RIM BlackBerry Curve 8310

I'm on my second one in 6 months (hence the lower durability rating) while I had my previous phone for about 6 years.  However, the value  you get is well worth the money: it can now be obtained for free with a new 2-year contract (AT&T)  and THEN a free $75 rebate at amazon.com.

My primary uses and usage per day:

1. Email - 100 in/out

2. Gtalk/BB Messenger - 15 mins

3. Talking - 45 mins

4. Content (Viigo - RSS feeds) - 1 hour reading, I get all my news from this thing now.  It makes sure I don't spend too much time reading news, which can become a big black hole.

5. Sports scores on espn.com - 15 minutes

PROS:

1. GPS (via google maps) - Don't pay for the $10 for the gps

2. 2MP Flash Camera - I've used it at night and in clubs

3. Great sound quality - I've never had a problem with it

CONS:

1. A few times I had to reset it due to freezing.  I reset it once every few days to keep it responsive.

2. Battery life: I've had it last me only one day before.  I might be asking too much, because I do use the phone pretty often.  On average I can let it go 2 days and I'm just about out of juice.

3. No video camera

SOSO:

1. Browser is decent, though screen is too small

2. Messaging: Blackberry messenger, GTalk (Download), but no AOL IM (Can't find it anywhere for free)

My friends call me a tool for having a blackberry, but you know what?  I'm the best equipped in the box!  (OK, so that metaphor fell flat, but I really do get a lot of crap for it and this thing has proven it's worth enough that I don't much care what they say.)

It slices, it dices, it juliennes carrots.  I'm intimidated by the new and shiny technology that kids use these days but I picked this up pretty easily and went to town configuring it the way I want.  I love the incorporated GPS and that I can use this thing to get driving directions when I'm lost.  The camera resolution Doesn't Suck compared to an actual camera...from 3 years ago...  The web browser UI leaves something to be desired, but it's usable and reasonably fast, which is a pro over my cell phone.  The battery life is pretty good when there's no talking involved (4 days on a single charge of being rude and checking my email while I'm out on dates!?  SIGN ME UP!) but talking on the thing kills the battery life like no one's business.  Maybe 3-5 hours on a single charge?  But seriously, who TALKS on blackberries?  That's what cell phones are for, silly!  (That's right, I double-fist my electronics.)

The only con is this: THIS IS NOT AN IPHONE.  I think I would have preferred a device that's a little more meant to-browse-the-internet and...well, really, I have no idea what people do with iPhones besides browse the internet, check their email, and accidentally hit-the-mute-button-with-their-ear-while-talking-on-the-phone.  Which is pretty funny, by the way.  The blackberry is definitely not suited for slapstick comedy.

Also, I was pretty disappointed that I couldn't configure the UI to something much different from the inoffensive blues and the inoffensive fonts and the inoffensive bright-green-field-of-grass.  If I want neon pink font on a black background, I think I ought to be able to satisfy that demand.  I bet the iPhone does...