one gadget for touring
 

I've pretty much stayed away from gadgets--got a pre-paid cell phone and a laptop. But I'm going on some longer tours and I thought I might see what's available nowadays that might meet my needs. I wonder if there's a gadget with phone, simple wordprocessing (external keyboard) true GPS, mp3, camera, email and web-browsing. I already know about the pros and cons of paper and pencil, laptops. Just wondering if more up to date riders would tell me the right smartphone for all this. Not too worried about charging--will be on the grid most nights, and not the end of the world if the battery dies once in a while between chargings.

There are so many nice android phones available right now, I have an EVO but most likely replace with new dual core processor phone.. I like the Iphone but the fact that if the battery runs dry, you are stuck while with most android phones, you can pop the back off and put a freshly charged battery in and you are back in business.. I always carry an extra battery with me when I ride.. There are some nice apps for recording rides, I like:

endomondo and strava apps..

I've been using the LG900G. I've been happy with it. You can buy it through Walmart for about twenty-seven dollars. It's a Net10 phone. It has MP3, camera, micro SD, keyboard (which I've grown to like, and to be fairly proficient with -- there is a game included that helps you develop your typing speed and skill), web access (though you might want to install one of the BOLT or Opera Mini browsers -- details can be found on forums, by googling "LG900G Opera Mini", etc.), email, texting, FM radio, useful apps, games, video, and more. I really like this phone. There are features not explained in the manual. You can find out about them on forums.

There are more powerful smart phones for sure, but nothing that matches this one (that I have seen) for the combination of price, low and flexible monthly fees, and a good feature set.

The higher monthly fees charged by other companies can really add up over the course of a year or several years, or five or ten years -- into the thousands of dollars.

There are some TracFone phones that also have a keyboard, and TracFone has basic services starting at 9.99 per month (5.99 for family plans), if you don't use a lot of minutes per month. There is a 199.99 per year plan that gives you more minutes, especially if you get a phone that gives you double or triple minutes.

Net10 has a 25.00 card that gives you 750 minutes for 30 days (which is a better per-minute rate than TracFone). Unlimited for 50.00. You can mix it up, and skip months. No contract.

If you look into iPhones and Verizon plans, you end up spending a lot more per month, and you are usually locked into some kind of contract.

This is the sort of gadget that I would take touring. It could use a little more power, and it would be like a mini-laptop. It won't be long. But it's pretty good already. These phones keep evolving, and I like them better in many ways than laptops, notebooks, netbooks, tablets, and other devices. I've got the LG900G in my shirt pocket right now, and I don't even notice it.

For typing, you probably want a physical keyboard, not a virtual keyboard as on the touch screen phones. I prefer the physical keyboards in other ways as well.

I am posting via the LG900G now, here -- a first for me, as an experiment. The BOLT browser installs very easily and quickly. It allows you to access youtube videos, and enhances the browsing experience. Walmart.com had the phones last time I checked.

The 900 seems amazing, but couple questions:

could it run a bluetooth ext. keyboard?
does it have any kind of provisions for typing and storing text?

I looked on the forum at Net 10 and did not see these issues covered.

The Android phones seem a bit more capable, but I hardly know where to begin in deciding which one.

Thanks,

Paul

I've stored text as drafts in "messages."

The LG900G has various "organizer" divisions that can be used for memos and lists.

You can also make it easy to access gmail, and type and save your work there as drafts.

There are now some more expensive and powerful LG Optimus phones out from NET10 and Straight Talk, but they are definitely more expensive. If you google "LG Optimus Q" and "LG Optimus Net" you can find more info and youtube.com videos. They have GPS and better cameras. Straight Talk, Net10, and some other companies (Virgin?) offer these phones.

There is a company that has a 35.00 per month plan that offers unlimited internet plus 200 minutes talk per month. Straight Talk has 45.00 unlimited everything. Net10 has some other options besides the 50.00 unlimited.

Gotta go now.

The bluetooth keyboard is something I haven't looked into. Please let us know if you find out anything.

The LG Optimus models looked very promising at first. But then I found out that they work on the Sprint network of towers, which do not cover may main usage areas at all. ATT and Verizon cover the best (for quite a few of us at least).

There is an LG900C that works with Verizon. I might try it. Walmart seems to have it, but it isn't as easy to find as the 900G.

Samsung Galaxy Note is an interesting device,

http://www.samsung.com/global/micros...html?type=find

http://www.pdfdevices.com/samsung-ga...r-1-price-495/

and all I can say is ! about this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzsBwnv_dAg

For now, I'm sticking with the LG900 (C and/or G). These phones do everything I need, and save me a bundle in monthly fees and initial costs. I'm going for the unlimited plans, and exploring the different browsers. So far I've found BOLT to be the best. Opera Mini has some strong points too, though. Yahoo Mobile has yet to be evaluated.

There are lots of tips you can pick up in reviews (Walmart reviews, among others).