PDA Den - Guide on PDA Accessories

1. PDA Cases
2. PDA Screen Protectors
3. PDA Styluses
4. Sync-charge cables
5. Flash Memory

A PDA case is considered to be the first and essential accessory for your PDA. The choice is often bewildering and the quality, form, function and price varies enormously. We hope the following information will help you in making your choice. PDA cases can be classified into hard and soft cases.

a. Hard PDA Cases - hard PDA cases may be made of hard plastic or metal. Metal cases have all but replaced plastic cases now and are usually made of aluminum in order to keep the weight low. In the beginning, all hard cases were of the clamshell design where the PDA is completely enclosed with no openings for slots. The latter designs such as the ones we carry have cutouts for various dials and ports for your PDA. Also, there are often compartments available for storage of memory cards. The metal cases we carry are very hot sellers. The reason is simple, there is no effective competition anywhere at present!

b. Soft PDA Cases - soft PDA cases may be made of leather, soft plastic or cloth. At present, we are only carrying leather cases. The quality of the leather used varies considerably, and for this reason we only carry cases that uses top-quality leather. The design of PDA cases have evolved considerably over time, especially with regards to the method of fixing the PDA to the case. There are 4 generations of PDA cases.

1. Free Fitting - the PDA is allowed to move freely in a compartment of the case, or you can fix it using double-sided tape. These cases are still widely available as free-size cases suitable for all PDAs. The disadvantages are obvious: since the cases is not fixed, it may drop out of the case if not handled properly. Because they are often free-fitting, the cases are larger than they need to be for your PDA.

2. Windowed Design - these cases come with a windowed design where the PDA is enclosed within the window. This type of cases are still widely available because it is often not possible to design a secure molded for some PDAs, especially those with irregular shapes.

3. "U" Gripper - these cases have a "U" gripper that grips your PDA. The advantage is that it will allow for easy access to your PDA. However, the PDA is not fixed as securely as molded fixture designs.

4. Secure Molded Fixture - this is currently the preferred choice for fixing a PDA. A set of transparent injection molded fixture is used to fix your PDA to the case. This method of fixation allows for easy access to your PDA while being very secure at the same time. For this reason, we are concentrating on cases with secure molded fixture. The only disadvantage is that they are much more expensive to product because a set of plastic molds can cost up to US$10,000.

2. Screen Protectors

Like PDA cases, screen protectors should be considered as an essential accessory for your PDA. After all, their function is to protect the most expensive and important part of your PDA: the screen. As with PDA case, there are a variety of screen protectors available at different prices, and they are not the same. We carry two types of Japanese-made screen protectors: deluxe heavy-duty and standard.

1. Deluxe Heavy  Duty - these are our recommended screen protectors. They offer better protection to your PDA screen than the standard screen protectors. They are extra-thick at 0.25 mm, scratch-proof, anti-UV and anti-glare. They can last up to 6 months of normal use. The screen protector is naturally mildly adhesive and can be removed and re-applied as many times you want. Moreover, they can be washed with clear plain water in between.

2. Standard - these protectors are the ones that are normally sold in stores as packs of 6 to 12. In contrast to the heavy duty protectors, they will only last one month of normal usage. However, some users may prefer the softer feel of the thinner standard screen protector.

3. PDA Styluses

Although the stock stylus that comes with your PDA may satisfy the needs of many users, it will wear down eventually and you will need to replace it. At present, we are offering 2 types of styluses. The 4-in-1 stylus is a general purpose instrument that combines stylus, pencil, ballpoint, and highlighter. It is suitable for those who want an additional instrument in addition to the stock stylus. The 3-in-1 styluses are made to purpose-fit into the silo of your PDA. They combine a stylus, reset pin, and ballpoint pen into a single instrument and are designed to replace your stock stylus.

4. Sync-Charge Cables

A USB sync-charge cable (hotsync cable) plugs into a USB port of a desktop or notebook. It will allow you to synchronize your data with the PC, and recharge your PDA with one cable. The syncgear 3-in-1 cable has a built-in SD/MMC card reader as well. We offer two types of 2-in-1 sync-charge cables: standard and retractable-mini

1. Standard - these standard size cables are ideal for persons who do not need to travel a lot, or who wants to permanently attach a sync-charge cable to a desktop PC. They are sturdier than the retractable mini cables and are easier to handle.

2. Retractable-Mini - The mini-retractable USB sync-charge cable is only 11 cm long when it is fully retracted and extends to 1 meter long.  They perfect for the frequent traveler or road warriors who can carry this easily in his/her pocket or handbag.