Newest Blackberries

[Ed Rooney]

I have finally moved on from the Treo 700p. I had a chance recently to try out 3 of the more recent Blackberries. Here are my thoughts:

Blackberry Storm - I actually had one on order since I pretty much need to stick with Verizon and needed a new phone. I held on to my Treo a bit longer in anticipation of the Storm. I have iPhone experience and wanted to see if Blackberry could out-touch them. They didn't. The screen is beautiful, it handles email as well as any Blackberry, but typing was clunky on the click screen, and the OS was overall slow. I canceled my order, but still let 4 other execs in my office try it out. All 4 did not like it and returned to their Pearls, Curves and 8830's.

Blackberry Curve - This phone has been out for a while, but it is reliable and cheap. Once I punted on the Storm I ordered a Curve and I am pretty happy. I plan on keeping it until a version of the Bold appears on Verizon. The new OS update handles html mail very well. No more tracking through endless links and URL's.

Blackberry Bold - The best Blackberry ever, but only available on AT&T. Beautiful screen, easy to use, even somewhat luxurious. Clearly geared for execs when you compare it to the plasticy Curves and Pearls.

[kcmo]

I've had my Curve on T-Mobile for about 14 months and love it. I'm waiting for the next Curve (aka Javelin) to come out though....looks really nice!

IMO, nothing beats the BB when it comes to stability and ease of use!

[2careless]

Thanks Ed. I'm asked to evaluate these bl**dy bb's. Saved me getting samples

[walds11]

I have been using a Pearl for about two years since AT&T rolled it out December 2006. I am on my second one because the ear piece crapped out on me in June of this year. I love the Pearl for the small form factor. I played with other Blackberries, including the Curve and Bold. I could not get used to the larger sized devices. I wanted to like the Bold, but just couldn't because of the larger size. I have my eye on the Curve 8900 or Pearl Flip 8220. Just waiting to see if and when AT&T releases these devices. My wish is for a next generation candybar Pearl with the same updates that the Bold, Curve 8900 and Flip have (high resolution screen, cool new OS, etc).

I am sure that our resident smart phone expert Chip will chime in :)

[Ed Rooney]

Originally Posted by kcmo

I've had my Curve on T-Mobile for about 14 months and love it. I'm waiting for the next Curve (aka Javelin) to come out though....looks really nice!

IMO, nothing beats the BB when it comes to stability and ease of use!

I was not a fan until they came out with the trackball. As an IT guy, I loved that they were bulletproof and easy to manage, but I kept a Treo. My Treos worked better and were multimedia, touchscreen, etc way back in 2003. Unfortunately Palm got in bed with Microsoft and really produced awful smartphones.

But I really like my Curve, and can't wait for the Bold.


Storm...not so much.

[Rockrolex]

I got the Storm last week. I may be in the minority, but now that I am used to the ins and outs and intracies of it, I am in love with it. Granted this is my first Blackberry (I came off a Treo 700wx). But I am finding this to be a wonderful instrument. I love the push keyboard. The key lights up to tell you you made the right choice before you click it - unlike touch screens where you have to make the mistake before you correct it.

The screen (especially in landscape mode) is nice and big and is very easy to read and sharp as well. The voice dialing feature is great, once you get the hang of how to identify the contact you want.

Overall, it's got a small enough form factor that makes it comfortable to hold.

The OS is seems to be infinitely more stable than Microsoft's Windows Mobile abortion.

For my money, this is the best handheld yet. I may be able to leave my notebook computer at home now.

[kelly56]

I've had the BB Curve for several months and have been very happy. Good bang for the buck.

[East Bay Rider]

Originally Posted by Rockrolex

I got the Storm last week. I may be in the minority, but now that I am used to the ins and outs and intracies of it, I am in love with it. Granted this is my first Blackberry (I came off a Treo 700wx). But I am finding this to be a wonderful instrument. I love the push keyboard. The key lights up to tell you you made the right choice before you click it - unlike touch screens where you have to make the mistake before you correct it.

