Busy Mom Reviews

I was sent a Philips Digital Photo Frame to check out. I had been looking at the digital frames off and on for a while, but, couldn't decide if I wanted to get one, or not.

I gave this one to my father, and, it was a hit in a big way!

The picture quality is wonderful, it's nice looking, and, the clear frame goes with any decor (I didn't get the one with the interchangeable colors). You can download photos from a PC or a camera memory card, and, display them one at a time, or in a slideshow format. It runs on battery or AC power, and, even has a timer that you can set to turn off and on at a certain time.

While it's certainly not a necessity, it makes a wonderful grandparent gift. My father loves it! I uploaded a few pictures to the frame itself, and, I bring him a camera memory card with pictures of events from time to time, so, he can look at those for a change of pace.

The only downside is that the documentation is poor, and, it takes a bit to get the hang of the controls. I didn't attempt to teach my dad how to download pictures himself.

I received this nice looking MP3 player to try out. The first things I noticed is that it feels really good in your hand, it has a clear display, and, the menus are easy to navigate.

The sound quality is really good, especially for such an affordable device ($99 for 2GB). It comes with ear buds, but, I don't get why one side of them was longer than the other,

It plays mp3 files as well as WMA and files from subscriptions such as Napster. It doesn't play i-tunes files. I had no problems getting it working on Windows In addition, it has a FM Radio, and, you can view and store images on it.

All in all, a nice little device at a good price! Hey, I'm a poet...

I received an Insignia 4GB Video MP3 Player for review.

If you don't know, Insignia is the house brand of electronics at Best Buy, and, we have been very pleased with their portable DVD player as well as the 2G mp3 player.

The 4GB is loaded with features:

- Holds up to 1,000 songs, 4,000 photos, 50 audiobooks or 14 movies
- Pocket-size design measures just over 0.6" thin and weighs only 2.4 ounces
- Supports MP3 formats and most image and video formats
- Bluetooth-enabled, so you can listen wirelessly through compatible headphones
- 2.2" high-resolution LCD color display
- Built-in FM tuner with 20 presets
- Features a microSD expansion slot for additional memory capacity
- Quick Start Guide
- 1-year Limited Warranty
- 2-free months of Real Rhapsody music subscription
- Coupon for free Audible.com book

The advertised carrying case isn't much, just a plastic cover, but, with all the mp3 player accessories on the market, it wouldn't be hard to find one to match your taste.

I love the rubber sport exterior of it, and, the screen is amazingly clear, and, the sound is excellent. It also comes with a USB cable, ear bud headphones, and, CD-ripping software.

The controls are pretty intuitive, the kids got it right away (so ask them if you have any questions), and, I had no problem getting it to work on Windows. It's cheaper than an i-Pod nano, and, it has video and FM radio. Seems like a pretty good deal to me!

It even comes with a few songs and videos already on it that are actually pretty good. Actually, they're pretty catchy. I had no problem getting it to work on Windows.

It retails for $159.99 at online at Best Buy.

I received Best Buy’s Apple® iPod™ nano and Chocolate Gift Set for review (I know! Squee!). It is a 4G ipod Nano, and, some mighty fine chocolates in a cool polka dot patterned box inspired by all the iPod Nano colors.

From the press release:

This Mother's Day, surprise and delight mom with Best Buy’s exclusive iPod nano and chocolate gift set wrapped up in one, stylish package that is easy to give and a joy to receive. Whether your mom is a karaoke queen or a shower soloist, she will love taking her music everywhere. Her personal soundtrack - from old disco favorites to secret classic rock obsessions - will make the morning carpool, evening chores and everything in between more fun.

It retails for $214.99 and is available at Best Buy beginning May 6, 2007.

I received the Philips 9" Digital Photo frame for review.

I am forever looking for something to do with the myriad of digital photos we have.

Usually, I just get paralyzed at the thought of doing something with them, so, I ignore them.

So, the digital photo frame seemed like a way to display some of my favorites without the pressure of organizing or scrapbooking them.

The white frame is very nice looking, and, it has a lot of features.

It fits both landscape, and, vertical pictures, and, the internal memory holds about 150 photos. I'd like to see future versions hold much more than that if the purpose is to display your photos.

You can also display the photos on your camera's memory card, there are a variety of formats. We gave my dad one for Christmas, and, I leave a memory card in his, and, trade another card for it when we take new pictures.

It operates on AC battery, and, has a power cord, as well. The battery life is short, so, when you look for a place to display the frame, make sure there's an outlet, and, it's in a place where the cord won't be too prominent.

It has modes to display pictures in thumbnail view, as well as the ability to create albums and slide shows. You can also set it to automatically turn display on and off at preset times

The display is crystal clear, and, once you get it up and running, it is mesmerizing. It's hard not to stop and look at the pictures all the way through every time you pass by.

It comes with a USB cable, and, a CD user guide. However, you need to plan on taking a while to get started.

The directions and controls are just not very intuitive, and, it may take several tries to get pictures in there. Once you do get it, it's not a bad idea to write down how you did it.

