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by Sarah Wood
“Would you dial that up, please?” My Sunday school teacher grins at his own joke. A few taps and I am reading the scripture requested.
Taps? Yes, taps. I am reading the Bible on my Palm™ operating system handheld computer. If you own one of these handy contraptions you can have the Bible and other helpful programs in your hand any time.
The Selection
Small, handheld computers come in a variety of types, prices and sizes. Choices to make include the size of the storage space, the speed of the processor, color, wireless communication, and price. You may be pleased to know that you can carry the Bible on a fairly inexpensive unit.
Most Bible versions take up 1-2 MB of space. If you have a PDA that comes with at least 8 MB, you may well have enough room. My first unit had 8 MB of space and lots of other programs on it in addition to what came with it. I had no problem running two versions of the Bible. I have since upgraded to a unit that has more than enough room, plus it come with an expansion slot.
Getting Started
You will need Bible reader software. This allows you to access the Bible text on your handheld. Bible reader software is available from a number of sources. One of the better-known web sites for Bible software is www.olivetree.com. Recently they have made their software available on CD through bookstores and websites. These offer convenience and “one-stop-shopping.” Prices for this software runs at about $30.00.
On olivetree.com you can also download a free Bible reader and choose a version of the Bible to download as well (these run from free up to about $30.00 or more for some of the study tools). In such cases you must download the programs and install the needed program from zipped or compressed files.
Using Your PDA
Once the files have been installed on your handheld computer you are ready to begin using it. Tapping the Bible Reader opens the program, Tapping the top title bar opens the menu (as it does for many handheld computer programs) and from there you can select the version of the Bible you wish to use (if you installed more than one version), or tap on the verse chooser.
Working with the menu is fairly intuitive and if you run into trouble, there are help files available or you can always close the program by choosing the “home” button on your device and then starting over. You can bookmark verses and make notes on passages within the Bible text. There is a search function that allows you to search through designated books or the whole Bible by keyword.
Versions of Bible reader software and Bible versions are also available for Pocket PC devices. Other websites also make Bibles available both for free and for a price. Other websites for handlheld Bible software include www.laradian.com and www.gmpsoft.com.
If your handheld computer has an expansion slot that accepts the postage-stamp size multi-media or smart digital cards then you can purchase a card that contains several versions of the Bible. All you have to do is pop in the card and install the Bible reader software that comes with the card and is installed from a CD. This option costs around $50.00 and is available from handmark.com or from other retailers of computer software.
It is a convenient way for me to have my Bible handy. It is also a great conversation starter as folks often wonder what I am doing with my Palm™ open during church (some assume I am playing a game, so I am quick to show them what I am doing).
In addition to the Bible there are many other programs for handheld computers that are helpful in enriching study and interaction with God’s Word. Kepping logging onto www.christianwomentoday.com for a future article on a program that works as a prayer journal, and a program that assists in Scripture memorization. Keep on tapping into the Word!
~ Sarah Wood really enjoys helping folks use technology in all areas of their lives. Formerly a teacher, she is a Technology Director for a small school district in West Texas. Married with 3 grown children and a daughter-in-law, Sarah balances time between her family, job, and church. She also writes software for handheld computers.
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