Sprint is selling this cell phone model: the Samsung i500 (http://reviews.cnet.com/4505-6452_7-20783166.html?tag=search). It's a nice flip phone, but it's also a Palm OS PDA!! I know a lot of folks like the new Treo 600, but not me. Nobody can fool me into thinking that thing is cool. It's huge and ugly.

Unfortunately, this phone is $599. Waaaaaay to expensive. But I'd be able to store calendars, addressbooks, etc. Ohhhh, I'm in love!!

While it may be a better cellphone than some of the other PDA/phone combinations on the market, the i500 is way below state-of-the-art as a PDA. It runs the older version of Palm OS (4.1) on a fairly slow processor, has a low-resolution screen, and it only has 16MB of memory with no expansion capabilities (it can't take any kind of Flash memory).

For a model with similar specifications, you would be better off looking at the Kyocera 7135 (http://reviews.cnet.com/4505-3128_7-20077920.html?tag=txt), which at least gives you a high-resolution screen, an SD-card slot, and a built-in MP3 player If you really like the form factor of the Samsung, you might want to wait for the i505 (http://www.brighthand.com/article/Sneak_Peek_at_Samsung_i505?site=), which is supposed to show up some time next year. While it still has the low-res screen, it does move up to the newer Palm OS 5.x on a much faster processor. It also promises 32MB of memory plus an SD slot.

Of course, I've pretty much become convinced (after nearly a year using a Palm Tungsten-W) that trying to combine a PDA with a cell phone just isn't that great an idea. As a trade-off for the convenience, you end up with serious compromises on both the phone and PDA side. For now, I think it probably makes more sense to go with a Bluetooth-capable phone and a dedicated PDA that can connect with it.

-Jeff

Personally, if I get a cell phone, I want one of the cool T-Moblie Windows Mobile Phone Edtition phones.

Only $400, and It's a full PDA and Cell phone. :)

Link! (http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmobile/devices/devicesdisplay.aspx?module=deviceDisplay;PPCPhone; americas;17)

Originally posted by JeffG
the Kyocera 7135 (http://reviews.cnet.com/4505-3128_7-20077920.html?tag=txt),

From the review: " the touch screen is deactivated when in phone mode"

Does that imply that I can't use the PDA while I'm on the phone? For me that would be a definite deal killer with this (or any other phone/pda combo).

Originally posted by MonorailMan
Personally, if I get a cell phone, I want one of the cool T-Moblie Windows Mobile Phone Edtition phones. Oh no, I don't want one of those clunky lunky things, esp if it's running anything Windows. I definitely want to avoid this look (http://www.sidetalkin.com/). :eek:

I refuse to buy a cell phone that doesn't fold. It's not comfortable for me. Jeff, the info is interesting, but I don't know that not having Palm 5 is such a huge limitation. I wouldn't care about playing MP3s, either. Mostly, I'd love to have all my contacts and appoints together with my phone. I kind of try to do that now on my phone (an LG 5350) but it's very difficult to try to force a cell phone to do what a PDA should do. Limited text fields and stuff.

mod note: fixed the vb code ak

Well, if you looking for a phone, that doesn't side-talk, and flips:

May I recommend the Windows Mobile Smartphone? :D

(J/K) :D

Lani! That cell phone makes me salivate!

I saw someone in the movie theater tonight with a color LCD cell phone, and he was using the Palm wand to touch the screen!! I was puzzled until I saw your post just now. What a beauty!

Won't it be a great day when ALL of our gadgets can be compounded into ONE -- and we don't have to make sure that five separate devices are all fully charged and ready to go!

Nothing like electronics to make my day...Thanks!

I'm actually lucky enough to have the i500 (Thanks to my work), and let me tell you, it's a joy to have.

As far as running an 'older' version of Palm, well, a few million Palms are still out there running it, so it's still viable. I've only run into a few applications that it matters, and then it wasn't a big deal.

As for the resolution of the screen, it's great for what's it's designed for: a Smart-phone. I'm not running Photoshop on it, for God sakes.

A coworker picked up the Treo 600, and has already had issues with it. (2 defective units). Yes, it has a camera, and also plays MP3's, but battery life is horrible on it. I get 2 days of use between charges on my i500, and I'm pretty happy with that.

And concerning the touch screen being deactivated while in phone mode, that's not true of the i500. One button while on a call takes you to the Palm application screen.