Not merely digital organizers, both devices are capable of handling a variety of tasks, from recording audio memos to checking stock quotes downloaded from the Internet. Each device includes scheduling, appointment and finance software, all of it designed to work seamlessly with Windows-based desktop applications. Each comes with a cradle for recharging and linking with PCs. Both use Microsoft's Windows CE operating system, which is supposed to make palmtop devices simpler by mimicking the familiar desktop Windows interface. In reality, CE users have complained that CE-based handhelds can be confusing to run.
Applications take long seconds to load, and saving files is needlessly complicated.
There is no particularly intuitive way to access data or move between applications. Then there's the portability factor. The paperback-sized Aero and Jornada are a little too big to carry inside a jacket pocket. The color screens and extra features translate into a couple of porky palmtops. They each weigh less than a pound, but their heft is not inconsiderable when you are trying to travel light.