I'm not a big phone talker or texter, but I do want to have the ability to easily record events or birthdays. I guess I would need a smartphone in order to get that function??? I am getting older and forgetful, I need that function bad. What ever the smallest, best organizer available out there, I would like to have. Thanks for your help!
The Touch is small and out of the way. Plus it is fast and has Windows Mobile, a platform that is very very very customizable.
PCmag stated the RIM BlackBerry Curve 8330 is a better smartphone altogether. Knowing that I'm basically wanting an outstanding organizer, do you agree? Or do you still stick with the Touch? I'm going to get one of the phones and always consider other users opinions, so I do appreciate your thoughts.
I just have a big disdain for Blackberries. You can't do much of anything, and to make it worse I don't think you can do picture messaging. It is more than powerful enough to handle everything you throw at it though.
I know several people who have the Touch. They are happy with it as an organizer but it is not the best for reception. The Blackberry users I know are much happier with reception. Just be aware of this if you live in a weak reception area. While you are looking, I suggest you check out the Motorola Q9c also. Reception on it is quite decent and it has all the usual organizer features.
I like a touchscreen for everything. I flashed an aftermarket radio and my reception improved in the Hutch mall.
Must one have a "Smart Choice" package if one gets the Q9c? I don't care anything about checking e-mails or internet access.
If you buy it under contract, then YES, you MUST be on a smartchoice plan. If not, then no, you are not required to have one.
The Q9c is a newer version of the Q. You can find the technical differences between the two on Phonescoop. Link to Q Link to Q9c
Regarding the Smartchoice plan & providing ones' own phone to avoid it, does that apply to Blackberries as well?
While I can't speak for Alltel's plan choices, I do have a Q9c using Sprint and am very happy with the phone, both as an organizer and as a phone. Email works great, syncing is easy and consistent, I can view and edit most documents, and there are third party applications that I find to be very valuable - eWallet for example and a program called ViewCommander that allows me to see my live security webcam. I wouldn't hesitate to have another one if this phone bit the dust. I've known Blackberry owners who love them and those who don't. My experience playing with one is that it's a functional, but very closed little system. The most feature rich smart phone that I have seen (and I've not seen all of them by any means) is the Mogul. Phonescoop is a great resource for researching phones, their features, and user opinions about them. Brad
No, you have to have some kind of data plan with a Blackberry. They are designed to poll every so many minutes for email and that function cannot be turned off. Because of that they don't play well with a network unless a data plan is in place. The other smart phones can be on the network without a data plan if you just want to use the organizer function plus the phone for voice calls. Just be absolutely sure the data functions are turned off on the phone or you may get dinged for a a lot of minutes.
If you wait a little bit there will be a new phone coming out called the Touch Diamond which will be better than the Touch or 6800. Plus there is something about touching the start button instead of pushing a button for it. *grin*
I assume that phone will require a "Smartchoice" plan? If so, then I also assume that the phone will be quite expensive purchased outright?
There is a minimum post limit of 10 characters so I was merely posting something to bypass it. All your questions required was a yes/no answer.
Alltel told me that even if I bought a Q9c off eBay, they claimed that accounts are audited periodically & if my account was found w/a smartphone on it, they'd automatically put me on a Smartchoice plan. Is this true or are they feeding me a line of BS?
If you bought the phone off ebay then you would NOT be required to be on SmartChoice plan. They are only required on lines where a smartphone was purchased under a two year service agreement and must remain on a smartchoice plan for the entire duration of that agreement, regardless of whether the smartphone is left on the line or not.
It's a line of BS, almost. They won't give you crap about it unless you use a lot of data. Also, my new recommendation that just came out apparently today: the Touch Pro.
