For anyone thinking of investing in a PDA, an acronym for personal digital assistant, Palm is the manufacturer that is often the first name on their lips. From their early days when PDA’s really only stored appointments and notes, they have evolved into powerful mini computers that are now often combined into smart phones.We have compiled a short list from the many Palm handheld PDA that are available and given a brief insight into each.

If you are new to PDA’s the Palm handheld PDA Z22 is a great no frills device aimed at first time users and those for whom technology is a black art . Many people will always want the latest cool design and mega functions but, equally, there are many for whom this is only expensive window dressing. When applied to a PDA, this logic means that they don’t need or want Wi-Fi or Internet connections, they simply want to use it to organize their life. In essence, this is what the Palm handheld PDA Z22 enables you to do. It is essentially an entry-level PDA that collates all your notes, contacts and other important data and you can also browse through your photographs.

If you are after a bit more functionality, the updated Palm handheld PDA Tungsten E2 has brighter colors than it’s predecessor. The E2’s improved 3.7-inch-diagonal TFT color screen keeps the 320×320-pixel resolution and continues to shine brightly while you browse the web or read your email thanks to it’s integrated Bluetooth capability.Factor in impressive battery life and an affordable price tag, and Palm has another winner on its hands. The Palm handheld PDA E2 Tungsten should be sufficient for most home users as long as you don’t need super speeds or Wi Fi.

If it is a smart phone you yearn for, that which combines a Palm handheld PDA and a cell phone, the Palm Treo with GPRS connection offers full internet and email functionality, a full keyboard plus camera. It has a color touch screen (320 x 320 pixels), has 64MB of memory and also gives access to instant messaging.The Palm Treo is a powerful little communicator but also surprisingly easy to use. Its large screen and keyboard make it just the right size. You can also use the Treo with GPS for satellite navigation.

Hot off the press is the new Palm Pre, a fully functioned Palm handheld PDA / Smartphone with the latest Palm web os. Among other things, you can browse the web, email and instant message using WiFi, watch a movie or download and listen to music. Palm synergy technology will also inform you when anyone from your contact list is online and available. If you don’t like to be distracted when you are using your PDA, it’s intuitive messaging will discreetly display any emails, alarms or notifications across the bottom of the screen as they arrive. Last but by no means least, the Palm Pre has an intelligent universal search capability that will, as soon as you start typing, search your phone content including contacts and apps for a match and also ask if you want to search further on Google, Twitter and Wikipedia, unbelievably in our view, the cost of the Palm Pre is only $150!

So if you are looking for a personal digital assistant or a Smartphone, you’re sure to find a perfect fit in amongst the wide range of Palm handheld PDA ’s.