Jessica, I'm gonna be honest: Windows Mobile has a LOT of flaws, but at this point I think the flaws in Palm's ANCIENT OS are probably worse, overall. But I still am sticking with the Palm Treo for one reason, that I'm guessing might apply to you as well: without easy access to a Windows machine, installing software on a Windows Mobile PDA is an enormous pain in the keister.

You see, the vast majority of Windows Mobile software is distributed inside Windows-only EXE install files. This despite the fact that there is a perfectly servicable (if a bit primitive) method for installing Windows mobile files that is cross-platform. Some providers will provide access to these CAB files with a bit of digging, and others will send them to you if you request it in an email, but it's a pain, and the install process is not exactly simple.

Of course, for software that you only really have to install once, that's fine. But I never got Vindigo to work, despite tons of tinkering with Missing Sync, and it's not formall supported. Zagat guides would need to be updated yearly, with all of the obnoxious emailing for the updated CAB that entails. And I simply couldn't easily tinker with my programs the way I like. Thus, I sold my Windows Mobile PDA and bought a Treo 650.

If you have a Windows PC available that you can use for installation (and if you want, syncing Vindigo) then Missing Sync does a perfectly good job syncing the actual address book/contact stuff. If that's easy for you, I'd recommend going for a Windows Mobile phone (though make sure to play with it and read up on it before buying). It will also let you shop for Windows Mobile software that IS supported by Macs. But if it's going to be a constant frustration, like it was for me, then you'll want to stick with palm.

But I never got Vindigo to work, despite tons of tinkering with Missing Sync, and it's not formall supported.

I discovered today that Vindigo actually now exists in a download-to-your-phone version, which would bypass that whole issue nicely.

But as for the rest of it, blech. Plus, the Treo 700p is just so damn nice.

I've got a 700p. It is nice.

I can't justify the cost, though. Sorry.

it is true that the Palm OS is really ancient. God, I wish they would just get a new one out.

It's ancient, and flaky, but they really do pay a lot of attention to making it easy to use and intuitive.

yeah, with some help from 3rd party software developers...

Which is how it should be done, really.

My big beef with the Treo is that at least when I researched it before, there wasn't a way to do voice-activated dialing.

I can't justify the cost, though. Sorry.

What would you recommend as an alternative? (I've got bonus money to spend, so justifying the cost is really more a question of picking a device, rather than deciding whether or not to buy one. My Clie is on its last legs, and I'm not getting another non-phone PDA.)

Since the 700p just came out, you might be able to get a good deal on a 650.

Tom speaks truth. And, thought the 700p is somewhat nicer, it's not that much nicer really.

I got my 650 refurbed through cingular.com for $150. It was supposed to automatically renew my contract, but as far as I can tell, it didn't. (Not that I care - I'm on a family plan with my parents, still, using a number I've had since I was 16. I'd get a new number but... 7 years. And, also, family plan means I pay my dad about $35 a month including 1000 text messages and 5 MB Data.)