Using my new ipod touch as a PDA

Question

I received an Ipod touch 8GB for Christmas from my husband and I believe he intended for me to be able to use this as a replacement for my Windows Based PDA by Toshiba. I have used a Windows based PDA for many years and really need to have the ability to manipulate MS Office documents, as well as utilize cut, copy, and paste within these documents and applications. I think his main idea was that it has internet access, that needs to be connected via a WiFi hotspot or my home network, which I did not have with my older PDA. I also do not like to look at this tiny screen for internet use, it just doesn't make sense if I have to scroll around to read whatever is on the screen, I'd rather just have it all right there on one larger screen so I don't get carpal tunnel and/or bad eyesight. Also, I need to have access to the files without having internet access, as I have been advised I can use GoogleDocs, but I don't think that I could still manipulate the data even if I store them there.
I was able to sync my contacts and calendar, but without any categories! This is very inefficient for me as I work for a company and am self-employed and have a lot of personal contact information as well, and need to separate out my contact lists. My husband utilizes the same contact files as I do and he ends up syncing the whole contact list over as well (I got him an ipod touch 8GB also). I can not select multiple contacts, or any other multiple list, such as bookmarks, and delete a batch of them, like I can within Windows. I do intend to purchase an Apple based computer in the future, but for now, I need to have the functionality to use with my current applications. This still does not solve the problem with multiple select or copy/paste, mainly because the touch screen moves with my finger movement, so I cannot scroll to select multiple items.
Besides this being a really expensive music and game player with internet access?, I'm really not very happy with the functionality this has to offer for a PDA, so now I get to carry 3 gadgets with me (my phone, PDA, and now my ipod touch).
If any of these issues can be addressed and hopefully solved, can you please tell me what else I can do to make this work better for me. Thanks for listening!

Answer 1

I do not find the Touch is a very efficient PDA for the reasons you have identified. It is essentially a high end media player with enhancements. The calendar is lacking, unable to mass email a contact list unless selecting each one (essentially a contact list on the Touch is just a visual group list with no functionality beyond that, what is the sense of that?).
People will direct you to acquire apps that do add some function, but still lacking in some very basic elements for on the fly document and task management.
Apparently although I have not subscribed, Mobile Me adds to the depth of the on board calendar and email functions allowing you to coordinate and syncronize your Outlook environment and content with your Touch or Iphone, but honestly it is more of a personal data management tool than a business tool. Plus when released over the summer integration with Apples previous service was flawed and the the whole interface crashed for both old users being transferred and new users subscribing.
To me sounds like you should check out competitors (am I allowed to say Blackberry here?)
Jeff