21st Century Calling

I think it's finally time to get a cell phone. I won't be quite the hermit I used to be when I start college classes in August, but here's the rub: all my friends in AZ use Verizon and all my family in PA are on ATT. Which carrier and plan do I get? Do I get a camera phone? Or just get a minimum-use Cricket?

Why doesn't ATT have a coverage map? (Update: found one) Are they that good? Or that bad?

I'll probably end up getting a new laptop while I'm acclimating myself to the new century. Sh*t. I'd hoped to avoid ever using Vista.