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What's the best PDA/phone product?

Created by:

Elizabeth Macomber

Date: January 31, 2008, Number of Replies: 30

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Treo or blackberry or ????

I've been on line looking at Verizon's offerings for PDAs and phones. I'd like to switch to an easy to learn/use all in one model that can also access the Sandicor MLS but don't have to do it today if some newer technology is about to be released soon. I realize that Verizon doesn't support all the choices out there too. Does anyone have any suggestions for a "not so technical" user product?

Betsy Macomber, Realtor, SRES

Prudential California Realty,11939 Rancho Bernardo Rd

San Diego, CA 92128

Mail To:bestbets@prusd.com

www.RealEstateHow2.com

858 618-5722 Direct

619 888-2684 Cell

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Katy Steed

Date: February 1, 2008

I previously had a Blackberry and switched over to a Treo. For me there is no question, the Treo is for me! I am not the most tech savvy person and I found the Blackberry hard to work with. The Treo is pretty simple to use. Also, in my MLS I am able to interface using my Treo and I am able to open lockboxes. The down side is that I found set up of both devices to be quite a task!! Good luck!

Katy Steed, Realtor
RJ Savoy & Associates
733 S. Foster
Baton Rouge, LA 70806
225-975-8504
katy@katysteed.com
RJSavoy.com

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Steve Nemeth Licensed Real Estate Broker, CA

Date: February 2, 2008

I previously had a Blackberry and switched over to a Treo. For me there is no question, the Treo is for me! I am not the most tech savvy person and I found the Blackberry hard to work with.

I have used the Treo 650 for the past 3 1/2 years and am very happy with it. I am about to upgrade to the Treo 755P. I prefer the Palm software over the Window version. I love being able to easily check my email while I am out and about....

Steve Nemeth
Broker - Realtor

Los Angeles, CA

RE/MAX Grand Central
Realestmn@sbcglobal.net

www.MoveInPerfect.com

(818) 980-6966 Direct

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Jean Szeman Licensed Real Estate Agent, Mesa, AZ

Date: February 3, 2008

Hi all,

I have used a PDA ever since the Palm V and cannot get along without a PDA. I used to use a paper version Franklin Covey organizer and it was just too heavy to lug around all the time. That is why I loved a PDA to put everything in that and back it up to my desktop.

Then I purchased a Treo 650 and used that for a couple years. It eventually did not have enough memory for me to use it for a lockbox supra key. So I upgraded to a Treo 700 Palm version against the recommendations of several past clients and friends. So many people had trouble with this phone because it was unreliable. I wanted to wait until the Treo 755P came out but the Verizon folks did not think it would be out until in the spring so I purchased the 700P and it is working very well so far.

I use it for email, Internet, PDA, lockbox key, and I download the MLS listings to it nightly. It is working great. While the email & Internet access is a bit expensive (approx. $40/mo.), I find the email access is beneficial. I recently received an email while I was out and about. It was from an Internet seller lead. Long story short, I have now listed that property from an Internet lead. This is great!

I will upgrade to another Treo unless something better comes along but not for a while. I don’t care for the Blackberry because I cannot get along without a PDA.

Jean Szeman

Associate Broker, ABR, GRI, CNE

Mesa, Arizona

480-650-4503 Direct

Russ Lyon Realty Company, Southeast

jean@AZRealEstateForYou.com

www.AZRealEstateForYou.com

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Connie Gohata

Date: February 3, 2008

Quandry: Yes I'm in one. I have two phones, a RAZR and a new Smart Phone, T-Mobile Dash. I wish I had known that PWAOR, my Local Realtor Assoc. was going to suddenly switch to Supra eKey. I would have bought a TREO (unlocked) from the get-go. I even just recently bought a Blackberry, intending to put my RAZR to bed and have two smart phones. Now, none of these scenarios will open a lock box. My choices are: Sell the Blackberry or the Dash and get the TREO, with all the associated costs - including the eKey subscription!!, or just use the Active Key and stay with what I have! Then I just have to decide about the Blackberry - which has nothing to do with this monologue. Anyway, I found a good TREO 650, almost new, for $150 and it comes with a 2 gig SD card. I'm tempted to buy it anyway and sell the Blackberry. Then I won't feel I'm spending so much.
Anyone else in that Quandry over the wrong phone set up?

