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WWW.KANSAN.COM/FEATURES
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
TALK TO US: Contact Amanda Beglin at (785) 864-4810 or features.kansan.com
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29. $ 200^{1} $
By Louise Stauffer
Kansan features writer
Yeah, I could definitely see myself with one," said Michael Hibit, Overland Park junior.
Hibit wasn't talking about a fast car, a Rolex or a mansion in the suburbs. What Hibit wants is another status symbol commonly associated with the yuppie executive — he wants a Personal Digital Assistant, or PDA.
Hibit is employed at Office Depot, 2525 Iowa St., which sells many types of PDAs.
At Office Depot, the price range for these handheld organizers is diverse, starting at $129 for the self-described "basic" model, Palm M100, and rising as high as $450 for the Palm M505.
"The more expensive machines are more functional and include features like a color screen and having access to Microsoft Word," Hibit said. "A student could type up notes or a paper at home, transfer it to the
Palm
Palm and edit it in class."
The Palm M505 is also able to connect to a Nextel Plus phone, allowing access to an America Online email account.
In the Kansas Union Bookstore, only one type of PDA is sold, the $129.95 Palm M100. According to employee Nic Wood, there is no need to carry additional models.
"We've only sold one Palm in the last year, and it was to a KU cop," the Kansas City, Mo., senior said. "But I'm surprised that I haven't seen more people on campus carrying them around. They seem to have every other electronic gadget."
"I use it all the time to keep track of everything to a mail." Gobbauer said.
Wes Gehbauer, St. Louis sophomore, is one student who has a PDA and loves it.
- to e-mail," Gehbauer said.
Gehbauer has a Handspring Visor Handheld Visor Deluxe, which costs $169 and has student-friendly features such as five colors, an advanced calculator, an alarm to remind him when things are due, a to-do list and a memo pad.
Gehbauer got his Handspring Visor from his parents as a graduation gift, but he said that he would have one even if his parents didn't pay for it.
Cate Bachelder, Highland sophomore, will also soon own a PDA, but not because she asked for one.
"My mom has had one for about a year and is upgrading to a color model, so she's giving her old one to me," Bachelder said.
Bachelder said she didn't think she'd use it
Austin Grissing, Tulsa sophomore, got his Handspring Visor from his parents as a Christmas gift last year.
"I use it for organization."
Grissing said. "I plan out my day and keep track of homework assignments."
Grissing agreed that there was an image connected to PDA owners — similar to the yuppie executive.
"Sometimes when I'm using mine I see some people look at me," he said.
When asked if he would ever go back to using a paper planner and a pen, Grissing answered: "Probably not because a Palm is more convenient."
So, if Hibit can see himself with a PDA, why isn't he buying one?
"I don't have any money for that right now," he said.
Cost seems to be the main factor holding students back from purchasing PDAs. It is for Shirin Moshiri.
"It's too expensive when you can just write it down on paper," the Lawrence senior said. "Maybe someday I'll have
PDAs VS. PAD AND PAPER
BUDGET MODELS
■ KU datebook — $5.95
Where — Kansas Union
Bookstore
Palm M100 — $129.99 Where — Office Depot
ADVANCED MODELS
Dayrunner pocket planner
$17.99
Where — Office Depot
Palm M505 — $449.99 Where — Office Depot
ACCESSORIES
12-pack of ballpoint pens — $0.74 Where — Office Depot
3-pack of Stylus pens for Palm
— $14.99
Where — Office Depot
said. Maybe someone else one when I'm my own source of income, but right now I just can't ask my parents for that."
It seems that the methods students have been using to keep their schedules organized are still working just fine — at least for Liz Jackson, Overland Park senior.
"I have a planner and a little black book to keep track of dates because I like to be an organized person," Jackson said. She said a PDA just wasn't a priority for her right now, but it may be in the future. She said she didn't want one because "it would take time to get used to, like a cell phone did."
Jackson thought in a few years PDAs would be more common, like the cell phone is now.
"It's like everyone and their mothers have cell phones now. Maybe one day everyone will be carrying around Palms."
Contact Stauffer at 864-4810