I promise it's worth it in the end, though, just don't be in a hurry when you sit down to transfer pictures for the first time.

At $200, it's a bit pricey, but, the display is gorgeous, and, it would make an excellent gift for far away grandparents, or, your favorite father for Father's Day.

The Rocketfish Twister Laser Mouse is a low profile laser mouse that's easy to carry in any laptop bag. It's about the size of a deck of cards, and, it goes from being flat and portable, to a traditional mouse shape with a simple twist.

It connects easily through Windows plug and play technology, and, also comes with software you can install to configure the buttons to your specifications. It installed easily, and, was simple to figure out.

I'm not terribly picky about mouse buttons, so, the four were plenty for me.

Other features:

-2.4GHz wireless optical mouse with four buttons
-Supports Windows 98, 2000, ME, XP and Vista; Mac compatible; USB connection
-Requires 2 AAA batteries (included); also includes power save function
-Connects via a small USB receiver that fits inside the mouse

It's precise, was easily detected by my computer, lightweight, and, even comes with a nifty foam case to protect it when you're on the go.

The only con, like many reviews have identified, is that it's low profile isn't as ergonomic as it could be, I'm used to a more curved, palm-shaped mouse.

But, it's still a great choice for a portable, wireless mouse, and, I really like it.

It retails for $44.99 at Best Buy.

I was invited to an exclusive Best Buy Reward Zone event in the Edgewood neighborhood in Atlanta, GA on November 11, 2007.

Best Buy has a points reward program called Reward Zone, and, the good people at Best Buy invited me to a party to celebrate it (disclosure: my expenses were paid, and, they didn't request that I write anything specific about it).

I arrived in the evening as the store was closing, and, a line of hard-core Wii enthusiasts:

were lined up outside discussing store navigational strategies to acquire one of the 30 units Best Buy had on hand for this after hours Reward Zone sale.

I was greeted by the manager, Marshall Bronson:

who welcomed me in to watch the preparation for the festivities of the evening.

The store was abuzz with excitement as everyone was straightening and vacuuming to get things ready for the guests outside.

Under the watchful eye of the security force:

the employees really got into it It was a fun atmosphere, and, they even held a little pep rally to get everyone fired up. The district manager was even there, ready for action.

The big moment finally arrive, and, the doors opened. But, unlike some Black Friday sales shoppers, this crowd was orderly and calm:

There was much shopping had by all, with sales and door prizes all evening.

The Wii table ("Wii", not "wee". It was a full sized table) was even calm and orderly as people double checked that the ticket they got really enabled them to buy the coveted game system. "You mean all I need is this piece of paper? I can shop now without worrying about it?":

Man, I really, really, really want a Wii, but, cannot justify the purchase since it is worth more than my geriatric television. The television that will not die.

Anyway, I looked at nearly everything there, wishing I could have one of each. I spent at lot of time looking at cameras, and, the staff was very knowledgeable, there. I was impressed.

Everyone was so nice and welcoming, and, I really enjoyed my visit. I also came home with my wallet a little lighter as did most everyone in attendance.

You can join the Reward Zone program for free, and, make one qualifying purchase a year to keep your membership. You earn 1 point for nearly every $1 you spend at Best Buy or BestBuy.com.

Every time you earn 250 points, you get a $5 reward certificate to use in participating stores., so check it out today and start saving.

If you're in the Atlanta, GA area, Best Buy #896 in Edgewood rocks!

*or, how my already marginal photography skills are even worse at 4am.

I had so much fun at the Best Buy Reward Zone event in the Edgewood neighborhood in Atlanta a couple of weeks ago, I went back for Black Friday (disclosure: my expenses were paid, and, they didn't request that I write anything specific about it).

Since I was just a couple of hours away, I drove to Atlanta from our Thanksgiving celebration, and, checked into the Sheraton, where, luckily, I didn't use any of the glasses.

After some mindless Internet surfing (yeah, me. Who knew?) I went to bed, since, I was due at Best Buy at 4am.

And, as one might suspect, 3:30 in the morning came awfully early.

I got ready, and, tried to attain some semblance of coherence, but, I think the hotel staff doubted my efforts, and, thought I had been up all night drinking.

(Note to self: check mirror more thoroughly next time)

I acquired brain fluid, and, got on the road:

When I got to Best Buy a little after 4 (shut up), the line was already down the sidewalk and around the building.

I parked and beat a hasty path to the front door to explain myself to the security guard because the $200 computer seekers in line take said line very seriously, and, I didn't want to be mistaken for a line jumper.

People were jovial for the most part, but, I did witness a little controversy when some guy joined his friends in line, and, the line neighbors took great exception to that.

Turns out I had nothing to worry about because everyone was expecting me, and, I was greeted with choruses of, "Our blogger's here!"

Many of them had been there since 2am, so, suddenly I felt like I got to sleep late. However, I do wish I had figured out that Caribou Coffee had opened at 4:30am.

Despite the early hour, everyone was so excited, it was kind of contagious. Several employees told me they had worked the sale for several years, and, looked forward to it. They were out in the cold interacting with the customers, and, having a good time.

