Travel Technology - BB+hosted BES or WM6+Exchange for sole propietor?

My trusty Treo 650 is coming to the end of it's useful life (after 2+ years). For my next device, I would like true over-the-air sync for email, calendar, contacts, notes and tasks. Palm OS doesn't support true OTA, so I'm looking at a Blackberry with hosted BES or a Windows Mobile device with hosted exchange. I've never used either so I'm looking for some guidance on which way to go.

Here's what I use most on my Treo:
- Chatter for IMAP email
- Datebk6 (a fantastic all-in-one task/appointment manager)
- the Phone (using the built in contacts manager)
- SkyGuide (like OAG)
- FlightStat
- SMS
- Google Maps
- the camera
- reading Microsoft OS documents (rarely)
- web (mostly airline sites, weather, and FAA.gov)

I sync with Outlook on my Windows notebook.

My research says Blackberry is easier to use, less likely to crash, and has better handsets, but that it's significantly more expensive (+$20-30/month for data and hosting). Windows is cheaper and has more 3rd party apps, but is more difficult to use and crashes more.

Any guidance, advice, or war stories greatly appreciated.

Blackberry hands down all day long. There's a reason why it's a corporate standard. Incidentally you can get blackberry support on Windows Mobile devices. BlackBerry Connect works well. Features do vary by platform though.

The version of Versamail shipping with more recent PalmOS devices such as the 755p and Centro (currently CDMA only) supports Exchange Active Sync, Microsoft's equivalent to Blackberry-style sync. I don't know if the same is true of the 680, which AFAIK is the latest GSM PalmOS device.

Caveat: It's my understanding that the OTA sync is for e-mail, calendar and contacts only, NOT tasks or notes.

I'm leaning towards getting a 755p myself, but my needs are slightly different. I just wish there were a GSM model.

The version of Versamail shipping with more recent PalmOS devices such as the 755p and Centro (currently CDMA only) supports Exchange Active Sync, Microsoft's equivalent to Blackberry-style sync. I don't know if the same is true of the 680, which AFAIK is the latest GSM PalmOS device.

Caveat: It's my understanding that the OTA sync is for e-mail, calendar and contacts only, NOT tasks or notes.

I'm leaning towards getting a 755p myself, but my needs are slightly different. I just wish there were a GSM model.

Yes, EAS does work with the Palm OS devices, sort of, and I actually tried it for a while. You're right that it doesn't sync tasks or notes, which is unfortunate, as I use both extensively. But I couldn't figure out how to get it to work automatically - it seems I had to open VersaMail and actually tap the "sync" button each time.

More troublesome: I couldn't get it to work reliably more than half the time. Because of all the moving parts - my exchange host (1&1), my carrier (ATT), Microsoft, and Palm - I could never figure out why it kept failing.

Are you using the latest version of Versamail? I have several friends (one on a hosted Exchange service, the rest with work) who use EAS and haven't had this issue.

I would spend some time poking around on the Palm, Treocentral and Treonaut fora before totally abandoning hope for this.

(Since I'm only trying to get work e-mail from a personal device, I may be the only person who wishes EAS did not sync calendars and contacts, or provided some way of maintaining separation between work and personal stuff.)

I know some people who have had problems with it, but I've got a Treo 650 running Blackberry Connect (so there's true push e-mail from my corporate BES), and it works wonderfully. However, you do need to subscribe to the BES service - Blackberry Internet Service won't cut it. It only syncs calendar and e-mail over the air though - you'll need PocketMirror or something to sync contacts and tasks. That doesn't turn out to be as big a burden as I thought though - I'm very happy with the Treo instead of a BB.

If you are so inclined managing your own BES for 1 user is easy and free.

BlackBerry Enterprise Server Express comes with one user license and is a free download.

But for most users - just find someone that offers a hosted exchange and bes service.

See, I think it you have already got an Exchange server, WM6 is the way to go. I have to tell you that in my company it "just works." I certainly wouldn't spend 20-30 dollars a month on hosting for a Blackberry. And me, I really like that tasks synuc over; it makes it easy to set reminders that don't clutter my calendar.

Steve

Blackberry hands down all day long. There's a reason why it's a corporate standard.

Is the BB advantage worth $300/year in extra cost? ($15/month for the BB data plan, $10/month for BES hosting)

There's a reason why it's a corporate standard.

Hahahahahaha! TRDCLOL

So is Microsoft Word, bucko. And Word Perfect[sic] before it. I don't think "corporate standard" should ever be used as the sole criterion upon which to base a purchase decision.

Hahahahahaha! TRDCLOL

So is Microsoft Word, bucko. And Word Perfect[sic] before it. I don't think "corporate standard" should ever be used as the sole criterion upon which to base a purchase decision.

If you want to find easy, widespread, and cheap support for it, there are compelling reasons to go with a given technology.

Is it worth the $300 a year to have someone hosting your BES who probably (or should) know what they are doing and have some economy of scale? Absolutely, if one is not an expert on running an exchange box and/or a BES, or feels that his/her time is better/more profitably/whatever spent doing other things.

I'm assuming your username, CessnaJock is indicative that you have, at one point or another, flown one. I've flown them a bunch (and some Cirrus, and a slew of t-prop Piper, and a lear for a few hours, and a few Mooneys, and a bunch of (non certified) Lancairs). Were I to again own one, I might be inclined to own, say, a Cessna because every A&P at every FBO known to man knows how to fix one, whereas if I owned a homebuilt, I might have more trouble finding expert help (or it would almost certainly be at greater expense).

I'm not saying that the "standard" is always good (I happen to like our friend QuietLion, but think Microsoft Word is the spawn of Satan)--but it's usually a helluva lot easier to support.