SmartPhone dilemma! Too many choices! BlackJack, Pearl, Treo, SE???

V

vg61

New member
Hi, I am hoping someone here can help me, since they always do!

I've posted about the "ringing when on mute" problem with my SE z525a, and I'm just going to return it and may as well upgrade all the way to a smartphone/pda.

However the choices are overwhelming and I have been looking around here and CNET and still am not sure what to get! I have liked Sony Ericsson in general and am with Cingular. I use a Mac but also run Microsoft applications on a Mac and PC. I have an Intel Mac so I have an Access database too.

I am hoping if I give some criteria then someone can help me narrow it down!

-want to sync with the Mac...access Address book contacts (THOUSANDS), iCal events
-want to access MS Office files (and preferably edit them)..including word, excel, powerpoint, and Access
-want to plug in to a digital projector to RUN powerpoint presentations
-want to use a bluetooth headset and be able to use voice dialing (does Treo 680 not support voice dialing? for the phone/headset or both?)
-camera is not critical but a decent quality (megapixel) one would be nice
-want to use various software programs I don't know about yet. Can they all run applications or just Palm?
-maybe even a waterproof housing & gps capability...but not critical...


Is it better to just get a PDA without a phone, or do the SmartPhones have all the capabilities of standalone PDAs?

it looks like Cingular has a few options at the moment like the BlackJack, BlackBerry Pearl, and Treo which are in my price range...up to $300. But I'd consider getting an unlocked something or other as well!!

As you can tell I'm early on in the research but was hoping someone could help me make sense of it all!

Thanks in advance!
 
From your needs, it appears Cingular's 8525 will be the best choice. The Smartphone (Blackjack) is a cheaper alternative, but it can't edit Office files. I don't know if it can be used to run a PowerPoint presentation however. That would really be a nice feature if it would.

As for additional applications, look at Handango.com for PPC applications.
 
thanks, I appreciate your help!

what's best for a Mac user, though?

and any firsthand experience with bluetooth headsets and smartphones?
 
If you end up getting the 8525 or blackjack or anything that runs Windows mobile i would suggest buying an Osx program called "MissingSync" this program allows syncing abilities with many different smartphones to addressbook/ical/ect....

I know that most phones now adays support many different bluetooth headsets and the majority of them will allow you to voice call.

i am not sure if any of those phones that cingular sells allow you to run powerpoint presentations through a projector or even through the phone its self.

the only phone i can think of that has a Somewhat feature like that would be the Nokia n93, but i am unsure if there is a powerpoint program for symbian s60
 
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