PDAs vs Microtablets

I've talked a lot recently about how the future of PDAs is in true handheld computing, being more than just organizers. But there's a new kind of PC just starting to surface that does essentially the same thing: the Windows microtablet computer. The OQO and Sony VAIO U series are prime examples of these. Not much bigger than PDAs (the OQO is a little bigger than a Toshiba e800, the VAIO U is about he size of an Apple Newton), these are full-fledged PCs in their own rights, running Windows XP and capable of anything a desktop can do. Why get a PDA that can sync with Word if you can get a pocket-sized PC that can actually run Microsoft Office 2003?

There are compromises both ways, but I think it breaks toward the PDA. While microtablets can do almost anything a desktop can do (I wouldn't try playing Doom III on them), they come with disadvantages, too.

The biggest is price. Compared to a $200-500 PDA, most microtablets are in the $2,000 range. For this, you get something along the lines of a 1GHz Centrino processor, 512MB RAM, a 800x600 screen and a 20GB hard drive. While these specs are impressive compared to a PDA, they're pretty slim by PC standards. Other than the size, you're not getting much bang for the buck.

So what, you ask. I'm not using this as my primary PC anyway. Well, that opens another can of worms: synchronization. While PDAs specialize in syncing data to a desktop PC, microtablets don't. Thre's really no easy or effective way to do it, at least not yet. So how do you keep your data straight between the microtablet and your PC?

The official answer, according to OQO, is that you don't. The idea behind microtablets is that they are your primary PC, that you plug it into a docking station in the office to use a full-size monitor, mouse and keyboard, then unplug it and pocket it when you leave. Nice idea, but in the age of MP3s (not to mention video), how many people can get by with a 20GB hard drive that already has 2-5GB reserved for Windows XP and Office? My home PC has over 60GB used with just my own CDs ripped and a few games loaded in addition to my work stuff. If I really get into buying music online, I'll have to add a second hard drive. You can do with with a microtablet by adding an external drive via USB or Firewire, but even I won't carry that much stuff around and I have no fear at all about looking like a tubby Batman.

While we're on the topic of data, let's consider loss. If I drop my PDA down a sewer grate, I'm out about $500, the cost of replacing my Zodiac and SD cards. If I drop an OQO, I'm out $1,900. That's a big difference, but let me ask you something. On your computer, what's more valuable: the hard drive, or the data on the hard drive? If you're using the microtablet as intended, you better damn well have bought an external hard drive, one with a "one touch backup" feature, and you better plug your microtablet in and back it up at least every few days. Because while if I drop my Zodiac down the sewer, I just have to buy a new Zodiac and sync it to get all my data back, if you drop an OQO and don't have a redundant backup, you're screwed. And lest you think this is a "well, duh" moment, let me ask you this. How many of you actually back up your desktop PCs regularly?

Microtablets are a neat idea, and I'm sure they'll be wonderful in niche situations, but they're not as good as high end PDAs for most business users. I'll still take the tandem of a good desktop and a good PDA over putting all my eggs in one very small basket any day.