Treo or Blackberry?

EDGE can carry data speeds up to 236.8 kbit/s for 4 timeslots (theoretical maximum is 473.6 kbit/s for 8 timeslots) in packet mode. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EnhancedData_Rates_for_GSMEvolution)

EVDO is from .15 Mb/s to 1.8 Mb/s. EV-DO Rev. A supports low latency services including VoIP and Video Telephony on the same carrier with traditional Internet packet data services. EV-DO Rev. ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution-Data_Optimized)

Verizon advertise 400 - 700 kbps with a maximum speed of 2 Mbps

I have used a Treo and a Blackberry and from my experience I have found that Blackberry is more stable then the Treo. I would go with the Blackberry 7130e. I believe the Rims website stated that the device comes with IM by default.

MBP 2.0 Mac OS X (10.4.7)

Depends what you value the most. Blackberry will just work, but will be MUCH more limited in functionality than the TREO. If you're a Palm user who just used it in the default configuration and didn't install lots of 3rd party add-ons for various IM's, improved calendars, etc, buy the BB. If you like to have things just "so" then go with the TREO. The TREO - I guarantee - will be less stable than the BB, but not unusably so. My TREO reboots about about once a week. The BB I had rebooted .. ummm .. never. But I like the TREO much better because while BB email is great. I found it's contacts and calendar to be sub par. Also, the BB I had did not sync contacts and calendar over the air. Only email was pushed, not the other PIM items. That was the deal breaker for me. Perhaps BB does push of these items today, but it didn't 2 years ago.

I have had a Palm(Personal Use), Blackberry, and a Pocket PC. By far the Blackberry was the most stable. I do have to say the Palm I had was old, about
4+ years so I can't really give it a fair comparsion with the new one's. I have to reboot my Pocket PC about 4 times a week, although it could be the program I am using for work that is causing it to become unstable or it's just a Windoze's thing.

Go for the Blackberry. i have one for work and it's grown on me. It's very very intuitive. I got the Verizon one with 2 letters per button and was unsure at first but when you're typing it just works out what you mean. (example - when you hit paragraph return it automatically puts in a period at the end of the previous paragraph). The built in intelligence is superb.

It's like a familiar friend now. The form factor is nothing to write home about but functionally it's as well thought out as a Mac.

Neil

BB7130e uses the SureType technology. Basically, when you type letters, SureType automatically changes the letters on the screen and lists suggested words below the text.

MBP (2.0 Ghz, 2 GB RAM) Mac OS X (10.4.7)

The 7130e comes with the Blackberry Messenger. BlackBerry Messenger enables you to chat with other BlackBerry wireless device users in real-time using your BlackBerry device. As far as AOL, you would need to install a third-party program (e.g. Webmessenger <http://www.webmessenger.com/products/mimblackberry.htm>, Ramble Instant Messenger <http://wireless.sra.com/ramble/>, etc).


MBP (2.0 Ghz, 2 GB RAM) Mac OS X (10.4.7)

The BlackBerry Desktop sync software is windows only, but there are third party software that enable to sync the device with a mac system. Check out http://www.pocketmac.net/products/devices/blackberry_7130e.html

MBP (2.0 Ghz, 2 GB RAM) Mac OS X (10.4.7)

I second the Ramble application (and the Blackberry for that matter). It's free to download and uses data rather than SMS so it won't use up your text messages. I've had my Blackberry for 4 months now and it hasn't crashed on me once. Push email is great and really easy to set up. There are some really great 3rd party apps for Blackberries too and you can sync to your computer using Pocketmac. Oh, and the Calendar can either sync to your iCal or Entourage too. My friend has a Treo 700 and the constant crashing is driving her nuts.

For the life of me, I don’t know why there isn’t a Palm or BB this is tailored for use on a Mac. Everything seems to be a bolt-on arrangement with clunky sync routines. The market appears to be wide open although no company feels it’s worth the investment. I keep hearing wishful thinking of an iPod with telephony that integrates with iLife apps. Maybe some day…