No matter who you are or what you do, there are times when you need to kick back, relax, and get rid of all your stress. One of the best ways to escape your troubles is by playing a computer game. The only problem is that games have been traditionally tied to a television set, or a desktop PC -- either directly off a hard drive or online games created using Shockwave and Java.

But what about portable gaming? It's a popular and flexible option. Devices like the GameBoy and PlayStation Portable pretty much rule the handheld gaming market. And with good reason. They're small and light. So small that a they can fit into your back pocket. And they're incredibly fast.

PDAs: For More Than Just Work

But you don't have to lay out a few hundred dollars to get your hands on a decent portable gaming device. If you use a personal digital assistant (PDA) -- yes, one of those handheld gadgets that help many of us organize our personal and professional lives -- you already own a powerful gaming platform.

There are a number of reasons why using a PDA for gaming. The first one, mentioned earlier, is economic. On top of that, many of today's PDAs pack powerful processors and great graphics (including excellent color on many high-end models). And, most important of all, there are hundreds if not thousands of games available for PDAs.