Best Electronic Chinese Translators?

Hi,
Which is better to use for translation a talking PDA Translator device,
or Laptop with Translation software on it.
I will be coming to Taiwan soon, and I would like to
know what is the best Pocket PDA Chinese Talking Translator
available ? Also if possible, can you please let me know
what is the best Laptop Chinese translation software available.
I don’t mind using my laptop and typing a message in the middle
of the street and then have the software translate it from
English to Chinese, then I can show the chinese words to
the person so he or she will be able to answer my questions. Which
is a better idea the PDA or latpop translation software?
Thankyou, Rick