Getting Blackberry, need criticism/praise on it, I have questions too

kathos

So I'm getting a Blackberry Bold from a friend of mine, i'ts almost brand spanking new and he has that Nokia smartphone so he's staying on that.

I use a Samsung Jack II, the POS that lags when I type and turns off when I press "Hang Up" for more than half a second (or press it). Without making a whole story about it; the Jack II SUCKS. But what options did I have right? I'm with Fido (Canada), the WORST in handset selection in the country next to the pre-paid guys and Koodo (another CND company).

I've only been hearing good thing about Blackberries, normally I wouldn't get one because I do basic texting and phone calls but the Bold seems like a good jump from the shit I carry now (its only redeeming feature being the Napoleon Stromtrooper sticket I put on the back), but I'm getting one for so cheap that really, it's like buying a DS with a bunch of games.

But does anyone have any criticism or praise for Blackberries?

And is it true that I can send free text/pic message/vid message to any other Blackberry?

What makes Blackberries so popular? Smartphones are cool and all I'm only getting it 'cause I need QWERTY keyboards.

Unlocking it is a simple task for Blackberries I'm told, do they have a chance or bricking at all or does someone have something to say about this? (for me Fido won't let me use Blackberries on their network so I gotta unlock one) Does unlocking a Blackberry negate the free-vid/txt-message-to-all-Blackberries feature?

thej3w

I've recently got a bold from work and I've been using it a lot lately. I had been using an iPhone for my main phone before this. I still use the iPhone and will usually have both on me and choose the best one for the job when needed.

Anyways, with the Bold it's a pretty cool blackberry. My friend has an 8820 and while similar to the bold it's got a few less things and is bigger. I wouldn't trade my iPhone for the 8820 but might for the bold.

Unlocking them isn't that bad, I had to do it to my friends. However, he doesn't seem to be able to get the blackberry messenger software on it. So I would guess unlocking it doesn't allow you to have that, but I'm not really sure if that is true or if he just doesn't have the correct plan. EDIT (Just looked this up, he needs to install the correct version and he should be all set.)

Doc

I have a Nokia E71 that my company gave me and it's hands-down the best smartphone I've ever used. The problem is that you usually have to pay full price for them.

Zyre

I bought a Blackberry 8320 Curve this past summer. Best phone I've ever had. It's almost, almost like a laptop but in phone form. I use it for everything, I just wish it could browse the internet faster. It's got apps and services for everything you could need/want. The new ones I've seen ads for is the Storm, the first Blackberry with a touch screen. I would probably recommend that as well as the Curve.

Post Blue

Whatever you do, don't get the Storm.

Creepy

If you're going to get a Blackberry get one with a keyboard. We got a demo Storm in a few weeks ago for the execs to try and it leaves a lot to be desired. I think their business model is "It sort of looks like an iPhone".

Sending/Receiving pics and video will depend on your carrier I think. I know our Blackberries can do SMS but not MMS on Verizon. When someone else with a Verizon camera phone sends one of our Blackberry users a picture they are directed to go to one of Verizon's websites to view it. There's no actual attachment. Could be that's just a verizon thing.

That said, we've had pretty good luck with the 8830s and no complaints from the couple of people who have the 8300s.

Thomamelas

Creepy wrote: »

If you're going to get a Blackberry get one with a keyboard. We got a demo Storm in a few weeks ago for the execs to try and it leaves a lot to be desired. I think their business model is "It sort of looks like an iPhone".

Sending/Receiving pics and video will depend on your carrier I think. I know our Blackberries can do SMS but not MMS on Verizon. When someone else with a Verizon camera phone sends one of our Blackberry users a picture they are directed to go to one of Verizon's websites to view it. There's no actual attachment. Could be that's just a verizon thing.

That said, we've had pretty good luck with the 8830s and no complaints from the couple of people who have the 8300s.

It's just a Verizon thing. I have a blackberry and AT&T and I can send MMS messages and get them without any issues.

Matthasnopants

Thomamelas wrote: »

Creepy wrote: »

If you're going to get a Blackberry get one with a keyboard. We got a demo Storm in a few weeks ago for the execs to try and it leaves a lot to be desired. I think their business model is "It sort of looks like an iPhone".

