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Thinking about getting a Blackberry

G

Gabe3

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May 23, 2006
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I'm going to the grocery store in a few minutes and wondering if I should get some blackberries.

ok that was a lame joke...

Anyway, I've been thinking about getting a blackberry, I've never used one. I've had iphones and android devices. blackberry is next on my list to try. The storm 2 is out of my price range, and I've heard the storm 1 is full of problems. I want to spend under $350, I'll probably be buying on ebay, since I can't get a warranty on anything unless I sign up for a contract with one of the carriers.

I don't need 3G, I need wifi. good web browser, media player, and email are important, I'd like to be able to take notes also. I was looking at the bold 9700, but figured I could save money by getting the curve 8900, since I don't need 3G. And theres also the bold 9000, but I've heard its a large device, and that the bold 2 and curve 8900 are more compact. I've also seen videos of the opera 5 mini browser running on the devices, it looks pretty good, I'm wondering how stable it is? Is it the browser of choice by most BB users?
 
What carrier?

I honestly would never recommend BB over an Android (Nexus if you're free to use a GSM carrier, or Droid if you're verizon) anymore unless you specifically needed a BB for work related purposes. It's slow, the apps suck generally or you have to pay alot (god knows how much I paid for BB apps that are free in android market)
 
Yup, exactly what as above.

I've been using a Blackberry 8330 for 2 years now and it works for everything I need it to do, except it mostly sucks doing them. Data is slow, internet is slow, OS is slow, applications are slow, Browser is pathetic compared to the Droid/Iphone, Google Maps is slow, GPS is pretty slow. Emails are good and calls are good.

It ... works, that's about all you can really say about Blackberries.

Oh, I'm stuck with one if I want to stay on my $30 Sprint SERO plan. But I would never touch an Iphone and I can't stand Verizon's plans. So I'm going to stick getting the latest BlackBerry on Sprint every 2 years until they stop honoring their SERO plans.
 
MJZ said:
Yup, exactly what as above.

I've been using a Blackberry 8330 for 2 years now and it works for everything I need it to do, except it mostly sucks doing them. Data is slow, internet is slow, OS is slow, applications are slow, Browser is pathetic compared to the Droid/Iphone, Google Maps is slow, GPS is pretty slow. Emails are good and calls are good.

It ... works, that's about all you can really say about Blackberries.

Oh, I'm stuck with one if I want to stay on my $30 Sprint SERO plan. But I would never touch an Iphone and I can't stand Verizon's plans. So I'm going to stick getting the latest BlackBerry on Sprint every 2 years until they stop honoring their SERO plans.
Click to expand...

I thought their SERO plan doesn't apply to BB? So you have BB data service for only $30 plus tax a month?
 
Tai said:
I thought their SERO plan doesn't apply to BB? So you have BB data service for only $30 plus tax a month?
Click to expand...

Blackberry Internet is a $10 add-on. You can use it with just the $30 (which has unlimited data) through Opera etc, but you get no Email or anything that routes through BB's service.
 
I'm on my 3rd Blackberry (7xxx, 8310, 9700/Bold2). It's king of email which is mostly what I use it for. Speed of Apps has never been a concern. The browser sucks but you can install Bolt or Opera which is a vast improvement but still a notch below Safari. I find the signal strength, volume of the earpiece and speakerphone and support for email beats all versions of the Iphone. Yes I am the support person for my family who has trouble with their Iphones so I do have experience with them. I haven't listened to much audio over the Iphone but I do have a 5G IPod and the sound quality of my Blackberry beats that.

If you have a Blackberry Enterprise Server to tie into, then you will be able to take full advantage of the Blackberry (link to an Outlook account w/ notes, tasklist, email, contacts, support for remote wiping and storage of data to protect against loss). Honestly, if I didn't have a BES to tie into, I think I would go with an Iphone/Droid style phone for the browser.
 
brownkc said:
I'm on my 3rd Blackberry (7xxx, 8310, 9700/Bold2). It's king of email which is mostly what I use it for. Speed of Apps has never been a concern. The browser sucks but you can install Bolt or Opera which is a vast improvement but still a notch below Safari. I find the signal strength, volume of the earpiece and speakerphone and support for email beats all versions of the Iphone. Yes I am the support person for my family who has trouble with their Iphones so I do have experience with them. I haven't listened to much audio over the Iphone but I do have a 5G IPod and the sound quality of my Blackberry beats that.

If you have a Blackberry Enterprise Server to tie into, then you will be able to take full advantage of the Blackberry (link to an Outlook account w/ notes, tasklist, email, contacts, support for remote wiping and storage of data to protect against loss). Honestly, if I didn't have a BES to tie into, I think I would go with an Iphone/Droid style phone for the browser.
Click to expand...

I would too, except for the double to triple monthly cost increase. I get live GPS on my BlackBerry on Sprint, which you can't get on the Iphone (but I Think Verizon does offer as well).
 
soulesschild said:
What carrier?

I honestly would never recommend BB over an Android (Nexus if you're free to use a GSM carrier, or Droid if you're verizon) anymore unless you specifically needed a BB for work related purposes. It's slow, the apps suck generally or you have to pay alot (god knows how much I paid for BB apps that are free in android market)
Click to expand...

t-mobile, and I don't want to be in a contract. I wanted to get the nexus, but its out of my price range, when I sold my htc hero, I was hoping the nexus would be under $450, but it turned out to be $530. So I've been looking at alternatives until I can get a used nexus for cheaper.
 
soulesschild said:
I honestly would never recommend BB over an Android (Nexus if you're free to use a GSM carrier, or Droid if you're verizon) anymore unless you specifically needed a BB for work related purposes. It's slow, the apps suck generally or you have to pay alot (god knows how much I paid for BB apps that are free in android market)
Click to expand...

