So here's my list - every Gadget person has to have more than one - it was a challenge not to have a top-ten!

3 Samsung BlackJack II 2 Motorola V600 1 Apple iPhone

Let me go into why I chose what I did. First if it was a contest of a PDA/Smartphone I'd have to add in a MPX 220, HTC 8525 and even a Palm Treo 600 (not the 650 - Palm never seemed to get the BT right and the layout for keys wasn't as good - IMHO). Here's my criteria for what makes a good mobile phone - First it has to work well for placing and taking calls! We get caught up in all of the wiz-bang things our mobile devices can do and often leave out the biggest reason for having one. Second the device has to have an interface that can be navigated without too much instruction or reference to a manual after a day or two. Third PIM or Contacts have to be easy to work with and be able to be managed from a computer (if software is required it shouldn't cost more than the device!). I already (and most of us do too) have contacts in some type of PIM at the computer and don't really care to enter them with a little keyboard or via the phones dial pad. I've never had much luck with SIM services before and the thought of paying for someone to move my info is a little like paying for PC tech support - not gonna do it....

So on to why I chose my top 3.... The BJ II has been a very good performer for the past few months - I use this in place of my iPhone when I might be doing any serious email or texting as I haven't gotten that use to the iPhone's "keyboard" I'm getting better but not as fast as "thumbing" with the BJ II. The fact that it has a GPS is also very nice - google maps runs very well - sorry TeleNav you're not going to get many subscriptions from alpha-geeks. What I don't like is the browser or to get a decent one you have to pay for Opera (yes I know Mini is free but it's not as good as Opera for WM, minimo isn't stable and just plain weird) Safari on the iPhone will spoil anyone - if I had Opera for say $10 and if the device had Wi-Fi it would be at the top of the list! A little work with google and you can get internet sharing to work and you're on the web with a laptop at 3G speeds - NICE!

The Moto V600 - ok, why didn't I pick a RAZR or another Moto product that runs the same basic "OS"? The V600's form- factor and having a 2.5mm headset jack is what puts it on the list for me. Moto Phone Tools (eBay for $8) gives me contacts management from my PC. New housings can be had for cheap too along with batteries, cases, etc make this phone a bargin - it doesn't have 3G but neither does the iPhone. Bluetooth performance is good (even though my V600 is somewhat aged) - ringtones, Java games, bacgrounds - no problem. The main reason why this is #2 for me is that it's a great PHONE as a gadget it's just OK.

The Apple iPhone - what could be said (more) that hasn't already been said? A lot of reviews made this device seem like it was lacking in the PDA department. I think this does a decent job at working with contacts (especially with the fact this is Apple's first attempt at it on a phone). I wouldn't dare to try without iTunes or Missing Sync (which I will have to purchase for Windows Mobile and my Mac). Getting my Outlook contacts into the phone was a little bit of a chore but after I discovered that you could export your contacts to vcards and drop them into Mac's contacts I'm now a happy camper. Safari and mail on the iPhone along with a touch screen that you don't need any type stylus for is icing on the cake. The cake is very good call quality, reception (after firmcode 1.1.4), and overall ease of use. I'm not sure if I could rely on this as my business phone at this point - I have an 8525 that seems to work very well in the "business" setting.