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Ancestry Daily News
6/5/2003 - Archive
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RootsWorks: PDA 2003 - Genealogy Software |
RootsWorks: PDA 2003 - Genealogy Software
In the sixteen months since we last visited this topic, each of the four programs we reviewed has been upgraded. Rather than rehash the basics, I encourage you to glance over the previous article for background (www.ancestry.com/rd/prodredir.asp?sourceid=831&key=A529301), and the supplemental material on the RootsWorks website (www.rootsworks.com/pda2003). I’ll happily review the important parts.
As I wrote last time, PDA issues are portability issues—leveraging the size of the device to get information to places it wasn’t previously available. That encapsulates, for me, the reason to deal with genealogy software and PDAs: convenience and portability.
What Kind of Upgrades?
First, the upgrades provide support for removable memory. The biggest changes in PDAs have been the use of color displays and the rapid increase in memory. You can use between 128 and 256 megabytes of memory cards now, and there are gigabyte cards coming out soon. Each of these programs allows you to install the program, and the data, on those expanded cards, which protects you from losing any work if the PDA has to be reset.
More memory means support for larger databases. Each program now supports larger databases than it did eighteen months ago. Those databases often include more information about people, too.
While each program imports from GEDCOM files, direct import from Legacy Family Tree and The Master Genealogist has become an option. These take the form of a desktop import application that reads the genealogy database you created with those programs, and writes out a file for download to your PDA on the next hot sync.
What do these upgrades mean to you? They mean that the programs are more likely to meet your needs for getting your desktop data into the PDA and out into the field with you.
Data entry on the PDA is becoming more widely available. As readers of the previous survey know, I am not very excited about this capability. I will provide more information on that below.
Name Two of Them
At the RootsWorks website (www.rootsworks.com/pda2003), there is a more detailed comparison of these programs than would fit into this article. Each of these programs has been downloaded thousands of times, some as many as twenty thousand. The ones covered in this survey are:
My Roots—Works with PC or Mac (www.tapperware.com)
GedStar—Formerly GedPalm (www.ghcssoftware.com/gedpalm.htm)
GedWise—Formerly GedVisor (www.batteryparksoftware.com)
Pocket Genealogist—Windows CE or Pocket PC only (www.northernhillssoftware.com/pgenie.htm)
If you have a Macintosh computer, My Roots is the only program that will import from the Mac without running Virtual PC. If you have a Pocket PC, Pocket Genealogist is the only program that runs on your PDA.
For the rest of you, the Windows/Palm users, you actually do have three choices. I would like to add that the developers of all four of these programs put a great deal of time and effort into customer support. They have also responded to my emails asking for information about the program. I’ve had more interaction with the developer of My Roots, and he’s a great guy. I’m sure that the others are, as well.
Earlier in this survey, I pointed out that life seems simpler if we think of the Pocket PC as a general-purpose computer, and the Palm as a very powerful organizer. Following this thinking, I’d suggest that if you plan to use your PDA as a data entry tool, you should use a Pocket PC. If you want to use it as I do, as a reference tool, go with the Palm. If you can’t decide, just get the one that you think is prettiest.
Do I Still Need a Desktop Genealogy Program?
I enjoy having my information with me when I go to the library. I have more records than I can reasonably carry around. I used to have problems because I only brought the records that were related to my research goals. My PDA frees me from that. I can look up the Littrell family and see if I’m coming across old information or new. I can also tell which of my four John Littrells the index deals with because I can see a list of people by name with their birth and death years.
For that advantage, we pay a price. Even a powerful PDA has some serious size limits compared to a laptop—you can’t put all of the images, mp3 files, and data on them that you’d find on a PC. Other features that differentiate products are the operating system, look and feel, developer website, price, age, and installed base.
Also, it’s not that easy to enter data into PDAs. So yes, you still need a desktop genealogy program. These programs are just Field Reference Tools.
What's the Downside?
I mentioned that entering data on the PDA side is a feature that is becoming more widely available. I have a concern about this. Let’s revisit the Personal Reference Boundary. That is how I refer to the “line in the sand” across which you would not be willing to enter information. You set your Personal Reference Boundary, and enter information on one side of it and don’t enter information on the other side. I predict that you will move that boundary in the years to come as the software on the PC and the Palm makes it easier to move data properly. My concern is that it is hard enough to tell evidence from conclusions, and I’m not sure that most PDA users can keep them straight.
For example, I don’t hesitate to enter appointments and contact information into my PDA, because the sync program merges them in such a way that there is no difference what computer I used to enter the data. I wouldn’t consider that with family history data, but one can hope that someday we will have the same experience in our peculiar domain.
Be very careful about entering new information on the PDA. GedStar describes itself as a “viewer” and I think that there is some wisdom in this. I see PDAs as reference tools, not as research input devices.
What Else?
It’s time to talk about registering your software. Some of the products described in this article are “shareware”—which you try before you buy. Once you’ve tried the product, if you decide that you want to continue to use it, you are obligated to register and pay the license fee. This isn’t just a moral platitude—it’s the law. Some shareware developers have had one registration for every ten copies downloaded from their sites. This software is reasonably priced, and I encourage you to support these developers by faithfully registering your software. It’s never too late. Start today. Okay, I’m getting off the soapbox now.
Someday a PDA will be a completely portable data terminal that is wirelessly connected to your home or office network, the Internet, and great stores of information including databases, image galleries, news and mail sources, and numerous genealogy sources. It will connect to your glasses for the sensation of a huge monitor, you’ll get CD quality sound in your headphones, and you’ll be able to use voice commands to enter information. That day isn’t here yet. I’m also certain that a day will come when there is a family tree for just about the whole world. One of the ways that tree will be completed is through people sharing what they know. Having the ability to carry your conclusions around in your pocket may hasten that day.
The RootsWorks series of articles focuses on genealogical applications for generic technologies. Beau would like to hear from you. Whether you have something to add or something to ask, please point your browser to www.rootsworks.com/forums and discuss this or any topic related to the use of technology in family history. Please note that he cannot assist you with your individual computer problems. Visit the RootsWorks website for links to previous articles and Beau’s lecture schedule.
Copyright 2003, MyFamily.com.
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