[csper]

The keyboard.

If the iphone had a keyboard, my decision would have been harder.

On the other hand, I'm really starting to lean toward candybar designs (ala BB). Having to slide out a keyboard almost makes it take too long to be really useful. There's that split second decision about whether to slide the keyboard or use the OSK. (I might go with BB next go around.)

Another WinMo advantage, as far as I know, is that FlexMail still has best imap implementation on any platform. That's a big deal to me since I don't like to manage email multiple times. My customers that use Exchange usually don't have it exposed so I can't really comment on the implementations across devices (== I don't use it). I typically ask them to use my personal business address (hosted on google).

To me, all of these platforms do almost the same things to some degree or another, even including applications. Otherwise, it's just a matter of form factor and interface. If a device doesn't do something quite well yet (DocToGo on iPhone for example), it probably will in time.

All of the really good software I have on WinMo I paid for. Thumbcal, FlexMail, SPB MS (not right now), Resco anything, WMWifiRouter, Garmin, etc. A lot of the good programs that were free aren't any longer. And of course FM doesn't play right with anything so there's a constant headache.

IMHO, I'm not really seeing how the TP2 is targeted as "business device" more than the iphone. Out of the box I'm not sure what it does w.r.t. to business needs more than a BB or iPhone. Of course, there might be some WinMo apps for your line of business that aren't available on anything else. I'd be interested in understanding personal use cases that make WinMo better than another platform, out of curiosity more than anything else. Everybody's mileage varies here, of course.

Having a miniature computer is really only any good if you have the software you need on it or are willing to write it yourself. If I'm going to spend time to write the SW, it better be something best suited to mobility, otherwise I'm going to do it on the desktop.

Most of the really *get **** done* business people I know don't want to **** with customizing their phones -- they just want to use them as tools, so you have to compare the platforms out of the box for those people. They're either working on something or doing something else with their life. The cost to benefit on customizing is way too high. I'm a little unmotivated these days, so wasting time screwing around with phone doesn't bother me too much, but really I could be putting the same time to much better use. (Of course, if you enjoy customizing your phone -- and I must -- you're probably here on ppcgeeks and that doesn't apply to you.)

I know quite a few adults that are extremely successful in their field (which is not professional phone customizing btw) that use iphones and they get by fine. Of course, more of them are on BBs. Almost all of them invariably like their phone.

BTW, I'm a SATCOM/systems eng/BD guy (and previously SW eng) to give you some perspective. My phone is mostly about being able to do something now, until I get can back in front of my desk.

All in IMHO of course.

(oh yeah, my VZ bill is as much as it would be on AT&T)