Comparison of handheld computers for nutrition assessment and support

Handheld computers offer a variety of capabilities useful to dietitians in clinical and other settings. Currently, such devices are not available for testing or inspection before purchase. This limits the potential purchaser's ability to compare features and capabilities among various brands and models during the selection process. In this article we compare the anthropometric, biochemical, and dietary assessment and nutrition support computational capabilities of five of the most popular brands and models of handheld computers. Results are presented in tabular form. We present a strategy to guide the selection and purchase of an appropriate handheld computer for nutrition assessment and support that has the features the purchaser desires. The results of this comparison indicate that there is a wide variation in features, capabilities, and prices among different models. The decision as to which model is most efficient depends ultimately on the individual user's unique needs.