Connecting PDAs and Pocket PCs to Your PC

PDAs (personal digital assistants) such as Pocket PCs and PalmOS-based devices can be connected to PCs in three ways:

• With a cradle that attaches to the PC with a serial or USB cable

• Direct connect with serial or USB cables

• IrDA (infrared) port

If you're working with a system that's so cutting edge it has an IEEE-1394b (FireWire 800) port or card instead of an IEEE-1394a card, you can plug the DV camcorder into the card or computer's legacy (bilingual) port, which can accept either 1394b or 1394a connections. See the Apple FireWire 800 briefing (PDF format, requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) at http://www.apple.com/firewire/pdf/FireWire_Tech_Brief-a.pdf for details.

As with digital cameras , you should install the software provided with the PDA first before you connect the PDA to your computer.

After the software is installed, follow this procedure to connect the PDA:

1. Read the instructions included with your PDA. You might need to install the software included with your PDA before you connect it to your PC.

2. Install driver software and perform other preliminary steps as required.

3. Connect the serial or USB cable or cradle to the appropriate port on your computer. If the cradle uses AC power, plug the cradle into an AC power source such as a wall outlet or surge suppressor .

4. If a cable is used, connect the other end of the cable to the PDA and turn on the PDA to start the synchronization process. Some cables also provide power to recharge the PDA.

5. If a cradle is used, slide the PDA into the cradle (see Figure 11.5) and turn it on to start the synchronization process. The cradle also recharges the PDA.

   Figure 11.5. A PDA's cradle can be connected to a USB or serial port depending upon the cradle's design. Most cradles can also be used to recharge the PDA's batteries.