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Screen
PDA screens are LCDs (Liquid Crystal Displays) like those
found in notebook computers and flat panel displays. Early
on, you could only get PDAs with monochrome screens, but
color is now available. Monochrome screens can be strictly
black and white or display anywhere from 4-16 shades of
gray.
Most PDAs are monochrome models, but color is becoming
increasingly popular. Some color screens can display
thousands of colors. Of course, you'll pay more for a color
screen, and it will drain the device's batteries faster.
Don't get a color screen if you plan on using your PDA
outdoors because the screen will wash-out in direct
sunlight. It's also advisable to get a screen with a
backlight which makes it easier to read under a variety of
lighting conditions including the dark.
A screen's resolution is measured by the number of pixels
horizontally and vertically (ie. 640x480). The greater the
resolution the sharper the image. Obviously, resolutions on
PDAs are limited by the compactness of the screens. On palm
units, screens are roughly 4 inches across the diagonal with
resolutions up to 240x320. Typical handhelds have larger
screens around 6.5 inches diagonally, supporting 640x240
resolution. If you want a handheld with even better image
quality, Pro models can support resolutions of 640x480 and
800x600 with screens around 10 inches in size.
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