Oh, come on. You're comparing a device from 2007 to the latest Android handsets. Of course it's going to be slow in comparison. I can't comment on the App World vs. Market though.

Gabe3 said:
I don't need 3G, I need wifi. good web browser, media player, and email are important, I'd like to be able to take notes also. I was looking at the bold 9700, but figured I could save money by getting the curve 8900, since I don't need 3G. And theres also the bold 9000, but I've heard its a large device, and that the bold 2 and curve 8900 are more compact. I've also seen videos of the opera 5 mini browser running on the devices, it looks pretty good, I'm wondering how stable it is? Is it the browser of choice by most BB users?
Click to expand...

After comparing web browsing on EDGE on my Dev Phone 1 with 3G on a couple of devices, I've gotta say, 3G is definitely worth the extra cash.

If you can afford it, I'd definitely recommend the 9700. I love the smaller size, the optical trackpad (no more stuck or yellowing trackballs!), and with OS 5.0, it's such a big step up in speed and smoothness from the 8900, at least until your carrier has the 5.0 upgrade for the 8900.

With the Storms, Storm 2 is the device to have. OS 5.0 fixed a whole lot of problems with Storm 1, but I much prefer the clicky screen of S2 over S1. I wouldn't buy a S1.

If you don't want to spend a bunch of money, I wouldn't discount the 8520. I don't know what it is about that guy, but it's super fast! Maybe because it has a lower res screen (same as the 8300 series) and no 3G? You'll have to use OS 4.6.1 on that guy until the 5.0 upgrade is out, but it does have Wi-fi.
 
Emura said:
Oh, come on. You're comparing a device from 2007 to the latest Android handsets. Of course it's going to be slow in comparison. I can't comment on the App World vs. Market though.



After comparing web browsing on EDGE on my Dev Phone 1 with 3G on a couple of devices, I've gotta say, 3G is definitely worth the extra cash.

If you can afford it, I'd definitely recommend the 9700. I love the smaller size, the optical trackpad (no more stuck or yellowing trackballs!), and with OS 5.0, it's such a big step up in speed and smoothness from the 8900, at least until your carrier has the 5.0 upgrade for the 8900.

With the Storms, Storm 2 is the device to have. OS 5.0 fixed a whole lot of problems with Storm 1, but I much prefer the clicky screen of S2 over S1. I wouldn't buy a S1.

If you don't want to spend a bunch of money, I wouldn't discount the 8520. I don't know what it is about that guy, but it's super fast! Maybe because it has a lower res screen (same as the 8300 series) and no 3G? You'll have to use OS 4.6.1 on that guy until the 5.0 upgrade is out, but it does have Wi-fi.
Click to expand...

If i bought a unlocked 8900 on ebay, theres no way for me to update it to 5.0 ?
 
I have the Storm 1, and I previously had the 8830. BB's are great for emails, but that's about it. Imo, the Droid & iPhone school the Storm in every other category. My contract is up this summer & I will not be getting another BB.
 
Former BB owner here, now a Droid owner and never looking back. If you are in the corporate world, then BB makes sense, but otherwise, get an Android powered phone instead.
 
I've had the Storm 1, Tour, and Storm 2. So no, I'm not comparing the old gen to the latest generation. Storm 2 was nice, but still not as smooth or nice as the Droid.

Also, you can almost NEVER get a decent smart phone unlocked, unsubsidized for under 500. Even the shitty samsung rogue from verizon is about 460 dollars. So GL with that.
 
soulesschild said:
I've had the Storm 1, Tour, and Storm 2. So no, I'm not comparing the old gen to the latest generation. Storm 2 was nice, but still not as smooth or nice as the Droid.

Also, you can almost NEVER get a decent smart phone unlocked, unsubsidized for under 500. Even the shitty samsung rogue from verizon is about 460 dollars. So GL with that.
Click to expand...

Yeah apparently. I can get a iphone 3G 16gb for $380, a BB curve 8900 for $220. I don't really want to go back to a iphone though, so thats why I was looking at blackberry. my only other choice is to wait for the nexus one to drop in price.
 
Having previously owned, and loved, a Blackberry Curve, and now currently owning an iPhone, I am amazed at what I had been missing. If you're doing e-mail and web browsing primarily, I'd honestly say go with the iPhone. The Blackberry's web browser was handy, but gosh did the experience suck compared to Safari on the iPhone.

If you've already used an iPhone before, and never used a Blackberry, just take my word for it ... stick with the iPhone or Android.

Note: I've never used Android, but it looks nice.
 
Curve 8900 is a well rounded phone. Im not a huge fan of iphone, but for web browsing on the go its pretty good. Remember that having a large screen and 3G is costly to the battery though. I laugh at my friends who carry around their iphone charger like a tail. and those that dont just have a dead phone by the end of the night. 8900 is good for any sort of communication imo. great phone clarity, king of emails, and any other IM/messaging. with that said, i do want to try out a android phone. i really think the design of the g1 is one of the best...its just needs a revision (slim it down + snapdragon)

I actually use my bb for music too. i have an itouch but im just going to sell it because i have no use for it really.
 
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