Palms offer a low-cost solution to complex business problems. The number of choices has exploded is the past years, with new models emerging in all sizes, shapes, and price ranges. If you need a constant connection to your e-mail, you can get a handheld with wireless service, or you can add the service later. A growing number come with color screens. Whether you are looking for the elegant simplicity of a Palm, the sophistication and flexibility of a Pocket PC, or the single-minded e-mail efficiency of a Blackberry pager, there’s undoubtedly a handheld that’s right for you. Best of all, prices are coming down fast. Initially, Palm’s slim Vx model sold for $400. Today, its more capable successor, the m500, goes for $329.

Despite the profusion of models, choosing a handheld isn’t difficult. First, assess your basic needs, and choose the type that fits them best–wired or wireless, Palm or Pocket PC. Then go for the extras best suited to your tastes and your budget. Is a gee-whiz color screen worth the extra money and shorter battery life? Do you want rechargeable batteries, or are throwaway alkalines O.K.? Are you interested in the wealth of free consumer software available for Palms?

Newer entrants to the Palm family also are making their mark. Sony (SNE) caused a splash with its $499 CLIE model boasting a brilliant color screen. Now, it has a $300 monochrome version, which features the same stylish design plus a long-range infrared port that lets it do double duty as a universal remote control for your TV, VCR, DVD, and stereo.

If access to corporate networks and integration with desktop applications such as Microsoft Office (MSFT) are a priority, you might be happier with one of the Pocket PCs. These are more capable–albeit at a cost in weight, price, and complexity. The latest models, based on Microsoft’s Pocket PC 2002 software, feature big improvements in their e-mail programs and in their ability to connect to corporate networks.

Palm users have become frustrated with its limitations, especially in synchronizing with Microsoft Outlook mail and contacts. The pocket PC works with Microsoft Outlook’s database. “This is a big advantage over the Palm. The newest batch of Pocket PCs from Compaq (CPQ), HP (HWP), and Toshiba (TOSBF)–with more models due soon from NEC (NIPNY) and Casio (CSIOY)–should continue making inroads into Palm’s longtime dominance of the market. Like the Palms, the Pocket PCs all run the same basic software for your calendar, address book, and e-mail. Even in terms of hardware, the products are more alike than different. The main variation is in the number and type of expansion slots, which determine what accessories you can use.