Am I asking too much from my standard cell phone?

b0mbrman

Lifer
Jun 1, 2001
29,470
1
81
Hi, I've got a Motorola V551 right now. It's Bluetooth-capable so it's very easy to manage the Datebook feature of the phone using my computer, streamlined by a Motorola program called Mobile Phone Tools. Because of that, I've started using it exclusively as my organizer/appointment keeper and all but keep my paper organizer tucked away except to make longer notes.

Also, I recently killed my land-line to go all cell phone. With the $30 less in bills, I added unlimited internet to my cell phone for $20 so now I send AIM messages and check things like my email, the weather, movie times, maps and directions, etc.

Anyhow, I'm doing lots of PDA stuff on a phone that's not supposed to be used like that. Heck, it's not even a "smart" phone. I'm starting to wonder if I'd be better off just getting a PDA and limiting use of this phone to making calls.

Can anyone who has owned both a PDA and a cell phone offer their thoughts? What am I missing out on by not having a PDA?

Cliff Notes
1. I use my phone as for
- Keeping appointments
- Email
- Weather
- Movie times
- Maps/directions
- Porno
2. Would I be better off getting a PDA?
 

LuckyTaxi

Diamond Member
Dec 24, 2000
6,044
23
81
porno on your cell?!?!?!

Anyways, I'm thinking of doing the same, but to ditch my cell I would need a blackberry or something. They cost way too much and I dont know about those pda/phones.
 

Kermy

Senior member
Sep 15, 2000
375
0
0
Get the Treo 650. I went from a regular cell phone to a Treo 600 and it changed my life. Well not exactly but I now carry the internet with me. Well not exactly that either. But I use my Treo to chat on aim/yahoo/msn, browse the web, listen to mp3s, check my email, datebnook, watch movies, and oh yea it makes phone calls too.
 

b0mbrman

Lifer
Jun 1, 2001
29,470
1
81
Originally posted by: dighn
one more thing to carry
Simple, but good point...I guess there are two ways to go--getting a smart phone or getting a standard PDA
 

dethman

Lifer
Oct 12, 1999
10,263
3
76
porno?

if you don't want to carry two devices, get a smart phone. appointments and email are much easier, as is occasional web access.

i personally like the treo 650.
 

cerebusPu

Diamond Member
May 27, 2000
4,008
0
0
i got a windows smartphone. best thing next to a pda+phone. there's very limited data entry and the todo list sucks like crap, but ican load up tons of programs and searching google while youre at the resturant rocks.

i got called a super-geek though..so thats not a good thing.
 

b0mbrman

Lifer
Jun 1, 2001
29,470
1
81
Originally posted by: Kermy
Get the Treo 650. I went from a regular cell phone to a Treo 600 and it changed my life. Well not exactly but I now carry the internet with me. Well not exactly that either. But I use my Treo to chat on aim/yahoo/msn, browse the web, listen to mp3s, check my email, datebnook, watch movies, and oh yea it makes phone calls too.
Doesn't the Treo have exposed keys? Does that ever bother you?
 

Kermy

Senior member
Sep 15, 2000
375
0
0
Yea it has exposed keys, why would it bother me though? Having a keypad is so much nicer than using graffiti. When the screen turns off, keyguard comes on so I can't accidentally press any button.
 

b0mbrman

Lifer
Jun 1, 2001
29,470
1
81
Originally posted by: Kermy
Yea it has exposed keys, why would it bother me though? Having a keypad is so much nicer than using graffiti. When the screen turns off, keyguard comes on so I can't accidentally press any button.
Dunno...many years back when I had a Nokia 3590 the exposed keys drove me crazy, mostly because I was dumb and I'd forget to turn on the locking feature :confused:
 

dethman

Lifer
Oct 12, 1999
10,263
3
76
Originally posted by: b0mbrman
Originally posted by: Kermy
Yea it has exposed keys, why would it bother me though? Having a keypad is so much nicer than using graffiti. When the screen turns off, keyguard comes on so I can't accidentally press any button.
Dunno...many years back when I had a Nokia 3590 the exposed keys drove me crazy, mostly because I was dumb and I'd forget to turn on the locking feature :confused:

only four buttons on the front can turn it on, and you can set it to lock every time it turns off. i actually don't use keylocking, keep it in my front pocket, and have never had a problem.

but i agree it's not for everyone.
 

b0mbrman

Lifer
Jun 1, 2001
29,470
1
81
Originally posted by: dethman
Originally posted by: b0mbrman
Originally posted by: Kermy
Yea it has exposed keys, why would it bother me though? Having a keypad is so much nicer than using graffiti. When the screen turns off, keyguard comes on so I can't accidentally press any button.
Dunno...many years back when I had a Nokia 3590 the exposed keys drove me crazy, mostly because I was dumb and I'd forget to turn on the locking feature :confused:

only four buttons on the front can turn it on, and you can set it to lock every time it turns off. i actually don't use keylocking, keep it in my front pocket, and have never had a problem.

but i agree it's not for everyone.
Hmmm...how about the square shape? Does that ever get to you?
 

b0mbrman

Lifer
Jun 1, 2001
29,470
1
81
Originally posted by: DaWhim
go with a pda and cell phone. i use my pda mainly for quick notes. when you are on phone and you want to write something down.

oh, there is no keyboard with a760, but still, you can get a lot done with it than v551.
http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=590
Hmmm...going off the summary of features, here's what the a780 has over my v551

Vivid 240 x 320 TFT color touch screen
-Would make for faster navigation but not faster data entry...higher resolution is good though (I've got 176 x 220)
1.3 megapixel camera with full-screen viewfinder
Better than mine but I don't really care about the camera
MOTOSYNC for secure over-the-air synchronization of corporate email, contacts and calendar
Would matter more if I didn't exclusively use web-based email
MP3 player supporting MIDI/WAV/AMR/WMA, Real and AAC files
Hmm...couldn't use it at work in uniform...maybe while working out though it might be inconvenient around the weights or while running
*Viewer for PDF and Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents*
This could be the big selling point.
Internet access via WAP 2.0, WML, xHTML, HTML (Opera7)*
Would be nice to access all pages including HTML but I don't really need more than th
TransFlash Memory Card to support all data, images and more
Hmmm...I can't see this mattering for a PDA. What could I possibly fill a phone or PDA with such that I'd need more than 6mb?