Which smartphone
is right for you?
By Marc Saltzman
Q: I’m looking at new smartphones. What
are the key features to consider?
Also:
■ New Windows note
A: It was only a decade ago when cellphones were
used to make phone calls—and that was it. Today’s
smartphones behave more like a mini-computer:
They can be used as a messaging solution (e-mail,
text/picture messages), Web surfing tool, music
and video player, camera and camcorder, gaming
device, GPS navigation unit, e-book reader, radio
and personal digital assistant (calendar, address
book, memos, to-do lists and more). Whew!
If you’re reading this and thinking, “But I just
want a phone that makes calls,” you don’t need to be
concerned with the growing number of smartphones available today. Instead, you can pick up a
reliable cellphone with good reception, comfortable
buttons and long battery life.
But should you be ready for your first (or next)
digital Swiss Army knife–style device, the following
information will help you pick one that’s right for
you. Once you do decide, be sure to find out if your
preferred wireless carrier has the phone you want
first or else you’ll have to switch to a different
phone or carrier. Consider these three options:
• If you love e-mail, a BlackBerry may be for
you. These pocket-size smartphones offer “push”
e-mail, meaning messages are sent to the phone as
soon as they arrive, as opposed to logging online to
“pull” down e-mails. Many BlackBerrys offer an
ultra-intuitive QWERTY keyboard, just like regular
computer keyboards.
BlackBerrys also support expandable memory
cards to hold music, videos and photos. These
smartphones also include Bluetooth (allowing use of
hands-free headsets or speakerphones) and a camera
(for still and video capture), and most offer Wi-Fi to
let you surf the Net at high speeds and GPS to help
you navigate roads in North America. BlackBerry
App World, an online store (
www.blackberry.com/
App World), debuted in the spring to let you download applications from the phone itself.
• Also consider Windows Mobile–powered
smartphones, which offer a familiar interface and
programs. They allow you to create, edit and view
JOHN HRYNIUK
commonly used documents (with support for Word, Excel, PowerPoint and
Outlook files); and these phones synchronize smoothly with a Windows
computer. Some offer both touchscreen and button-based interfaces
on the same device.
• While not technically smartphones, I also like these cellphones:
LG Rumor, Samsung Gravity and
Sony Ericsson W580i.
Another benefit of smartphones
deals with social connections.
Smartphones have applications that allow you to
update your status and upload pictures and videos
instantly to your mySpace or Facebook pages while
offering an adequate screen size to view other people’s personal Web pages.
One more note to consider: Smartphones have
the capacity to download new applications from the
Internet, ranging from Google Maps to help you get
where you’re going, to Pandora to listen to personally tailored music on the device. When finding the
right phone for you, always ask if there are special
applications available to use on the device that will
personalize it more toward your style and tastes.
Q: I’m looking for a PC for back to school.
But with a new Windows coming out,
should I wait?
A: That’s a valid question, but fortunately all of the
major PC manufacturers have adopted a free-upgrade plan. Here’s how it works: If you buy a
new qualifying PC now, you can receive a free
upgrade to Windows 7 when it comes out (
estimated to be in late October).
Qualifying systems are Windows Vista Home
Premium, Business and Ultimate versions. You’ll get
a comparable version of Windows 7 in the mail.
One important note: Netbooks typically run on
Windows XP, so they are not eligible for an upgrade.
For more details on the new Windows 7 and free
upgrades, see
www.windows.com/upgradeoffer. C
Questions about
electronics or computers
you purchased at
Costco? Send them to:
Tech Connection
The Costco Connection
P.O. Box 34088
Seattle, WA 98124-1088
Or fax to (425) 313-6718,
or e-mail to
connection@costco.com
Please include
“Tech Connection”
in the subject line. Marc
will answer selected ques-
tions in this column. We
regret that unpublished
questions cannot be
answered individually.
Ask Marc
Saltzman
The Costco Connection
A variety of cellular phones and service plans
are available in most Costco warehouses at the
Wireless kiosks. Also, Costco offers a wide variety
of computers, software and accessories in the
warehouses and online at Costco.com.
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Marc Saltzman,
a leading high-tech
reporter, contributes to
more than three dozen
prominent publications, appears on radio
and TV, and is the
author of 14 books.
