Smartphones combine the features of a PDA with that of a cell phone. They used to be for the suit-wearing sect that needed to be on top of their email, calendar, and contacts everywhere they went. Perhaps keep an eye on the stock portfolio. Then there are the rest of us that can only afford 10 shares of any stock listed on the major exchanges. The latest smartphones are for everybody or at least they try.
The King of the Hill
The palmOne Treo 600 ($350 to $500) is the reigning king of smartphones. Perfect, it wasn't. But there's this thing about balance, the Ying and Yang, between data and phone that the Treo 600 managed so well. Now a slew of new competitors, some just taking a second shot at the throne, appear on the horizon.
Four Successors?
HP iPAQ h6315 ($500)
The HP iPAQ h6315 is the ultimate smartphone for no other reason than it does everything. It's built around Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 for Pocket PC Phone Edition, which also gives you a hint at the size of the h6315.
What's Good? – The h6315 has wireless everything. Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, cell phone, and GPRS all get shoved into a single device, the first time ever. Wireless addicts, like myself, love the idea of everything in a single device. Rich with features, the h6315 comes with a VGA camera, SD expansion, removable battery, and every IM client already installed (AIM, MSN, Yahoo!, ICQ).
What's Bad? – It's huge! Maybe not for a PDA, but for a phone it's just too big to use without looking like an idiot. It comes with a detachable thumb style QWERTY keyboard for messaging, but that makes it another 1/2 inch longer…don't we all wish it was that easy. Using the keyboard isn't friendly either. The little blue function key is a must hold for using direction keys, dialing numbers, hitting OK, typing @...the list goes on. If you're one of those stylus fans, the h6315 will do you fine if you're willing to schlep it around.
My Take – What happened to sleek, stylish, or portable? Only hardcore engineers obsessed with specs or geeks looking to overcompensate for something lacking would approve.
T-Mobile BlackBerry 7100t ($200 after rebates)
The T-Mobile BlackBerry 7100t is the most radical departure from the original Blackberry ever. The QWERTY keyboard that made the Blackberry a Blackberry is nowhere to be found. Only 14 keys cover the entire alphabet and thankfully it doesn’t revert back to multi-tap days (except for passwords).
What's Good? – It looks and feels like a phone unlike previous Blackberry devices. No more fashion faux pas by using a hands-free kit outside the car either. There's a speakerphone too, a first for Blackberry.
Appealing to non-suit wearing folks, the 7100t has AIM, Yahoo! Messenger, and ICQ preinstalled. It also accesses AOL Mail, Yahoo Mail, Hotmail, and MSN alongside your usual business email.
What's Bad? – You won't find a camera integrated into the 7100t, a must-have for no other reason than to make full use of my data plan. Of course, no camera means you won't be banned from some corporations, military installations, and the CIA.
My Take – Crackberry addicts will still be able to get a fix once they get used to the new layout. The suit-and-tie-guy focused Blackberry finds a new audience with the 7100t. If you've been thinking Treo, then consider the 7100t and a more affordable price tag.
T-Mobile Sidekick II ($300)
The T-Mobile Sidekick II is the smartphone for those of us who could give a rat's ass about mobile workforces and enabling business. The Sidekick II doesn't pretend to be smart enough to handle business stuff. It does the basics and it does them damn well.
What's Good? – The Sidekick II is definitely the champion of messaging with the most comfortable keyboard in this roundup. The display might not have the resolution of the competition, but you won't have any problems reading it in direct sunlight.
Despite popular misconception, not synching with a computer is a good thing to me. And best of all, the Sidekick II interface won't be much of a challenge even for the tech phobic.
What's Bad? – You won't get the breadth of third-party applications like the Treo. The battery's fixed, too, so there's no swapping on the go when you've messaged the Sidekick II into submission.
My Take – Everyone complains about having to open the display to dial, then close it to talk. They're probably the same people that wait for you to open the door. The Sidekick II is my personal favorite. With Demi Moore, Tony Hawk, B-Real and Lindsay Lohan sporting the Sidekick, I'm in good company. By the way, I talked for hours on the Sidekick II and I'm not complaining.
Sony Ericsson P910a ($829)
Feature for feature, the Sony Ericsson P910a takes on any smartphone out there. Integrated camera, Bluetooth, MP3 player, expandable memory… you name it's probably got it. The P910a makes incremental upgrades including more memory (64 MB) and an integrated keyboard.
What's Good? – If you like using the stylus, you'll be amazed at the 910a's handwriting recognition. Fast, natural, and responsive. Staring at the display is a treat, too, with a pixel narrowly visible. The display supports more than 262,000 colors. For tech folks, that's 18-bit versus 16-bit found in most PDA's.
What's Bad? – The keyboard, found on the backside of the keypad, comes pretty close to impossible to use. Besides being microscopically small, using the keyboard requires a balancing act and a prayer that the keypad won't break off.
My Take – Overall, the P910a has lots to offer except for the frightening MSRP $829 price tag. For some reason Sony Ericsson hasn't had much success signing deals with carriers to subsidize the price. Carriers are probably afraid of the price, too. If you're stylus bound and willing to lay down the credit card, you won't be disappointed.
A New King... Sort Of...
There's no crown to give here, it's a democracy with lots of what-ifs. I'm not looking for a business tool, let's be clear on that. If I were, the Treo 600 and Blackberry 7100t would battle for my cash. The Sidekick II is my personal favorite. But it's exclusive to T-Mobile just like the Blackberry 7100t. I've always recommended picking a service plan over the phone, no matter how tempting the phone. If T-Mobile works for you, I'd get the Sidekick II, Blackberry second. For any other carrier, the Treo 600 still rocks even in its aging state. Rumor has it that the next-generation Treo 650 is about to hit the streets. Wait for the price drop or for the 650 if you want the latest.
