Looking back at my handheld concerns, I started wondering what I really needed, especially on my limited budget. Combo cellphone? Not really; my N3390 is more than enough for now, and my prepaid scheme is far more cost-effective for my current lifestyle. Getting the postpaid subscription which would come with a new PDA-phone would mean the added hassle of a monthly bill and a new phone number. I can do without something like that for another year or so.

SD expansion slot with color screen? Why bother, when I already have my iBook with its SD Card reader on hand? It’s not that crucial that I be able to see my Pencam photos ASAP. They can wait a couple of hours.

All things considered, all I truly need is basic PDA functions (calendar, addresses, to do list, memo pad) with easy OS X compatibility. Minor games and a PalmOS Bible aside, I don’t even need more than a couple of megabytes of storage.

So I bought a Zire. Small, simple, easy transitional handheld device. And the white casing matches with the iBook perfectly. This should last me a year or two, till better and cheaper PDA’s come out to suit my needs. (Oh, with a penlight stylus to compensate for the lack of a backlight.)