Inasmuch as Apple has added PDA-like features to the iPod, it is only fair to note that PDAs can be music players.

[To go to the main page for Digital Music Revolution coverage, please click here.]

All Pocket PC devices ship with a PDA version of Microsoft's Windows Media Player and a headphone jack, and many Palm OS devices have their own MP3 software as well. The same caveat that applies to using an iPod as a PDA works in reverse -- a PDA isn't a substitute for a device specifically designed for music, but if you don't want to lug a bunch of electronics with you on your travels, it's a workable solution.

The key issue with your PDA really is just memory capacity. High-end PDA's have 64 MB of memory, vs. 15 GB and up for iPods, Dell DJs, etc. On the other hand, most PDAs accept flash memory chips, usually Secure Digital (postage stamp size) or Compact Flash (matchbook size). This can give you capacity equal to that of flash memory-based music players. (Flash means that the data is stored on chips that will retain the data even when the the power is off.)

SanDisk supplied me with a 512 MB SD card to test with my Dell Axim X5. It performed well and song files transferred easily via Microsoft ActiveSync.

The main downside to the memory card approach is that pricing for the 512 MBs still is a little high -- around $190. At that price you could buy a flash-based MP3 player, so it might not make sense to buy it if music is your only objective. However, it is a sensible PDA purchase if you have a lot of other data files you keep on the digital assistant since, of course, PDA can use memory cards interchangeably with their internal memory. Also, the 512MBs currently are just getting to market in quantity and the price should fall as they are more available.

In PDA usage, I recommend recording at a lower fidelity level, 64 kbps, than "CD quality" so you can get more songs on the card. The PDA isn't going to give you great sound quality to begin with, so audiophile settings would be a waste. At 64 kbps you can put more than enough songs on your PDA than you can play without running down the PDA's battery. This is a place where Windows Media Audio recording has an edge -- it gives better sound quality at low-fi settings than MP3.

Stash a pair of Sennheiser MX-500 ear bud headphones with a PDA and you have a way to bring a little musical interlude into a tedious workday.

(c) 2004 Al Gordon.

In addition to his computer interests, Al Gordon is a principal in the Boston-area strategic consulting firm, Mary Fifield Associates, www.maryfifieldassociates.com

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You can reach Al Gordon at:

al@tnpcnewsletter.com

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