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The following post is from the Deal Seeking Mom Project Administrator, Mandi Ehman:
Two weeks ago, I told you how I was using the Palm Pre Plus to get organized.
When I first started reviewing the Palm Pre Plus, I wasn't sure I would keep it once the review was done since there is an additional monthly fee compared to a regular cell phone. However, so many of the features -- browsing the internet, accessing my Google contacts & calendars and scheduling our DVR to record a show even when we're not home -- have made everyday tasks more convenient, and while it's certainly not a necessity, it's a splurge that we think is worth the cost.
I've found myself using these features the most:
:: Camera. I've taken a ton of pictures with my phone, and I think my mom appreciates the chance to see more everyday moments with our baby girl -- cuddling with momma while I work, her first time in the exersaucer, her first taste of banana, and so on. And the best part is most of these pictures are great quality, so I don't feel guilty about not pulling out my nicer camera!
:: Internet browsing. Even though we live in the boonies and don't get a strong enough cell signal to browse the internet at home, my husband has been enabling the WiFi feature to be able to keep tabs on the NFL Scouting Combine and the start of free agency.
:: Calendars & schedules. Last week we unveiled the Deal Seeking Mom calendar to help you keep track of when deals and roundups are posted. I've added these calendars to the personal and business calendars I already have synced with my phone so that I can quickly access my entire schedule wherever I am.
:: Music. I mentioned on Twitter that I've never had an MP3 before, and it's true. Two of my girls have MP3 players and my husband has one, but I've never had one or even used theirs. However, I do love music, and I always have a music station playing on the TV or my computer. But with the Pandora app, I'm able to listen to the music I want to listen to right from my phone. And unlike an MP3player, I don't even need speakers!
Verizon Wireless wants to hear from you too! Enter for a chance to win a $50 Visa gift card just for answering any of the following questions or responding to someone else's comment. Enter as many times as you'd like as long as all of your comments are relevant to the conversation:
- Which feature of the Palm Pre Plus most appeals to you?
- How would you use it to get or stay organized?
- How do you use technology for streamlining and organizing your life?
The giveaway will be open until Wednesday, 3/10 at 4 p.m. EST and is open to all U.S. residents 18 years or older. I’ll use Random.org to select the winning comment. Winners will be notified by email and listed on my Giveaway Winners page. Winners must respond within 48 hours of notification to claim their prize. Good luck!
Verizon provided me with a Palm Pre Plus at no charge so that I could review its features for the Deal Seeking Mom readers.
Tara Kuczykowski is a married mom of three boys and two girls, ages 4 to 10 years, living in Columbus, OH.
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I have the Blackberry Curve, but the Internet features are sluggish and most of the time it is more difficult to access than it is worth. I think the Palm Pre would be be more like the IPhone and have a faster web browser. I use my phone for texts, twitter, email in order to get a quick heads up on good deals and coupons. This is how I supplement my loss of income for our family. I have Verizon and I love the company and will probably get a Palm Pre on my next upgrade.
For those wondering about comparison to ATT and iPhone, I had Verizon Wireless for about 15 years, and I switched to ATT (for the iPhone) not too long back. There is a really noticeable difference - I drop a lot of calls now, where before I literally don't think I lost one in years. It's extra bad if both people have iPhones or if I am in a major city.
The extra data plan would be something I'd be willing to splurge on, since it would save me so much time & make my life easier.
Melanie - the camera does have a flash but doesn't have autofocus.
Oh, and it's a sliding phone! Even more fun!! :)
I know how you feel, Janis. Sometimes I feel like the little squares on my paper calendar are too small for all the stuff I have to cram into them!
I don't have internet access on my phone, I could have but my phone just doesn't have the capabilities to make it worth it to me, so that would be a huge plus for me. I also love that its a slider phone, those rock!
i would say the apps appeal to me...so many are out there now to help you save money...also the camera. I also take tons of pics of my kids and love the clarity!!!
Ooh I didn't notice that Lynn. That's a neat feature, I agree. :)
I have an iPhone and I have NO IDEA how I lived without it!
Which feature of the Palm Pre Plus most appeals to you?
I like the camera and internet features.
How would you use it to get or stay organized?
I would use it to keep track of my to-do list and calendar.
How do you use technology for streamlining and organizing your life?
I use my iPhone to keep track of emails, directions to places I need to go, to-do list, and calendars.
I have a blackberry curve and the internet is very slow!! And I have had the calendar which I need very often, totally erase everything! Appointments, birthdays, playdates, everything totally wiped out. Also my phone freezes a lot which is really annoying I guess it's really common with blackberries. So a phone better than the one I have would be awesome! LOL
Arn't those wonderful features Heather? Love it!
Wow, your calendar has completely erased w/the curve? That's nuts and I'm sure very aggravating Sami.
Oh my current camera phone does not have a flash, so I like that added feature too!
Oh good idea Ruth Ann, yea we could look up directions w/the net on the Pre!
I don't use technology to streamline, but I wish that I did. My computer is just too slow. Speedy internet access where I live is also a problem, but mainly just my computer.
I would love to have the better camera on my phone, mine isn't very good, and I think the calendar would be great for remembering birthdays, my paper calendar is so cram packed that I sometimes miss the tiny writing reminding me of someones birthday.
I just have the phone that comes free with the plan. This would help me a great deal to stay organized.
