If you’re a person who is always on the go, you may have experienced difficulty at some point in keeping track of your appointments and activities. Before I traveled to Providence, Rhode Island this week for the NGS Conference, I knew I had better create a schedule of some sort in order to keep track of my various commitments during the conference.

There are, of course, a number of ways you can keep track of your schedule. You can write yourself notes; you can buy a personal organizer, such as the compact offerings from Day-Timer or Day Runner; you can create a calendar in any number of different types of software programs, including the software version of Day-Timer, Lotus Organizer, or Microsoft Outlook; or you can use a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) such as the Palm Pilot or Compaq’s Aero 1500 series.

The Compaq Aero 1530 is one of my latest gadgets and has been quite helpful in keeping me on time and on schedule. I decided to try this PDA because it comes with Windows CE and, frankly, because it received good reviews. I have never been too successful at keeping a calendar of any type current, so the PDA has presented me with a new challenge, and some irritating moments.

The Aero includes a downsized version of Microsoft Outlook that allows you to add calendar events, to-do items, addresses, and even notes to yourself. It also has audio record and playback, which attracted me because I was considering buying a digital recorder to capture those stray thoughts while I’m driving. I’ve used this feature and it works great, and it is even more fun because I can play back the recording when I’m able to jot down notes. I can finally remember the ideas that float through frequently!

The calendar has been the feature that I have used most so far. Since the Aero is small and lightweight (5.2 oz. and 1/2-inch wide), I can carry it in my very small purse along with my checkbook (they’re about the same size). If I’m at a doctor’s appointment and am given a follow-up appointment, I enter the time and date right away and don’t have to worry about missing the appointment in the future. You can schedule appointments a year or two in advance, so you can enter reminders to schedule your annual physical or any tests that you need done on an annual basis. When I was in physical therapy after my recent knee surgery, I had the appointment entered in the PDA. When the appointment was done, I went into that schedule item and changed the date to the next appointment, and voila!

The one irritating feature about the calendar is that when it’s appointment time, the PDA actually makes noises to let you know. The noise that is currently selected sounds like a train approaching. If I don’t go over and dismiss the reminder, the PDA toots at me every few minutes to remind me. The noise feature is necessary and an advantage over the paper versions, but you have to pay attention to the PDA to get the noise to stop.

I also use the to-do list, although I’m not sure why. I usually can remember the projects I’m working on and approximately when they’re due, so this feature is rather superfluous for me. However, I do get great satisfaction from selecting the “completed” box on each item.

The address list is helpful for the names, addresses, and phone numbers I need to keep with me when I travel. And I have used the notes section once or twice to jot down miscellaneous items, so it’s nice to have when needed. I must admit that I haven’t used any of the other Windows CE features as of yet, but I primarily purchased the Aero for the calendar feature.

The Aero comes with Microsoft Outlook 2000 for your desktop or laptop and Microsoft ActiveSync to allow you to keep the calendar on your computer in sync with the calendar on the Aero. I tried that feature in preparation for my trip, and after getting Compaq to help solve some software problems, the Aero and my laptop were talking back and forth like old friends. My main reason for syncing the Aero with my laptop is in case something happens to the Aero—I now have a backup on my laptop. This becomes even more crucial for appointments I entered directly into the Aero for which I have no paper backup.

One of the nice features of the Aero is the backlit feature for when you’re in a low-light situation. The Aero comes with a lithium ion battery that lasts quite a long time between recharge episodes (I’ve gone a week without placing the Aero in the battery charging unit that comes with it).

The Compaq Aero retails for about $299. I purchased mine before Microsoft released its new “Windows for Pocket PC,” so if I want to upgrade, it’ll cost another $69. Since I’m happy with the way the unit operates, I think I’ll stick with Windows CE for now. If you’re looking for a high tech way to keep track of your schedule, I recommend the Compaq Aero!

As an aside, this is the last column I will be writing on organizing tips. Next week I will begin a new column, “GC Extra,” which will expand on the themes of Genealogical Computing magazine to focus on the computer and genealogy world; this will also allow for more timely information to be passed.

Elizabeth Kelley Kerstens, CGRS, is the managing editor of Genealogical Computing, editor of the Board for Certification of Genealogists’ newsletter OnBoard, the creator of Clooz—the electronic filing cabinet for genealogical records, and a frequent contributor to Ancestry Magazine. She can be reached via e-mail at liz@ancestordetective.com.

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