Top Hardware accessories for PC Companions

PC Companions are designed to be self sufficient, out of the box. Buy a PC Companion and you get the basic software and hardware you need to organize your life, and interface with your desktop PC. But human nature always seeks to stretch boundaries and many PC Companion users are not satisfied with limitations placed on them by designers or manufacturers.

Users want a PC Companion to be what they want it to be, and third-party developers are all too happy to make that happen. Last issue we looked at a wide variety of software designed to make PC Companions more powerful and productive. In this issue, we look at hardware accessories that do the same.

The first thing we did was try to determine the top accessories, but this was hopeless from the beginning. For example, a number of companies market CompactFlash storage cards, and one works pretty much the same as another. Instead, most of the Top Ten listed is actually a description of the top ten categories of accessories.

Next, we include a comprehensive listing of accessories from third-party vendors. This is followed by reviews of individual accessories.

Many individuals contributed their opinions on top accessories, along with reviews of products. Most of these opinions are from people I consider "power users," the kind of people who know how to get the most out of a PC Companion. You may not consider yourself a power user, and may find some of these accessories way beyond what you need. Still, there are plenty of useful hardware accessories available for even the most basic user.

1. Flash Memory Storage Cards

Every PC Companion comes with either a PC Card or CF Card slot, and some come with both. You use PC Cards or Compact Flash cards to add storage memory to your PC Companion. SanDisk, Pretec, and a number of other companies manufacturer and market these cards. In addition, many PC Companion manufacturers sell them. Take a look at my review of the SanDisk cards. We also have reviews of alternatives to Flash storage, including a look at Iomega's Clik! Drive and the Accurite Travel Floppy Drive. See "PC & C/F Memory Cards" for a more complete listing of Flash memory storage cards.   

2. Carrying Cases

These protect your PC Companion from scratches and dings. Most of the PC Companions come with an inexpensive slipcase. Many more elaborate models are available as options from third-party vendors. I have mixed feelings about cases for Palm-size PCs. I always carry mine in the breast pocket of my suit coat. I don't need another layer of protection that gets in the way when I want to use the Palm-size PC. If you carry your PC Companion around in a briefcase, purse, or pocket with pens and a case will keep the scratches away. See "Cases" in the following Third-Party Listing for a more complete description of PC Companion carrying cases.