I went with the LG Choc Touch and am happy with my choice.
If you can afford the data plan it seems like the way to go is:
1. Blackberry
2. Smart phone
These phones are far more robust than the phones I looked at.
blackberry is a smartphone. you probably meant that your choices are:
1. iPhone
2. Blackberry
3. Adroid
blackberry has been my first venture into the smartphone world, and I\'ve been happy with it. BB/ smartphones in general, allow you to stay connected without being tied to a computer. It does this so well, that people need to learn the importance of being disconnected when driving/ hanging out with family/friends (there\'s nothing worse then someone ignoring the road or the people around them because of their stupid
**** phone... something I occasionally fall victim to).
In general, I\'ve found very few apps that have been more then a few days of fun, that I promptly forget about.
For me, the benefits that make the $30 data package worth considering (in order of importance):
1. Always having email/ IM access
2. Fully sync\'d calendar
3. GPS
4. 2gig hard drive
5. Web access
I think Research In Motion (who makes Blackberry) has done a great job designing their o/s how people really want to use their smartphone. It never fails, every time I think, "it\'d be great if this phone could do....", it doesn\'t take me long to figure out that it can.
Flounder, I think you made the right call. There\'s no sense in forcing yourself into something that you can\'t afford. Life exists w/out a smart phone. Plus, when your contract is up in 2 years, and if you can then afford one... I\'m sure your choices will be that much cooler.