always are asked about adapters, and the answer is that there are no plans to make any. Targus and Think Outside argue that they need to match up each connection system to each PDA brand's proprietary design, and besides, other than people doing product tests like me, hardly anyone uses more than one PDA.

The modem is flat, easy to tuck away, and is plug-and-play with a Pocket PC.

or

for most other major makes and models.

It perhaps would be overkill to buy the universal power adapter just for a PDA. But the adapter is a must have for road warriors and adding adapters for PDA and cellphones is an inexpensive way to leverage your investment in the power unit.

Once you are the Person Who Has Everything for the PDA, you then need a big bag to put it all in. Targus, of course, has made its name as a case supplier.

The entire list is too lengthy to mention. Just one bit of

advice: be sure you carefully check the cases that use stick-on Velcro to hold the PDA. With Visors, you need to be sure that the Velcro mounts don't block the Springboard slot, and with Pocket PCs, be mindful that the units' weight can tax the Velcro stick- ons.

All in all, Targus offers good value for the money, which makes for good tchotchkes.

SIDEBAR: Socket Communications~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Socket Communications, Inc. has carved out a niche for itself in connectivity cards for Pocket PCs and laptops.

Two new additions to its product lineup are worth special attention. The company has introduced a 56K Modem CF Card to provide Internet connections for Pocket PCs with CF slots. It is similar in capabilities to the Targus, but a key design difference is that Socket's RJ11 phone cord connector is built into a plastic-sealed hump on the unit whereas Targus's flips down. Bottom line: Socket's design is more durable; Targus's is easier to store. I tend to be tough enough on equipment, so I lean toward Socket.

This no-dongle, nothing-that-can-snap-off design philosophy was carried into a 10/100 Ethernet CF card as well. Socket notes that while handheld users won't see the full speed benefits of a  100 Mbps network connection because the handhelds can't process data that fast, nevertheless users need the 10/100 capability to be compatible with high speed networks. Moreover, the compact design is perfect for plugging your Pocket PC into high-speed Internet connections.

However, as both have the same price, I would recommend the ruggedized version.

Don't get put off by the networking purpose. For end users and small businesses, the card allows your handheld to use your cable modem or DSL broadband connection. The Socket Ethernet card also ships with nifty driver software that allows the user to quickly sync a Pocket PC over a network connection. It worked successfully in tests with both a Compaq iPAQ and HP Jornada.

Note also that Socket has a distribution deal with Targus, so you will see their CF cards under the Targus brand in some outlets. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You can reach Al Gordon at:

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