However, I'm still glad I wasn't the employee who had to tell everyone when all the computer vouchers had been handed out.

I decided to see what made the customers in line come out so early to brave the cold and the lines, and, the answer was nearly unanimous, "the great deals".

Well, except for the guy who was last in line when I was out there. I asked him why he was there, and, he replied, "My family made me."

The lovely lady who was first in line had gotten there at 9:30 the night before, and, she was very clear she was there to get a $400 laptop. I asked her if it was going to be a gift, or, if she was going to keep it.

She just smiled, and, said it was a gift.

The employees scurried around getting everything ready, and, going over the plans to get everyone in an out. TV cameras were there, and, reporters getting ready for "live from the scene" shots.

As the big moment got closer, a staff meeting/pep rally was called to go over last minute plans:

But, first, everyone went rushing outside to give a cheer to the customers in line:

All the employees seemed genuinely fired up, but, I'm not sure what would happen to them if they weren't. I wouldn't want to take my chances, no telling what the punishment would be for lack of enthusiam, he's kinda big (kidding):

Traffic flow details were well thought out, and, everyone was ready for the big moment (my very first You Tube video, I might add):

There were lots of people, but, everyone was orderly, and, ready to go get their computers, and, $2.99 DVDs.

People sure like them some DVDs. There were two girls who, between them, had a basket full of probably 50 or 60 of them.

I was amazed at how there were employees there to help at every turn, yet, they weren't at all intrusive.

Like every store on Friday, the lines were long, but, thanks to some great planning, they moved fairly quickly.

There were some great deals, I got a few things myself, but, am kicking myself for not getting the $119 TomTom One LE GPS unit. I talked myself out of it, and, now I sure wish I hadn't.

Anyway, Best Buy store #896 in the Edgewood neighborhood in Atlanta, GA is the place to be. Do stop in, and, do your shopping there if you are in the area, it's a great group of knowledgeable people who enjoy what they do.

And, be sure to shop the Best Buy Cyber Monday Sale TODAY!

I was sent this little Insignia Kix mp3 player for review.

It's a 1gb, easy to use player with a built-in USB connector (no cables), and, there's also an FM radio with 20 preset stations. It even comes with interchangeable color caps for the USB end.

It supports MP3, WMA, WMA-DRM, WAV and Audible formats.

The display is small, but, simple enough for my 5 year old to use it. As a matter of fact, we loaded it up with his songs, and, he's loving being able to listen to music on the go like the big kids.

It's small, and, easy to use, and, may not be for the hard-core music enthusiast, but, the Insignia Kix would be great to take along to the gym, or, to just keep in your pocket when you're out and about.

The Kix is available at Best Buy, and, retails for $50 (US).

Show other people what you see via cell phone, when you are seeing it!

ATT's Video Share enables one-way, live streaming video feeds that can be seen by both users during a two-way conversation.

You start with a normal cell phone call, and, with the push of a button, you can add live video to the call while you're talking.

ATT was kind enough to let us try it out, and, it's been a lot of fun.

We used it when I was out of town and had to miss Busy D.'s basketball game. With a simple call, I was able to enjoy some of the game as it was happening.

It also came in handy when I was at the store trying to pick up something for Busy Boy, and, I wasn't sure which one I should get. I was able to call and show him the selections and he told me which one he needed.

You could also use it as a way to catch up "Live" with family who live far away.

Video share would also be useful when you have teenagers and there might be a question about if they're where they say they are, but, I'll leave that one up to you.

To use Video Share, both the sender and the receiver must have:

- A 3G Video Share capable wireless phone
- Video Share Service enabled on the phone
- ATT 3G Wireless Network Coverage
- A "Video Share Ready" prompt when the call is placed

Rates for Video Share start at $4.99 /month and the sender is billed for the call.

With Blu-ray declaring victory over HD-DVD in the high definition movie format war, Best Buy, is giving $50 gift cards to customers who purchased an HD-DVD player or HD-DVD attachment from its U.S. stores before February 23, 2008.

Customers will get a gift card for each player or HD-DVD attachment that they purchased. Through this program, Best Buy will distribute more than $10 million in gift cards to customers across the country.

Most Best Buy customers won’t have to do anything to receive their gift card. Best Buy will proactively mail cards to all customers that the company can identify as having purchased an HD-DVD player.

Members of the Best Buy Reward Zone program, customers who purchased Performance Service Plans (PSPs) or who made their purchase on BestBuy.com should look for their gift cards in the mail by May 1.

Other customers who may not be easily identified can call (888) BEST BUY to receive their gift cards with proof of purchase through a credit card or their Best Buy receipt.

Also, beginning on March 21, customers who do want to get rid of their HD-DVD players can visit Best Buy’s Online Trade-In Center at www.bestbuytradein.com.

Visitors to the site will receive instant estimates of the value of their HD-DVD players and movies. Those who agree with the estimates can then ship their goods to the Trade-In Center free of charge by downloading a prepaid shipping label and will receive an additional gift card as payment for their trade-in. This service is open to HD-DVD owners regardless of where they bought their player.

