First thing to do, IMHO, is to run down to the local Cingular store and see what they’ve got.  AT&T is somewhat limited in their choices, and if you already know you’re staying with that service, you’ll need to choose from what’s available.

Admittedly, you could go buy an “unlocked” phone meant for another carrier, but that’s often more cost and headache…

Right now, if you’re looking for a smartphone, the ones that seem the best are the Samsung Blackjack II, Blackberry Curve, iPhone, and maybe even the Treo

My issue with the iPhone is the lack of a keyboard, It does have a really nice touch sensitive keyboard that pops up on the screen, but this seems to be exceedingly hard to use while driving, etc.

dale

Keyboard is invaluable.  Dale is quite right.  The T-Mobile Wing has your name on it, and does OK.  I think of you every time I use it, Valerie!  (Be sure to turn off the bloody default image display in the browser, though!)

Dale Wrote:

It does have a really nice touch sensitive keyboard that pops up on the screen, but this seems to be exceedingly hard to use while driving, etc.

Mike Responds:

Anyone already see what’s wrong with this argument????

//Looks out for dale on the road…

Few factors to consider:

1) What service do you have today. Are you willing to switch or not.

2) Who do you talk to a lot - Most companies have free calls between phones of the same company.

3) Does the University have any discount plans with a phone carrier?

4) If you use Verizon or Sprint, you will have less ability to use it overseas (i.e. Essen) unless you get a phone that also has a GSM capability. AT&T and T-Mobile already use GSM but make sure you get a Quad-band phone (US and Europe use differnet frequencies).

5) Check out the cost of the data plan. Depending on the phone and service it can run you an extra $20-$70 for data service in the U.S. depending on your need and usage.

My current favorite is the AT&T Tilt:

Windows Mobile 6.0 with Mobile Excel, Powerpoint, Word
GSM Quadband
3G (Very Fast Data Trasnfer)
Built-in GPS (I use Tom-Tom software on my phone as my navigation software. I have all of the US, Canada, and Western Europe on my 4gb memory card with 2GB to spare for TV shows, podcasts, pictures, and music)
Stereo B luetooth 2.0
3MP Camera (not bad for a cellphone)
Wi-Fi (use a local high-speed network when available)
Slide out keyboard with tilt screen

http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phone-details/?device=AT&T+Tilt+(Refurb)&q_sku=sku1190046

Tom
New it is $299 or you can get a factory refurb version for $199

Too true, Mike!  ;^) Good points, Tom!

Let me know when they get a phone that promises me good dice rolls!

I record all my games on my PalmPilot and then just enter them in to the BGG later.

I’d argue the BGG interface on the phone is moot as long as you have a decent interface on the phone to record yourself a note.

Of course, that isn’t giving you the excuse to get a nice, high-end phone.  But think of how many games you could buy with the money you save!

Yes, I should confess that I just note the games in a notepad thingy on my smartphone, and then enter them later, the vast majority of the time.  It has to be a game with some serious downtime or incredible length for me to hit BGG directly - especially because BGG is fairly phone hostile.  BGG’s pages are all like ¼MB or more of HTML and JavaScript, and the layout is only moderately mutable by the phone-sized browser....

Now, Gmail, on the other hand, is very sexy on the phone.  Gee, which organization has money to work with?  ;^)

In any event, without a QWERTY keyboard, I probably wouldn’t use my phone for such things....

OMG, Dale, please tell us you were kidding!  Typing while driving is dangerous beyond belief.  There are plenty of people being killed by inattentive drivers without adding typing to the list of things to do behind the wheel.

Thanks so much for the information, everyone.  So far (since I am staying with AT&T), it looks like the iPhone, the Samsung Blackjack II, or the AT&T Tilt are the front runners.  I’ll go check them out in person this week.

Thanks!
Valerie

Jim, i don’t type while I drive (usually).  What I’m really referring to is simply dialing.  AFAIK, you can’t really even dial an iPhone without having to look at the screen.  At least with my phone, I can use the bump on the 5 to orient my fingers to the numbers so I can dial without taking my eyes off the road too long.

Dale

Nate, if you’re doing it on your phone, try
http://www.minibgg.com

it does the trick, even on a non-smartphone

somehow, it generates pages off the xml api, i think

dale

Had a Palm Based Treo for years, which I recently gave up for an Iphone.

The downsides are losing HanDBase (A PalmOS based database), an Eggtimer program, and a simple scorecard app.

The upsides are that web browsing is functional, email is a little faster, the interface is glorious, and the multitasking OS keeps the phone from crashing so much. Battery life is a lot better as well. And the onscreen keyboard is actually faster than the hard buttons on the Treo.

Internet speed actually isn’t that much of a problem. Mail doesn’t matter so much, web browsing is slow, but now actually works, and you only notice it if you are trying to grab a video over Edge. In metro areas, AT&T did some magic to Edge to make it roughly equivalent to a modem connection. Web pages are still about as fast as Sandi’s 3G-based phone.

