OK, while I've been glued to the tube watching some great NCAA men's college hoop, a different "March Madness" has quietly been taking place over at CNet. They have developed an interesting way to vote for your favorite...

Yep, the Treo made a run up the ladder... interesting. Keep a grain of salt in all of this because it isn't scientific. When we close the poll, I'll also post the members only results which may be different.

Umm.. ok??? Why would you count up the votes of only members if you made it an open poll???? geez, you are worst then the goverment!


Timmay

Umm... chill! Nobody said anything about tossing out the current numbers or giving weight to one set over the other.

Yeh... what he said.

bigredgpk, first off I'd like to give you a big welcome to pdaPhoneHome. We want the Treo folks to feel at home here like all the other devices. We try to maintain a device neutral view (as a site), but of course our users will have preferences and favorite devices. I have used the Treo 600 a lot, and really think it is a well done device.

In my prior reply, I didn't mean to imply we would throw anything out. We WANT to have it be a poll that is including non-members. There are ways to "enhance" the numbers in both cases - members and non-members. I'm just saying that when we finally close the poll that I will post both sets of numbers. The reason - I think the members would like to see both. The reality is the members view is going to be more indicative of the membership of each device type here, than in what's best. But, it will be a legitimate view of what our members think. Honestly, I would expect the Treo 600 to win this if you wanted my opinion, because it is one of the newest devices and is available on more carriers than any of the rest.

Now, if you have followed my views on the subject over time, you will know that this poll is out of character for me because I don't believe there is a "best device". Everyone's needs are different, and the devices are very different from one another. We have a whole forum that's purpose is to help people pick the best devices for this reason.

Welcome again!

It seems like a brick tossing contest among the three highest (but hardly best) devices.

Thanks for the Welcome Convergent.

It is all about point of view, i guess i just saw your other post in a negative light.

You are def right about there not being a "best device" though. Treo 600 needs a better camara, screen, suport, and vibration alert. But it does have an awsome form factor, software, and the keyboard is awsome. Who knows, maybe next year we will both be battling the Moto MX thinger with the double flip design for the best phone or maybe the Treo 610

Timmay

Now blazorboy, ONE of those devices has everything the i500 has plus a half-inch or so . . . surely it's one of the best?

As stated before, none of the above devices are "THE" best. What they are is the best for each individual who has different needs, wants, and/or requirements for their respective device. In case of the I500/7135 debate. I believe there are two main issues when choosing one over the other. Size vs Features and Sprint vs Verizon. Hopefully Samsung wises up with the release of the I550 next year and makes it available for both carriers, then this whole argument can go away.

Where I come from "half an inch or so" counts! But I agree among, but not the, best.

Did you ever notice that this is one of the few things a man has where he'll actually brag about it being smaller than someone elses or that it's too big (to fit comfortably in your pants or hold in your hand or better yet up to your ear...haha).

i prefeer big pda phones because i need the large screen. bigger IS better...

Well I guess its different strokes for different folks, so to speak.

In the case of the 7135 and T600 I thought the larger screen was more like the old 25" tv's where they actually put a tube made for a 19" tv and put it to a 25" screen where you lost clarity and sharpness as opposed to a 27" TV with a tube made for it. I could be wrong, but I thought that was the principal behind it and one of the complaints about the larger screen on the T600, that the screen was larger but the resolution wasn't any better than on the I500.

You are kind of correct. In fact, the i500 actually has higher resolution, but a smaller screen. But, the extra pixels are used for dedicated phone information areas on the screen. This is a concept I wish all the pdaPhone makers would adopt, because it works very well. The way they do it, no matter what Palm screen you are on, there is always an area at the top of the screen that provides information about the phone, power, etc. Very good concept.

I do agree that's a great concept on the i500. If it had an SD slot I probably wouldn't be so diehard 7135. (Don't tell the guys from the Kyo forum I said that LOL)

But really if something better comes along I'll probably jump ship. Already I've been enthralled by the MPx.

Really it's hard to say "best" though - it depends on your needs and preferences. I'm not sure any one model is really overall best.

But I still voted for the 7135.

Can't fault you there. I don't even know if I'd go to the I550 when it comes out. For me the extra features would just be a nicety and maybe a whole 10% of my overall usage. So for the basics: pda, phone, email and basic web browsing in the smallest package possible, it fits my needs perfectly. But I'm sure many in the Kyo camp will be drooling over the I550 when it comes out. Though with the wait maybe it'll be old age that has you drooling uncontrollably.

I'm with crogs571; the small possible package and all the essential (palm-pda, web, removalbe battery) with a very GOOD phone is my ideal, and I feel the i500 is as close as we will ever come to it. Add-ons are fattening but hard for the marketing types to resist. Maybe the 550 will be small enough, but I doubt it.

I just fear that post-550 the i500 will not be available should mine break etc. Phone manufactures seem to stop production of older models very quickly.

well the I550 should be a great step in the right direction for the clamshell diehards who can't fathom the size of the 7135. The only thing I didn't see in the pics of the 550 was a side by side with the 500 or 600 to give us a good comparison.

And if the I500 should break, lockline will send you a refurb which they should have for quite awhile. If you were lucky to get one at BB, maybe they'll have the 550 as your replacement. And if the I500 is no longer available period and you actually have it that long then lockline will send you an 550 if they don't have 500's since that would be a replacement/comparable model.

The Kyocera 7135 is definitely the best on the market. It is the only PDA phone which is usable as a phone, as none of the others have analog roaming (essential for use outside of cities).

If you want a PDA first, there may be other options, but if you're like me, and are looking phone first... there are no other options.

even though I own the i700, I can't help but defend the i-500. For your information, it does support analog. I know this for a fact considering i used to have one with sprint