The Baltimore-based Argus provides communications
services for financial services and health care companies.
Clients choose their material from a content library and
Argus then customizes the literature pieces for them.
The companies said the corporate combination should be
effective because of Argus’ ability to personalize company
communications and ADP’s production and distribution
capabilities.
ADP Investor Communications Services, a division of
Automatic Data Processing, offers financial printing,
delivery of investor communications, and literature
distribution.
April 19, 2001 - As you might expect, when it comes
to personal digital assistants, people tend to fall into one
of two camps -- you either love them and can't do without
them -- or you can't imagine why anyone would spend that much
money for a calendar/address book. Our survey respondents
exhibited much of the same polarity, with a noticeable
minority on the fence.
In all, 46% of our respondents had PDAs of one type or
another, most frequently using them for calendars and
address books. “To do” lists, calculators and note pads
were also frequently cited as uses. Email was cited by
about 10% of those, and 4% “admitted” to gamesmanship. A
couple were taking advantage of news services, weather and
even e-books to take their reading with them –while
leaving the laptop at home. A couple have used it for
personal inventories, directions and even Internet
passwords – one has actually used it to track her husband’s
dieting progress!
Of course, more than half (54%) are currently
PDA-challenged.
“I find that many people cannot put them down, use
them in meetings, etc. While I do recognize
“multi-tasking”, I also think that common courtesy
appears to be forgotten by some folks. What could
possibly be that important?” (it’s probably the
games)
“I have witnessed far too many peers poking them with
the special stylus to make updates or look things up that
have proven to me it is much faster to track/look
up/write things in my paper planner. It’s a bit bulkier,
but faster!” (it’s not about speed, it’s about
style)
“It has become a necessity for me. However, our
techies freak out when they see these things on our
desktops because it’s “unsupported software” and not part
of the desktop protocol. They need to loosen up a
little.” (that’s what techies do best)
“I have enough computers, laptops, telephones, fax
machines, etc. Sometimes it is just nice to stop and
smell the roses instead of looking at them as a screen
saver.” (do PDAs HAVE screen savers?)
One non-owner noted
“People’s days are brightened by the endless
opportunities I provide them to correct and bring me up to
date.” (we all have to do our part)
One spoke for those in transition,
“I don’t have one – yet….”.
But our favorite was
“The only “palm pilot” I have is if I write a note on
my hand.”
Ed.Note: It was obvious from some of the comments
that we have some very experienced PDA users out there
–and also that we have some who are considering adopting
the technology –but aren’t sure where to start. Let’s
help each other out –if you’ve got words of wisdom,
experience or recommendations for those considering a
purchase -send them to editors@plansponsor.com ? and
we’ll share the wealth.
Thanks to everyone who participated in our survey!