The 958 bird pages include over 1700 illustrations, 900 bird sounds, and 3700 photos, short field-guide text (English or Afrikaans) and full-length Roberts text, colour-coded distribution maps, breeding status bar, and endemic and red data species indicators. The bird list names include English (Roberts 6 and 7), Afrikaans, French, German and Scientific names. Bird lists for all countries, provinces and birding spots are included.

The Identification module uses distribution, habitat, GISS (general impression, size and shape), plumage and behaviour, and includes Sound, Nest and Egg identification. The sound module refers to over 900 bird sounds, and the nest and egg identification modules are supported by photos of 500 nests and 700 eggs of Southern Africa's 728 breeding species.

The PDA program has a natural and intuitive flow that makes it quick and easy to use. Buttons are colour-coded for different modules, and use simple alphabet letters such as L for List, P for Picture and S for Sound. On any screen, all logical functions are immediately available with a single tap of the stylus, and different modules are a mere menu-tap away.

The PDA version can work as a stand-alone program, but also includes a list management facility for your PC, so that you can upload, save and view your PDA field lists on your PC. The PDA version will also integrate with the bird list module of Version 3, where you can prepare bird lists for downloading, and upload PDA field lists into your personal lists saved under Version 3.

The program can be purchased on a 1Gig SD-card for "plug 'n play" installation directly to your PDA. See Program Purchase Options, Plug 'n Play and Suitable Hardware below.

Program Purchase Options

• "Plug 'n Play" SD card plus cd-rom disc with list manager. This option includes a "Plug 'n Play" 1Gig SD card in your choice of standard/Mini/Micro SD card sizes, plus the List Manager PDA program on CD. With this package you can reinstall the program in the field should your battery run flat (Windows re-loads after a flat battery and all data installed directly to the PDA is lost). The PC-based List Manager allows you to transfer bird lists recorded in the field back to your home PC.  PRICE: only R699*. Available in stores and directly from S.A.Birding.

Roberts' PDA Requirements
A PDA device (HP iPAQ or similar) with Windows Pocket PC 2002/3 or Windows Mobile 5 for Pocket PC (Premium and Phone Editions), Windows Mobile 6 (Classic or Professional) **, colour touch screen and mp3 sound playback. The PDA version can work as a stand-alone program and does not need to be linked to the Roberts' Multimedia Version 3. A Windows PC (98,ME,2000,XP,Vista) is required for running the List Manager program, but is not required to use the software.

Copy protection
Original disc and registration required to run the List Manager on the PC.

What is a PDA
A PDA (personal digital assistant) is a small palm-sized computer / organiser that operates a scaled-down version of Windows and is capable of running PDA versions of many programs such as Word, Excel, Outlook, Internet Explorer etc. It includes a calculator and diary, typing on a small on-screen keyboard, transcriber tablet (writing on-screen), and many other useful utilities and program options. New versions are multimedia-capable with colour screens, sound playback via a small speaker or headphone jack (useful for an extension speaker) and even dictaphone-type recording. You can add memory cards, browse the internet wirelessly, or use it as a remote control for all your appliances. You can purchase add-ons such as a small portable keyboard, and download useful utility programs off the internet. Most PDA units include a "docking cradle" that is used for charging the battery, and also for connecting (synchronising) to your PC, for copying files to and from the PC. Current models usually have at least 64MB of memory, of which about 24MB is used by the operating system, leaving 40MB for additional programs and data. Additional memory can be added with SD-cards (Secure-Digital cards), that are postage-stamp in size, and fit into a memory slot. These cards can also be used in other equipment such as digital cameras. PDA's range in price from R2500* to R6000*.

Suitable hardware
The advertised program does not include the hardware (PDA unit) on which to run the program. Visit our PDA page.

General hardware specifications:

1. MS Windows PDA Operating System:
   Windows Mobile 2002
   Windows Mobile 2003
   Windows Mobile 5 Pocket PC, Premium Edition
   Windows Mobile 5 Pocket PC, Phone Edition
   Windows Mobile 6 Classic
   Windows Mobile 6 Professional
2. Touch Screen
3. SD (Secure Digital), mini SD or micro SD expansion slot.

**Our software does not work on Windows Mobile 5 SmartPhone Edition

Click here to view recommended PDAs.

Suitable PDAs can be bought at Incredible Connection.

Battery Back-up
Battery life is normally quoted from 5 to 10 hours, depending on the unit. The bigger heavier units have larger batteries. A 12 volt cigarette-lighter type battery charger and power supply unit can be purchased as an accessory.