Blackberry

[robertgp124]

In the past there's been a lot of discussion here about the iPhone, and there was one thread about the Blackberry. I wondering if the "Blackberry Collective" <grin> might help me out a bit.

The university I work for has left AT&T (sob!). As part of the transition to a regional carrier (sob!), I was issued a Blackberry to test. Having never used a smartphone before (and as one who had actively made fun of people with iPhones and Blackberries), I was surprised to find that I actually found a use for the Blackberry. I'm now being given the option of keeping the Blackberry and I was hoping for some advice.

I have the option of chosing between the Blackberry Pearl 8130, the Curve 8330, and the World Edition 8830. An iPhone isn't an option. My boss has been trying to keep his iPhone (as have many others), but the cell phone police are having none of that.

Any thoughts on those models? I'm leaning toward the Curve simply because of the keyboard. I like the World Edition, but the lack of a camera is a bit of a handicap for us.

Thanks in advance!

-robert

 

[aGoofyMom]

I have had the chance to try several different Pearl models, including the flip Pearl, a couple of curves, the Storm and the Bold. DH works for the company that makes them and I get to check out whatever he gets issued and can bring home. I also have to keep my loyalties to the source of the income right?!

The result - I have a Curve - 8900 to be exact. I find the Pearl is too hard to type on, and in Canada, Postal Codes (our version of the zip code) have letters in them. It was virtually impossible to fill in my contacts so I could have mailing addresses stored there.

I liked the Storm, but only Bell offered it up here, and I can't get a signal from Bell inside my house.

Of course mine is strictly personal use. I am curious as to your profession and requiring a camera on the phone of choice? Would you mind explaining what the uses are?

 

[LuccaDrake]

I would pick the Curve over the Pearl personally. I'm not a fan of how the keypad on the Pearl was designed. Can't comment on the World Edition 8830 though.

 

[wdwowner]

Try looking at the BB Tour.
The device looks great, the display is bright and clear, plus a full keyboard.

The keyboard is what makes BB the best for lots of text and e-mails, plus easier to use with large fingers.

 

[FreezinRafiki]

After a few years on a Window's SmartPhone, I switched to the Tour a month ago. The keys are a bit small, but easy to get used to. I've tried using both the Storm and an iPhone, and i can't stand trying to type on a touch screen. That, and AT&T coverage is horrendous in our area.
Mine does have a camera, and I don't use it for work. But is sure it nice to be able to snap some pictures of the kids and upload them to Facebook every once in a while.
I'd try to convince the powers-that-be at your work to get the Tour. It's faster, supports the newest Blackberry OS and is more secure. If that doesn't work, go for the Curve.

Now, has anyone been able to get DIS Radio to play on a blackberry yet?

 

[LuccaDrake]

I had the Live365 app on my Curve 8320 for about a month and it worked fine. Not all BB devices are supported however:

Live365 Radio should work on the following devices:

Bold 9000
Pearl 8703, 8700, 8120, 8130, 8100, 7130a
Curve 8330, 8320, 8310, 8300, 8900
8800, 8820, 8830
Does not currently work on the Storm or Tour

 

[Kaa]

I have a Curve and I love it. I haven't looked at any others, so I can't help with a comparison.

 

[Alztybrn]

I also got a Tour the day it was released. Prior to that I had a Windows Mobile device. The Tour blows that out of the water.

 

[Anjiebaby]

I had the World 8830 for 1 1/2 years and liked it a lot. Missed having a camera though. I type a lot of emails and I am very detailed and my fingers could fly on the World keypad.
Just last week I got my new Tour and it took me a few days to get my fingers to learn the new keypad as it is a bit smaller. Now I love it though. It just has more on it and a great camera. We just went to New York City and the first day I forgot my camera in the room so I used my Blackberry Tour I now have a great screensaver of my kids in Times Square. It also has more pre-loaded games than the World. I like the screens and navigation better and I like that it has two icons, one showing how many email messages to be read and one showing how many voicemail messages to be heard.
It has a chrome trim and is a little snazzier looking.

