I often have people asking me questions about mobile devices. They assume that because I’m tech-savvy about social software, I must also have one of those PDA Smart Phones and do lots of text messaging and whatnot. This could not be further from the truth. I’ve had the same junky, no-frills phone for over four years, and it has finally gotten to the point where I can’t hear the person on the other end of the phone unless I put them on speaker phone. This means I have to look for a new phone.
Ever since I saw a woman typing onto her PDA with a small external bluetooth keyboard at Computers in Libraries in 2006, I have fantasized about doing the same. I’m small and not particularly strong, and I get really tired carrying around my 15-inch laptop all day. It would rock to just carry a PDA and do all my note-taking on there. I love the idea of being able to browse the web over a cell phone connection and being able to send text messages when I’m at conferences (now, when people txt me, I usually call them back because it takes too long to form the words). I also never remember to take photos because I always forget to take my camera with me. If I could get a phone with a pretty decent camera, I’d have all of this stuff in one device and I’d probably be better about documenting my life, keeping in touch with people, etc.
So, I am asking your advice on what mobile device you think I should get. I can only get a phone through AT&T/Cingular, which limits my choices a bit. I was looking at the iPhone and the Samsung Blackjack so far. The iPhone is out of contention because it cannot work with a bluetooth keyboard (which seems like the dumbest thing ever given that it’s touch keyboard is really hard to use — I tried Jessamyn’s last night). The Blackjack definitely looks promising and my friend seems pretty happy with his. So here are the criteria I’m most interested in:
- Connect to the web through the cell phone network (we don’t have much wifi up here)
- Be able to work with a bluetooth keyboard
- Pretty decent camera (for a phone — I’m not expecting 5 megapixels or anything!)
- Good battery life
A nice form factor would also be a plus, but those four above are the deal-breakers for me.
Any advice would be much appreciated. I know some of you are probably laughing at me because you’ve had this stuff for the past x years and I sound like some yokel from the mountains in Vermont (oh wait, I am!).
Thanks in advance for your help!
You might try phonedog.com’s cell phone finder to help you narrow down choices as well.
I love my iPhone and would not hesitate to recommend it for just about everything but the Bluetooth keyboard thing. I suspect Apple will support a Bluetooth keyboard for iPhone at some point, but I can see where that’s a deal-breaker if it’s one of the main functions you’re looking for. Now that Apple’s lightened up on the hackers and decided to allow third-party apps, 2008 should bring a lot of cool functionality changes (I hope).
The iPhone keyboard takes some getting used to, but I’m pretty fast on it now, and it’s surprisingly intuitive. Nothing like a real keyboard, but not as bad as it might seem at first. The camera takes excellent pictures for a phone, and the screen displays them beautifully, far better than any phone I’ve seen. And mobile Safari blows away all other mobile browsers.
Maybe the Sony Ericsson P1i would be something for you. I don’t have it, but was thinking about buying it as my next phone. I think it’s worth a look.
Very timely post for me, as I’ve just lost my PDA, and will be replacing it with a new-fangled mobile-get-you-connected thingy.
Input is the key for me also. I’m veering toward another PDA style device like the HP iPAQ hw6965 . Why? I’ve learned to use the stylus to write halfway decent notes as people give presentations. Easier for me than a mobile keyboard, although you need to allow “PDA misreading your writing” as an overhead that will slow you down. I also carry it shopping and use the stylus to cross off items from the list..very portable.
Then again…probably it’s time I joined the 21st cntury and learned how to txt using a phone keypad…
Also a timely post bcs yesterday I was looking at a photo of the exact same PDA with keyboard you mention in your post. I needed a photo that looked like librarians using social software for a presentation. I’m using one of Michael Sauer’s photos from March 2006 of you and some others around a table all with different devices .
I got a pda (Pocket PC of some type) as a gift a few years ago and I had been wanting one for a while. I thought I’d use it for similar purposes such as yours. This was four years ago, so things might have improved.
The truth was that
1) Connecting it to multiple machines was frustrating, frequently broken. Synchronization was a nightmare.
2) The Pocket PC browser stinks. Really, really stinks. I remember better browsers running on machines with less memory/processing power in 1994.
3) Power consumption seemed tricky to predict, frequently causing it to run out of juice, frequently losing tons of information I needed.
4) Wireless was flaky, extremely flaky.
5) Every single app, every single one seemed small, expensive, and poorly put together.
On the plus side, it did work well for reading, although truth be told I really would like to see something like the size of a large book. Or the things they used to carry around on Star Trek, TNG.
