These PDAs all use the Palm OS and cost less than $125 USD. Some of the budget-priced PDAs in these PDA reviews even have color display screens and expansion capabilities. Even if you choose one of the PDAs featured here that has a monochrome screen, you'll still get all the classic Palm applications such as the datebook, notepad and address book to keep you organized and the ability to transfer data between your PDA and your computer. My top PDA picks for the budget-conscious:
1. palmOne Zire 31 PDA
What puts this Palm PDA at the top of the best PDAs for the budget-conscious list is its combination of features for the price. First off, the Palm Zire 31 PDA has a color screen. It also has a SD/MultiMediaCard expansion slot (which lets you add memory) and an infrared port (so you can beam information, such as your business card, to other Palms with infrared ports). It comes with 16MB of memory, a USB HotSync cradle for easy PC data transfer, and has a backlit display screen.
2. palmOne Palm PDA m505
This Palm PDA is also an excellent choice for PDA shoppers on a budget. Like the PAlm Zire 31, the m505 PDA has a color screen, an SD/MultiMediaCard expansion slot and an infrared port. What's different? The m505 only has 8MB of memory pre-installed, and doesn't have the 5-Way navigator, a feature that I really like. Still, it's a good deal.3. Sony CLIE PEG-SL10 PDA
It doesn't have a color display screen, but the CLIE PEG-SL10 PDA uses the Palm OS, so you get all the standard Palm organizing applications, and PC data transfer is still through a USB HotSync cable. This PDA also has a Memory Stick media expansion slot. I find the high resolution monochrome display and enhanced backlight make the screen easier to read.4. Sony Clie PEG-TJ25 PDA
A 320x320 TFT color screen with a backlit display, 16MB RAM, a memory stick media expansion slot, an infrared port, a jog dial navigator that lets you use applications one-handed, a USB cradle for easy data transfer between your PDA and computer and the Palm operating system - this PDA is a great deal at less than $150 USD.5. palmOne Zire 21 PDA
This is Palm's starter PDA, so to speak. On the plus side, the Zire 21 PDA has all the standard Palm applications and an infrared port. On the minus side, it has 8MB memory, no expansion slot, a monochrome screen that isn't backlit and no 5-Way navigator function. Still, it's also the most inexpensive PDA on this list.