Smart Phones and PDAs

I was a Palm user since the 1990s. My first device was an IIIe. I used it in conjunction with a clunky Nokia cell phone and a laptop, no one device provided all the functionality I wanted and the three together could barely be considered mobile. Technology progressed faster than I did but I finally unified my mobile arsenal when I bought a Treo 680. I now own a BlackBerry Curve.

What caused the drastic change? Am I satisfied with the change? Did I make a big mistake? Well, let me tell you.

Once I achieved a unified solution for my mobile dilemma I was over joy. I could slip my Treo into a jacket or pants pocket and have it all. I could access my email, calendar and contacts without booting up a laptop and I could make a phone call even if the laptop or my other Palm device wasn't in sight. Who could ask for anything more?

After the honeymoon I realized that the main reason for selecting the Palm over the BlackBerry was the famous Palm graffiti. Unfortunately, the Treo didn't use graffiti; the stylus was only a pointer. I had to get over my fear of the very small keyboard after all and it was nearly impossible to use the center button (the one surrounded by the directional arrows) without moving your selection. People I called, when I had a signal, complained about unintelligible messages and conversations. Some people blamed my service provider (AT&T) others blamed my location (in the Blueridge foothills) but none of this seemed to effect those around me. It was very frustrating.

While pulling out what remained of my thinning hair I noticed that most of the companies I consulted to chose BlackBerry for their mobile solution. In fact, I can't think of one client that chose Palm. Maybe it was time for me to give a BlackBerry a try.

I now own a maroon, 8310, Curve. In the time that I've owned it I haven't heard the familiar complaints about garbled messages. Checking the email became easier. I didn't have to go through a lot of unnecessary steps, the mail was just there. The track ball used for navigation made more since than the arrow and button combination. The screen is bigger, or so it seems, it’s half as thick as the Palm and the small keyboard is less cumbersome. I'm almost happy.

Why just almost happy? For one thing, a piece of software I found useful (DataViz Documents To Go) isn't available for the BlackBerry and I haven't found a source of useful, reasonably priced aftermarket software. I'm also having trouble customizing the thing to my liking. With all this said I'll also say that I have no intention of going back. I am a BlackBerry convert, everything else will eventually work itself out.

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