So…my advice? Wireless is probably solved by now. Look for something with flash/solid state memory that won’t go away when you lose power.
I think you should take a close look at the Blackberry 8130 (it’s available from AT&T/Cingular). A.k.a. the Blackberry ‘Curve’. It has all the features you want, and more. Earlier this year I decided to buy a refurbished Blackberry 8700c from AT&T for $69. The expensive part is that Blackberry’s require a separate data plan in addition to a regular cell phone plan (e.g. like Family Talk). Honestly, I wouldn’t have been able to afford the phone or the plan if it weren’t for the fact that I get a significant corporate discount (even though the phone is for personal use).
Blackberry phones have a fan base that is almost as rabid as the Apple iPhone. I often wondered what all of the fuss was about. Now I know. I am very happy with my purchase, having used it heavily for six months. The thumb keyboard took some getting used to (about two weeks’ practice). The only things missing on my model that I wish I had are in the 8130 model (camera, GPS,etc.).
Overall, I highly recommend a Blackberry.
Hi Meredith,
I was the one with the bluetooth keyboard (and a Dell Axim), but honestly that was the only trip I really used it on – it was kind of a pain to set up in each session. Now I have a Verizon XV6700 with an integrated keyboard that slides out – way more convenient for text messaging on the go, and relatively short notes. It’s compatible with the bluetooth, but I just haven’t felt the need.
http://estore.vzwshop.com/search/devices/vzw_xv6700.html
my employer paid for it 🙂
I agree with Steve Oberg’s post! I’m currently using a work-issued Blackberry 8130 Curve and really like it. If you didn’t have the keyboard requirement I’d recommend the iPhone, but my experience so far with my Blackberry has been great. It offers always on e-mail (good or bad, depending on your view, check with your campus IT folks about connectivity). The default Blackberry browser is a good mobile browser and you can also download Opera Mini 4 (just released). Like Steve mentions you’ll get used to the thumb-board pretty fast.
The unit I carry has the default 2mp camera which has come in handy PLUS there are multiple ways to upload directly to Flickr which is a bonus. There’s also a very large BlackBerry ecosystem out there of third-party apps, etc.
The only caveat is that I believe there are limited Mac sync options (for transferring photos and media). The standard sync suite works great with my ThinkPad, but I’ve read about Mac users having issues. For that you might want to checkout MissingSync from Markspace.com
Good luck!
Okay, that was me using the Bluetooth keyboard with my Dell Axim PC. That was really the only time I used it though – kind of a pain to set up and connect for each session.
Now I use a Verizon XV6700 provided by my employer. It has a slide-out keyboard that is really convenient for text messages and short notes. It would work with the same bluetooth keyboard, if I was so inclined. That keyboard is from ThinkOutside and cost about $100.
Yeah, Windows Mobile 5 kind of sucked, was a battery hog, etc. I was able to flash version 6 and can now go a 3-day weekend on one charge.
The Wifi works great, the phone is okay. I prefer a flip-phone for the curve between microphone and earpiece, but I still have a landline at home so it’s not a big deal to me – I use a headset when I’m traveling.
Email me if you have any questions!
I’m in the market for a replacement phone myself. I’ll be looking at the verizon voyager, the new so-called “iphone killer,” but it doesn’t sound like that’s an option if you are stuck with AT&T. Best source of info I’ve found on tech specs and what does what is http://www.phonescoop.com. Extended tech specs and a forum for chat and advice plus links to reviews. Also, query by model number on youtube; many people have created walkthroughs for some phone models. Think about whether you need to open or edit MS doc and xls files and/or do a desktop sync with Exchange/Outlook. If so, a Windows mobile platform probably makes the most sense (take a look at the ATT Tilt). Otherwise, compare features on available pda/smartphones on the blackberry or palm/treo from your carrier.
Thanks all for the feedback! Definitely gave me a lot to consider. I plan to spend some time over Thanksgiving break checking out phones and will definitely take a look at all of your suggestions.
Help from the hive…. what are you, a queen bee?
I have an ATT 8525 and LOVEEEE it! It’s actually from a company called HTC and it really does everything and more. The newest version is the Tilt, get that.
I second Rob – I’ve had the Cingular 8125, which is the previous generation of the ATT 8525, and I love it! The 8525 is a little sleeker and higher quality, so you’d probably want to check that out. I use the slide out keyboard and word mobile to take conference notes, minutes, blog, etc.
I don’t pay for the extra data plan, but I do use wireless whenever I can.