Shopping for new Verizon or ATT phone (USA)

This year I'm finally trading up (from a Nokia 5185, bought in 2001).
I don't care about text messaging, music, high-res camera, or touch
screens.

I plan to use it for email. Also, a little web browsing, mostly to
find a map or a phone when I'm away from home.

The new phone will be added to an existing plan, either Verizon or
AT&T (parents). Both networks work well around here.

My problem with most existing phones is that the keys are too flat.
Also, I have big hands and big pockets, so it doesn't have to be
petite.

These are the first phones that I picked out online this morning. I
would especially like to hear from people who have used phones like
these and can make comparisons. But other alternatives are welcome.

AT&T: Blackberry Pearl, Blackberry 8700,
Blackjack II (Samsung), Palm Treo 680

Verizon: LG enV

Thanks,


Steven
marzolian@yahoo.com
http://www.techlanguage.com

On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 05:52:16 -0600, "Steven M (remove wax and invalid
to reply)" <spam_no@hal-pcwax.org.invalid> wrote:

>This year I'm finally trading up (from a Nokia 5185, bought in 2001).
>I don't care about text messaging, music, high-res camera, or touch
>screens.
>
>I plan to use it for email. Also, a little web browsing, mostly to
>find a map or a phone when I'm away from home.
>
>The new phone will be added to an existing plan, either Verizon or
>AT&T (parents). Both networks work well around here.
>
>My problem with most existing phones is that the keys are too flat.
>Also, I have big hands and big pockets, so it doesn't have to be
>petite.
>
>These are the first phones that I picked out online this morning. I
>would especially like to hear from people who have used phones like
>these and can make comparisons. But other alternatives are welcome.
>
>AT&T: Blackberry Pearl, Blackberry 8700,
> Blackjack II (Samsung), Palm Treo 680
>

Go to AT&T and Verizon company stores and try out each, doesn't matter
what other people think, it matters what you trhink.
>Verizon: LG enV
>
>Thanks,
>
>
>Steven
>marzolian@yahoo.com
>http://www.techlanguage.com

On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 07:43:18 -0600, Ron <ron.clifford@peoplepc.com>
wrote in <0aejq3d572rdeherskv6k8j4uhdpd59qfa@4ax.com>:

>On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 05:52:16 -0600, "Steven M (remove wax and invalid
>to reply)" <spam_no@hal-pcwax.org.invalid> wrote:
>
>>This year I'm finally trading up (from a Nokia 5185, bought in 2001).
>>I don't care about text messaging, music, high-res camera, or touch
>>screens.
>>
>>I plan to use it for email. Also, a little web browsing, mostly to
>>find a map or a phone when I'm away from home.
>>
>>The new phone will be added to an existing plan, either Verizon or
>>AT&T (parents). Both networks work well around here.
>>
>>My problem with most existing phones is that the keys are too flat.
>>Also, I have big hands and big pockets, so it doesn't have to be
>>petite.
>>
>>These are the first phones that I picked out online this morning. I
>>would especially like to hear from people who have used phones like
>>these and can make comparisons. But other alternatives are welcome.
>>
>>AT&T: Blackberry Pearl, Blackberry 8700,
>> Blackjack II (Samsung), Palm Treo 680

>Go to AT&T and Verizon company stores and try out each, doesn't matter
>what other people think, it matters what you trhink.

Good advice.

My own take is that Blackberry is a bit better at email and more solid
than the Palm.

I personally use a Motorola V3xx for email and Web access, which works
very well, but the keys and screen may be too small for your taste.

--
Best regards,
John Navas <http:/navasgroup.com>

'Those who have evidence will present their evidence,
whereas those who do not have evidence will attack the man.'

On Wed, 06 Feb 2008 05:52:16 -0600, "Steven M (remove wax and invalid to
reply)" <spam_no@hal-pcwax.org.invalid> wrote:
: This year I'm finally trading up (from a Nokia 5185, bought in 2001).
: I don't care about text messaging, music, high-res camera, or touch
: screens.
:
: I plan to use it for email. Also, a little web browsing, mostly to
: find a map or a phone when I'm away from home.
:
: The new phone will be added to an existing plan, either Verizon or
: AT&T (parents). Both networks work well around here.
:
: My problem with most existing phones is that the keys are too flat.
: Also, I have big hands and big pockets, so it doesn't have to be
: petite.
:
: These are the first phones that I picked out online this morning. I
: would especially like to hear from people who have used phones like
: these and can make comparisons. But other alternatives are welcome.
:
: AT&T: Blackberry Pearl, Blackberry 8700,
: Blackjack II (Samsung), Palm Treo 680
:
: Verizon: LG enV
:
: Thanks,

I just got a Blackberry Pearl and love it. For email there may be nothing
better. Because emails don't get converted to SMS text messages, there's no
160-character limit. I daresay my plan isn't cheap, but I don't care, since my
employer is paying.

The Pearl's keys are quite small, which doesn't bother me much, since I have
small hands and thin fingers. Blackberry's predictive typing algorithm works
surprisingly well.

If you don't like the small keys and don't mind a phone that's twice the size
of the Pearl, you might consider the Samsung with the touch screen and
slide-out qwerty keyboard. (I forget the model number, but you can't miss it
on the Verizon site.) One of my colleagues at work chose it over the Pearl and
is happy with his decision so far. (Previously, he had a Motorola Q and hated
it.)

Bob