Visit Best Buy's HD-DVD action center for more details.

Peek is a great looking and super easy mobile e-mail device.

It's not a mobile phone, it doesn't access the web, it doesn't send or receive text messages and it doesn't take pictures.

So, what does it do?

It just sends and receives e-mail.

As a matter of fact, it even says on the box that "Peek is not for hard core techies".

Today's smart phones and PDAs can be complicated and overkill for people who just need to check their e-mail and the Peek does just that.

The Peek is $99 and available at Target and Amazon (currently $79.99) and it's $19.95/mo for the service. There are no contracts, no complicated carrier agreements, data plans or hidden fees. It measures 4.0 by 2.7 by 0.4 inches and comes in charcoal gray, aqua blue and black cherry red face plates, and the rest of it is silver.

When you open the box, you'll find a power cord, a carrying case, a Quick Start Guide, and a rechargeable lithium ion battery.

It was simple to set up (actually my kids did it) and I set up my Comcast e-mail and Gmail in minutes. All you have to do is put in your e-mail address and password.

The Peek supports 3 e-mail addresses, but the messages aren't separated, they go into the same inbox. So, if you are sharing it with someone, it needs to be someone who you don't mind reading your e-mail.

The QWERTY keyboard has rubber backlit keys (a tad stiff, but not a show stopper), many functions are controlled by the thumb wheel on the side of the unit. It's really that simple.

It can be set to either vibrate, ring or remain silent when new e-mail arrives, though the alerts are a little hard to hear sometimes. It's also got nationwide (USA) coverage, so you can take it anywhere with you.

Again, The Peek isn't for everyone. It only does e-mail, so it's not for people who are hard core techies.

It's a great solution for someone who doesn't need a device with bells and whistles, but who just needs to keep in touch by checking e-mail on the go.

I received a Sony Mylo 2 personal communicator for review. Mylo stands for "my life online", by the way.

Once you understand that it works on wifi (no bills or pricey data plans!) and it's not a cell phone (though it does work with Skype) you have a cute little Internet device.

As a bonus, Sony Mylo owners receive free Wi-Fi access at over 10,000 Wayport Hotspot locations nationwide; including over 9,000 participating Wi-Fi enabled McDonald's® Restaurants, 70 IHOP restaurants, 600 hotels, and more.

With it's backlit, full QWERTY keyboard and a beautiful 800x 480 pixel high resolution touch screen, it's a fun way to stay connected to the Internet when you're on the go.

It was easy to operate right out of the box. The first thing you need to know is the little plastic tab thingy in the packaging is the stylus, and it goes on the wrist strap. Take it from me. It's very sharp looking, it looks kind of like a PSP, and it weighs about 7 oz., so it's easy to pack in a bag or purse.

It's got lots of features such as a 1.3 megapixel camera, ability to upload and download photos, photo editing software, 1g of internal memory, a mini USB port, expandable memory via a Memory Stick Duo/PRO Duo™ and it supports instant messaging.

If you want to store your music or video, the mylo comes with headphones and it supports Windows Media DRM 10 and plays MP3, AAC, ATRAC or WMA files. Video support includes MPEG4 and MPEG4/AVC.

My oldest child is a volleyball player and I spend a lot of time at the gym. The Mylo has been handy to have around since the gym has wifi. The battery life has been good and I'm looking forward to traveling with it after the first of the year.

The Sony Mylo comes in balck and white and currently retails for around $199.

For the longest time, I had a vague notion that I should look into getting a "smart phone". I saw all these people with their various devices browsing the internet, reading their e-mails effortlessly and just generally doing cool stuff.

By way of review, a "smart phone" is a mobile phone that has features beyond simply making and receiving phone calls. They often have keyboards and can do many of the functions of a PC.

I'd think about it and think about it some more, and decide, "Nah, I can do without it." While I do work full-time, I don't have a job where it's vital to keep in contact when I'm out of the office and I wondered if these phones were simply more than I needed.

But, I've learned that these phones aren't only for work.

I was given a Samsung Blackjack II to try out (pink!) I discovered (and re-discovered) so many handy things you can do with these phones that I now can't imagine not having one.

First, since I have a teenager, I've used and used and used the full QWERTY keyboard for texting. Though I can certainly text with a regular phone, I have to admit, the full keyboard sure is nice to have.

A smart phone can sometimes eliminate the need to carry multiple devices around. They have cameras (though not meant to replace your digital camera, the Blackjack II's camera is actually pretty good for quick, spur of the moment outdoor shots) and many smart phones also have enough memory (you can get memory cards, too) to hold songs, videos and lots of photos, too.

Windows Mobile is one operating system for these phones and there's lots of handy stuff to use. If you have a PC, the phone can be easily synchronized (seriously, even I can do it) with your home computer and you can take all kinds of stuff with you on the go.

You can send and view all your e-mail just like you do on your PC at home. You can even use Outlook Mobile and have all your contacts and mail from your home computer.

