So here I am with my new Verizon-cum-Alltel 7135, all changed over and happily using up my limited peak minutes on Alltel's Total Freedom plan with the help of some Alltel techs (who did not prove as bad as their reputation said they would be). In other words, I have incorporated the latest Alltel PRL and am getting Alltel service in precisely the way I should right now despite the presence of the lovely "Verizon" startup/shutdown/flipcover logos.

My question arises because my firmware is a curious hybrid of old and new, sporting "Phone Software" of MZ 1.0.44 while retaining good old "PDA Software" SZ 1.0.23 (which, as I understand it, is the last Graffiti 1 version). I also have a bunch of Verizon settings that can't be deleted, such as 1X and VZW Quick 2 Net network selections, but I guess I can live with such permanent entries even though I won't likely use them.

I love, love, love having Graffiti 1 on the 7135, if only because it took me a good while to learn it on my old m130. It is my understanding that if I take my phone in to an Alltel location, I can have my firmware flashed and updated (in the case of the PDA side) to a much newer version that will, alas, irreversibly impose Graffiti 2 upon me. Yet the posts here seem to indicate that the new PDA firmware is not all bad, and that there are some benefits to having it. Plus, it would seem that an Alltel flash will have the potential to remove some of the Verizon garbage and replace it with Alltel-specific items (like "Mobile Web" and "Axcess").

Given that I am unlikely to want any new wireless features other than SMS capability (I'll use the 14.4 kb modem for a while until I get up to speed), does it seem like having this phone flashed at Alltel will profit me any? In other words, will I likely regret losing Graffiti 1 more than gaining any benefits from the flash? If so, I am quite content to leave things as they are, logos, crashes, and all. Comments?

The G1/G2 argument has been beaten to death here. Diehard G1 users will not accept G2 no matter what. More open minded folks don't think it is so bad.

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Palm M515>Kyocera 6035>Kyo 7135>Treo 650>Treo700W>Treo 700P>Palm Centro Verizon

Fitaly Stamp
Millikeys

Use one of these stick on keyboards. They both rock. Fitaly looks a bit nicer on your 7135, but you need to pay for it.

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Mark
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Palm Personal > Palm V > Palm Vx > Clie 760 > Kyocera 7135 > Treo 600 >Treo 650 > (Maybe i730??)

ekaxel: The G1/G2 argument has been beaten to death here. Diehard G1 users will not accept G2 no matter what. More open minded folks don't think it is so bad.

That's not my question. My question assumes I am a diehard G1 user, but asks whether there is anything of value I will get by updating my PDA firmware or whether the update is relatively useless. If I'm giving up G1, what will I get in return?

mdlissner said:
Use one of these stick on keyboards. They both rock. Fitaly looks a bit nicer on your 7135, but you need to pay for it.

Will I need one of these if I leave my old PDA firmware version in place?

Sometimes, it pays to do a little more digging. From the old, long KWPST thread (entitled "Successful upgrade..."), I found two posters who said:

"For those who wish to upgrade their phone software I say, do it if you have a specific problem for which the upgrade is proven to be a fix, or if you want Graffiti2.

"... [T]here is nothing here you must have. The process involved in getting your service provider to do the upgrade is not worth the time or aggravation. Save yourself an hour finding out your provider is much more interested in getting you to pay them for a phone and service than they are in paying for a good service department that can provide you expert timely support."

and:

"As for SZ, that is just a Palm upgrade from 4.10 to 4.10.02. From what I can tell, it just wiped out Graffiti to Graffiti2. If there is anything else (and I am sure there is), it is not notic[ea]ble to the naked eye."

That seems to settle it. I guess I'm a-stayin' with my current settings because my phone and PDA work like I want them to. Why mess with a good thing?

I just can't imagine Palm going back to G1.

I also own a Tungsten T3, and before I upgraded my 7135 firmware, I was constantly writing G2 strokes into my 7135's G1 stylus pad. I welcomed the firmware upgrade.

All new devices are gonna have G2 preinstalled. I chose to learn G2 and I like it.

But this G2 implementation has problems. Like an "L" (down, and then right) followed by a space gets converted to a "T". It makes sense if you just use the down stroke for the "L", but down and right is unambiguous.