Best SMART PHONE for my needs

[Baxter54]

Hey guys (and gals)....
I had another question and I knew exactly where to go for help. By all means, I am out of the loop on cutting edge technology when it comes to phones. In the past, if the phone could make and receive calls, it was ok to me. Now, I am working with a lot of microsoft excel files. Also, I have found more of a need for a planner due to work. Long story short, which smart phone would be best for the following activities:
(1) Microsoft Excel Files
(2) Planner
(3) Internet
(4) Possibly email - not a biggie
(5) text messaging

Those are basically all I will ever do. I was very interested in the Palm Treo, but someone told me Cellular South was no longer carrying them. I looked on their web-site and didn't see them either. I would like to stick with Cellular South because of the unlimited plan. Thanks again for all of your help. I really need some help on this one.

[aaron]

Your going to be limited by your carrier. I might just get a PDA, and get a cheaper phone. If you get a PDA with wireless, you'll be able to connect at home and at hotspots on the road.

[maxim]

I've got the Treo 680 with Cingular and like it a lot. But... I've used a Palm for at least 5 years already so I was used to it. If you are going to work with lots of office files, I'd go with a Windows Mobile device.

[PathFinder]

Baxter, I'm with Cell South and have been for a very long time...hell, a few years back I worked for them till I got my current gig @ Southern Miss. Anyways I had a Blackberry with CSouth for several months until I got tired of feeling like I was holding a VCR up to my head to talk on. Since you are wanting to use Microsoft files with your Smart Phone currently the only phone in CS's inventory that would work for you would be the UTStarcom-PPC 6700. And I do use the term work very loosely. For those who may be asking who the hell is UTStarcom...they are the company that is now producing Audiovox Corps phones. Their regular CDMA cellphones aren't terrible but I have heard terrible things about their Smartphones. Over the last few years CS has been making leaps and bounds trying to catch up to the "big boys" in providing reliable data service to their customer base. I feel confident that one day in the near future they will work the bugs out and really have a good data product. I've heard from friends who still work for CS that they have testers working on a version of the Motorola Q (http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=856). Really cool phone! A buddy who has Sprint loves his and uses it for everything you listed that you need one for. The site that I linked above www.phonescoop.com (http://www.phonescoop.com) is a great source for cellphone comparision and review. Let me know if I can be of any other help!

[Baxter54]

Your going to be limited by your carrier. I might just get a PDA, and get a cheaper phone. If you get a PDA with wireless, you'll be able to connect at home and at hotspots on the road.

Yeah. This is something I was trying to avoid, but it may look like I have no choice.

[Baxter54]

Baxter, I'm with Cell South and have been for a very long time...hell, a few years back I worked for them till I got my current gig @ Southern Miss. Anyways I had a Blackberry with CSouth for several months until I got tired of feeling like I was holding a VCR up to my head to talk on. Since you are wanting to use Microsoft files with your Smart Phone currently the only phone in CS's inventory that would work for you would be the UTStarcom-PPC 6700. And I do use the term work very loosely. For those who may be asking who the hell is UTStarcom...they are the company that is now producing Audiovox Corps phones. Their regular CDMA cellphones aren't terrible but I have heard terrible things about their Smartphones. Over the last few years CS has been making leaps and bounds trying to catch up to the "big boys" in providing reliable data service to their customer base. I feel confident that one day in the near future they will work the bugs out and really have a good data product. I've heard from friends who still work for CS that they have testers working on a version of the Motorola Q (http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=856). Really cool phone! A buddy who has Sprint loves his and uses it for everything you listed that you need one for. The site that I linked above www.phonescoop.com (http://www.phonescoop.com) is a great source for cellphone comparision and review. Let me know if I can be of any other help!

Very infomative and helpful. Do you think I should just hold off for a few months and see if the get any new products in? Have you heard why they dropped the TREO? I had pretty much made my mind up on it. I figured they may be planning to release a new one and that was the reason for dropping the treo. All speculation though.

[PathFinder]

Very infomative and helpful. Do you think I should just hold off for a few months and see if the get any new products in? Have you heard why they dropped the TREO? I had pretty much made my mind up on it. I figured they may be planning to release a new one and that was the reason for dropping the treo. All speculation though.

