Hello All, I need some doubts cleared and also some advise to better decide what to buy. I am looking for a handheld for following purposes: 1. Basic features like memo, scheduler, address book etc. 2. Color display. 3. Should have better handwriting recognition software. 4. Lastly but most IMPORTANTLY I wish to check my mails and do little bit of web browsing while I am traveling worldwide esp. in Europe, India and US. Since the wireless technology is not standard in all the countries and not well established in India as of today, I prefer using an external modem and dialup connection for that. I would really appreciate if you guys can give some comments and feedback based on your experiences and suggest me some great PocketPC/PDA, compatible modem and details about the Modem-Handheld connectivity. Just to share with you all I did see the Compaq's IPAQ 3800 which looked great to me but I wasn't sure if and how it can be connected to Internet using external modem. Thanks a lot in advance.

well It sounds as if you have your guide lines set, heres the lowdown on the pocket pc and what made me decide on my HP Jornada 568. The 568 has a removable battery and built in compact flash card which is where you would put your dial up modem into(Targus$120)or any other type 1 CF card into such as memory. The deal with the removable battery is that if you want to get an extended one you can although my standard can get me by for about 2 days but then that is w/out playing games. As for web brousing I havent done it yet so I couldn't tell you how it is. The ipaq seems to have more compatibility to games then again you need to buy expansion packs for your CF also look at toshibas pocket pc. The one thing to remember is get one with the features that suit you, you will end up using it for everything. As for the palm OS it really didn't capture my eye but I guess it is a cheap alternative(you get what you pay for!)one other thing is if you are into LINUX the sharp zarus look pretty nice and is linux embedded and I belive has microsoft outlook and word W/ built in key board pretty slick unit for about $200 less than the other pockrt pc's. Hope I helped, good luck!

Go in for palm m 515 . palm is the best think happening to PDA . it is robust and has very good third party software . I have a Palm Vx and after using it for 5 months , I wonder how was I living without it . DOnt go in for Pocket PC for the following reasons: 1) Windows for Pocket PC is bloatware . 8 Mb of Palm holds more info than 64 MB of Pocket PC . 2) the software is not proven for long time use . 3) it is from Micro$oft .never trust anything from ms . you will probably get a pda which is too slow for the OS . best of luck

2 words...........Visor Prism. You won't be sorry!

VISOR Prism SUCKS !!! Damn thing is BIG & HEAVY compared to my M515...

I recomend the Palm m515. I have a Palm m505, which is almost identical. The m515 is extremely small and compact. You can buy an external modem that clips onto the back of ther Palm for $100. Do not buy a pocket pc. I feel that the software is not perfect yet. I have heard about A LOT of problems with pocket pcs. Good Luck on finding a PDA!

while im not the most versed in PDA lore i would lke to offer my simple opinion, the sharp ZARUS, it is a pocket PC with all the nessecary functions, but it runs on lunix, while this operating system is still compatble with windows software, it is increadbly stable. In Addition, besb buy carries it fo $399 witch is about the same price as everythingh else. IT also has an intergrated keybord with a sliding panel to reveil it, this makes data input even easyer that its increadblr handwriting recognition software. like i said im no wiz, but if you have any major qualms about it pleas let me know as i am considering buying one now.