I know several pediatricians who have jumped into the PDA world without ever knowing anything about computers and PCs.
Well, this is certianly not going to work. Any PDA is not useful unless accompanied by a PC available at home and thats why Palm provides the hotsync program for Palm based devices and Microsoft created Activesync program for Windows Mobile devices.
The connection with the desktop is essential for many reason and here is list of some of these reasons:
- In order to install programs (to make your device a pediatric PDA!) you need a desktop PC with internet connection so that programs can be downloaded from the net to the PDA; the exception to this rule is that some developers provide CAB files that can be downloaded right into the PDA for devices with internet connection and browsing capability but this is usually rare and is not secure as in the case of PC installation.
- Several Pediatric programs such as Epocrates, Merck Medicus, Skyscape, and others provide regular updates to their resources and this is very easy and fast when the PDA is synchronized to the desktop with the latter connected to the internet; the exception to that is when some programs like Epocrates Essentials can be updated wirelessly without PC connection.
- All personal data such as contacts, appointments, and notes are safer and easier to be accessed and edited when they are synchronized with the desktop computer like for example when the PDA is lost or damaged all these programs and data can be reintalled into another PDA.
- The Desktop PC allows better control over the PDA with more advanced functions.