Well, using a PDA requires routine. One has to acquire the habit
of updating it, and recording every detail that is important and
pertinent into it for it to be useful.
My wife has a Palm, it is like you've said, consigned to dust
collecting, simply because she found it too technical to use. Some
people just aren't cut out to use tech devices. Not that they are
poor in character, in fact some do better with pen and paper
diaries.
Forgetful people like me, a PDA with lots of beeps and bleeps,
keeps things in my very short term memory. Or maybe it's
over-crowded memory.
I back up my PDA every 2 weeks, so even if it gets stolen, smashed,
or just simply dies on me, I just need pick up a new one and slot
in the memory card and I'm back on my toes!
Ain't that a snap!