For my summer retreat this year I was considering going minimalistic, sans notebook computer.  As I was going to be away for eight days, it was important the device I would bring was up to the task.  My smartphone days go back to when Palm dominated the industry, so I have a fair amount of experience when it comes to PDA’s and smartphones.

A couple of weeks before going I had concerns that the smartphone I was using at the time, a Samsung Omnia II, wouldn’t be sufficient if indeed I did not travel with a notebook.  Thus my search for a new PDA started.  As Mr. T (aka Mike) was also looking for a new phone, we hit the Verizon Wireless store together after lunch at Panera Bread in Clifton Park.

We focused on four phones, the HTC Incredible, the Samsung Fascinate, the Motorola Droid 2, and Motorola Droid X. We didn’t look at the BlackBerry Tour, Storm 2 or Palm Pre as I previously had those and Mr. T had a Storm.

While I like physical keyboards, I wasn’t thrilled with the one on the Droid 2, also when comparing the screen size to the Fascinate and Droid X, it was lacking.  Mr. T was of the same opinion.  The speed on the incredible was impressive, as was Swype, though with the smaller 3.7″ screen, it was at a disadvantage.

That left Motorola’s Droid X to battle it out with the Samsung Fascinate. Both Mr. T and I thought the display on the Fascinate was superior.  We were also a little concerned that the Droid X was just a tad too large. The fact that the Fascinate had Swype was icing on the cake.  Each of us decided that was the phone to get.

Stay tuned for part 2.