And that's why I've decided to buy the Nokia E61. Like the Treo 680, it's got a big display, a thumbboard (though not as good as the 680's), and also proved responsive. Not to mention that E61 users say the battery lasts around 3 days, if the built-in Wi-Fi is used sparingly.

Which brings me to my next reason. Treo fans have long clamored for integrated Wi-Fi, and Palm can't seem to satisfy this demand. The E61 does this with style, with the best mobile browser I've ever used.

This decision does come with some reservations. There are over 10,000 programs made for the Palm OS, and a lot fewer for the Symbian Series 60 3rd Edition. Since the E61 is made for business use, there's no built-in camera to facilitate industrial espionage. And the Treo 680 Vaja case looks a lot better than the E61's. Yet these hesitations are minor, overshadowed by the longer battery life and connectivity the E61 offers.

In the end though, it comes down to money. Cingular may be subsidizing the Treo 680, but here where I live, no one is. The 680 goes for around $600 locally (all those tariffs are passed to the consumer). I'll only pay around $90 for the Nokia E61 once I sign up for that 2-year $36/month plan I've been eyeing. Thank God for subsidies!

One thing before I go: a friend used to own a Nokia E61, but decided to sell it because apparently, the joystick easily becomes soft and loses its "snappiness." Interestingly enough, he decided to buy a Treo 650 (which, superseded by the 680 and out of production, goes for a low price nowadays).