With a smart phone, you can access the Internet anywhere. You can even import all your favorites from Internet Explorer.

I wondered if internet access was a luxury I didn't need, but there's been several instances where I've used it, that I really think it's worth it.

I've been able to quickly find directions to places I "thought" I knew how to get to, I've been able to quickly check the bank balance while Christmas shopping, I've looked up movie times, locations and run times while out and about with the teenager and have quickly gotten the weather radar during outdoor activities when the skies looked ominous.

I've also enjoyed being able to do things on my down time. I find myself waiting a lot of sports practices and doctors offices. I'm able to catch up on the news, my e-mail and some online work I have to do.

I admit, I also do fun things with the internet access such as keeping up with Twitter, blog reading and instant messaging (Windows Mobile supports most IM services you already use).

If you do need to take work with you or you get an e-mail with an attachment, there's Office Mobile where you can open and edit Microsoft Office Word and Excel documents, and view PowerPoint documents.

Another cool thing I discovered was Windows Live Search mobile. I admit to being unclear about all the Windows Live terminology, but this is really neat.

Windows Live Search Mobile is a search tool especially for mobile phones where you can do things like browse and search for business categories, get turn by turn directions to a location, get traffic information, gas prices, weather forecasts, movie times, restaurant reviews and more.

There's voice recognition, you can just speak the location you're trying to reach and you can even search for things near your current location (depending on phone) such as "grocery store" or "mechanic". Having had a car break down on the way to vacation this past summer, I know that would come in handy.

The one thing you must understand, though is that you need a data plan for a smart phone from your cell phone provider since the cool stuff is very data intensive and can cost a lot of money if you don't have a monthly data plan. See your service provider for details.

I'm learning there's so much you can do with a Windows Mobile smart phone, it's not just a work thing. I feel like I've only scratched the surface. But, I'm making better use of my time and have access to all sorts of useful information when I'm out and about and now I can't imagine being without it.

The D-Link DSM-210 Internet Photo Frame is a fabulous digital picture frame that allows you to manage and display your digital photos via the Internet (requires an Internet connection) and I received one to check out.

It was easy to operate and took just a few minutes to sit down and learn about it. Word of wisdom: you need the remote because the interface is mostly controlled by it, so don't put it aside in the wrappings, it's important.

You can connect it to the Internet through a wired 10/100Mbps Ethernet cable or a wireless 802.11g connection. It has 1g of internal memory, so it can also be used as a standard digital picture frame and it accepts flash memory cards including: MultiMediaCard, Memory Stick and SD Memory Cards.

It has a bright, 10 inch display and the unit can be wall mounted or displayed on a table or shelf like a traditional picture frame.

One of my favorite things about the frame is that it has a motion detector to sense when the room is empty, or when someone comes in so it's not displaying a slode show to an empty room. My dad has burned out more than one digital frame when it's been on for a long time, so this feature is important.

I only have 2 items for a wish list for the frame: it would be handy to be able to control the brightness and I wish that when you turned on the power, it would return to the last mode you had it on before it was turned off instead of having to go through the menu again.

One way to manage your digital picture frame is through the Frame Channel. It allows you to set up your frame to incorporate images from photo sharing sites such as Flickr, Picasa, Facebook and more.

You can also e-mail your photos directly to Frame Channel and you can give your friends the address of your frame, and they can add pictures, too. Don't worry, you can approve them, first.

The Frame Channel also has different modules that can display dynamic content such as news, weather and sports on your frame.

The D-Link DSM-210 Internet Photo Frame retails for around $240.00 and it would make a great addition to your digital picture collection or a gift for parents or grandparents out of town. You can manage photos remotely and they can enjoy near real time pictures of the kids, a vacation and more (Internet connection required for them to receive the pictures over the Internet).

Looking for a Father's Day gift idea for a "car guy"? He can "cruise the web in style" with Road Mice, optical computer mice that are car replicas.

Choose from models such as Ford Mustang GT, Chevy Corvette, Dodge Charger, and Chevy Camaro. They are wireless and the best part (at least around here, anyway) is that they have working headlights!

We received one for review, and it works well, but the shape takes a little getting used to. I can't attest to how Busy Dad liked it as the kids absconded with it immediately after I got up from using it, and it is on a laptop upstairs.

Road Mice retail for $44.95 and there's quite a few models to choose from.quite a few models

I love gadgets.

I mean, really I LOVE gadgets and phones hold a special place in my heart. If money permitted, I'd be one of those people with several different types of cell phones just because I liked them.

So, I'm really fired up to be able to partner with my friends at The Motherhood and Verizon Wireless to put a Palm Pre Plus to the test.

For the next 4 weeks, I'll be learning and trying out the features of the Palm Pre Plus and will share my experiences AND (if you're good), I'll have one to give away at the end.

To some people, a smart phone automatically conjures up an image of a business type hurriedly dashing from place to place pecking important messages to important people on a fancy phone.

People talk themselves out of phones that might make life easier for them because they "don't work" or, "don't really need" it. Or, the ol', "I don't have that kind of a phone because I don't want to have to stay in touch with my job".

