What kind of cell phone do you use?

[justagirl]

In honor of Marinello going to the Big House I think I'll get myself a new cell phone. But I don't know what kind to get. I use Verizon and I don't plan on changing that. I want it to be a phone. I don't necessarily want to have it for email and such but at the same time I don't want an outdated junk phone either. And it's got to have a camera....I'm a fan of the picture messages...

What do you have that you like and would recommend?

[Yvette]

I love my purple c-razer.
I have internet, camera, mp3player, video, picture ids, ringer ids and anything else I could want.

[bdavid]

Hey JAG - I use Verizon too and just yesterday I got myself a new phone. It is the "enV2". It is not a blackberry or treo or anything like that...basically it's a phone but it flips open sideways to display a bigger screen and a QWERTY keyboard. You can use the phone from either mode - open or closed. It is nice and compact, yet has a pleasing heft. Here are 2 photos; a quarter is above the phone for size comparison. The phone ended up being free after the mail-in rebate, too. It has camera, internet if you want it, all that hoopla - I just use it for the phone and text messaging though. That's why the keyboard is so nice.

[justagirl]

Is that Orion in the picture? lol

Thanks yall, I'm going to go online and see my options.

[bdavid]

yes. it's Orion. Good eye!

[Gourmondo]

I use a Treo 650 because I am totally reliant on the calendar function to keep up with my schedule. I also like being able to easily synch my contacts and calendar with my desktop computer. Treo synchs well on a Mac, too, which I need. Since I use the calendar function and its alarms so much, a QWERTY keyboard is a must for me. Since I don't have to travel for work much, I don't use the e-mail or Web functions much, but they come in handy occasionally and I like having them. It's a GSM phone and it has worked well in Europe and the Caribbean. It has a memory card so I can store things like the Zagat guide for numbers and addresses. I can also store and edit MS Office documents, which I need sometimes. If you will use any proprietary software applications for work or otherwise, the operating system is a factor (Palm, Windows Mobile, iPhone).

The smart phones aren't hugely more expensive than conventional phones with a contract. Just depends on what your uses are. The Consumer Reports 2009 Buying Guide has a pretty good review on the subject. So does CNET online with video reviews that are helpful (I just got a new phone for my daughter this weekend so used both resources).

Some well-rated smartphones for Verizon: motorola Moto Q9c, BlackBerry 8830
Top-rated cellphones for Verizon: LG Dare, VX8350, Voyager and Decoy; Samsung Glyde. The Dare, Voyager and Glyde have QWERTY keyboards.

[buzd]

It has a memory card so I can store things like the Zagat guide for numbers and addresses.

Nifty trick: If you text a name of a place and a zip code to 46645 (GOOGL), google text will text you back the listing(s) (address and phone) within seconds. I use it all the time.

[Gourmondo]

Nifty trick: If you text a name of a place and a zip code to 46645 (GOOGL), google text will text you back the listing(s) (address and phone) within seconds. I use it all the time.

Now that's handy! I had forgotten that trick (getting old sucks).

[justagirl]

OK, I'm between the Voyager and the Dare.....which to chose???

[Gourmondo]

The Dare has a better camera (3.1 mp vs the Voyager's 1.9 mp). Dare has a flash, Voyager doesn't. Talk time is 7.5 hrs on the Dare vs 4.5 hrs on the Voyager - something tells me you talk a lot, JAG On the subscriber reviews on CR online, most knock the battery life on the Voyager, as well as the camera's limitations. Some say the virtual QWERTY on the Dare does not respond with enough prescision. There are issues for those who are heavy web and e-mail users, but for calls and texting they both are adequate. Call quality is about the same when you take the net of listening and talking voice quality. Dare is about $50 more with a contract. Dare has a programmable jog dial, Voyager doesn't.