Tong Family Blog

Blackberry redux

Connie’s flakey Blackberry is finally giving out. And, Aether is not a great provider either, although pricing was great 18 months ago when I bought it for her from buy.com.

So, we’re in the market for a newer blackberry. It is amazing to me that after three years, my own BlackBerry really hasn’t been beat as an email device. So, here are the ones we’re looking at:

• BlackBerry 6210 Wireless Handheld. This is the newest one with an integrated speaker and microphone so you don’t need an ear bud. Won’t be around until June though from AT&T Wireless. T-mobile has it in their catalog, but you can only get from one of their corporate reps.
• T-Mobile Hiptop. This is the Danger device. Has basic POP access which is all Connie needs and how we used her last BlackBerry. I don’t know if she’ll like the keys much though. This thing got a 90% positive rating on C|Net though.
• Dark horses are the Treo 300, but it is $500 like the BlackBerry, so why pick it.
• PocketPCs like the Thera (but it is too expensive at $800) and the rest don’t have keyboards.