My headline is a fantasy… There is no perfect phone. My favorite phone for purely email and voice has been the Blackberry 8700, but as a guy who runs a decent amount of multimedia, Windows Mobile is my preferred OS. (Though it frequently drives me crazy.)
I’ve been using the 6700 on Sprint since last summer and it’s time for change. The thing weighs a ton, no longer holds a charge, and I find the hidden keyboard too wide for comfortable thumb typing.
To borrow a term from Gizmodo, I’d like to build a Windows Mobile “Frankenphone” using the best features of the Dash, Blackjack, and 700w:
Dash
Blackjack
Palm 700w
Back to reality… Since I can’t combine these phones and there’s no telling when the Motorola Q9 will hit retail, I had to compromise and make a choice. My decision basically came down to 3G — I frequently stream multimedia and use my phone as a laptop modem, so I need greater bandwidth. If the Dash had 3G speeds, I would have purchased it. It doesn’t, so I picked up the Blackjack. Supposedly it has slightly better life than the Q and comes bundled with an extended battery. I also figured my odds of getting a Windows Mobile 6 upgrade are more likely on a newer handset than the Q. (Carrier/coverage isn’t much of an issue where I dwell, though only Verizon has service in the subway. Not that I’d want to disturb my fellow passengers on a call.)
I ended up purchasing my Blackjack from Amazon for $75 minus a $75 rebate for an ultimate total of zero dollars. I will have to pay the Sprint cancellation fee, but I factor that into phone purchase prices knowing I’ll be breaking the contract. Two years is a looong time when it comes to mobile phones…
As to how I got all these phones in my place: The Dash belongs to Melissa (aka Fiancée), the Blackjack and 700w are loaners from work. (I also have a 700p on hand for beta testing.)
Bonus Coverage: Cross-country teleworking’s going to require a decent amount of time on the phone, and I want to be efficient and comfortable. The Plantronics Voyager 510 is still the best bluetooth headset on the market – one is en route and should arrive today.