I would love to use the internet feature, because I'd love to have a way to check on the deals I'm trying to do while at the grocery store/CVS. Sometimes I forget something and it would be lovely to be able to just quickly check!
I use technology to streamline my schedules. I print out a chore list and a menu and our budget snowball sheets so that I can keep track of everything!
I agree Jessica, that the camera sounds lovely. It would be handy to have a decent camera with you at all times. My current phone has a camera, but it's not very good. With an almost-two-year-old, a camera is pretty important to me!
I would love to have just one device that would do everything. I currently carry a planner, too large of one at that! And a phone and a PC . I like the idea of just one product to do everything, being organized is not my strong suite, especially when so many items are involved and not coordinated to work together!
I would love the schedule part of Palm Pre as well as the camera
I currently have the Palm Centro. I can't wait for my provider to offer the Palm Pre Plus. I am most excited about the multiple calendar feature.
My phone is basically my "mobile computer". I use it for internet, email, spreadsheets, text, to do lists, twitter and keeping up with coupon deals.
The feature that apeals to me the most is the Organizer. I would use it to sync with my Outlook at work an yahoo calendars.
I'd love an organizer to keep me on schedule (it's a super busy year for us - a graduating senior, dance recitals, other graduating family members, etc.) I'd love it!
I currently have the samsung alias. I like phones that have a full keyboard. I like that it has internet and calander capabilities. I often switch days with people at work and would def use the calander to keep track of when im working. I like that it has apps. I liked the idea of the Iphone, but i hate AT&T.
Always looking for ways to be more organized. This would help tremendously!!
My boyfriend loves his Palm Pre, and uses it for everything when he's away at work. It's a WiFi hotspot, all his calendar info, plus email, texts and Facebook to keep in touch with us while he's gone.
I have an LG Voyager from Verizon. It has many of the Palm Pre features, but I think the Pre would be great with the calendar sync feature to keep up with schedules. I am so bad about writing things here and there and maybe this would help me to keep everything in one place. Verizon is a great provider for us. We were able to get phone service or at worst, text service after Hurricane Ike when no one else on our street could. We decided then and there we LOVED Verizon!
I have a blackberry bold and LOVE it! It has great features and the calendar option is great for keeping all appointments and me organized!
I don't have internet access on my phone, could add the option on but screen is too small and not all pages are viewable since its not a iphone. I would love to be able to stay connected all day!
I'm currently "shopping" for the perfect go-to smart phone for all my phone-wireless-calendar-do-everything gadget. Thinking about the Palm Pre or keeping my regular phone (en V 2) and getting ipod touch...
I'm interested in learning more about the differences with the Palm Pre and the new Droid as well as all the apps availible for both. I just got the Driod but feel like I don't even know what apps are out there!
I really need to be able to access my calendar - maybe I should look into this. I was not sure I need a phone that did more than call, but maybe?
I would also love the music feature. So nice when you are stuck in a dr office or similar.
Isnt that a wonderful feature Joy?!
That's great to know Jessica. Thanx for the personal feedback on this phone.
i have really wanted to get a smart phone- i am in school and have 2 kids. it would be nice to check my grades or view new homework assignments online without haveing to be at the computer taking time away from the kiddos! i would also love to have a calendar available to easily organize my schedule.
I just got internet access on my phone but I'm not very good with it yet. I don't know a lot of the mobile web addresses. Also, I limit my use because I don't have an unlimited plan. It is conveinent for checking something out when I'm not around my computer though.
My favorite part of my new phone is the better camera. I have the LG EnV touch and it's camera is a 3.2 megapixel so that's pretty good.
I think the most appealing part of the Palm Pre would probably be the organizing features like the calendar. I would really use that especially as my kids get older. I don't like to use my phone for music or browsing the web if I don't have to because I don't want to drain the battery. How's the battery life on the Palm Pre?
I have actually been looking at this phone as well. I would love the calendar and the music!
The calendar and scheduler appeals to me most. With doctor, dentistal, and eye appointments, PTA meetings, Boy Scouts Baseball for all FOUR children, WHO CAN REMEMBER IT ALL!!! I WANT one!!
Although I would certainly be using the internet , camera, & music apps, my most needed feature would certainly be the calendar! It would help keep track of my kids doc appoints. & when to go grocery shopping!!!
You said it Maxine! lol This phone could really help us mom's out!
As a full time Accountant, part-time WAHM the calendar features are incredibly appealing. It would help keep track of my schedule and my husband's, who sometimes forgets he has appointments. :)
I completely agree with Kimberly about ATT and dropping phone calls.
I'd also love to be able to check my email regardless of where I am. Since I work from home half of the week. There are times when I would love to check emails or send emails, but am away from home.
Well as one of the only men as far as I can tell to answer here, I hope I am not overstepping my bounds.
Having a special needs child I find myself juggling multiple appointment times with therapists and doctors. This combined with reminders of PTA meetings events and school projects this device keeps my head above water. I have owned the palm pre on another carrier for about 5 months now. I absolutely adore it. The fact that the contacts sync up and even when I completely erase my phone it still connects to the cloud and redownloads all of my contact information and calender dates automatically! For those more technically oriented the homebrew scene on this device is outstanding and to a great extent supported by palm.
The multitasking ability and the UI on this device alogn with the "cloud based" features make this device a must have,.
Blue tooth support on this is a bit spotty which is unfortunate, however all of the top tier devices are supported.
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