Do I need a Blackberry?

Hello all,

Firstly please excuse my technical knowledge of all things modern! It gets worse as I get older...

I am off the the states for 5 weeks and need to stay in touch. I don't really want to take my laptop as I will be touring and don't want to leave it in the car or hotel rooms for long periods of time, my life is on that small little machine!

I would like to be able to check email and browse the web (tripadvisor) from time to time, will a blackberry tick all my boxes? Most hotel rooms offer free internet access, will I be able to connect? I understand the 8820 now has WiFi. I believe though that most of these hotels that offer a free internet connection it is actually not wireless. What my best solution folks??? [?]

Any ideas? Thanks.
Marc

What about an ASUS EEE? Small, easier to use than a Blackberry and will connect to wireless or 'normal' internet.

You just have to find somebody who's got some in stock.

Originally posted by daharris
What about an ASUS EEE? Small, easier to use than a Blackberry and will connect to wireless or 'normal' internet.

You just have to find somebody who's got some in stock.

Well I know that http://www.purelygadgets.co.uk have some in stock (click here), 'cos I've just bought one of the 8g models from them. Now, if I can only arrange to be in the house at the time the chap from DHL calls, I'll actually have my hands on it!

Best wishes

David

[HighFlyer]

I have an Asus Eee and am using it right now from Shanghai. Feel free to shout should you have any questions. I'd certainly say that having a full computer is more useful and cheaper than a Blackerry (in terms of monthly charges/connectivity), its hardy, so can be thrown into a suitcase if need be, and it has an ethernet connector, so no worries about non wireless hotels.

Thanks,
Sarah

[RichardMannion]

Interesting to see the prices have jacked up since we bought Sarah's eee in December.

We bought hers from PCWorld in Oxford - if you look at their website you can see if they have them in your local stores or available for collection. The Black 4GB version is now £249, the 2GB version is on sale for £199 (though that was its price in Dec). You can always add a large SD card to the slot in the side if you need more storage space.

[Scrooge]

A blackberry or blackjack should work for you, sure it's nice to have a lappy or EEE but if all you are doing is checking email, texting and the the odd web page it may be a little bit of over kill, also there is nothing that beats the portability of a smart phone, my only question (may be out of ignorance I have not looked around) is does someone offer a pay as you go with unlimited data usage out here ?

Originally posted by daharris
What about an ASUS EEE? Small, easier to use than a Blackberry and will connect to wireless or 'normal' internet.

You just have to find somebody who's got some in stock.

Why don't you order one from Amazon.com and have it shipped to your hotel ? That's what I do [:D]

Why not an iPod ... Web browsing is much easier than a BB, if you have POP mail it's very easy to set up ... and connecting is damn simple.

And, of course, it's just a great little plaything.

Originally posted by slinky09
Why not an iPod ... Web browsing is much easier than a BB, if you have POP mail it's very easy to set up ... and connecting is damn simple.

And, of course, it's just a great little plaything.

Beat me by 30 seconds [:D]

Used my iTouch on my last 2 trips to NYC [:D]

[Nottingham Nick]

Another vote for an iPod touch.

I have the 32gb touch and the Blackberry 8820.

Let's just say that if I had got the iPod touch first, I wouldn't have gone near the Blackberry, and am slightly ruing the fact that I am tied into an 18 month contract with Orange for the Blackberry.

Don't get me wrong, the B/Berry is a fantastic piece of kit, it is just that the Touch is streets ahead IMHO.

Nick

Originally posted by slinky09
Why not an iPod ... Web browsing is much easier than a BB, if you have POP mail it's very easy to set up ... and connecting is damn simple.

And, of course, it's just a great little plaything.

Does the Touch not like IMAP?

Jonathan

[mitchja]

The iPod Touch has Google maps ver. 2 on with the 'My location' thing on so it's also a very basic GPS system as well when connected to public WiFi hotspots.

Regards

Originally posted by Nottingham Nick
Another vote for an iPod touch.

I have the 32gb touch and the Blackberry 8820.

Let's just say that if I had got the iPod touch first, I wouldn't have gone near the Blackberry, and am slightly ruing the fact that I am tied into an 18 month contract with Orange for the Blackberry.

Don't get me wrong, the B/Berry is a fantastic piece of kit, it is just that the Touch is streets ahead IMHO.

Nick

Same here ... Only thing is the Blackberry doesn't need a Wireless Network which in places like NYC can be an advantage when most hotels charge a huge amount for WiFi access!

That said you cam usually hunt down a public WiFi network!

I've not taken a laptop on a trip since I've had my iPhone as in the other thread just remember to only switch the data roaming on when necessary. I hung my nose over a blackberry for a long time but glad I opted for the iPhone its so easy to use and set up.

Isn't it about time for a price cut on the iPhone?? At an 18 month cost of close to a grand, it's still an expensive toy.
The forthcoming SE Xperia looks a better option/value..

[mitchja]

Most, if not all, Starwood hotels offer free WiFi in the lobby area of their hotels. All the ones I've stayed in have anyway.

They only charge for in-room use.

Regards

Isn't it about time for a price cut on the iPhone?? At an 18 month cost of close to a grand, it's still an expensive toy.

But whatever phone you have you pay for usage I find £35 a month good value for money.

For free wifi access check here

Thanks everyone for all the advice, I do like the Asus Eee. Certainly easy to take away while travelling.

Thanks again
Marc

Originally posted by Autopilot
Thanks everyone for all the advice, I do like the Asus Eee. Certainly easy to take away while travelling.

Thanks again
Marc

Not sure when you're off but if you do go for the eee, you may want to hold off for a bit as the new eee 900's are slated for release in the next couple of months.

Jonathan

And now it's remoured that the 3G iPhone is about to be announced come May time ... if it has 32GB or more I might just ...