For a number of years, when it came to handheld computing, there was only one name you needed to know - Palm. The Palm Pilot and the Palm operating system were the industry leaders throughout the 1990s. However, now there are many more choices. With UMPCs, smart-phones, and other handheld computers, the options are wide open. You can choose from RIM's Blackberry, Apple's OS X powered iPhone, Linux based devices, or a Windows Mobile powered Pocket PC, the world of mobile computing is wide open.

For a while, it seemed that Palm was on its way out. Windows Mobile now has much more in the way of software, especially software Windows 98 - Vista users are used to. Windows Mobile also has the advantage of having a more seamless syncing process with Windows-based PCs. However, syncing with other operating systems can be difficult.

The Palm Foleo is an attempt to bring the Palm operating system back to the forefront. This cell phone companion is a laptop-like device that offers a 10 inch screen and full sized keyboard. However, for $499, you can get a decent full-featured Windows or Linux laptop that doesn't require you to carry a certain cell phone to make it useful.

To anyone who is trying to decide on an operating system for a handheld computer, Windows Mobile, or Linux seem to be better choices than Palm. There are more programs, they work better with other operating systems, and they are more active development. On a smart-phone, Blackberry and the iPhone's OS X also seem like better choices. Palm OS was a great operating system back in the day and they are to thank for the industry being where it is today. However, it is far past its prime, and sentimentality is no reason to pick an operating system.

Learn more about this author, Chad Smith.
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