My Blackberry Bold 9780

I have been a postpaid subscriber of Globe for the longest time.  While most people prefer a prepaid line so as not to worry about phone bills, I chose to maintain a postpaid account primarily because I hate the idea of running out of “load” when I need it most. I am a working mom, you see, and because I have so many things to attend to (mom and work-related duties), the least thing I need is an added task of checking my load balance every now and then to check if I have enough credits to make calls. I also hate having to look for shops to buy call cards. I believe in looking for the best possible postpaid plan, one that suits your usage and lifestyle. I did.

Another nice thing about keeping a postpaid account is the rewards / loyalty program service providers usually have in place for their subscribers. At the end of your holding period, your service provider will usually offer you handsets should you sign up for another lock-up period with them. (Should I say offer? From past experiences, I had to call their customer service hotline to know what the offers were for my account. It is, therefore, very important that you take note of the end of your lock-up period so you’ll know when to call them to inquire about your rewards.)This idea of getting a handset for free every two years, on the average, is a good idea because then you wouldn’t have to worry about the wear-and-tear of your current handset.

Anyway, the key here is to be able to negotiate so that you are happy with the handset you get. A two-year lock-up period is no joke. You have to be happy/satisfied/in-love with your phone during that period. Of course, you also have to manage your demands and expectations. You can’t demand for a free iPhone unit if you are currently on a P500-plan, unless you upgrade to a higher plan.

The holding period for my line ended last September 2011. Because I knew about the loyalty program, I called Globe’s customer hotline and asked about the phones I can get for free should I renew my contract with them. I wasn’t happy with the first set of handset that they offered. I felt they weren’t worth the two-year lock-up period. Another tip: you have to have an idea of the kind of phone that you want. As for me, I reflected on my phone usage and discovered that I am a heavy user of mobile internet. I am very much into social networking sites so I figured my phone has to be capable of giving me access to mobile internet at a decent speed (at the very least). So I read a lot of forums and I asked a lot of friends about current handset units and their specifications until I finally found the handset that will make me happy. I wanted a BlackBerry. No, I wanted a BlackBerry Bold and if I get that unit, I wanted an affordable plan that will include all the BlackBerry services. I was decided to have my line terminated if I didn’t get a BlackBerry unit. I was that determined. So I called the hotline again. We negotiated. I put the phone down and guess what? I got the BlackBerry Bold 9780. I upgraded my line from P800 to P999 but was very happy with the upgrade because it meant having unlimited surfing, all of the BB services, free 10 minutes of calls to Globe/TM, free 200 texts to Globe/TM, and P400 consumable amount. It was perfect for me!

A year has passed. What can I say? I still think I made the right choice. The postpaid plan I got perfectly matched my usage therefore I didn’t exceed my monthly service fee. As for my BlackBerry, I still love it to pieces. Why?

(1)  I have BBM. I get to chat with relatives and friends abroad (even send them pictures) for free! One very nice thing about the BBM is that I know when my message has been delivered and when it has been read by the recipient. Very, very nice!

(2)  I have access to my email anytime, anywhere!

(3)  I have access to Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! I love it!

(4)  I still love its no-nonsense/I-mean-business look. Black and sleek. Bliss!

However…

… I am not quite sure if it’s because I am a heavy user (I surf a lot) but I have to charge my phone every day, on the average.

…there were also instances when the phone shut down on its own. I only noticed when I checked for messages and notifications and found out that it shut down on its own. Again, I am not sure if this is because of normal wear-and-tear. It didn’t happen a lot though. Thank goodness!

… I couldn’t post videos directly to Facebook. (Or I haven’t figured it out until now?) When I right click to send a clip, the options are to YouTube, email, BBM contact and Bluetooth. No Facebook. Sad. L

… it has no FM radio. The newer BlackBerry units, I have heard, have FM radios already. They weren’t out in the market when I got my BB.

… I had to glue the inside lining of the holster after using it for a couple of months only.

…there are areas in my keypad where the “paint” (or whatever you call it) chipped off.

All in all, after a year of being with my BlackBerry, I will give it a rating of 8 (10 being the highest). The good times still outweigh the bad and so, despite its flaws, I can still say that I am one happy BlackBerry user. J

PS: I'm still looking for a picture of my BlackBerry when it was still spankin' new so I can post it side-by-side with its more recent picture. I promise to update this entry soon! :)

More About "K" (My Amazing Kindle)

It has been a little over a week after I got my Kindle. What can I say? I have no regrets at all that I got K. Look at her after one week of being with me.


My favorite thing!

I bought a black leather cover and screen protector for my beloved K. She looks really nice in her new "home." Hubby also bought a booklight for me so I can read in the evening after they turn the lights off. Bliss!

Well, I have to admit I have been staying up late in the evening because of my reading. I promise myself I'll set and follow a reading schedule so that I won't be sacrificing sleep and rest over reading anymore.

Anyway, after a week with K:

(1) I am still loving her E-ink display! It really feels like you're reading an actual book. Even my boys were amazed when they looked at K's display.

