It’s that time of year again! The school year is just getting over but the folks at Apple are thinking ahead. And why not? An Apple computer or laptop makes a perfect graduation gift. And if you are considering an Apple computer for your student for the fall NOW is the time to buy.

An Apple computer just NEEDS an iPod to go with it. Like Oreos and milk - you can’t have one without the other. And if your student buys a Mac computer between now and September 15, he/she will receive a free 8 GB iPod Touch or 8 GB iPod Nano.

This is a fabulous deal - you all know that I use my iPod Touch as PDA. I just can’t believe that Apple is giving one of these away a free iPod Touch with a computer purchase! The iPod Touch goes beyond just an entertainment device. It is so useful for organizing schedules, contacts and making notes. With built in wi-fi capabilities it is a virtual pocket computer.

Here is the link that will save you a bundle:
Buy a Mac for college and get a free iPod touch. Order online and get free shipping.

Buy Mac computers get free iPods. Good Deal.

How to Use your iPod Touch as PDA

If you are a big Apple fan like me, you probably use your computer to keep yourself organized. Apple’s native applications like iCal and AddressBook are excellent organizing and productivity tools for any busy parent. Or, if you prefer, Microsoft Office for Mac works equally well.

This is great if you are at home, but when you are on the go - it doesn’t help that your schedule and your contacts are trapped in the computer on your desk. But getting a handheld device or PDA that plays well with a Mac has always been a bit of a challenge.

iPhone

So, Apple created the iPhone. Everyone has heard of this incredible device. But it is not right for everyone for a myriad of reasons that I won’t go into here. I have my own reasons for not making the jump to iPhone, the biggest one being the 2 year cell phone contract that I am locked into with another carrier.

Enter the iPod Touch

On the surface, it looks like I am out of luck. But what many people don’t realize is that I can use the iPod Touch as PDA right out of the box. For whatever reason, Apple decided to market the iPod Touch as, well, an iPod. A music player. In reality this handy little device does so much more than deliver tunes. So, if you are not a music aficionado, or if you already have an mp3 player, your may never realize that an iPod Touch as PDA can be an important productivity and organizing tool in your life.

iPod Touch Productivity Applications

The iPod Touch ships with several applications including Calendar, Contacts, Notes, and Email. When it comes to productivity these three applications are what you need. The Calendar and Contacts applications easily sync to your iCal and AddressBook or Microsoft Office on your computer. And, YES, you can input new events and addresses directly into the iPod Touch. The next time you sync with your computer this new information will sync onto your computer and the data will be in both places. (Not to confuse you, but when this device was first introduced by Apple there was no calendar input on the iPod Touch - but since that time Apple has added the calendar input capability)

At this point the iPod Touch Notes application does not sync with the computer. So whatever notes you make on the iPod Touch stay on the device only. The Notes application is useful to parents for making grocery lists, errand lists, organizing projects and the like. Even though iPod Touch Notes has no Mac counterpart - I still love this application.

I don’t find Email to be as useful as the other iPod Touch as PDA applications. This is because iPod Touch only has internet connectivity through wi-fi. This means that you need to have access to a wi-fi netwok either at home or at a hotspot to use the internet and to download your email. But if you want 24/7 email and internet then you should be looking at the iPhone.

Using the iPod Touch as PDA is a natural choice if you use a Mac at home. Even if your platform is Windows, the iPod Touch is still compatible.

iPod Touch Now has Calendar Input

When Apple first introduced the iPod Touch I was bemoaning the fact that the iPod Touch did not have the capability for calendar input. Most busy parents need to be able to input appointments on the go.

Apparently Apple fixed that glitch with a little firmware update back in December that slipped by without my notice. So now after Apple Inc. announced the addition of Mail, Notes, Stocks, Maps, and Weather applications to the iPod Touch in January 2008, the iPod Touch is truly becoming the phoneless iPhone. (Buying tip: Make sure the unit that you are purchasing includes the new apps or you will have to purchase these separately as a download from Apple)

If anything, the iPod Touch is as close to an Apple PDA as they come. Now that you can input to the calendar and contacts and sync them with your computer (if you use a Mac this is perfect) you have all your information with you on the go.

Some shortcomings of the iPod Touch as PDA include:

• no camera
• no bluetooth
• no wireless sync capabilities
• wi-fi only, so you will only get internet and email in a hotspot or at home on your own wireless network

But if you want all that, you may as well get the iPhone (still no wireless sync though).

As you know, I am fascinated by all things Apple, which elevates me to “very cool parent” in the eyes of some little people that I know!

Go to iPod Touch as PDA to read more about the PDA features of the iPod Touch.

Boo! I was disappointed to learn that the upcoming iPod Touch will have no input capabilities for the calendar function. You can still sync your calendar to your computer but all input will have to be done on your computer. This dashes my hopes for PDA type functionality. It is a shame since the technology is obviously available (on the iPhone).

You can read the full review of the iPod Touch at PC Magazine.

The bright side is that I will save my money and continue to use my hybrid method of organization, which is working well for me.

Update: You can now use the iPod Touch as PDA! This functionality has been added by Apple!

Ok, by now you know that I have a geeky side. Today Apple, Inc. revealed the iPod Touch. At this point there are not too many details available, but it seems like it will be Apple’s version of a PDA - the iPhone without the phone.

To me this would be awesome. I struggle with the battle between the paper planner and the digital planner and this device could be the solution. I will be looking forward to reading more details and reviews.

For a teaser, I found this post at ZDNet - The Phoneless iPhone Lives: iPod Touch.

Update: The iPod Touch is here and I have looked at several of the features. My post called iPod Touch as PDA details how you can use the iPod Touch to organize your life. In the article No Calendar Input on iPod Touch I discuss how initially the iPod Touch did not have this function. But of course that changed and in the post iPod Touch as PDA and Calendar Input I rejoice at this new functionality.