Some PDAs allow you to download e-mails and some Internet content from a desktop or laptop computer. You can write e-mails with most PDAs and later send them from your computer. There may be limitations on how many e-mails or lines of e-mail can be received or stored on the device and you may be able to select how many of your desktop e-mails you want to load onto the device.
Some PDAs come with software for accessing certain types of e-mail accounts. Additional software may be available to access other types of e-mail accounts. Some PDAs also come with Internet browser software, while other PDAs require users to purchase browser software separately.
Many PDAs can access e-mail and the Internet by connecting to a telephone outlet, although you may have to purchase a special modem. Other PDAs can provide wireless access to e-mail and the Internet if you buy a wireless modem or connect them to certain types of digital mobile phones. Still other PDAs permit wireless access to e-mail and limited Internet content without the need for additional hardware or software.
For wireless e-mail and Internet access, you must subscribe to a wireless data network service. You may have to pay a monthly flat fee, connection-time fees, or some other type of fee for that wireless service. Some PDAs also may require you to sign up for wireless service with a specific ISP, so check before buying.
Currently, your ability to access the content of the Internet through a PDA is more limited than through a desktop computer. Some PDAs permit you to browse any URL on the Web using many Internet service providers (ISPs). Check with your local ISP. Other PDAs require a subscription to a specific ISP and may permit only limited access to specific Web sites.
Some Internet features that are available to most desktop computer users may not be available to PDA users. For example, PDAs may not allow users to play certain games, use certain audio or video features, or view information in certain formats like PDF (Portable Document Format) files. In addition, there is limited support for multimedia programs available on some Web sites. For instance, at this time there is no available PDA that supports RealPlayer or QuickTime, although some PDAs may be better able to support these programs soon. Macromedia's Flash is supported.
Many PDAs allow you to access your e-mail accounts, but some PDAs limit your ability to send, receive, or view e-mail attachments. Not all devices are able to display attachments in popular formats like MS Word and HTML without additional software.
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