🚀 go-pugleaf

"Brad Allen" <qm@sonic.net> wrote in message 
news:4bbe1b1d$0$1674$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...

> Robert A. Fink, M. D. <lynxer@comcast.net> wrote:
> " I am getting ready to replace my Motorola RAZR phone (I need to also
> " replace my old Palm Tungsten C PDA and want a smartphone to handle
> " both functions), and I am looking at the alternatives.  My carrier
> " is AT&T GSM service and I also have their Laptop Connect 3G
> " tethering service. I am happy with AT&T and wish to stay with them.
> "
> " My wife uses an iPhone (same account) and I am not happy with it for
> " a number of reasons.  Thus, I am looking at alternatives to the
> " iPhone, with the Blackberry being currently the "leader" on my list.
> "
> " I need the device for the following uses:
> "
> " 1. Phone
> " 2. PDA (calendar, addressbook)
> " 3. Ability to send and receive e-mail.
> " 4. Occasional Web access, including access to Google or other such
> " sources.
> " 5. GPS would be nice but not necessary as I have a freestanding GPS
> " for my car.
> "
> " Input regarding the benefits/disadvantages of the phones available
> " would be appreciated.  Would a trip to an AT&T store be helpful?
>
> I'm always baffled why people choose AT&T.  Some do because of prior
> bad experience with other carriers, which is almost always dumb
> because they're all bad, but AT&T is the worst.  I've been stuck with
> them for years because of the "family" that I am with, but I recently
> jettisoned them.

You jettisoned your family in order to change wireless carriers? 
"Irreconcilable differences, Your Honor- she will only use AT&T, and I 
wanted to use Verizon..." ;)

Dr. Fink said in his post that his wife has an iPhone, so this may limit his 
options to staying with AT&T, or perhaps unlocking and moving to T-Mobile. 
I've found keeping my wife happy is an important part of the wireless 
carrier selection process.  My wife loves her iPhone, so leaving T-Mobile 
for anyone other than AT&T currently isn't an option for me.  Thankfully, 
I'm happy with T-Mobile, and have a great grandfathered plan I'm resistant 
to give up.

> So, my first suggestion is to go to all the carrier's stores, going to
> all the non-AT&T ones first.  All the carriers are:

In addition to his wife's iPhone, IIRC from prior posts, Dr. Fink travels 
internationally a fair bit, and occasionally takes advantage of AT&T's 
international data plan (not a fantastic deal, but better than what any one 
else offers at the moment.)  That might rule out Verizon and Sprint, who do 
offer a few "world phones" but a far more limited selection than AT&T or 
T-Mobile.  (This need I'm remembering may have changed, however, since the 
good Doctor didn't list "world compatibility" in his list.)

> If you stick with one carrier, you simply won't have those choices.

Most carriers offer a wide selection of various smartphones.  The iPhone is 
obviously an AT&T exclusive in the US right now, (although Dr. Fink already 
stated he doesn't want one for himself, but I inferred his wife was keeping 
hers.)  Certainly Blackberries, Android, and Windows Mobile devices are 
available from everyone, and AT&T also offers a few Nokia Symbian devices as 
well.  Sidekicks are a T-Mobile exclusive, not from any contractual deal I'm 
aware of, as much as no one over 25 uses one, which matches T-Mo's target 
demographic (young, cheap, and credit challenged!) quite well.

I'm a long-time WinMo user, so I'd suggest a Touch Pro 2 if Dr. Fink is 
committed to staying with AT&T, or an HD2 if he's willing to jump to 
T-Mobile, but that's because of MY desires in a mobile device, not 
neccessarily his.  IMO, Windows Mobile devices are the closest mobiles to 
offering a full computer in a small device, allowing me to leave the laptop 
at home when traveling, and offer excellent Exchange, Outlook, and Office 
compatibility and interoperability, but in return demand the sharpest 
learning curve of any smartphone.  Windows Mobile is probably the closest OS 
to the Palm OS he currently uses, allowing some modicum of familiarity when 
he switches.

My wife uses a Blackberry for work, and they are excellent devices for 
"core" smartphone functions as well- PIM sync, email, and light browsing 
(Google searches, etc.) but less versatile, IMO than WinMo or Android.

I think Dr. Fink hit the nail on the head, though- he does need to go to a 
store and try the various offerings.  Minor inconveniences to one person 
(e.g. button placement on a slideout keyboard, or availalbility of a 
particular feature or third-party application, etc.) could be a deal breaker 
to another.  For example, although I'm a big WinMo fan, I dislike the two 
new devices, TouchPro2 and HD2, because they don't have directional pads- 
they're too touchscreen-centric for my tastes.  Everyone I know with them 
love them, however.

Another option (that time is probably running out on) is the Palm Centro. 
Although AT&T no longer offers them online, some of the stores may still 
have this discontinued Palm, allowing him to use the same PDA OS he's 
comfortable with, and the apps he already has.  Amazon.com apparently still 
has them in stock for free with contract, $200 without:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001BYW6C4

However, since this is the end of the line for PalmOS, now that Palm has 
switched to the newer WebOS, it might make some sense to cut the cord and 
choose a new platform now.