Best pda/phone setup with Verizon?

[cpals]

My contract ends this month and I'm trying to decide if I should get a separate pda and phone or get an all-in-one setup. If I did get the pda/phone separate I would want the phone to be small enough so I'm not dragging 10 lbs of hardware with me around.

So get a combo or all-in-one? Describe which phone/pda you would get, etc.

I don't think any of the pda phones verizon has have wi-fi (maybe?) so it might be better to get separate...

 

[rh71]

Treo 600 is VZW's best bet. Unfortunately they don't carry the Treo 650 (yet). Great integration of PDA/Phone in my opinion. No way should you carry 2 devices for this.

I would only recommend PPC over Palm if you live on multimedia stuff everywhere you go. Still, I'm able to use my Treo as an mp3 and movie player - it has an SD slot.

 

[cpals]

How are the data plans for Verizon? Do they charge an arm and a leg for this?

 

[Freejack2]

It is possible to Verizonize another wireless provider's Treo 650 so long as they use the same protocol as Verizon. (I think Sprint PCS phones can be Verizonized.) You need to know what you're doing though or you could end up with a $600 brick.

 

[captains]

just get a regular phone......i've seen some one talking into one of those pda ones here at work and he looks like an idoit.....maybe they have shrunken in size but man this thing was huge. if u need a pda buy a pda, if u need a phone buy a phone, to have them combined seems highly irrational to me. you'll have a vcr attached to your hip everywhere u go.....thats just me though

 

[rh71]

the Treo 600 size is smaller than your typical wallet. It's simply slightly wider than a conventional candybar phone but it doesn't look silly (I've seen Nick Lachey use it on Newlyweds on tv and it hardly looked out of place). If anything, it's even shorter than a candybar phone. The Treo 600 measures 4.25" x 2.25"... 5" high if you count the antenna.

About the data plans... you don't necessarily need to sign up for one though they'll urge you to. You can simply use your minutes (you must be careful to disconnect manually after each use though). Works fine for the casual surfer and for someone who needs info right away. If you're going to surf ATOT on it, then these dial-up speeds aren't for you in the first place. I posted a few ATOT replies last night from bed... about 20 mins to read and reply to 3 threads.

 

[dolph]

i'm surprised on one mentioned the audiovox phone yet. 400 mhz pocket pc w/ bluetooth, sd expansion slot & a thumb keyboard.

 

[cpals]

They only have the Audiovox XV6600 (listed on website) which is going for $550 with a 2-year agreement.... Not sure if I want to pay that much.

 

[cpals]

I'm surprised so many people said just to get a phone and not both considering this being a tech forum and all.

 

[gscone]

Treo 600, hands down..

 

[Joemonkey]

It seems the people who say "if you want a phone buy a phone, if you want a PDA buy a PDA" don't realize the necessity of having a phone component to a PDA in order to get real-time email.

If you are using a Treo 650 or a PocketPC 6600 and you have it hooked up to Exchange ActiveSync or some type of desktop redirection software, the thing HAS to connect to cell phone lines to get emails. Since it must be on the cell lines, why not throw a phone component into the PDA as well? Most PDA/Phone combo devices are definintely a PDA first and a phone is just there because it is silly to omit it.

 

[cpals]

Got a few more votes for PPC.

 

[cpals]

Hm... thinking about getting the Treo 600, since the audiovox is so expensive. Should I wait for something better coming out soon?

 

[BaboonGuy]

Samsung has an awesome phone coming out soon