Verizon and a new PDA phone or Blackberry

I need unlimited data and most likely either a BB or PDA smartphone but need to know about tethering it to the laptop or is it faster to get a usb modem? I will be using the laptop a lot with whichever device works best and also using the PDA quite a bit when I cannot use the laptop. I do not mind tethering it to the laptop if that is just as fast as using a modem? Which smartphone or BB has the fastest protocol at this given time? I am using a BB now and need to switch to Verizon. Any help appreciated.

Thanks

If you tether via USB to your Blackberry, there should not be a noticeable difference between that and a standalone USB modem. Just make sure you get a Rev. A device.

And just so you realize, the price would be higher if you used a USB modem ($45 for Blackberry internet + $15 for tethering = $60, $60 for USB modem plan + $45 for Blackberry internet = $105).