JiHi's finally feeling the need for a PDA ("metal information thingie"). Stick with separate cheap PalmOS, or go Black Berry 8830 "World Edition" Smart Phone?

• some good reviews of the Black Berry

• but data service is $45/mo on top of voice, hmm wonder if you can even use this without paying for that, if you don't need the email and browsing, etc.

  • Dec update: checked and confirmed that you can't get variable-use data plan with Black Berry. Gotta pay the $45/mo.

• yikes, if we don't extend our contract by 2yrs, the Black Berry will cost $520! (extending contract gets you $100 rebate)

• it's locked to [Voda Fone] SIM, so you can't buy cheapo prepaid SIM in other countries

  • though you can unlock it, or any other phone

    • but when you change SIM cards you lose your Address Book!

Aug'2008: her Samsung World Phone has been flaking out - can't charge it enough to even turn it on. Took it to store, techie noted corrosion on battery and phone contacts. Did some cleaning. Still seems a bit lame. Is it worth the risk of buying a new battery, then deciding it's the phone itself that's the issue?

Alternatives

• buy Samsung battery, hope for the best (of course the VeriZon store doesn't even carry them)

• buy new Samsung phone

• pay hideous amount for Black Berry/service

• buy cheaper/simpler phone for US, cheap GSM phone with aggregated SIM/service for travel.

Dec re-discuss:

• she really wants Ms Outlook sync for her BigCo jobs

• when does our VeriZon contract expire? ooh Mar'2008!

  • maybe time to switch to TMobile/GSM.

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