As far as I know, nothing about having a smart phone requires you to stay in touch with anyone you don't want to contact. Unless, your job provides you a phone for that purpose, but I digress...

But, really? Who doesn't need a way to keep themselves organized and information all in one place? Access right in your hand to not only phone numbers, but to e-mail, calendars, lists, maps and most anything you'd ever want or need can't be beat.

In fact, my phone has saved me a couple of times, most notably when my car broke down on the Interstate in the middle of nowhere in another state and my phone was able to lead me to a mechanic 10 minutes before it closed.

OK, I might be an enabler here, but if you choose a smart phone, you'll see what I'm talking about.

Week 1 Experiences

- It's a nice looking phone It's thin and not too heavy, but it feels solid.

- The display is large, bright and colorful. The touch screen navigation requires a little bit of a learning curve. It's kind of Palm-y with a couple of it's special motions if you are of the Palm Pilot generation. You navigate with "gestures" which aren't hard, but just a little different than what I'm used to. It comes with a guide to help you get started, and I'm underway.

- The different "windows" you have open for applications are called "cards"

- The keyboard slides out easily. I've heard the keyboard can be an issue with breaking the phone, but it's been fine so far. The keys seemed a bit small at first, but I'm getting used to them.

- I've quickly messed with the camera, the pictures look good to me, but I'm not one of those people that expects my phone to be a substitute for my DSLR, so I may be the wrong one to ask. More on that later.

- Oh, and it makes calls, too. Oddly, I haven't made a lot of calls, yet as I've been trying to learn to use it, first. The calls I have made seemed just fine.

This week I'm going to work on personalizing it and checking out all the apps available for it.

The giveaway:

Want a chance to win a $25 gift card to Verizon Wireless? You could put it toward a new phone, or even pay a bill.

Here's how to win:

1. Look over the Palm Pre Plus and leave a comment (and a valid e-mail address) telling me which feature or app would make your life a little easier.

2. (Optional) For an extra entry, Tweet about this giveaway and leave a separate comment.

3. 1 winner will be picked randomly via Random.org from the comments.

4. Winner has 24 hours to get back to me, otherwise another winner will be drawn.

5. Hurry! Contest ends Wednesday, February 17, 2010 at 10pm CST.

I wrote this review while working on a Verizon Palm Pre Plus campaign by TheMotherhood.com on behalf of Verizon Wireless and have been given a Palm Pre Plus (and prizes for giveaways) to facilitate my review.

A few days ago (OK, so more like 2 weeks...) I told you about my adventures with the Palm Pre Plus from Verizon. Last time, I was just trying to learn to use it and get to know it a bit. Now, I feel like I know what I'm doing.

Join me, along with these fine folks to hear more about the Verizon Palm Pre Plus (hint: they have opportunities to win, too):

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It takes me forever to "move in" to a new phone. I like to take my time and get things just right so I feel like the phone is doing everything it can do for me.

This week, I'll talk about the basics that most everyone looks for in a phone: phone calls, contacts, texting, calendars and e-mail.

Phone calls: the Palm Pre Plus has a large, bright phone keyboard screen. The touch area for the numbers is roomy, so even sausaged-fingered people can make calls without too much error. My calls have been good quality so far, and I live in a tough area for reception.

Additionally,it has a speakerphone, speed dial, conference calling ability, an airplane mode and a silent ringer switch.

You can search for numbers from this screen by name or number to quickly find the number you need. The screen also has quick access to recent numbers that you've received calls from or dialed, which is important to me, since I'm not good at writing down numbers.

You can easily add these numbers to your contacts right from the screen, which is great for trading numbers with someone. You can call their phone, and right away, you have their number in your phone and can add it to your contacts.

Contacts: Adding contacts is pretty straightforward. One thing I noticed right away is that the Palm Pre Plus has built-in ways to add contacts from Google, Facebook, Microsoft Exchange, Linked-In and Yahoo. It's as easy as selecting "Add an account". There are also several options to import contacts from another phone.

There are plenty of fields to add information about your contacts including the ability to add a photo for each contact as well as assign them a ring tone so you can quickly and easily see who's calling. You can also view all your contacts at once, or separate them into personal, work, etc.

Texting - The Palm Pre Plus can handle IMs, texts and multimedia messages so you can stay in touch with people lots of ways. I had no problem adding my Google Talk IM.

[Side note]

If you don't know how to text, now is the time to learn. Your kids will get older, and despite what you say now, they will be texting, and you will need to communicate with them.

Also, I promise you'll be amazed at how handy it is.

Oh, and three small words to remember: Unlimited. Texting. Plan.

Just do it, trust me.

[/Side note]

Like I said before, at first glance, the physical keyboard looks quite small and cramped-ish. Don't let that throw you, as with many things, it just takes a bit of use to find your groove.

Calendars - I admit that I am off and on about keeping my calendar in my phone. It makes sense, and I am so much more organized when I do it, but there's something off-putting about entering dates in a small phone.

