Somehow, their stern gazes inspire me to continue my search for the elusive forebears which we share. As you might have guessed, you can bring your ancestors' photographs with you when you carry a Palm Pilot. Archives and libraries are becoming increasingly strict in their efforts to limit what their patrons may carry into the stacks with them. Pens have long been forbidden at most repositories frequented by genealogists. Research bags are often not allowed in due to work space constraints or the possibility of the bags being used to hide the theft of materials.
Some institutions allow only a few sheets of paper and a single pencil in with each patron.
When in Rome I am unable to resist the temptation to note how similar in basic design and purpose the Palm Pilot is to the wax-impregnated table books used by the ancient Romans. These hand held wax tablets were about the same size as a Palm Pilot and were written on with a stylus. By folding the bound tablets together, what was written on the inside was protected from prying eyes and from modification or loss. They could be erased and re-used by smoothing the wax surface of the interior using the blunt end of the stylus. Their appearance in these paintings was a symbol of the literacy of those portrayed.