(2) I am very much impressed with her battery life. When I got her last week, she had an initial factory charge... I read almost everyday for at least an hour and a week after, I still do not need to recharge her battery. Awesome! In this day and age when people usually charge their cellphones almost everyday (especially those hi-tech touchscreen phones), K is a treasure!

(3) I was able to store over 200 ebooks and did not see any sign of slow down on K's end. Amazing!

Kindle is a very good investment for voracious readers like me. I'll tell you a secret... I read 3 books already since the day I got K. Hihi. :)

Happiness Starts With A 'K'

Aside from dancing, singing (via videoke) and listening to favorite tracks on my music player, another activity relaxes me and takes my mind off day-to-day worries.... reading. I started reading pocketbooks when I was in 3rd grade. I remember finding a hardbound copy of a Nancy Drew book at home. Out of curiosity, I tried reading the first few pages and ended up not only reading the entire book but visiting the school library more often to borrow pocketbooks. Alas, another bookworm in the family. From Nancy Drew, I also read The Bobbsey Twins and other detective series I could find. Back then, it was a given in our school for the girls to read Nancy Drew and for the boys to be more inclined to reading The Hardy Boys. Well, out of defiance, I read The Hardy Boys as well. Haha.

Francine Pascal's Sweet Valley series became a favorite when I reached 5th grade. I was lucky enough to have a friend who had a collection, so I was able to read each and every book in the series (SV Twins, High and University). I also loved Sweet Dreams.

In high school, I read Sidney Sheldon and Stephen King. When I read Erich Segal's Doctors, I decided I wanted to become a surgeon. Haha. I also started reading historical romance novels.

When I started working and became a mom, however, a lot of things changed. I found myself having less time for reading. There were also several instances when I suddenly had the chance to catch up on my reading but can't because I didn't have my book with me (e.g. waiting for hubby to pick me up in the office, waiting for school programs to start, etc). There were also times when I had a book with me but I felt like reading a different book but can't because, again, the book was at home sleeping in my shelf. I can't naman bring my library with me, debba?

But all that changed when this darling came into my life last Monday (July 23)... my very own Kindle Touch!

This baby can store over a hundred ebooks! I can bring my "library" with me anywhere! It's small and light so it easily fits my bag. Battery life is also longer (I heard it lasts for more than a month) so you don't have to charge as often as you do when you use your phone or tablet as your ebook reader. The E Ink display is also a delight! Ebook reading without the glare is bliss for me. I love my "K!" Oh, I do. I do!

Thank you, dear Mommy and Hubby. I am very, very happy with my new baby. :)

PS: I got my unit from an online seller I would be very happy to recommend. She has great after sales support. Look for Nelson KRX on Facebook.

The Magic of Physiogel

My three-year old has sensitive and dry skin. I have already tried different brands (from affordable to expensive ones) but saw minimal to no improvement on his skin. Certain areas (particularly his legs and the back of his knees) remained dry, rough and itchy. My poor baby became cranky during the day and couldn't sleep well through the night because he kept scratching and scratching. It broke my heart to see how uncomfortable my baby was. He kept showing me the dry spots as if telling me, "Mom, do something!"

Fortunately, our pediatrician suggested we try Elica ointment (for a couple of days) and Physiogel cleanser and lotion. They were a little pricey but when I saw how fast my son's skin improved after a few applications only, I can say that the products really gave us our money's worth! No more itchy, dry and rough skin for my baby! He was his usual cheerful self and he slept well through the night. *insert sigh of relief here*



Physiogel lotion is hypoallergenic and unscented... perfect for sensitive skin. Before, a 200-ml bottle cost almost P900 but last month, I was able to buy one for only P650! You should have seen how happy I was. Haha!

Yes, my son still uses Physiogel lotion. There were times when I gave in to temptations of trying cheaper brands but always regretted the decision because the dryness and itchiness always came back. I ended up spending more, hence, I promised myself it will only be Physiogel for my son from now on.

For moms of babies with the same skin concern, I suggest you ask your pediatrician about Physiogel. It did wonders for me and my baby. It might work for you, too! :)

PS: I have already posted this review in my other blog Mommyholic. I am sharing this product review again because I really believe in the product. It really does wonders for my baby!

Hello World!

I am a researcher by profession. Hence, before any big purchase (especially gadgets), I make it a point to do a lot of research about the product. Why?

I want to know my options. I want to know the best and most recommended brand and the reasons why it was labeled as such. I read a lot of blogs and forums to learn more about the experiences and reviews of other people who have tried the product. I want to be able to manage my expectations, i.e, familiarize myself about what a certain brand or product can and cannot do. I want to know the strengths and weaknesses of each brand available. I want to be able to make an informed/intelligent choice. Why? Because it's hard-earned money I will be spending.

Because of this, I have decided to start an online journal of the products and services I have tried. By sharing my experiences and thoughts, I hope to be able to help other consumers who, like me, think before they spend. And so... hello world! :)