I do so much better with it when I enter things online such as with Google Calendar. The Palm Pre Plus can pull all your calendars (Outlook, other work, school, personal etc.) together in one view with appointments color coded so you can see the different accounts, or you can view each calendar alone.

I had no problems adding all my Google Calendars, it was very quick and easy.

Imagine just being able to look at your phone and find out the day's agenda or figure out where your appointment is (the Palm Pre Plus also has GPS, more on that later). Give it a try, calendars aren't just for business users.

E-mail: My favorite thing about the Palm Pre Plus e-mail is that it's really easy to use, and you can see a list of all your accounts (and their folders) on the same page. No more going from website to website to sign into your e-mail. You can also view e-mails from all accounts merged into one list, but that's not been too helpful to me.

If you don't currently use a phone to check your e-mail, it's really a great way to keep in touch and have information you need right with you. How many times have you left the directions to the party at home or needed the name of that great product someone e-mailed you about while you were at the store?

So, so far I really like the basics of the Palm Pre Plus. If it's your first smart phone, you'll be amazed at all the information you can have right in your hand.

Of course, it does the "gee whiz" stuff too, like Facebook and Twitter plus a host of other things that will amaze you. We'll talk about that next time.

For now, though, let's do something even more fun:

The giveaway:

Want a chance to win a $25 gift card to Verizon Wireless? You could put it toward a new phone, or even pay a bill.

Here's how to win:

1. Tell me where you could use a cool phone like this (kids' sports practice? At the park? Long train commure?) and and leave a comment (and a valid e-mail address).

2. (Optional) For an extra entry, Tweet about this giveaway and leave a separate comment.

3. 1 winner will be picked randomly via Random.org from the comments.

4. Winner has 24 hours to get back to me, otherwise another winner will be drawn.

5. Hurry! Contest ends Wednesday, March 3, 2010 at 10pm CST.

I wrote this review while working on a Verizon Palm Pre Plus campaign by TheMotherhood.com on behalf of Verizon Wireless and have been given a Palm Pre Plus (and prizes for giveaways) to facilitate my review.

A smart phone really helps me keep myself together (You in the back? Shut up.) I have been a user for a couple of years now after resisting since I thought I "didn't really need" one.

Through Verizon and The Motherhood.com, I've introduced you to the Palm Pre Plus from Verizon phone in the past couple of weeks. First, I learned how to use the Palm Pre Plus, and then I explored some of the basics of the Palm Pre Plus.

Now's the fun stuff.

Much of the coolness is found in the world of the available Palm Pre Plus Applications or "apps". In fact, this phone lets you multi-task by running several apps (up to 50!) at once, not something you usually see in a smart phone.

Apps are fun or useful software that expand the function of your phone and they are more than just games or silly, entertainment stuff (though there's that, too). They are accessed and downloaded over the Internet. (The Palm Pre Plus from Verizon requires a data plan that is separate from your Verizon calling plan).

Apps can range from news, travel and books to games, social networking and grocery lists. They are downloaded through the App Catalog on the Palm Pre Plus and there are some cool ones that let you do the things you need to do on the go. Many apps are free, and others are very low cost. I find the App Catalog a little difficult to search, but there are some great things in there!

I can't capture all the apps, and your needs may vary from mine. I am a bit of an app junkie, but here are some useful Palm Pre Plus Apps that I like:

1. Mobile Hotspot - Your phone becomes a wireless hotspot for up to 5 devices (this function costs extra money). Think about that. How many times have you wished you had Internet access for your computer and it wasn't available or the wireless access cost a fortune?

I am loving this feature, as it has allowed me to get some online stuff done while I would otherwise just be sitting in the car when I have some spare time waiting for the kids to get out of sports practice. It's an app that's easy to install and set up and works reasonably fast, though it is a big battery drain, but it sure has been handy.

2. The Weather Channel (free) - Get instant access to forecasts and weather details from The Weather Channel. You can easily see the local radar to know if you should head inside, or if the game should be called off before the downpour. It's also handy to have when you're traveling to find out what's going on in an unfamiliar city.

3. Flashlight (free) - Do not laugh. It's simply a bright, blank screen, but you'd be surprised how often I've used this. It's been used during a power outage, to find lost stuff in the car and to look at a bill in a dark restaurant.

4. Facebook (free) - Need I say more? If it's your thing, keep up with what's going on with mobile Facebook. Great for a quick check if you're waiting for a message or other response.

5. Good Food (free) - This app uses the Palm Pre Plus' GPS function to find great places to eat near you (wherever you're standing) and see what other people recommend. Handy for those, "Whaddya want to eat?" "I dunno, what's around?" moments.

6. TweeFree (free) - I admit it, I'm on Twitter a lot, and I've been giving this free Twitter app a workout. Access all the fun of Twitter, right in your hand.

7. AP Mobile News (free) - I think I get most of my news information from my phone, The AP News app gives you continuously updated news while you're on the go, so you won't be the only one going, "Huh?!" when something happens.

8. Google Maps (free) - The goodness that is Google Maps right on your phone. No, really, imagine being able to find out from your phone where you are, and how to get there.

