That sentiment seems to sum things up when it comes to those little hand-held devices known as PDAs (personal digital assistants). Doctors who use devices such as the Palm Pilot say they are the greatest thing since the stethoscope. Meanwhile, those on the outside shake their heads in amused scepticism.

As Dr. Gordon Hollway, a physician in Marathon, Ont., puts it: "I always used to have a bunch of different things in different places. I'd also have some addresses scribbled in my wordprocessing or email software, and then I'd forget to update my address book and I'd be left wondering which one was the most up-to-date version. Or I'd be somewhere and someone would talk about a meeting and I wouldn't be able to reschedule it because I didn't have my Daytimer. Now, as long as I bring [my PDA] with me, I know I'll have all the basics that I need."

Wherever you fall in this theological debate, there is no doubt these devices are spreading like mad, and particularly within medicine. And with the modern software and capabilities of the new models, they are literally becoming a doc's best friend.

One of the best sites for all that is Palm in medicine is at (www.pdamd.com). This site includes links to medically oriented software, online forums, reviews, and even a set of testimonials from physicians who love their Palms. An entire section is devoted to selecting the right PDA and there is a set of tutorials on how to make the best use of your new technological wonder.

Another great site is Healthy PalmPilot (www.healthypalmpilot.com), created by Toronto physician Eric Tam. As he explains things, it was his quest for "near lab-coat weightlessness" that led him to start using a PDA. His site includes more than 500 downloadable software resources for the practising physician, everything from organizers and patient management tools to diagnosis databases and wellness software.