Mobile Computing Tips: Best Notebook and PDA Accessories

Feature: Favorite Notebook and PDA Accessories

Using a notebook or PDA without accessories is like driving a car without a stereo. Sure, you'll get where you're going--but the trip certainly won't be any fun.

With thousands of software and hardware add-ons, the options for upgrading or expanding your gadgets are endless. Here are six of my favorite accessories: three for notebooks and three for PDAs.

Notebook Gadgets

SanDisk Cruzer. Pocket-size storage devices are the rage, and my favorite so far is the Cruzer. Not much bigger than a car's keyless-entry fob, the shiny silver Cruzer looks cool and is extremely adaptable. While competitive devices offer fixed storage capacities, the Cruzer lets you use a 32MB, 64MB, 128MB, or 256MB Secure Digital flash memory card. The cards can be popped in and out easily and used with other gadgets, such as Palm M500 series PDAs. Best of all, the Cruzer is truly plug and play: Just pop it into a Windows Me/2000/XP or Mac OS 9.1 (or higher) computer for quick backup or file transfer. Prices are $50, $75, $100, and $200, respectively.

You can find more information at the SanDisk site, and shop for better prices at the PCWorld.com Product Finder.

FlyLight Notebook USB Light. When the lights went down for a PowerPoint presentation in a recent meeting, I had to take notes on my laptop--but I couldn't see the keyboard. Luckily, I had packed Kensington's FlyLight Notebook USB Light, a slender, adjustable lamp that draws power (but only a little) from a USB port. There are other notebook lamps, but this one gets my vote for its easy adjustability; with the FlyLight, I can shine light exactly where I want on the keyboard. The FlyLight uses an LED, so there's no bulb to replace. Available in black and platinum, as well as a version with a red LED, the FlyLight sells for $20.

Get more details at Kensington's site, and find the latest prices at our Product Finder.

Ultra Mini USB 4-Port Hub. Targus has the market cornered on practical, affordable accessories. This USB hub ($20) is all that--and cool, too. It allows you to connect up to four devices to one USB port. This teensy device--it measures 3.75 by 1.66 by 0.75 inches and weighs 3 ounces--is ideal for travelers. It draws power from the notebook, rather than requiring its own AC adapter or batteries. And when it's connected to a powered-on computer, the hub's four port covers emit a soothing blue light.

Go to Targus to find out more or buy online, and use our Product Finder to compare prices.

PDA Add-Ons

PalmPak Dictionary/Thesaurus Card. As a writer, I've longed to have a decent pocket-size dictionary and thesaurus at my disposal. Finally, I have one: this expansion card for the Palm M125, M130, I705, and M500-series PDAs. There are other dictionaries and thesauri you can download; some are free or cost just a few dollars. But the PalmPak card conveniently slips in and out of an expansion slot and uses little of your PDA's precious memory. The Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Tenth Edition, includes some 100,000 definitions, and the Franklin Thesaurus includes synonyms and antonyms.

You can buy it online for $40 at the Palm store, but I found one for about $30 using our Product Finder.

Targus Stowaway. There's no contest: The Targus Stowaway is the best PDA keyboard for anyone who needs to type more than a few words at a time. When closed, the Stowaway is about the size of a deck of cards. Unfolded, it's a full-size keyboard that lets you touch-type as comfortably as you would on a notebook or desktop computer. The PDA is inserted into a cradle and is propped up by a pop-out arm. Targus makes a Stowaway for practically every PDA.

For more information go to the Targus site. The Stowaway is listed at $80 to $100, depending on the model, but you can use our Product Finder to find it for less.

2002 Zagat Survey Restaurant and Nightlife Guide. Okay, I admit that a restaurant database won't exactly boost productivity. But it's important to mix pleasure with business, and having the popular Zagat Survey on your Palm OS device is a great way to start. The 2002 Zagat Survey lets you browse for eateries in 32 cities (including a few international destinations) using such criteria as Most Popular, Top Views, and Best Buys. Restaurants are rated for food, service, decor, and cost.

The survey is available electronically as a downloadable program or CD-ROM, which installs on your Windows or Macintosh computer and allows you to copy city guides to your Palm; or as a Secure Digital card for expansion-card Palms. Each option is $30. I prefer the Secure Digital card, as it allows me to carry around restaurant information for all cities without taking up much memory--ideal for multiple-destination trips. Note: A Pocket PC version of the Zagat Survey is coming soon.

Go to the Zagat Survey site for more information or to buy the guide, or check out our Product Finder.