On a related note, Verizon also has VZ Navigator that uses the GPS function of your phone and provides hands free turn by turn directions, traffic information and more to nearly four million points of interest. It is $9.99/mo. or $2.99 per day (24 hours). Very cool.

9. Rockus Sound Machine ($1.99) - Not sure how it happened, but our whole family is addicted to sleeping with white noise. A sound machine was vital when the kids were babies, and the machine was hard to pack, or we'd be someplace for the day without it, and it was hard to get a baby to nap. This app is a great idea and is wonderful for travel There are 18 sounds that can play indefinitely or be set on a timer.

10. What's for Dinner? - I am notorious for standing in the grocery and not knowing what I'm going to make for dinner, or I have an idea of what I want to make, but I'm not sure of the ingredients. This app lets you search multiple recipe sites and even make a shopping list. While it's $4.99, it provides valuable information for someone like me.

11. Absolute Fitness - I'm trying to get fit through the Your Shape Challenge, and this is a great way to keep track of what I've eaten and my exercise (or lack thereof). I do much better in this area when I can see in writing what I've done for the day.

12. Evernote (free) - This app is the ultimate in keeping information together. You can save your thoughts, pictures, links, lists and more, all in one place.

I'm bad about using a mixture of Post-It notes, computer bookmarks and memory to keep track of stuff. If you're not familiar with Evernote, you should really check it out.

I could go on, but you can see that the Palm Pre Plus from Verizon isn't just for business types, it's great for life management since we're all on the go.

The giveaway:

Want a chance to win a $25 gift card to Verizon Wireless? You could put it toward a new phone, or even pay a bill.

Here's how to win:

1. Look at the Palm Pre App Catalog and leave a comment (and a valid e-mail address) telling me which app would really help your busy life.

2. (Optional) For an extra entry, Tweet about this giveaway and leave a separate comment.

3. 1 winner will be picked randomly via Random.org from the comments.

4. Winner has 24 hours to get back to me, otherwise another winner will be drawn.

5. Hurry! Contest ends Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at 10pm CST.

6. Since you are already here, why don't you come see me at my blog Busymom.net? Pull up a chair, and I'll break out the CheezWhiz for you.

Be sure to check out these fine folks to hear more about the Verizon Palm Pre Plus (hint: they have opportunities to win, too):

This Full House
Mom Trends
Tech for Mommies
Mom Generations
The Full Mommy
Rockin Mama
Musings of a Housewife
Manic Mommies
Quirky Fusion

Stay tuned next week, too. I'm giving away a Palm Pre Plus from Verizon!

I wrote this review while working on a Verizon Palm Pre Plus campaign by TheMotherhood.com on behalf of Verizon Wireless and have been given a Palm Pre Plus (and prizes for giveaways) to facilitate my review. My opinions are my own, and I really do think you should check it out to see if it's for you.

This is it! I'M GIVING AWAY AN ACTUAL PALM PRE PLUS!

I've been using the Verizon Palm Pre Plus for the past few weeks. First, I had to figure out how to use the Palm Pre Plus, then I explored some of the commonly used features, and then we talked about the fun stuff, the Apps for the Palm Pre Plus.

If you're still trying to make up your mind, be sure to check out:

An online tutorial for the Palm Pre Plus: http://phones.verizonwireless.com/palm/

Click here for a product demo online: http://support.vzw.com/swf/palm_pre_plus/swf/simulator.html

Now it's your turn for a chance at one of your very own!

The Giveaway:

Thanks to Verizon and the fine folks at The Motherhood, I'm giving away one (1) Verizon Palm Pre Plus (service not included) phone (Retail: $149)

1. (Required) Leave a comment (and a valid e-mail address) telling me why the Verizon Palm Pre Plus would be the phone for you.

2. For an extra entry, tweet (Be sure to leave a separate comment linking to your Tweet below) about this giveaway. I'm @busymom.

3. For yet a third chance to win, leave a separate comment and let me know how you found out about this contest. If it was a website or blog, be sure to tell me which one.

4. 1 (one) winner will be picked randomly via Random.org from the comments.

5, Contest is open to all U.S. residents 18 years or older

6. Winner has 24 hours to get back to me, otherwise another winner will be drawn.

7. Hurry! Contest ends Monday, March 22, 2010 at 10pm CST.

8. Now that you've entered, why don't you come say hi to me over on my blog, Busymom.net? C'mon, I'll even break out the Cheez-Whiz for you.

Be sure to check out these fine folks to hear more about the Verizon Palm Pre Plus (hint: they have opportunities to win, too):

This Full House
Mom Trends
Tech for Mommies
Mom Generations
The Full Mommy
Rockin Mama
Musings of a Housewife
Manic Mommies
Quirky Fusion

Be sure to enter my Tyson Grilled and Ready Chicken giveaway, too!

I wrote this review while working on a Verizon Palm Pre Plus campaign by TheMotherhood.com on behalf of Verizon Wireless and have been given a Palm Pre Plus (and prizes for giveaways) to facilitate my review.