From what I've heard from CS folks...Treo does make a good product...just not a good product that jives well with all the programming and software that CS dumps in every phone they put on their network. Thats one of the downfalls of a regional carrier doing their best to offer things that the big dogs offer. At one time I heard that CS tech/testers/programmers were working with Palm-Treo's folks on getting a product that will be reliable for customers. CDMA carriers Sprint, Verizon, Alltel, and CS. are at a disadvantage becasue the rest of the free word uses a GSM tower network, this means that Cingular (or the new AT&T, or whatever the hell they are calling themselves these days) along with T-mobile corner the market on badd a$$ phones because the phone manufacturers know they will sell a lot of phones through those companies becasue of the large subscription base, plus the phone manufacturers can use those same phones for a world wide market due to the GSM tower network being everywhere.

Sorry if that didn't exactly answer your question...if it were me I would wait around and see what CS has coming down the pipe unless you are ready. Hope this helps.

[wilebill]

I've got a Palm Tungsten and you can use Excel and Word files with it, along with reading PDF files. It has Bluetooth built in, so if you have a Bluetooth phone you can exchange data with it.

I don't know if I'd want to put all my eggs in one basket with an all-in-one device, because if one part of it quit working you'd have to either replace or fix the whole thing. But some people want that all-in-one experience, though.

So far I like my Palm, now I just need to get me a WiFi card so I can check MH no matter where I am. :)

[aaron]

I've got a Palm Tungsten and you can use Excel and Word files with it, along with reading PDF files. It has Bluetooth built in, so if you have a Bluetooth phone you can exchange data with it.

I don't know if I'd want to put all my eggs in one basket with an all-in-one device, because if one part of it quit working you'd have to either replace or fix the whole thing. But some people want that all-in-one experience, though.

So far I like my Palm, now I just need to get me a WiFi card so I can check MH no matter where I am. :)

That's the biggest reason I haven't gotten one. The version with wireless costs $300. I won't be using it that much. If they bring wireless to the $99 version though, I'll probably be buying one.

[wilebill]

That's the biggest reason I haven't gotten one. The version with wireless costs $300. I won't be using it that much. If they bring wireless to the $99 version though, I'll probably be buying one.I got the E2 for $150, and the WiFi card costs <$100. The TX, like you said, does have WiFi built in and has a lot more features and I may consider getting one of those one day.

[Baxter54]

I've got a Palm Tungsten and you can use Excel and Word files with it, along with reading PDF files. It has Bluetooth built in, so if you have a Bluetooth phone you can exchange data with it.

I don't know if I'd want to put all my eggs in one basket with an all-in-one device, because if one part of it quit working you'd have to either replace or fix the whole thing. But some people want that all-in-one experience, though.

So far I like my Palm, now I just need to get me a WiFi card so I can check MH no matter where I am. :)

Yeah. I am just trying to avoid carrying around two different devices. I think that is why the all in one is so appealing to me.

[TheKing]

im just gonna wait for an iphone

ive always hated the idea of a smartphone/pda but i drool over all things apple...

some might call me a fanboy

[carsalesguy]

i just left alltel and bought a krazer-

i saw the new motorolla q, it is on sale for 199 with a 100 rebate-

i have 15 days to make up my mind if i want the q. it is a really nice phone, and i may still go back and get it

[wilebill]

some might call me a fanboy
You think?

[Baxter54]

i just left alltel and bought a krazer-

i saw the new motorolla q, it is on sale for 199 with a 100 rebate-

i have 15 days to make up my mind if i want the q. it is a really nice phone, and i may still go back and get it

Who is your provider>? Maybe I should leave CS. I just like the unlimited plan. I hate seeing what my bill would be if I went over.

[carsalesguy]

i'm with alltel. the 900 anytime min, 10 mycircle numbers, weekends and nights free, and the data package is 109 a month- add $20 for another line and share the 900 mins.

i was going to do it, but just kinda wondering if i really need it.

[carsalesguy]

btw- their download speeds from provider to phone is about as fast as dsl now- they just upgraded it

[maxim]

For Cingular with two lines, both with unlimited data plans, we pay, I think, $140/month.

[maxim]

And, I think somewhere I have a Palm Wi-Fi SD card. It won't work with the Treo but if anyone is interested PM me. New cost was $90, now I hear they are around $50 or so. I'll sell it if I can find the driver CD that goes with it.

[wilebill]

And, I think somewhere I have a Palm Wi-Fi SD card. It won't work with the Treo but if anyone is interested PM me. New cost was $90, now I hear they are around $50 or so. I'll sell it if I can find the driver CD that goes with it.I'd be interested in that if you have the CD.

[maxim]

OK, lemme look tonight when I get home.

[carsalesguy]

can't get it off the internet?

[maxim]

Dunno, I bought it abt two years ago? Maybe can get the drivers off the palm website but never looked.

[maxim]

Yup, we've had our Treos for a month or so now and really like them. Especially if you have been using a Palm for years, now it's one less gadget to carry!