My Top 10 H/PC Essentials

What do the day-in, day-out users of PC Companions use and recommend? This series lets PC Companion users share their opinions about the truly useful additions you can make to your Handheld PCs and Palm-size PCs. What are your top PC Companion products? E-mail me at rich [at] thaddeus [dot] com (rich [at] thaddeus [dot] com), and let me know.

1. Backup frequently!

If you have an H/PC w/ a backup utility, use it whenever you change important data! If you don't, get one. This may seem excessive, however if you ever crash, you'll be glad you did. The two best bundled programs I have seen are Compaq's "Flash Backup" (Compaq 2010c and 2015c), and HP's "BackUp". For a complete PC Card backup, I recommend and use a shareware program known as DBBackup from John Schettino (Schettino [at] writeme [dot] com (Schettino [at] writeme [dot] com)).

2. Carry your H/PC in a padded case.

Get one that will allow for storage of extra RAM cards, batteries, an extra pen and or stylus. If you ever drop your H/PC, your investment in a good case will more than pay for itself! HP has a custom case (made by Targus) that works extremely well for the 300/600LX series of H/PCs. Most H/PC and Palm-size PC manufacturers have them available as accessories.

3. Keep extra batteries with you at all times!

Get extra batteries and keep them with you at all times. If your unit uses a rechargeable battery pack, get an extra one and keep it charged at all times. If possible, carry these with your unit in the carrying case.

4. Get Pocket OnSchedule 2.5 for Windows CE.

This alternative to Pocket Outlook enhances the innate functionality of any H/PC. Features include unlimited databases, dialing support, Internet access, direct e-mail, call/e-mail logging, contact information templates and customized layouts. Fully compatible with the desktop version, On-Schedule 97, as well as other major PIMs and contact managers. Download the 30-day trial version from www.odysseyinc.com. Once you try it you'll never use Pocket Outlook again!

5. Get a screen protector and cleaner.

You end up tapping the H/PC's screen a lot, leaving fingerprints, or scratches. Concept Kitchen's PDA Starter Kit contains a removable plastic screen protector, and a disposable and reusable set of cleaning cloths. It's the best package I've seen and will pay for itself many times over through the years (www.conceptkitchen.com).

6.Clean up desktop!

This makes the H/PC a lot easier to navigate, and saves you many keystrokes in searching for your commonly used programs. Delete infrequently used items on your current desktop. If you have a number of games, save them to a desktop folder.

7. Get a color-screen H/PC.

They are so much easier to read than the "grey/green" monochrome units. They do use more power, so follow common sense about conserving your batteries (connect up to an AC adapter whenever possible, don't overuse the modem or backlighting, carry spare batteries).

8. Get an extra AC adapter and connectivity cable.

If you use your H/PC or Palm-size PC with your office and home computer, have an AC adapter and connectivity solution for each location. Manufacturers offer these as accessories. It will cost you a little more, but you won't have to carry the excess baggage around.