This story was originally published in Dwell’s March 2004 issue.

Once upon a time in the U.S.A., the popular acronym PDA meant only “public display of affection.” But in 1992 there came a rival meaning. For any hapless soul who doesn’t already know, it’s the more solitary and clean “personal digital assistant.” Here in our puritanical, capitalist culture, the first kind of PDA is an object of scorn, while the second is expensive.

In keeping with the entropy of communications technology, another change has complicated things since the rival’s arrival: PDAs now engage in PDA. That is, your personal digital assistant can be a cell phone, too. It can make a booty call on the bus and—if it’s fancy—beam over some booty for viewing pleasure (sadly, the Transporter is still relegated to Star Trek, though maybe not for much longer). PDA and PDA are coming together in what techies would call “converged devices.”

But according to industry analyst Todd Kort of Garner, Inc., an information technology consulting company, fewer than 0.5 percent of the U.S. population are early adapters to these converged devices. Why? As Kort explains in Luddite-friendly words: “The functions of the PDA are still making sacrifices for the cell phone’s, or vice versa. Smaller screen size, apt for the cell phone, isn’t big enough for quality PDA activities, while combining cell phones with operating systems taxes battery life.”

Nonetheless, Kort sees improvements afoot. Last year, telecommunications companies invested billions to improve PDA-phones—and Kort expects the market to double next year (to a whopping one percent). Eager to keep up with technology’s wild run, Dwell tried out a sampling of converged devices, in consultation with Miriam Ponzi, an Italian private eye. Ponzi has been tracking the role of converged PDAs in PDA. In other words, she’s seen affection displayed between adulterers through text messaging. A technology aficionada, she believes that converged devices might be ubiquitous in as few as five years.

Treo 600 Smartphone

Expert Opinion: This one’s my favorite. It has a good phone, a simple camera, and an excellent calendar with memory storage. It contains the latest Palm operating system, which I think is the best. All the functions integrate gracefully, and the whole device fits into a solid, sturdy package. It looks like it will last a long time—it won't break easily, because there aren’t any moving parts.

What We Think: Once you get past this thing’s silly name (why must tech branding be pointlessly oblique?) the Treo presents no further challenges. The user interface is so intuitive that we didn’t even have to read directions. Though the keyboard is the smallest in our test group, the lentil-sized buttons have magic ergonomics that make them easiest to type on. And that design manages a compact nuance that means we wouldn’t be embarrassed to use the camera at a party.

Siemens SX56

Touch screen and stylus, organizer, wireless web and email capability, memo recording, and MP3 capability. Operates on Microsoft Pocket Phone 2002 software. 6.93 ounces, 0.70 x 2.86 x 5.08 inches. Starts at $499." layout="" credit="Photo by Peter Belanger" photoUserId="6133468690416173056"/>

Expert Opinion: This phone comes from a family I’ve seen before, with everything in the little window; the letter-recognizer supposedly makes a keyboard unnecessary. The PDA seems functional, and Siemens always makes an excellent cell phone. This probably splits its two functions 50-50. Others might be more phone than PDA or vice versa. But here we have a no-nonsense hybrid.

What We Think: This little handheld is elegant and durable, with its minimal buttons and streamlined metallic shape. But unfortunately, the SX56 operating system is based on Windows CE—nicknamed “Wince” by some geeky friends of ours. (The SH-G1000, below, also runs on Wince.) This spawn of Microsoft is notoriously slow, but what’s more bothersome is its goofy and unsophisticated interface design. Listen up, Bill Gates, Fake green grass and blue sky are depressing.

T-Mobile Color Sidekick

Expert Opinion: The way the top slides around and up to expose the keyboard has a nice 007 effect. These controls are unique and attractive. Something about the look seems teenage, but that can be good. Let’s remember, in Europe and maybe everywhere, the majority of cell phone users are kids. This is an appealing gadget.

What We Think: Teens might be too cool for the design’s teenage elements, which include cartoons of cyber-hipsters and assorted built-in games reminiscent of Atari, with names like “Rock and Rockets.” But we know the folks at Danger, Inc., Sidekick’s Northern Californian designers, are probably also skateboarders in their early 30s. Props go to the swiveling screen. Skaters or not, these designers took a risk and executed it well, and the price is right.

Hitachi SH-G1000

Expert Opinion: This is huge, though not as heavy as it looks. It seems powerful, and the screen and stylus are nice and big. The memory card can store plenty of information, and the built-in camera is high quality. But the design is bulky and cumbersome, by far the ugliest. It says “old maid” to me. It might work for a secretary, who is organizing lots of things at once—it won’t ever be difficult to locate in your bag, and, if you have long fingernails, it would be easy to type on.

What We Think: If you’re going to stream this many megahertz through a processor, shouldn’t the device also look good? There’s nary a trace of sexiness here. Perhaps they’re embracing a market niche of people with no style—this seems a safe bet, judging from the soft case and belt attachment that came in the box.

PalmOne Tungsten W / starts at $419

Expert Opinion: This is a decent PDA, with an excellent operating system—it comes from a good family. But aesthetically, it’s lacking. There’s more bulk than is necessary, and the design looks like an old model, a bit passé. The device is certainly functional, but not much fun—there’s no camera and no speakerphone. Nonetheless, people who feel affection for the PalmOne company might want one of these.

What We Think: This gizmo is inoffensive, but for one thing—you have to use a headset to make a phone call, which requires fiddling with a cord and grossing out any Luddites you pass in the street. Still, between the key pad, navigator, stylus, and Palm OS interface, the Tungsten W gets points for ease of use. There aren’t any frills—no games, no camera—but there’s reliability. It’s the Toyota Tercel of the group.

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