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Richard Wilkins Licensed Real Estate Broker, Santa Cruz, CA

Date: February 4, 2008

Hi All, I am just starting my search for a PDA/phone that will interface with the local MLS service, process incoming and outgoing email, help organize business activities, etc. I recently purchased an Apple iMac desktop & MacBook laptop. Both are capable of running the Apple operating system and Windows. I have used a Mac & a Windows PC but prefer the Mac, partially because of a virus, trojan horse problem with the PC. I had been thinking of buying an Apple iPhone but now want to expand the uses of a hand held device. The Blackberry and Treo are consistently mentioned as the best solutions. Are either of those units Mac compatible? If not, is there a good solution to integrate with the Mac? Thanks for any help you can offer.

Rick Wilkins
Santa Cruz, CA
email:Rick@rickwilkins-re.com
831-464-3606

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realtalk78

Date: February 4, 2008

I think this is one of those questions that will depend on the personality, I have a treo 700w right now, but sometimes get fustrated on having to reboot every so often. This usually happens when I need it fast. I have considered going back to the blackberry, it is more reliable but I think less efficient than the treo. For me, they each have pro's and con's and I lean more toward the treo.

Gary Nelson, ABR, e-Pro, GRI

Associate Broker

Long and foster Real Estate, Inc.

gnelson@harfordcountyhomes.net

410-459-6920

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Connie Gohata

Date: February 4, 2008

Jean wrote: "Then I purchased a Treo 650 and used that for a couple years. It eventually did not have enough memory for me to use it for a lockbox supra key."

It has an SD slot, so are you referring to onboard memory? I am considering buying the Treo 650 with a 2 gig sd card. At what point does it run out of memory?

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Ronny Geenen Licensed Real Estate Agent, Glendora, CA

Date: February 4, 2008

Connie wrote,

My choices are: Sell the Blackberry or the Dash and get the TREO, with all the associated costs - including the eKey subscription!!, or just use the Active Key and stay with what I have! Then I just have to decide about the Blackberry - which has nothing to do with this monologue. Anyway, I found a good TREO 650, almost new, for $150 and it comes with a 2 gig SD card. I'm tempted to buy it anyway and sell the Blackberry. Then I won't feel I'm spending so much.

I have noticed that some Realtors do not like to use the TREO or PALM to open a lockbox. Some have switch back to the DisplayKEY, because it is much easier to use.

I myself have a BB 8700g and the Dkey, and I carry it around in a leather case. Also I think, that the Dkey cost on a yearly basis is less that the TREO access fee.

Glendora, CA 91741

Ronny@RonnyGeenen.com

Http://CaFoothillsRealEstate.com

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Stephen ellis

Date: February 5, 2008

Richard -

Have you looked at The Missing Sync? It's an excellent product for synchronizing a Macintosh with just about any handheld device. Check it out at www.markspace.com

Stephen Ellis

Northside Realty

Raleigh, NC

Sent from my iPhone

On Feb 4, 2008, at 2:46 PM, Richard Wilkins <wilkinsrealestate@juno.com> wrote:

RealTalk Message
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Subject: What's the best PDA/phone product?
Author: Richard Wilkins (wilkinsrealestate@juno.com)
Date: February 4th, 2008, 12:45 AM PST
ID: 0056VX
Hi All, I am just starting my search for a PDA/phone that will interface with the local MLS service, process incoming and outgoing email, help organize business activities, etc. I recently purchased an Apple iMac desktop & MacBook laptop. Both are capable of running the Apple operating system and Windows. I have used a Mac & a Windows PC but prefer the Mac, partially because of a virus, trojan horse problem with the PC. I had been thinking of buying an Apple iPhone but now want to expand the uses of a hand held device. The Blackberry and Treo are consistently mentioned as the best solutions. Are either of those units Mac compatible? If not, is there a good solution to integrate with the Mac? Thanks for any help you can offer.

Rick Wilkins
Santa Cruz, CA
email:Rick@rickwilkins-re.com
831-464-3606

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