Travel Technology - Smartphone advice?

I did a quick search and did not see a result. If I missed it, please point me in the right direction and lock this thread.

My wife and her family are on Verizon and mine is on ATT (old ATT). I'd like my wife to take over my brother's number (ATT) since the plan is much better and my brother now carries a work Blackberry. Since he is on at&t, too, we still have mobile to mobile.

My wife would like a PDA type phone, or at least one which lets her sync appointments, etc. with her computer (we use Macbooks). No need to really check e-mail and we do not have a data plan.

She currently has a Palm Tungsten C as her PDA but has not used it much since she had everything in Palm desktop and it is not syncing well.

I've been looking around for unlocked quad band phones for her. Now she is a bit forgetful, so I do not want to get her something too expensive as she could lose it or drop it soon...

I looked at the Treo 680 and also the Palm Centro (I know there was a thread on the Centro recently). The Centro is smaller than the Treo, definitely.

How about a BlackBerry? I could get her an unlocked iPhone, I suppose.

Would I be best getting her the Treo 680? You can pick one up on eBay fairly inexpensively. She is used to the Palm platform but would go to Windows Mobile if it is Mac compatible and if it's east to sync.

Finally, I know some phones have small appointment books, but I don't think they sync with the computer so easily.

Thanks!

fuzz

I did a quick search and did not see a result. If I missed it, please pint me in the right direction and lock this thread.

My wife and her family are on Verizon and mine is on ATT (old ATT). I'd like my wife to take over my brother's ohone since the plan is much better and my brother now carries a work Blackberry.

My wife would like a PDA type phone, or at least one which lets her sync appointments, etc. with her computer (we use Macbooks). No need to really be checking e-mail and we do not have a data plan.

She currently has a Palm Tungsten C but does not use it much.

I've been looking around for unlocked quad band phones for her. Now she is a bit forgetful, so I do not want to get her something too expensive as she could lose it or drop it soon...

I looked at the Treo 680 and also the Palm Centro (I know there was a thread on the Centro recently). The Centro is smaller than the Treo, definitely.

How about a BlackBerry? I could get her an unlocked iPhone, I suppose.

Would I be best getting her the Treo 680? You can pick one up on eBay fairly inexpensively. She is used to the Palm platform but would go to Windows Mobile if it is Mac compatible and if it's east to sync.

Finally, I know some phones have small appointment books, but I don't think they sync with the computer so easily.

Thanks!

fuzz

If you are staying on Verizon, which is what I understand you to be saying, an iPhone wont work. I am a big Windows Mobile fan, but I sync to an Exchange server, not a Mac. I doubt I would do WM for a strictly Mac environment. I would recommend either the Palm or I think I read about some Nokias now playing nice with iCal on the Mac. Perhaps others can fill in on that.

If you are staying on Verizon, which is what I understand you to be saying

Thanks for the advice. Sorry, I meant to be clearer but was in a rush. My wife will be switching to AT&T wireless/Cingular/at&t.

fuzz

AT&T has quite a few quadband phones, Blackjack II, treo 750, Moto Q global, etc. that can be had for free or next to nothing if signing a 2 year contract. So you may want to look into that.

Thanks for the advice. Sorry, I meant to be clearer but was in a rush. My wife will be switching to AT&T wireless/Cingular/at&t.

fuzz

You can get a refurbished iPhone for $250, but have to sign a 2 yr agreement. That's probably the easiest option for syncing on the Mac.

Windows Mobile on the mac sucks. You have to buy third party software and it doesn't work as well in comparison to iphone.

AT&T has quite a few quadband phones, Blackjack II, treo 750, Moto Q global, etc. that can be had for free or next to nothing if signing a 2 year contract. So you may want to look into that.

Thanks for the suggestion, but here is the problem...

Our contract was signed in October, 2004, after Cingular had bought ATT wireless, but before the actual merger had gone through. At that time, you'll remember that they were still functioning as competitors and ATT wireless was making ridiculously good deals.

We have four lines with a total of 1850 minutes, nights starting at 7 pm and incoming text for free, as well as free mobile to mobile which now includes all Cingular/new at&t customers. Our bill including all taxes, etc., is about 110 dollars.

Even if I am willing to extend my contract in exchange for a new phone, at&t will make me give up the old plan and jump to one of their current plans, which are much less attractive. I would gain rollover minutes, though.

So that's why I am willing to pay for the phone outright. I can get some deals on eBay, etc., for an unlocked phone.

Since my wife would like a phone that can carry her appoinments and sync with her Mac, I was looking at a few unlocked ones.

Would a Blackberry work? I can jsut use it for the organizer functions if I get a good deal and not use the mail syncing. Otherwise, I guess I could look at the Treo 680.

fuzz

I've been having some success with Mobile Master (http://www.mobile-master.com) to sync with Thunderbird - and it says it can sync with a Mac as well.

http://www.mobile-master.com/support/tutorials/mobile_master_on_mac_os.html

This may broaden your range of devices...

Missing Sync is pretty solid at syncing windows mobile with your Mac.

http://www.markspace.com/missingsync_windowsmobile.php

+1 for missing sync, I have used it for 3+ years and this latest one is the best. Never had much issues with it syncing things like entourage, mail, calendar and even music