Editors' Top PDAs
updated June 2, 2006
 
Bonnie Cha, senior associate editor
  You're intelligent enough to know that carrying around a cell phone and a PDA is inefficient. Lighten your load by picking up an all-in-one device. Whether you use it as an organizer, an e-mail device, a cell phone, or all of the above, getting a smart phone is a smart move. Here's our list of your best bets in a phone/PDA hybrid. -- Bonnie Cha, senior associate editor
 

Editors' Top PDAs:

Handhelds |  Pocket PCs |  Palms | 

Smart phones



Shopping by brand? According to CNET editors, here are this category's major players.
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Smart phones
PDAs Editors' rating Price Summary
Motorola Q (Verizon Wireless)

6.0 out of 10 6.0
Good
 
The Motorola Q lives up to much of the hype by offering good call quality, an excellent multimedia experience, and the essential productivity tools, all wrapped up in a sexy little package.
Specs: CDMA 800/1900 , Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone Edition , Up to 240 min , 64 MB
 

RIM BlackBerry 8700c (AT&T)
Released: 11/21/2005
8.0 out of 10 8.0
Excellent
$10
Check latest prices
 
Armed with an Intel processor and EDGE support, the RIM BlackBerry 8700c offers mobile professionals a winning package of performance, productivity, and design.
Specs: Cingular Wireless , GSM 850/900/1800/1900 , BlackBerry Handheld Software , 240 min , 16 MB
 

RIM BlackBerry 8700g (T-Mobile)
Released: 04/17/2006
8.0 out of 10 8.0
Excellent
$99
Check latest prices
 
The RIM BlackBerry 8700g offers T-Mobile consumer and business users a robust, user-friendly messaging device and cell phone with great performance.
Specs: T-Mobile , GSM 850/900/1800/1900 , BlackBerry Handheld Software , 240 min , 16 MB
 

T-Mobile SDA

8.0 out of 10 8.0
Excellent
 
For those who want to do more on the go, the T-Mobile SDA offers a winning package of productivity tools, multimedia, and great performance. We just wish the smart phone had a better keypad layout.
Specs: T-Mobile , GSM 850/900/1800/1900 , Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Smartphone Edition , Up to 300 min , 64 MB
 

Palm Treo 700p - silver (Sprint)

7.7 out of 10 7.7
Very good
 
With EV-DO support, increased memory, and enhanced multimedia capabilities, the Palm Treo 700p makes a powerful smart phone even better. Sure, it's not perfect, but the solid performance and new features make it worth the upgrade.
Specs: Sprint PCS , CDMA2000 1X 800/1900 , Palm OS 5.4.9 , Up to 270 min
 

I-mate Jam

7.6 out of 10 7.6
Very good
 
Similar to the I-mate SP3i, the I-mate Jam is a fun multimedia-capable smart phone. That said, the lack of a keyboard makes it better for reading e-mail than sending it.
Specs: Microsoft Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition , 64 MB
 

Palm Treo 700w - gray (Verizon Wireless)

6.3 out of 10 6.3
Good
 
The Palm Treo 700w brings Windows Mobile and a number of useful features, such as push e-mail and photo speed dial, to the much-beloved smart phone, but its heft and its washed-out screen has us giving the edge to the Treo 650.
Specs: Verizon Wireless , CDMA2000 1X 800/1900 , Microsoft Windows Mobile 5.0 Phone Edition , Up to 300 min , 64 MB
 

 
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