HELP! New cell phone needed

[fatesfolly]

I'm a solid Verizon customer. I've been with them almost two and a half years. I'm pleased with their services so I plan to continue with them.

But I need a new phone. I'm a part of that new in two plan where you get a new, discounted phone every two years, based on re-upping contracts.

I've had the Palm Treo. I've really liked it. I like the touch screen as well as the button qwerty keyboard.

Now, I'm looking at the only Palm smartphone they offer: the Palm Centro. If I re-up with Verizon (a given), I can get it fo' free. Coolio. I'm familiar with the Palm interface and it's free.

But I've also been lured by the hype of the BlackBerry Storm 9530 smartphone. It has the touch screen like the Palm Centro, but unlike the Palm Centro, it has a better camera and GPS. But the qwerty keyboard is integrated into the touch screen and I wonder how precise you have to be when hitting the keys... and my fingers aren't exactly dainty. The Storm would also be $99 with the new contract. I'd pay the $99 for the GPS capability alone, so the price is not a factor.

But which is better? A co-worker has the Storm and loves it, but I've heard nothing about the Centro.

Please ring in with what you think and know about either!

Merci!

P.S. I'd love an iphone, but there's no way in hell I'm going to AT&T.

Comments

[dcseain.livejournal.com]

I strongly prefer Blackberry to Palm. I have no opinion on the touch-screen tech with either platform.

[fatesfolly.livejournal.com]

thank you!!

[scruffycritter.livejournal.com]

I agree 100% with you in all respects wrt carriers. I also write apps for Windows Mobile SmartPhones.

That being said, and as much as it pains me to say it, there is a reason you haven't heard much about it (and why it is free): Palm is rapidly becoming irrelevant.

Verizon will let you upgrade/change phones once in the first few (30?) days of a contract. I'm not sure if you must go to a more expensive phone though.

[fatesfolly.livejournal.com]

thanks for the heads up about the future of Palm!!!

[yaksman.livejournal.com]

Rori had a Storm for a while in her last job, and loved it.

[fatesfolly.livejournal.com]

and we'd be phone brand buddies!

[mistress-gir.livejournal.com]

Hey you, like he said, I've fallen in love with the Storm. But I guess it depends on what you use your phone the most for.

The Storm is a great all around device, really focused on multimedia and online uses with some great organizational apps alongside it. If you plan on using it as your main multimedia/mobile browsing/email device the Storm is definitely it. On the con side, the touch screen definitely takes a little getting used to and can get a wee bit frustrating until you get it down. Also, if you don't have a good data plan to go with this device you'll be missing out on a lot of what it can do. (much like the iPhone)

That said, there's something to be said about the Centro. It's a great device if you're more focused on personal organizing and just text messaging. Palm does have some great apps to go with it but like many have already said, poor Palm is rapidly falling behind in this technology so not many are making apps for it now.

My suggestion, make a list of what all you want to use your mobile phone for and go from there. Worst case, get the Storm and try it out and change it up after 30 days if you can.

But again, I love the Storm.. and can't wait to get one again!! *bounce bounce*

[madhatternalice.livejournal.com]

i had a centro (graduated to it from my palm 650) for awhile, before i jumped on the "instinct" bandwagon.

i really, really dislike blackberrys, and was in love with my centro. so, take that for what you will.

[scaleslea.livejournal.com]

Since I don't have a burning hatred against AT&T, and since Verizon ticked me off by disabling features on my phone, I moved services and got an iPhone. /disclaimer

Palm is struggling for relevance in the smartphone market. Toward that end they recently released the Pre. oh, my bad. They didn't release it, they announced it. Still not available yet. And it looks like it is going to come out for Sprint. Hmmmm...

Do you really need a new phone?

You could try the Blackberry for 29 days and then trade it in if you don't like it...

Doc

[keetara.livejournal.com]

I do find that the iPhone keyboard is a little finicky about where you have to touch to get the correct letter. It can sometimes be a pain and I'm not sure that the Crackberry version is going to be much better. Why don't you ask your co-worker to let you play with her Crackberry? That way you could get a feel for it.

[bella-peligrosa.livejournal.com]

I'm a Verizon loyalist too and a former Treo owner. I miss the touchscreen (but not the avid purse dialing it always did).

The problem with GPS on Blackberry through Verizon is that it only works with the Verizon Navigator software which is $9.99/mo for unlimited use of $4.99 per use. It was probably the only true disappointment I had with the Blackberry. This is a Verizon thing and GPS is blocked if you don't use their software.

I don't know much about the storm per se (I have a curve) but I hear mixed things all around. I would check out the Crackberry.com forums and browse through and see what people have to say about the Storm and specifically the Verizon Storm.


Good luck!

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

I strongly prefer Palm to Blackberry, I think the BB user interface is too kludgey and text-oriented. And I avoid all Microsoft OS's as overly hack-prone and buggy... which leaves Palm, the iPhone and the Google phone as the only options I'd consider at this point, and the iPhone is out because I'm also on Verizon... sigh.

[redhotlips.livejournal.com]

I'm a BB user, since the very first model (it's a Canadian company, so it's a given that they are all over the place up here).

BB is the better choice as far as I'm concerned. I don't have dainty fingers either, and I've had no trouble with the touch keypad.

See if you have a 30 day return/trade policy on your plan...that way if you don't care for it, you can just trade it in.

[libraspirit2101.livejournal.com]

A new phone you want?

Why not go retro and get one of those old candlestick phones from the 20s!

Lol J/K. Just thought I'd be a smartass today :-)