Help me buy my next PDA

[yesthattom]

Sidekick?

Treo?

Treo-after-they-switch-to-MS? (Is it true that they are going to do this?)

Blackberry?

Other options?

I want to carry one box with me instead of my current laptop+cellphone+PAA. (PAA is my Personal Analog Assistant).

Most important: I want to be able to read email anywhere. I’d prefer to just let it access my IMAP server (which is open to the internet anyway). Either way, when I delete a message on this device, I want it deleted on my real mail box too. If I can do this, I can eliminate my need to constantly be carrying my laptop around. I’d like to be able to reply also, of course.

Very important: I want the PDA aspect to support really good todo-list management software. PalmOS can be augmented with DateBookV or Life Balance; The MS PDA software has FranklinCovey software available to augment it (though I hate Covey’s politics... he’s an christian coalition crusader).

Very important: I want VerizonWireless service. They have the best coverage around here.

Not important: BlueTooth. It’s nice, but I can connect a cable when I need to sync it.

Sort of important: An SSH client would be nice.

I know a lot of my friends have Sidekicks and Treos but I haven’t used either enough. If anyone is local and would let me use theirs for an hour or so it would be appreciated. (LOCAL=New Jersey)

Comments

Treo vs. Blackberry

[mrfantasy.livejournal.com]

If you chief priority is checking your email, then usually the best answer is a Blackberry. We gave our new president a Treo 650 with SnapperMail and it works, but it's very slow to sync email (it's not EVDO, just regular 1xCDMA). We're getting him a Blackberry which syncs nearly instantaneously.

However, we have been unable to figure out how to get a Verizon Blackberry to sync to an IMAP account (we're using the BlackBerry Enterprise Server for Groupwise to sync email.) It looks like IMAP is supposed to work (as in it's in the docs) but the web server where you configure the device doesn't let you select the mail protocol and ports which to me means it's POP3 only.

You can get either the 7250 or 7130e from Verizon. The big difference is that the 7130e is a phone form factor and the 7250 has a full keyboard. The 7130e is advertised with EVDO, but the 7250 can be upgraded to EVDO with a firmware update if you know how.

My only caveat (besides the possible IMAP issue) is that it seems Verizon's BlackBerry business is geared towards corporate accounts. They'll sell you a BB as a consumer but that doesn't seem to be their market (we have a VZW corporate account and the hardware is basically free, and we get 19% off all plans. They also gave us free BES software--a $4000 value, but they seem to give it away for free all the time. In addition, we can use the BES software with any vendor's BlackBerry.)

I have an SSH client for the Blackberry which works pretty well. It supports Bluetooth although I've never really used it (I don't use the BlackBerry as a phone.)

Honestly as an organizer/datebook the BlackBerry isn't great. It's really designed to augment an enterprise desktop package in that regard. It's very cool to have appointment requests forwared to it, accept them on the handheld, and your enterprise calendar is updated.

I don't know if your new employer supports BlackBerries but if they do that'd be your best bet IMHO.


I'll be happy to show you around my BlackBerry next time I see you.