The Great Cell Phone Dilemma of 2010

Sitting in my mom's office before class. Totally not motivated to go. Let's look at smartphones instead.

This is what I currently have: Verizon Wireless BlackBerry Curve 8330. I got it in May of 2008. It's pretty awesome. I abused it so I've had several replacements. (Thank goodness for phone insurance.) I am not a huge fan of the BlackBerry web browser. I was told to try OperaMini. I did. I hated it. The browser made for BlackBerry, though it can be severely limited by its own constraints, is useable. I like the QWERTY keyboard. Believe it or not, it was my first full QWERTY and that was a big part of why I got it. The trackball is pretty sweet until it gets something stuck in it. I dropped my phone (read: threw it across the room accidentally) pretty hard the other day and it won't scroll to the right. Suck. (Threw it across the room = I went to gently toss it into my other hand and totally missed and it flew away.)

I am up for upgrade by the end of March. I don't want to leave Verizon Wireless. While they are a little up there in price, I think you get what you pay for. I have service and pretty speedy internet access almost everywhere I go. The only places coverage is spotty is in all of Rievschl Hall (a building with thick concrete walls), Old Chem 601, and the break room at work. Don't ask why. I definitely want an upgrade. I really like HTC and the Android OS. I would, however, be willing to look at other phones.

This is what I really want: the Google Nexus One by HTC. I've read that it's a little buggy, and I definitely know better than to get the first gen anything, but holy moly, it's sexy. Unfortunately, it only operates on GSM right now, so it's not available. Google says on their site that the Nexus One will be available in CDMA format - meaning for Verizon Wireless - in Spring 2010. I'm hoping beyond hope "Spring 2010" means before March 26, which is when my contract dies.

Wait, wait, wait. Snookie is a size 3? Really? I don't believe it. Anyway...

This is what I'll most likely end up getting: the HTC Droid Eris. It's Verizon's version of the HTC Hero and it seems like a pretty decent phone. It's slim, which is actually most important to me. Pocketability is key. It's got HTC's Sense UI, which really gets me jazzed. It has some buttons, which I like. It's not Bluetooth capable, but if you use a Bluetooth ear piece you look like a douchenozzle anyway, so that's a nonissue. It allows for customization, which is great for me because I'm super particular. It does only operate on Android 1.5, but the upgrade for 2.x is expected in Q1 and I've heard specifically March. Plus, all Eris users will be able to get the upgrade. Plus, it's super inexpenisve, and with the $30 extra a month I pay for unlimited data, low purchase price is a major plus. It's a slimmed down version of the Motorola Droid, but that's okay because why would I get something that is more than I need?

The Motorola Droid is an option, but only maybe. It's got the slidey outey QWERTY, but that also makes for a pretty bricky phone. Do I need another brick? No. Plus, I've never had good luck with Motorola phones. I had a MOTO SLVR. Remember those pieces of crap? Ugh. I think the Motorola Droid may be too much phone.

I could go for the new BlackBerry Curve 8530 with a track pad instead of a trackball, but I'm not sure if I want another BlackBerry.

Verizon's Palm Pre Plus is an option. I dont' know much about this phone, but I've heard good things. This is defnitely one I have to go  fiddle with before I make my final decision. I don't like the Palm Pixi Plus, so I'm not even going to show you.

I'm really fretting over this decision. I'm not sure what I want to do or what I want to get. I know that Verizon is having a Buy a Droid Phone, Get an Eris deal, so my mom, whose contract ends a week after mine, wants to upgrade at the same time as me and split the cost. It would mean I wouldn't have the coolest phone in the house, but it would alleviate the cost a little and that's always good. They're also having a Buy a Palm, Get a Palm Pixi Free deal. So if I go that route, she'd get the Pixi.

What do you think I should do, little rain drops? Is there a phone you like better?