Do you still love your Centro?

[PDA Fanatic]

I do love my Centro but am outgrowing it and trying to decide on my next smartphone.  The Centro is small and quick, but I really would like a bigger screen and a unit with more of a one-handed operation.

I have a BB Curve for work and love the size and shape of the unit.  But I have several obstacles to overcome before purchasing a BB.  I have a lot of money invested in third party software for the Palm OS (been using Palm for 10+ years).  I haven't been able to find a way to sync the BB without all my private records (appointments, contacts and tasks) moving onto my work computer.  I'm considering the Pre since it's coming to Verizon next year but need to do more research before making a decision.

I'm looking to simplify my life ... one smartphone that handles everything including showing off my many pictures, keeping me, my family and my two jobs organized and not a huge investment in more software.

If anyone has any ideas ... please let me know!

[Robin24k]

Windows Mobile is probably the most viable option, so that would be what I would recommend. There will be new devices out soon, as well as a new version of WM, so I would wait and see first.

[Slarti]

As there is no smartphone out there that is perfect for everyone and you're going to have switch OSes I recommend trying as many different phones as you can before buying.

If you can make just a few choices about your hardware/software requirements you'll soon be able to narrow down your range of options. e.g. Does it need a hard keyboard or would a touchscreen keyboard suffice?

I'd take a serious look at various windows mobile, Symbian and Android powered devices, they all have different pros and cons.

[PaulLMurray]

And supposedly most mobile phones will have some sort of flash support by next year but I think its still an open question which ones will be able to handle it and which won't. So if you're a big web browser on your phone I'd wait and see how that turns out.

[PDA Fanatic]

Thanks for the suggestions.  I don't know anything about Windows mobile (haven't played with a unit since the Dell Axim days), Symbian, and Andriod OS units.  My main requirement would be keeping my private records (calendar, tasks and contacts) off my work computer (I'm a public employee and those records are archived FOREVER).  Do any of the OS units mentioned have the ability to keep those records private?  Also, how are they with push email?

Thank again for your suggestions!

[shou5]

I do have to say that the Centro is definitely one of the best Smartphone I have ever owned. It's small, and fast.  It definitely met my expectations.  Seems like I remember when I just got it.  I actually had a total of 4 Centro's.  I kept replacing one everytime I damage it.  So it was all my fault when it did give me problems.  For a little Smatphone that did a lot, I sure put it through the test.  I craked the screen when I went skydiving and forgot I had it in my pocket, dropped it Rock Climbing from 10,000 feet, dropped it from the chairlift and the ski patrol found it a week later and it still worked but obviously damaged.  I was happy and satisfied enough that I replaced it with another Centro and always kept a Red Color. I had just replaced one when I decided to upgrade to the PRE.  No regrets but I will definitely miss my Centro. So now I have a fairly new Centro that I put back in the box and sits at home in my home office.  Once in a while I play the games I have installed.  I'll probably sell it later or just keep it as a back-up phone. I'll miss the Palm OS but glad I made the switch like I did in previous Treos. My advice?  I would try every smartphone.  Between my private consulting and regular work, I tried everything from the iPhone, Blackberry, Samsung, Dare, etc. .  It's good to know what's out there so you can pick a smatphone that fits your personality or what your needs are.  Overall, I've been a big Palm fan for both personal and business. 

http://mytreo.net/forum/index.php/topic,68488.0.html

[bctinc]

I've had a Centro for about 8 months now, upgraded from Treo 650. I am very happy with the phone but recently the bottom of the 5 way stopped working and I need to call Verizon for a replacement (hopefully). Also, the best part, for me, is that I didn't have to get a data plan subscription. All the other newer cell phones "require" a data plan. So, I get to save an extra $25/month from Verizon. Don't worry, I have 5 cell phone activated with them so they're getting plenty of my money every month!   

[toujours]

Well, I still love my Centro.

It's boring black for those who want to know what colour it is.

I use my Centro as a "PDA phone". For me that means no web browsing or EMail - only contacts, calendar, pda apps, SMS and phone calls.

For me Palm OS is still (imho) more efficient than Windows mobile (I recently tried a friend's HTC - ugh !  ).

We use Novell Groupwise (!) at work. I sync contacts and calendar daily using pda connect.

The keyboard is great and gets a lot of two thumb use : I use Documents to Go for to-do lists that I write in the train and sync to my desktop afterwards. And for SMS, as I could never get my head around the "look ahead" function on 12 button phones.

And my problems ? Well, freezing happens now and again, as does the odd reset. Maybe I should hard reset one day and cleanup my apps...

[bctinc]

Well, I still love my Centro.

It's boring black for those who want to know what colour it is.

I use my Centro as a "PDA phone". For me that means no web browsing or EMail - only contacts, calendar, pda apps, SMS and phone calls.

For me Palm OS is still (imho) more efficient than Windows mobile (I recently tried a friend's HTC - ugh !  ).

We use Novell Groupwise (!) at work. I sync contacts and calendar daily using pda connect.

The keyboard is great and gets a lot of two thumb use : I use Documents to Go for to-do lists that I write in the train and sync to my desktop afterwards. And for SMS, as I could never get my head around the "look ahead" function on 12 button phones.

And my problems ? Well, freezing happens now and again, as does the odd reset. Maybe I should hard reset one day and cleanup my apps...

Hi - when I had my old Treo 650 (which I loved), it constantly rebooted throughout the day and was extremely annoying. When it wasn't rebooting, it was a terrific, very functional phone. I used it for like 3 years like that. I also purchased software every now and again including PDAPhone (now packed with the Centro for "free") which was terrific tethered modem for my laptop. Unlimited internet/date access through Verizon was very expensive at an extra $45/month.

When I finally upgraded to my Centro, I was elated. Centro is smaller, sleeker, a bit faster, and I got rid of the internet/data (need to save $$$ these days). I would active internet/data for like $10/mo but not $45. Centro, sadly (btw),  cannot do MMS but it can do SMS. I was a little saddened by that but I can live with it.

I added a 4Gb SDHC card and have tons of music, movies, pictures, and (of course) Documents To Go (highly recommend) and now have a very functional phone. Syncing every day means my Calendar and Contacts are always up to date. The only other phone I would consider is the Apple iPhone but I want Verizon service (and not "have to" order internet/data access). I'm sticking with my Centro!

[Greek]

...cannot do MMS but it can do SMS.

I suppose it's a Verizon thing as the GSM Centro can send and receive MMS. 

Regards,

[PaulLMurray]

um my Verizon Centro does MMS just fine. I thought Sprint was the one that couldn't.

[MiDoJo]

poster can't do MMS because no data plan, this would be true on any network.  smartphones require data for MMS.

[fstopstigmata]

Yes, Sprint does MMS fine, too, always has.  I believe you're thinking of the Blackberrys on Sprint that didn't have MMS, but that was finally patched a few months ago as well.

[PaulLMurray]

If I know myself, and I think I do, I probably just wasn't thinking. I let my Centro do my thinking for me these days.

[Headsong]

Why is it that the Centro is still the only phone? I can only hope it lasts forever I guess. I get to use Palm Desktop, I get to sync to my own computer, I get a keyboard, and an OS that works.

What else is there? Sad to see that the Twits are taking over 'smart'phones so that they can update their Face pages and other foolishness. Doesn't anyone actually work anymore?