Choosing the Right Cell Phone

Smart Phone (such as BlackBerry, Palm Treo, Palm Centro, etc.)
What It Does: Works as a PDA and a mini-computer as well as a phone; you can manage calendars, check e-mail, and browse the Web.

Best Features: A relatively large screen and a keyboard make viewing calendars and sending and receiving e-mail easy.

Biggest Drawbacks: Some models are bulky. Downloading and syncing with a computer can be confusing. Web access is limited and can be slow.

Cost: Many cost $99 with a two-year contract, but they start as low as $60. Monthly plans start at $80.

It’s for You If… You need access to calendars and want to e-mail from anywhere. Maybe your bed. Or the beaches of Miami.

iPhone (available in 8- and 16-gigabyte sizes)

What It Does: “What doesn’t it do?” might be a better question. E-mail, Web browsing, watching videos, and more are all easy to master.