The screen (especially in landscape mode) is nice and big and is very easy to read and sharp as well. The voice dialing feature is great, once you get the hang of how to identify the contact you want.

Overall, it's got a small enough form factor that makes it comfortable to hold.

The OS is seems to be infinitely more stable than Microsoft's Windows Mobile abortion.

For my money, this is the best handheld yet. I may be able to leave my notebook computer at home now.

I think you summed it up well. I think that maybe it just takes time. I went to the Verizon store to try it and left disappointed. I had a hard time adjusting to the click screen and was very unhappy that I didn't like it. I had been pretty excited waiting for its introduction. Recently a guy at work just got one and after having it for a week he loves it as well. He said the same things you did. He got used to the click screen, loves the functionality, screen quality and ease of use.
I'm looking forward to trying it again.

[Dr.B]

iphone busting in..........got to love it!
Thought about the Blackberry but went with the iPhone. Both are great tools.
Enjoy....

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by Dr.B

iphone busting in..........got to love it!
Thought about the Blackberry but went with the iPhone. Both are great tools.
Enjoy....

One problem with the iPhone - it's only available at Absolutely Terrible & (barely) Tolerable. I have all my service (phone, internet, cable and wireless) with Verizon. Besides, the Blackberry integrates naturally with Outlook e-mail. the iPhone kluges it's way in.

The more I use the Storm, the more I like it. The only problem at the moment is that the game developers haven't caught up with the last version of the BB OS. I can't get my favorite games to work on the 9530. But they should be out soon.

[Ed Rooney]

AT&T was a bit of a problem for me, until I realized that I generally get annoyed when my phone rings. Why not get the worst service possible and give yourself a built-in excuse.

The Bold is just sitting on my desk like a jewel, mocking me for selecting the Curve so soon.

[Massimolovesrolex]

I have the iPhone 3G It gives me a problem here and there but other than that it has great service.

[walds11]

Ed, there is nothing wrong with the Curve. The Bold is ok, just too big for my liking.

Oh, by the way, I have been with AT&T for years and have no absolutely no problems.

[GerardoG]

Curve fan here.

[Mike B]

Originally Posted by Dr.B

iphone busting in..........got to love it!
Thought about the Blackberry but went with the iPhone. Both are great tools.
Enjoy....

X2
I LOVE my Iphone. It does SOO much more then ANY phone (Blackberry's, Windows Mobile phones, etc.) that I've EVER had. I've had Verizon for YEARS, but went ahead and went with AT&T anyway, and never looked back. Their service is excellent to boot.

[Rockrolex]

Just as an update, now that the game developers have caught up and I've got my games installed, I am really loving the Storm. It's got everything you would want on a pocket sized computer/phone. Garmin even makes some fairly decent GPS software you can download for under $100 so you don't have to spend the $10/mo. that Verizon wants for their Nav service.

The voice dialing on the Storm is pretty slick. As long as you remember how you entered a contact, it does a good job of recognizing the voice command. If you have multiple contact numbers, it will even ask which number you want to call.

It works great with my bluetooth in my car. I can use the voice dialing to start the call, and the call then goes through the car system, so I never have to lift the phone to my ear.

The click keys get easier to use the more you use them and the internet access is super.

All in all, I highly recommend the Storm as a highly competitve alternative to the iPhone.

[East Bay Rider]

Originally Posted by Rockrolex

Just as an update, now that the game developers have caught up and I've got my games installed, I am really loving the Storm. It's got everything you would want on a pocket sized computer/phone. Garmin even makes some fairly decent GPS software you can download for under $100 so you don't have to spend the $10/mo. that Verizon wants for their Nav service...

The click keys get easier to use the more you use them and the internet access is super.

All in all, I highly recommend the Storm as a highly competitve alternative to the iPhone.

You know I'm watching this... Good to know, thanks.