 

[cathie1327]

Another fan of the curve here!

 

[airman]

I got the Tour last week and so far I have been really happy with it. I have never had a smartphone before, so I have a learning curve. Nice little phone

 

[robertgp124]

Of course mine is strictly personal use. I am curious as to your profession and requiring a camera on the phone of choice? Would you mind explaining what the uses are?

Thanks for all the great advice everyone!

I will probably go with the curve. We are pretty strictly limited to the three phones I mentioned. Sort of reminds me of the Henry Ford quote, "You can have it in any color you want, as long as it is black." I will see if the Tour is available, as it does sound interesting, but am not hopeful.

aGoofyMom, I apologize. I overstated it a bit. I don't require a camera. I do IT work, and having a camera is handy for when I need to take a picture of a particular area (wire closet) I'm working in to illustrate the space needs or to show something to my boss. A camera is not a must have - and I admit, I use my current camera occasionally, but it is nice to have.

 

[aGoofyMom]

aGoofyMom, I apologize. I overstated it a bit. I don't require a camera. I do IT work, and having a camera is handy for when I need to take a picture of a particular area (wire closet) I'm working in to illustrate the space needs or to show something to my boss. A camera is not a must have - and I admit, I use my current camera occasionally, but it is nice to have.

I was curious mostly. The last conference I went to, many of the attendees with Company Blackberries had many features, including cameras disabled.

DH has a Tour currently - I find it is a bit heavier than my curve but otherwise I like it.

 

[challer]

Curve, here. Seems good to me, but it's my first smartphone and i haven't tried any others.

 

[cascivic]

what is your regional carrier going to be/ the tour is rolling out to the smaller carriers as we speak(if its a cdma carrier) and its a huge improvement over the curve. BUT if you are really only allowed those 3 phones even if they get the tour i would stick to the curve.

 

[robertgp124]

Regional carrier is US Cellular. I've read that the Tour is coming to US Cellular (it's CDMA). I'm pretty much limited to those three phones - and I think I have to pull the trigger and get the phone tomorrow (Monday).

 

[cascivic]

Regional carrier is US Cellular. I've read that the Tour is coming to US Cellular (it's CDMA). I'm pretty much limited to those three phones - and I think I have to pull the trigger and get the phone tomorrow (Monday).

I would def go for the curve then. The 8830 is on its way out and has been around for years. Curve has nicer smaller form factor and the camera. The only thing that really makes the tour that much better is nicer screen and a 3.2 mp camera vs a 2.0 on the curve. Its onboard memory is mor so can hold more apps and multitask more smoothly.

 

[RBrooksC]

I swore I would never get a Blackberry but when they offered the Storm, I figured I would try it. I needed a new smartphone, anyway.

Boy, do I love it. It does have its quirks and it does have a steep learning curve. But it just took me one Saturday afternoon watching the NFL Playoffs to learn it.

Now, I don't think I could leave the house without it. Unfortunately, the iPhone/Touch eclipses the Blackberry in terms of apps like the one Disney offers. Since the iPhone is only available on AT&T, the Blackberry is available across all the phone systems, I hope that eventually, it comes to pass that there is a app for the Blackberry also.

Because I can assure you I would NEVER go to AT&T.

 

[kimisabella]

I am so glad to hear you like the Storm. I can upgrade my phone in November and was leaning towards the Storm (have verizon, and don't want to leave). My husband recently got the curve 8300??, and he likes it. He told me that he has heard from others that the Storm's screen freezes up all the time, that's why he didn't go with the Storm.

 

[RBrooksC]

I am so glad to hear you like the Storm. I can upgrade my phone in November and was leaning towards the Storm (have verizon, and don't want to leave). My husband recently got the curve 8300??, and he likes it. He told me that he has heard from others that the Storm's screen freezes up all the time, that's why he didn't go with the Storm.

Yes, that is a quirk. But "all the time" isn't exactly the case. These are mini-computers. They need to be treated as such. So, periodically, one needs to "reboot" the phone to clear fragmented memory. I do it once a week and that keeps it running smoothly.

Other than that, I love it.