I think that is very important "notebook" (not computer, paper notebook).
Whatever I can think of and whatever I found worth recording can be recorded on time. And you can take time to read whatever you are interested when you are free but outside.
Anyway, I guess you are in the habbit of find the resources from internet, thus you found it not so useful.

the best thing of PPC is that it is more likely to be a PC than a handheld.
You can do what ever thing on it.
Listen MP3/Watch Video/Surf are just some "basic" functions. Just like PC can be used as typewriter and game set. But you can do much more than that (Programming, design, data analysing...), those majority of people do not use those functions. It is what you take it as.
Anyway, I feel PPC reading qutie enjoyable, especially you can take notes and comments. Further more, can you draw a diagram on your HP?