The terms “smartphones” are eclipsing other noteworthy tech words such as “personal digital assistants” or PDAs. Because of this, it’s so easy for others to listen to or believe all claims about the latter. Not everything out there is correct. Here are the facts about PDAs users need to know:
1. PDAs No Longer Have Any Value
PDAs might not be as popular or as multifunctional as smartphones, but it doesn’t mean they’re already worthless. It also implies that they can hold some value, but that is if owners consider PDA repair quickly.
According to a study, these devices can lose between 19% and 26% of their value annually. In other words, owners still sell them within the next two years to get the most out of them.
2. PDAs Don’t Have Demand Anymore
The number of units sold and revenue for this device have been declining for many years. As early as 2002, it dropped by 12.1% during the first quarter compared to the previous year. By the fourth quarter, it slid further by over 20%. Companies shipped no more than 3.25 million units.
One of the significant reasons is the growing popularity of other mobile devices, especially smartphones and tablets. In 2003, Nokia, which was the global leader for phones during the time, sold nearly a billion devices of different models.
Note, though, that recently, smartphones are having trouble themselves. According to a Gartner report, their sale dipped slightly in 2019 by a percent. Of the many manufacturers, only five vendors obtained the most significant market share. The leader wasn’t Apple, which came only second, but Samsung.
Those who love tech can still find PDAs in popular offline and online stores, such as Amazon. Big brands, like Microsoft, are also planning to launch a new breed of personal digital assistants. Microsoft itself might release a PDA called Andromeda, which will feature an AI-powered technology. It is another Surface folding device with a pair of screens.
3. Smartphones Are PDAs
To know the differences between the two is to define them. A smartphone is a casual name for a wireless or mobile phone that delivers different information quickly. Besides the ability to connect to the Internet, they can also work with various apps, which can make them more efficient.
Smartphones can also combine features found in other devices. A good example is the iPhone. When Apple launched it in 2007, it was a big hit. People loved not only its design but also its firmware and features that already combined those in old-generation iPads and PDAs.
PDAs are personal digital assistants, and their popularity stems from the fact people can now afford to have a virtual secretary. These nifty devices can connect users to many other devices, such as printers. They can also send a fax, call via voice over Internet protocol (VoIP), and schedule appointments, to name a few.
They can also receive and send text messages and emails in the same way when they use smartphones or tablets. The most significant difference, though, is the firmware. Usually, PDAs contain two systems that run separately. One of these can control telephony, while the other operates the rest of the device’s functions.
In a way, smartphones can be more efficient and faster since they run in only one operating system. Users can also customize them by downloading their desired apps. But PDA functions are not their primary strength. Today, PDAs have a long way to go to be as popular as other mobile devices. Just like different types of tech, they are capable of innovating. As more companies develop an interest to revive them, they might be more powerful soon.
