Please convince me to buy a Touch Pro!

gatordawgs · #1 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 01:14 AM

I will be getting my first smartphone in the next month (on the Alltel network now; will be switched to Verizon whenever the transition finishes). After much research, I've narrowed down my choices to the BB Curve 8330 and the Touch Pro. The Touch Pro, for me, is currently $200 more than the BB.

I am a self-employed writer, with the possibility of moving into a more business-oriented career field.

My primary uses will be: phone, email, text messages, internet and some Word/Excel (editing files I create on my PC). I MUST be able to attach PDFs to emails, and I MUST be able to send emails from my existing Roadrunner POP3 email account (via Outlook) using the phone.

I would like the ability to create and assign my own specific ringtones to contacts, but since I don't do it now it's not a must.

I REALLY love the look and feel of the HTC when I've played with it at the Alltel store, but it's hard to get a true feel for a phone when you've got a sales associate hanging all over you.

All I know is that's it's got a "purty mouth" (cue the dueling banjos), and I could totally see rocking my fantasy football draft by pulling out the Touch Pro to run my spreadsheets -- as opposed to the beat-up binder I've been using for 5 years. And that's cool, but is it $200 worth of cool?

I am not as tech-savvy as many of you are, so I won't be writing code for my phone to improve its functionality. I am, however, more than competent at following directions to fix computer problems; therefore, I'm fairly confident that I could install 3rd party software and/or patches/fixes, so long as I have clear documentation.

Disregarding cost for now, my primary concerns about this phone are as follows:

Stability of WM 6.1 -- I've read a lot about WM phones locking up and needing a complete reboot. True?

I've been told that WM 6.1 won't actually send messages from my RR account; I would need to "link" through Gmail or some web-based portal to send email (this is from an Alltel sales rep, so I don't completely believe what they say). True? If it matters, we do leave our home computer on almost all the time.

Unlike many, I'm not worried about the battery life as I plan on having a spare whichever phone I go with (I'm really bad about letting my phone go almost dead before I charge).

What I need is a phone that will do the basics (phone, text, email, web) out of the box, and allow me to slowly develop the skills to take advantage of all the extra features. So, is the Touch Pro a better phone for ME than the BB?

Thanks in advance to all who respond.

**Rusty Duck** · #2 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatordawgs

Thanks in advance to all who respond.

The nice thing for you is that you have never had a BB or a WinMo phone so there will not be a learning curve from "I always did it this way or that way".

I have been on a WinMo phone for some time and my wife (very non techy type person to say the least

)just went to a smart phone in Dec. Her first phone was the Curve, after a week she went to the TP with no regrets.

If you just want to phone for email, TM and calling I would not spend the extra $200 bucks. If you want something that consumes all of your time adding things, flashing ROMs and screwing off - get the TP.

I am one of the few directors at work that is not using a BB.

**WarChild** · #3 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 01:34 AM

damn you shouldn't have to be convinced maybe you should just go with a Treo.

gatordawgs · #4 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 01:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClevelandWheeler

damn you shouldn't have to be convinced maybe you should just go with a Treo.

Okay, true, but I'm a writer coming off a 2-year commitment to a Razor; can I get a break here?

**WarChild** · #5 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 01:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gatordawgs

Okay, true, but I'm a writer coming off a 2-year commitment to a Razor; can I get a break here?

damn a razor...ehhh, not hard to do better than that. lol, dont mind me Im a ball breaker.

gatordawgs · #6 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 01:51 AM

tsousan:

I'm sure that I'll start off with the basics; however, I started off my PC ownership with buying my protection from Norton and all my music from iTunes... and these things have changed over time.

I have an annoying tendency to get obsessed with getting things to run smoothly; also, in this economy, I'm loaded with plenty of time to waste.

I'm guessing you'd advise the TP in the long view?

**hooover** · #7 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 01:54 AM

Convince me to concince you...

**WarChild** · #8 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hooover

Convince me to concince you...

do what to who?? lol

gatordawgs · #9 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClevelandWheeler

damn a razor...ehhh, not hard to do better than that. lol, dont mind me Im a ball breaker.

Yeah, which is why I wasn't offended by the Treo suggestion -- it would've been an upgrade.

And don't worry; my father's a retired lawyer and full-time curmudgeon, and I have an almost 12-year-old boy, so you'll have to work hard to offend me.

I assume you're all for the Touch Pro?

**WarChild** · #10 (**permalink**) 02-05-2009, 01:58 AM

dont get me wrong I love my pro but when the Palm Pre come out i will defenetly be getting it even if I need to open a second line....now I sound like a dork...lol