Esotropiart

For a couple years I have been wanting to get a PDA to help me organize my schedule, creative thoughts, goals, and so on. I did an extensive search about the different PDAs on the market and what each has to offer. I looked both at Palm and Windows Mobile models. Strangely enough I found it nearly impossible to find a significant number of these machines in local stores. They don't seem to be selling very well nowadays. Many stores said simply, "We don't sell those anymore."

While looking around at conventional PDA options, I came across a couple unusual possibilities. One of those included making a Nintendo DS into a PDA using homebrew software. Being that the DS is very well suited to be a PDA (stylus, 2 screens, WiFi connection, microphone, etc) and is about half the price of most low-end PDAs turned my attention to buying a DS and the necessary cartridge adapter to load homebrew software.

Just last week, as I was calling around to different retail stores, I realized that the Nintendo DS is also very hard to find. In fact, not a single store in the entire Portland area had one until this weekend. Nintendo released a new cobalt color Nintendo DS Lite, and I guess all shipments were being held until that release. I called Circuit City on Saturday, one day before the official release date, and they had a bunch in stock already. So I got my cobalt DS Lite before most people.

Now I have only to await my PDA gear that I ordered online. While the DS is obviously a very cool gaming machine, believe it or not, I'm way more excited to use it as a PDA. I'm anxious to see how it works out. I'll post an update whenever I finally get the rest of my hardware and have a chance to play with it.