Specifically, new cell phone.

I visited the local Verizon office the other day to see about switching my plan to one that doesn't charge roaming charges as soon as I set a foot outside of Connecticut (or to be more accurate northern east coast). It seems the new plans are not offered on old cell phones like my old, trusted Motorola Star Tac that I've had for three years or so. I didn't really intend to get a new phone, but what the heck, might as well go for a new gadget.. and since I'm getting something new, might as well get something that's only three years or so behind Japan.

My new toy - Motorola T720.

The color display is kinda cool, the sound is really quite good for a cell phone (8 bit sound card, I think) and everything can be voice-controlled, which I really like for those times when I want to dial when driving (yes, mom, I use a headset).

The battery doesn't last very long, so I spent another $50 on an extended battery that gives me about an hour and a half more of talk time (for about 3 hours total) and some impossible amount of stand-by time.

What I like the most - and this is probably something that's been around for ages, but my old cell phone was just that.. old.. - text messages come with a return address and an easy way to reply. On my star tac they just showed up as phantom-messages and I had to figure out who they were from if the sender didn't sign them.. That can lead to some funny stories to tell your grandkids.

I'd say the phone was definitely worth the extra money it costs.. ($100, after a $100 trade-in rebate).. of course now I have two more years of a Verizon contract.. but heck, I've been using them for six years now anyway.. (back when they were Bell Atlantic around here).