About the author: Brian Tanner is a freelance writer for HP. Since 1939, HP has been making technology products to help people and companies address their problems and challenges, and realize their possibilities, aspirations and dreams. On their website you can find a variety of products such as a laptop or scanners.

Figuring out technology can be tough, expensive and time consuming. So how do you choose between a Blackberry and one of the new smartphones?

1. Price

Some of you are lucky enough to have an employer with deep enough pockets to allow you to choose a device that fits your work style. For others you simply are forced to use the very same smartphone that everyone else in the company does because your people have signed a long term contract. If you do have a say in the matter, but have little to no experience with handheld computing devices, you might find yourself confused and bewildered by the choices available in the marketplace.

One of the first decisions you’ll have to make is determining just what your budget for the new phone purchase is going to be. With iPhone’s running into the $800 range, and many of the so-called entry level choices hovering around $400 to 500, you still don’t want to make a hasty choice?

Why?

Mostly due to the stranglehold the cellular providers have over their contracted customers. Unless you are willing to pay full retail pricing for your new device, chances are the provider will require you to sign a long term contract. Two years is the norm, although one year contracts have started popping up with a few cell companies.

2. Touch screen vs. physical keyboard

Once you’re able to get beyond the sticker shock of the device, you need to decide whether you are a virtual keyboard person or a physical keyboard sort. The challenges in making such a decision are many, and should not be taken lightly or made too quickly.

If you’ve never attempted to type with the virtual option, you may be a bit intimidated. If possible, and you’re lucky enough to have a friend or two with one of those fancy new smartphones, ask them to allow you some testing time on their phone. Promise that you won’t send their employer a nasty text message, but take the opportunity to get a feel for what it is like to type without having the tactile experience you get while thumb typing.

Here’s the thing. Virtual typing can be much much faster than using the physical keyboard, however it will take some getting used to. Much like the fact that a Dvorak keyboard will have you typing faster and with fewer errors than the standard qwerty, it is quite a steep learning curve.

Here’s another key difference you should know in advance of making your choice. If you opt to go the iPhone/Android smartphone route, in addition to having the virtual keyboard, you are buying into the world of touch screens. Most of the advertisements you ever see concerning these phones will show you a lovely, grease and grime free device that has perfect hand models operating the thing.

The reality is somewhat more of a challenge. First, know that whichever smartphone you buy, you’ll want to invest in screen protectors. These are thin, clear (mostly), plastic covers which adhere to and theoretically protect the screen you are going to be touching. A lot.

Next, understand that we humans have pores in our skin which for some strange reason exude oils. Something about keeping our outer epidermal covering soft and viable. Well, those natural oils have to go somewhere. If you own a touch screen smartphone, guess what, they are going to get all over your screen. And that can just get icky after a while.

With a Blackberry device that does not boast a touch screen you will have a much easier time seeing your screen and all the business and personal stuff you want to view therein. Plus the keyboard on the Blackberry device will always provide you with that solid, tactile experience you might prefer, even after you’ve mastered virtual typing.

Since you’re likely to treat your Blackberry like anything else you own, you should also plan on investing in properly fitting screen protectors for whichever model you buy there as well. You are going to drop your phone no matter what, and the $10 you spend on those plastic protectors will save you hundreds on having to replace the screen itself.

About the author: Brian Tanner is a freelance writer for HP. Since 1939, HP has been making technology products to help people and companies address their problems and challenges, and realize their possibilities, aspirations and dreams. On their website you can find a variety of products such as a laptop or scanners.

– “contract” image courtesy of davdibiase

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