Philip Wen's //

For those to you who are Blackberry AND Google fans like myself – We have just gotten an early Christmas present.

Google’s Mobile Team just released a new version of Sync which will now also synchronize your Contacts as well as Calendar between your BB and Google account.

Go learn more and grab it from this link.  The new version is 0.5.9.

Thanks to the guys at the Google Mobile team.  More and more each day, you guys are making the blackberry experience inch closer to that of a mini netbook.

It’s too bad they have not released the Voice Search feature that is now in the iPhone version.

For those of you with a smartphone but don’t know what the fart I am talking about – Go to this link and enjoy productivity bliss.

A list of services in Google Mobile Apps

Viable Alternative to the NetBook assault?

So check this out.  Buy.com is selling this refurbed Everex StepNote for an incredible price of $350.  This is cheaper than some of the NetBooks flooding the market right now.

For a very similar price, you get the full usability of a normal laptop.  Dual Core (T2080), DVDRW, WXGA screen (1280×800), and the usual expansion possibilities.  Downside of this choice?  Slightly bigger and heavier.  Reasonably so, you are lugging around the Optical Drive with this one.

Compared to the newer, sexier Dell Inspiron Mini 12, I think I would choose this option.  Why?  The RAM on this is upgradable to 2GB.  Unfortunately for the Dell, RAM is not upgradable.

How about to the newer, sexier HP Mini 1000?  The HP can definitely be considered geek-worthy fashion accessories, but the smaller screen and the lower performance kind of kills the deal… for now.  Plus, (and I shed a silent tear here), the Mini 1000 did not inherit the high res screen of its 2133 predecessor.  If HP ever offers the Mini 1000 with 2133’s screen resolution @ 10″ – I am sold.

Slightly heavier and doesn’t have the same pizzazz as the netbook variants. Hmm…  Difficult choices indeed.

OK I am done debating.  I’ll choose the Usability over Cool factor.  Where’s that Order Button?

Which one would you pick?

HP has been vamping up its Pavilion lineup

Ben posted some great coupons for those of you looking to refresh your office workstations before the EOY tax season cutoff.  With the $400 off $999 coupon, you can put together a pretty powerful workstation for $600.

Personally, the real temptress of the bunch is the Mini 1000 – that is a pretty drool-worthy netbook.  Check it out here.  Not only is it the best looking Netbook out of the current crop, it is also nicely customizable.  The only downside is the downgrade on screen resolution from the HP Mini 2133.  Anyone tried the coupon code SV2132 on the HP Mini 1000 yet?