I’ve also pulled down rules PDF’s off the geek, and used them as reference. The big screen *IS* so nice.

What I’m really hoping for is Apple to finally open the API. At that point, the Iphone will be perfect for me.

The Tilt does look nice though…

Dale, that is very cool.  Thank you!

I’m a big fan of voice-dialing, because it allows you to dial handsfree with a headset; however, I stopped using it, because my headset kept dialing contacts that had voice tags.  I think I have a plan to avoid that, now, so perhaps I shall set it up again, because it’s invaluable when you’re driving, but need to return an urgent call.  (Yes, I had very few contacts with voice tags before.)

Good luck, Valerie!  I hope you find something you like.

I’d like to sully the waters just a little more before you go shopping:  I just used a Nokia N810 today, and - wow.  I’d love to get one of these.  The screen resolution is AMAZING (800×480).  The catch is that it is not technically a phone.  I say “technically” because it is an internet device, and comes with Skype ready to roll on it.  So, um, it’s a phone if you want it to be.  :^) Of course, it’s like $400 right now, and probably not at all what you’re after.  ...and it has GPS....  The important thing to note is this:  Because it’s wifi, but not cellular, you have to be near a hotspot to use its internet (and “phone") capabilities.  The only “anywhere” comms it has is the GPS, but anywhere your DS can connect, so can your Nokia N810!

My biggest complaints about the iPhone:

1) Not 3G. This was my biggest ‘huh’ when I first read the technical specs since this device was made to surf the net. With 3G you could easily download music from iTunes.

2) Hard (i.e impossible) to add third party apps. I have used several free timer programs for games requiring a timer.

Note the Blackjack is a Smartphone which means it does not have a touch screen. This has pros and cons. Having the touchscreen like the Tilt or iPhone gives you additional options.

Please permit me to clarify:  Every smartphone I’ve had has touchscreen.  Touchscreen and smartphone are not mutually exclusive; however, Tom is of course quite correct that the Blackjack does not have touchscreen.  (Of course, this is all assuming Valerie hasn’t already gone shopping at this stage!)

So, I guess if you want us dogs to stop barking, you’re going to have to tell us what you end up getting, Valerie!

Nate,

Not trying to be argumentative but Microsoft (I know, I know) puts mobile devices into two categories: Smartphones and Pocket PCs. The main differences are that one has a touchscreen and may or may not have a phone and the other doesn’t have a touchscreen but always has a phone. They have very similar functionality but there are a few differences. For example, Microsoft will recognize phone numbers in text on a Smartphone and allow you to click on them to dial. It is not quite the same on Pocket PCs. Why - who knows - but that’s how Microsoft implemented it.

I will admit the term Smartphone has been broadening but if you buy a phone with Windows Mobile on it, there are functional differences between phones with and without touchscreens.

Fascinating!  [shrug] What do I know?  My first was a Sony-Ericsson p800, which runs Symbian, and the other two were T-Mobile’s MDA and Wing, both running Windows Mobile.  (There are things I prefer about each OS, so please don’t think that Symbian is worse!) I’ve seen all three called smartphones, but that doesn’t mean a whole lot.

One interesting thing to corroborate what you’re saying about Microsoft’s definition:  On the MDA and Wing, I’ve always been fascinated (read: extremely cross) that the phone functionality doesn’t seem to get highest task priority.  If Microsoft’s definition is that because it has a touchscreen, it is a Pocket PC that happens to have a phone, then I could see them feeling justified in letting the phone app get bogged down to UI response times as bad as 30 seconds when IE is slurping memory and CPU like a giant sponge in an oasis.

So, from my [limited] perspective, it’s interesting to hear that the term “smartphone” has been broadening, because to me it sounds like it’s actually finally getting boundaries.

Isn’t perspective a funny thing?  :^D Well, thanks for the education, Tom!

Wow.  I had no idea that “smartphone” had such a specific meaning.  I will likely go shopping this weekend, so I might have my new phone before next week’s column (though I would come back and post my update here).

Thanks again for all the input.  It might come down to price.  The iPhone, Tilt, and Samsung Blackjack II all do the things I want but differ quite a bit in price.  The price comparison inin phone + games is [iPhone = Tilt + 5 games = Blackjack + 7 games].  If I go with the Tilt or Blackjack I will need to use Microsoft Windows Media player and wrestle with the fact that most of my music is in iTunes format, but I own enough CDs to put some music on any player.  No big deal.

The iPhone will change your life. If you want to wait for a 3G version, that’s fine, but I wouldn’t get any another phone after living with the iphone since day one. Just don’t drink the Cool-Aid when it is offered to you…

Some may call me a Luddite, but I use http://www.streamliner.com.au/product-detail.asp?stationery=notebooks+spiral&grunt=s200r4848

Update:  I spent an hour in an AT&T store and just couldn’t pull the trigger.  I’m leaning towards the Tilt and I’ll probably make up my mind in the next few weeks.  I just didn’t want to rush into it.  Thanks everyone for the help!!!