I need a new cell phone - help me!

[the]

OK, my cell phone is seriously like 8 years old. Never updated it because it works fine and does what I needed it to do (make telephone calls).

Now I need a new phone. The main reason is I need something that makes calls, but also (1) do a lot of e-mailing (reading of e-mails and attachments, and writing responses, often lengthy, to e-mails), and (2) access the Internet. No. (1) is more important than (2).

I know nothing about these modern "smart phones." Zero.

So, I've thought about the iPhone, I guess because it looks kinda cool.

But my current provider is Verizon.

So I looked at Verizon to see what's out there:

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item=phoneFirst&action=viewStoreIndex&lid=//global//phones+and+accessories

Questions:

1. What's the difference between a PDA, Smartphone and Blackberry device? They look like they do the same things, why are they in different categories on the Verizon website?

2. It seems like for heavy e-mail use, it would be better than an iPhone to have one of the Verizon devices, particularly something like this one, which has a nice big QWERTY keyboard:

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item=phoneFirst&action=viewPhoneDetail&selectedPhoneId=3411

Seeing one of the posts in the other thread, about the real costs of a new $199 iPhone (it ends up being $2,000 for 2 years, on the cheapest voice/data plan), turned me off to that a bit. That's a lot of money. If the Verizon devices are a lot less expensive, that will do it for me.

Any suggestions, recommendations, thoughts on the various Verizon devices shown on their page? Or what I should look for, look out for, in this? Help me into the 21st century here.

[slakjaw]

For email use I say go with the dingle berry.

I know a guy who has the i7100 and he likes it. I also know a guy who got "the curve" he also likes it.

I have the Why-Phone

[Eric Coffey]

treo 750/755.

[kstar]

If you want a simple phone, not a "fancy phone" with lots of functions you'll never use, switch to ATT and get an iPhone.

I frequently use email, web, photos/camera, iPod, calendar and of course the phone. iPhone 2.0 brings 3G, GPS (and location based services) and the iTunes based applications store.

Yes, it is elegant and the UI is currently unmatched, IMO.

You'll just have to wait until July 7 . . . you won't be sorry, again IMO.

edit: You can also subscribe to Apple's new "MobileMe" service and get push based services for you calendar, phone directory, email . . .

Best,

[porsche4life]

I have a Pearl and love it. If you are going to do much email though you probably would prefer a curve or even hold out for a bold.
check out http://www.blackberryforums.com
there is more information there than you will ever need.

[slakjaw]

Jesse the body said the iphone sucks a$$!!

Dont start the revolution without me brother!!!

[stomachmonkey]

PDA, think personal organizer. Todo's, calendars etc...

Smartphone, think mini computer

BlackBerry, email monster You can get BlackBerry push on other devices these days so that opens your options. Had it on my Nokia E62 on AT&T.

Personally I would eval T-Mobile and AT&T plans.

Verizon is not GSM so the phones only work on their network.

GSM provider phones have a SIM allowing you to switch providers and keep your phone. Also convenient if you are out and your phone breaks. You can grab another SIM based phone, swap chips and make calls on your account. Some limits to that, other phone should be on the same network or unlocked.

[vash]

i am verizon also. i got the EN2, and my good friend just got the glyde. both work great. his is faster, his screen bigger. he got the full vcast package and he is always checking email and web browsing.

[Wickd89]

T-Mobile offers Wifi compatible phones.
I use a Tmobile Blackberry Curve. It works great, connects to my emails, and uses my home wifi router at home (where coverage is typically weaker).

If you want something new, skip the Iphone and wait for the nicknamed g-phone in a few months.. (aka android)

[Wickd89]

T-Mobile offers Wifi compatible phones.
I use a Tmobile Blackberry Curve. It works great, connects to my emails, and uses my home wifi router at home (where coverage is typically weaker).

