Originating Author: G Berton Latamore
Like any other piece of computer hardware, smartphones and other handhelds are an investment that needs to be maintained. And because they live in employees' pockets, are used anywhere those employees happen to be, and often have touchscreens rather than keyboards as their main physical interface, they require their own regimen of care. Here are some tips for protecting handhelds from common hazards that can end their lives prematurely:
- Supply cases to protect them: Handhelds are fragile, and too many end their lives suddenly face down on the floor with a broken screen. I have broken three PDAs that way. I have also dropped my PDA several times without damage because it was in a strong case.
- Use screen protectors: Another common cause of premature death of handhelds with touch screens is a badly scratched and worn screen. Pressure-sensitive touch screens are soft and wear quickly, making them increasingly hard to read. Protective plastic overlays are an inexpensive solution – the wear goes on the replaceable overlay. After testing several brands, I have found that the best are the Boxwave Crystal ClearTouch screens. Boxwave makes these for most brands of PDA, smart phone, and Windows tablet and ultra-portable computers.
- Tag each handheld with the corporate name and address: Smartphones and PDAs are also easy to lose. Fortunately most people are honest and will make a reasonable effort to return a lost valuable. Sticking an address label on the back of each unit and recommending that users keep a business card in the case makes that easier.
- As handhelds age, consider repair rather than replacement: Despite the most careful care, handhelds do wear out. The most common problems are batteries that no longer hold a good charge and touch screens that lose sensitivity. Fortunately, these components are replaceable. If your shop is equipped to do electronic repairs these can be done in house. Otherwise, look for a good outside repair service. A tip: Shop around. The handheld's maker may not be the best choice as a repair service. Online user groups are a good place to get recommendations.
- Backup, backup, backup! The most valuable thing about a handheld is the information in it. Even with the most careful care, these units are vulnerable to sudden death, sometimes for mysterious reasons. So require users to backup their data daily and make that daily backup as simple as possible. I do a sync to my portable computer and copy the contents of my PDA's memory to two SD cards daily. I keep one of those memory cards in a safe place in case I lose my handheld.
Action Item: Nothing lasts forever. But with reasonable care, handhelds should last for two-to-three years or longer. Treat these myriad devices as the assets they are and ensure a longer useful life for the products.
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