For the past five years, I’ve been a die-hard Blackberry user but now that I’m no longer within the corporate world, I’m wondering whether there are better options out there.
The first issue is whether I actually need a Blackberry or, for that matter, a smartphone that provides access to mobile e-mail and, if needed, the Web. How much time do you have to spend away from your desk to justify having a smartphone, particularly when someone else isn’t picking up the tab? If you’re only out and about a couple hours a day, is there enough of an ROI?
And if you do concede that having a smartphone is a necessarily evil, how much data do you need to handle the basics such as e-mail. I’ve heard of people who purchased 6GB data plans from Rogers, only to discover they’re using less than 1GB.
Finally, do you go Blackberry or iPhone or Nokia or Samsung? The Blackberry is a work-horse – durable, dependable, drop-able – and the Blackberry Storm looks pretty impressive even if the NYT’s David Pogue dissed it. The iPhone is sleek and sexy but the keyboard is wanting. Some people swear by the Samsung Blackjack, while Nokia is getting raves for some of its new smart phones.
It used to be that picking a wireless voice package was difficult but the processing deciding what smartphone to use is complicated and time-consuming.
So, what do you use and why?
Technorati Tags: blackberry, iphone, nokia, smartphone
9 Comments
I moved from berry to iPhone a few months ago. It is a pretty spectacular device that shows where mobile web experiences are heading. You get used to the keyboard.
The apps, interface and multimedia capabilities are awesome. It’s a small thing, but using a free app called airme, I can snap a pic, upload it to Flickr or facebook automatically and it’s tagged with gps info. I can also access my entire Flickr photo collection with another app called exposure.
And actually being able to make decent us of qr codes due to a real web browser may see that technology become more useful.
As a tech watcher, you’ll marvel at the possibilities that the iPhone and its ilk will open up in the future.
I use Nokia E60+Nokia N810.
E60 is old purchase and I tried to go for ultimate smartphone at that time. Later I came to conclusion that screen size is so important to me that smartphones simply can’t deliver that and recently got N810 tablet.
Now tablet handles web-browsing and audio/video, phone handles calls. Split setup also means I don’t have to drag tablet around when I don’t need it and next time I buy phone I won’t be limited to smartphones only.
I’ve recently asked the same question over at my blog and decided to go ahead and make the move to an iPhone. So many people I’ve talked to that have one just rave about how fun the phone is to use and that’s the very reason I’m changing.
I’ve had smartphones, pda’s and regular cells and well they just do what they do and most of them do it well, but I could never say they were “fun”. The older I get the more fun I want out of things.. does that make sense?
Good luck in your decision.
I’m going to throw another phone into the works – the G1 from T-Mobile. It made a lot of sense for me as my calendar and email are all using Google Apps. It just took a little while to put my contacts into gmail, but then as soon as I turned on my phone, they were all there.
The only problem that I have is the battery life. But I can get over that.
If you want a “fun” phone – go with the iPhone. If you want a productivity tool, go with a BlackBerry. Different strokes for different folks. I use my phone primarily as a business device but also do “fun” every so often – like GPS, IM, RSS, MP3s, and Facebook. For me, the BlackBerry Bold is perfect. Physical keyboard with a drop-dead gorgeous screen.
It’s not about the hardware, it’s about the software.
For me, the iPhone UI and apps trump my old Blackberry, along with every other smartphone I’ve tried. The keyboard on the iPhone takes some getting used to (for Blackberry users), but once you acclimate it’s perfectly usable.
The iPhone might not be right for you though – take a look at what you want to *do* with your phone (aside from making calls – they all do that pretty well), and then check out the available apps for each platform. That’ll decide the phone platform.
I’m a former iPhone user (pre-3g) and got rid of it 3 months after having it. I was not satisfied with the EDGE speed. It was driving me insane. I converted to a Blackberry Curve on Verizon’s network and wow. what a difference. I don’t care too much for the gaming and “fun factor” of a phone. I want it to make calls and remind me that I have dinner plans and an upcoming birthday and to have all my emails at my fingertips. These are the factors that the Curve has fulfilled. Love it.
Like Quinton says “fun” = iPhone. Get stuff done = “blackberry”.
Different strokes for different folks
Thanks so much for initiating this discussion Mark. I’ve been going back-and-forth on this issue and even had the staff of a Rogers store debating the iPhone/BB issue. I eventually went with the BB Curve because of: price, keyboard usability, application functionality (was told the iPhone won’t let you run more than one app at a time), and some other issues I can’t recall right now (due to Christmas Day haze).
My BB had a sudden fatal meltdown yesterday, just two months after I bought it, so I find myself starting to consider what I’ll do if the repair folks at BB say it’s toast and I have to get another one (if it’s not an issue they’ll resolve). I’m wondering if the BB Storm will be the mid-way point between the iPhone and BB and give me both fun and functionality. Anyone have any inside poop on the Storm and its comparison with the iPhone?
Apple has successful products like the iPhone because the products are hip, edgy and sleek. You must realize that. The iPhone is not about getting things done, it's a status symbol.
The blackberry on the other is a utility. It's not particularly appealing. However, for doing work, it's the right tool.
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