PDA Evaluation

PDA Evaluation - 2004

This first evaluation is not expected to lead to the publication of recommended PDA platforms or products as "supported," but rather to define relevant protocols, standards, and strategic direction that will ensure effective interoperability with current and future University applications, operating systems, and hardware. This evaluation will develop a framework for evaluating and updating PDA hardware and operating system recommendations. Expected outcomes from this evaluation include best practices documents for deployment and support of PDAs at the local level.

Specific takeaways include:

Letting application developers know what platforms/protocols/specs the University intends to recommend so that they know what to write for as they develop.
3rd party applications - what 3rd party applications will work well with PDAs to accomplish common tasks (synching, etc.) and/or to let PDAs interoperate with other systems/applications on campus.
Wireless/service providers - who is effective and reliable.
Recommendations by type of user - recognize, as the University already does with its laptop guides, that there are different models/configurations that are appropriate for each of the primary types of PDA users (from "just the basics", to "anytime/anywhere email/calendar/web/phone/etc.")

Again, with all of these the University is looking at guidance for LSPs rather than for end users at this point, so it would be good if members of the team take a first shot at most/all of these -- even if the results are not complete/authoritative.

As always, the team will be expected to refine the scope, define requirements and selection criteria, develop test scripts, do testing, and then make recommendations to IT Roundtable. The team will also maintain a web site to enable others to stay informed regarding their progress, and will create draft documentation for LSPs and end users as appropriate.

Background Info

Operating System Guidelines

Desktop Hardware Guidelines

Charge to Supported Products Evaluation Teams

Standards and Supported Products Process

Project Info

Team members

Evaluation

The PDA evaluation team included LSPs, administrators, and technical specialists from ISC and several schools across Penn. During the evaluation period the team:

identified performance criteria of importance to the Penn community
narrowed down the field of hardware and operating systems to market leaders, and those with greatest presence on campus
identified classes of users based on functionality requirements
tested sync on pocket PC, palm & Blackberry with MeetingMaker & Oracle Calendar
developed a browser script and tested with some devices
created a weblog of relevant news, observations, and notes
collected links to useful information

Our evaluation process included the following sources of information:

manufacturers' product information
web sites and periodicals about PDAs
personal experience of team members
hands-on testing of devices (thanks to Computer Connection for loaning us some devices!)

The team prepared a table to compare features and performance of different PDA models across a range of important criteria.
Download the table in MS Excel format or PDF format

Most network enabled devices include some form of web browser. While operable, these web browsers offer limited functionality and utility. It is possible to view most pages but they can be difficult to read on on small screens, depending on page layout. PDAs support only one browser window at a time; helper applications are not supported.
See PDA web browser test script
See PDA web browser test results
See PDA table for summary