Sending/Receiving pics and video will depend on your carrier I think. I know our Blackberries can do SMS but not MMS on Verizon. When someone else with a Verizon camera phone sends one of our Blackberry users a picture they are directed to go to one of Verizon's websites to view it. There's no actual attachment. Could be that's just a verizon thing.

That said, we've had pretty good luck with the 8830s and no complaints from the couple of people who have the 8300s.

It's just a Verizon thing. I have a blackberry and AT&T and I can send MMS messages and get them without any issues.

I have a Curve on Verizon and get MMS messages just fine most of the time. There are a few people where if I get an MMS from them I have to check it online but usually it goes right through to my handset.

Elrosst

Blackberry Messenger allows you to send free text messages and multi-media messages to other blackberry users, via your data plan, assuming you will have unlimited data. Not sure if unlocking it will affect that.

I've had the pearl for a brief period, and the curve for a long time, and I love it. Highly recommend.

Why not just try calling your provider and asking them? It cant hurt, especially if you dont give them your account info.

wunderbar

Elrosst wrote: »

Blackberry Messenger allows you to send free text messages and multi-media messages to other blackberry users, via your data plan, assuming you will have unlimited data. Not sure if unlocking it will affect that.

I've had the pearl for a brief period, and the curve for a long time, and I love it. Highly recommend.

Why not just try calling your provider and asking them? It cant hurt, especially if you dont give them your account info.

Actually, Blackberry messenger is a Blackberry specific IM application. It only works between blackberries. IT's good in corporate enviornments, if a lot of your friends have Blackberries, or if you manage blackberries and maintain a network of other people that also manage blackberries.

darthmix

I picked a Curve 8900 last month. FWIW it's easily the best phone I've ever had, but it's also my first smartphone ever so I have no real standard of comparison. Whenever I play around with it it becomes clear that I haven't even begun to tap all its various features.

jthm

www.crackberry.com

go there, check out the forums - decide for yourself.

I picked up a Storm a few weeks back with the option to trade it within 30 days if I wasn't happy with it. Initially I was a bit aggravated with the speed of operation (lag, long load times etc) but after being directed to that site by a friendly guy in the LnR department of Telus, I couldn't be happier with it. That site offers links to leaked beta OS's, and many tips/tweaks/tricks for your phone. After a few alterations to the software on my phone, it really changed it from "meh" to wow. Anyone who openly knocks the storm hasn't used one that's been tweaked.

I'm not sure what your phone plan is like, but also check out howardforums.com for information on getting the most for your buck from your cell provider. After being quoted 114$ a month for the packages I wanted in store, I managed to negotiate the exact same features for 57$ a month by dealing with LnR (Loyalty and Retention) at Telus.

Crashtard

I've had a blackberry pearl for about 14 months, and 7 replacements later I still have the fuck out of it. I definitely would not get another pearl, and at this point probably would not get another blackberry period. It's all about personal experience though, and mine's just been real bad.

illig

Crashtard wrote: »

I've had a blackberry pearl for about 14 months, and 7 replacements later I still have the fuck out of it. I definitely would not get another pearl, and at this point probably would not get another blackberry period. It's all about personal experience though, and mine's just been real bad.

SEVEN replacements? WTF do you do to your pearl?

Post Blue

jthm wrote: »

Anyone who openly knocks the storm hasn't used one that's been tweaked.

Fair enough. I openly knocked the Storm, and, yes, I haven't tweaked it. I understand that Crackberry can supply plenty of tweaking options to improve my experience, but utilizing those options requires time I'm not willing to waste and futzing techniques I don't care to learn. I shouldn't have to. Each Storm I've had has been plagued with problems. The operating system can't handle its own functions, the accelerometer is terrible, multi-tasking kills performance, the camera is an absolutely worthless piece of shit (we're talking 35 seconds from a recognized photo opportunity to an actual snapped image (if the damn thing doesn't seize up from overexertion); input lag makes it unusable at times, the app store is a joke, media, if it plays at all, doesn't work consistently or keep track of your progress, most of the time the phone doesn't even recognize the format of videos it's taken with its own camera; it takes a month to power up or shut down, I have to remove and re-insert the battery several times a day simply because I need to make a phone call and I don't have the time to sit around and see if it can spaz out long enough to reawaken into functional form. My first one did all of this, my second one does it, and both of my friends who own them have all of the same problems. The single legit update didn't make any significant improvements.

In its current state, as the provider and manufacturer intend for me to experience it, the Storm is the worst electronic device I've ever used.