If you want something new, skip the Iphone and wait for the nicknamed g-phone in a few months.. (aka android)

[island911]

Originally Posted by the

.....
2. It seems like for heavy e-mail use, it would be better than an iPhone to have one of the Verizon devices, particularly something like this one, which has a nice big QWERTY keyboard:

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item=phoneFirst&action=viewPhoneDetail&selectedPhoneId=3411

Seeing one of the posts in the other thread, about the real costs of a new $199 iPhone (it ends up being $2,000 for 2 years, on the cheapest voice/data plan), turned me off to that a bit. That's a lot of money. If the Verizon devices are a lot less expensive, that will do it for me.

Any suggestions, recommendations, thoughts on the various Verizon devices shown on their page? Or what I should look for, look out for, in this? Help me into the 21st century here.

I had the predecessor to that 6800. It's a good phone. The qwerty keys are nice but I found that I used the hand-writting recognition for faster input. Because of that I switched to the smaller version, the XV6900. (it's the HTC Touch for other carriers) After discounts and rebates, it was only $150.

Getting used to the touch-screen for inputs takes a while. But with the HTC phones you can use a stylus for precise selection, or writing. --unlike the finger-only sensing of the iPhone.

Of course, if you want to be able to type w/o looking, you'll need hard keys. --like a Treo or crackberry.

Anyway, I've been happy with the Verizon Touch (xv6900). Also, I do use the voice tags a lot. --both for contacts and launching app's.

[K. Roman]

Crackberry. (this message sent from my iPhone)

[island911]

http://wmexperts.com/reviews/smackdowns/htc_touch_vs_iphone_part_2_vid.html ..for a very balanced review of the Touch and iPhone.

[id10t]

New version of the iPhone coming out soon, $200...

Or just get a phone that has bluetooth support (not crippled) and a Nokia 810 for mail, web, etc. thru the phone's connection

[lendaddy]

I have Verizon and love my Samsung SCHi-760. It has the slide out keyboard, touch screen AND tactile dialing buttons on the face. The tactile buttons are a must in my opinion. Dialing without looking is not easy with the touch screen. It's been very rugged as I'm hard on phones. It has WiFi, and 3G. A full browser, etc..

I don't put it in a case, I just throw it in my front pocket ewith my keys and whatever else, no scratches on the screen at all. If I hadn't gone this route I would have gotten the Pearl, as it's a nice small package.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I have a Blackberry Pearl and like it. My only complaints are a smallish screen and keys, but it also easily fits in a pocket. Unlimited data and push e-mail is only $19.99/mo extra with T-Mobile, cheapest I've seen. It's an unlocked AT&T phone, allowing me to switch providers at my whim.

iPhone UI is unmatched, however. I picked up my brother-in-law's iPhone and was easily able to navigate it's menus and functions, no questions asked. To fully master my Pearl took a bit of reading online. Whatever you get, make sure it has the QWERTY keyboard. The bigger the keys, the easier it is to type. Shop around, go play with a few. You'll figure out what you like pretty quick.

Edit: once you have one, you'll wonder how you survived without it.

[lendaddy]

Since Matt mentioned it, the smart-phones are little PC's, so if you are familiar with a PC the menus make perfect sense and navigation is the same. It runs Windows. BlackBerry is it's own little world (though a good one I'm told).

[lendaddy]

One more thing, in the end these things are phones first and foremost so look for one with the highest rating for phone performance. What tipped the scales for me was that the SCHi760 was rated very high as a phone, many of the muti-taskers are rated poorly as a phone.

[onewhippedpuppy]

CNet has very good reviews/ratings of PDAs and smartphones. Another good place for research. Ditto to what Len said, don't forget that it has to work as a phone.

[71T Targa]

I just got a Palm Centro and so far I am very happy with it. I've used Palm PDA's in the past so I was already used to that aspect of it. The keyboard is way small though, so if you're doing a lot of e-mail's it might be tough.

I can't believe how nice it is to have my e-mail and calendar right there. I loved my old Palm in that regard, but it was a pain to sync, and it wasn't 'real-time'. This is VERY nice.