Blackberry question

[TOBTEK]

never have had one or touched one...
ARE they worth having?
easy to access Emails?
Internet access decent?
what model to get?
Want a I-phone, but the battery issues scare me away from I-Issues.
Thanks

[riverbound]

depends on what you are going to use it for. I have the Pocket Pc. and will be going to a Blackberry ASAP. The email on a BB is way faster than all the others. the internet and bells and whistles of the BBs is not as good as the others though.

[Havasu Hangin']

never have had one or touched one...
ARE they worth having?
easy to access Emails?
Internet access decent?
what model to get?
Want a I-phone, but the battery issues scare me away from I-Issues.
Thanks
I have a Sprint World Edition Blackberry- works great.
Easy access to personal e-mail accounts, but you need an Enterprise activation for work stuff...or it's clunky.
Sprint uses high-speed internet- much better than the (slightly better than) dial-up speeds I had with Cingular on my last one.
Mine even has MP3 player, movie player, and GPS maps with realtime navigation built in.

[squirt'nmyload]

my gf has the blackberry pearl. she hated it for a day or so but now says she loves it, although she doesn't really use it for email...mostly internet and playing games. imo the keys suck for typing. I have a moto-Q and for what I use it for it is perfect. I have all email accounts linked to it and mostly use the planner..... individual keys and a big screen....perfect for mobile ***boat :D :D the one thing I don't like about it(moto-Q), is that I can't send picture texts, can only send pics in email. :)

[AZJD]

I have a blackberry and like it. Make sure you get the newer versions that are less grage door opener'ish!:D

[XtrmWakeborder]

I got a blackberry for work and I like it alot. If you have big fingers emailing might take a while to get use too though. The damn buttons are small.

[Havasu Hangin']

IMO...the best thing about the Blackberry Enterprise is not the e-mails...
...it's the realtime synching with Outlook. I make a change in my Calendar on my Desktop, and it appears seconds later on my Blackberry. The address book also synchs realtime- no more uploading phone numbers- ever.

[mbrown2]

Have tried them all....Pearl, 8700, 8800, Curve....BB is much better then any Pocket PC or Palm based device...better syncronization capabilities. Personally I like the Curve the best....best formfactor...small but with full keyboard....if you want smaller then the Pearl with the smarttype keyboard..
I use Cingular cause it comes in at Parker...coverage is great most places..
You can easily sync with your email...also Intenet is pretty good with the new higher speed WWan connectivity options..

[AZJD]

You don't need enterprise software for email. Blackberry is supported by Gmail, Gmail Mobile (http://www.google.com/mobile/mail/index.html). Sign up for a gmail account. Gmail can now retrieve any IMAP or POP3 email account(s) along with your Gmail account. Personally, I use my Gmail account to retrieve three other POP3 accounts from two websites I own, couldn't be easier. The beauty of web based email is that no matter where you check your mail, send from, delete from, the account is always in sync up to the second.
Wow, 12k posts! And it was an informative post at that!!:D

[Jyruiz]

I have the 8830 world through Verizon, and it is pretty good. Going thru an Enterprise server is the way to go if you want to sync your contacts and calender, but I also use it to retreive my Yahoo mail. You can setup upto 10 e-mail accounts, you just type in the e-mail addy and password and you are all set. I prefer to use Yahoo mobile though for my Yahoo e-mails. If I had to pay for it though, I would go with something with a camera, that is the only thing I don't like about the BB.

[mbrown2]

I have the 8830 world through Verizon, and it is pretty good. Going thru an Enterprise server is the way to go if you want to sync your contacts and calender, but I also use it to retreive my Yahoo mail. You can setup upto 10 e-mail accounts, you just type in the e-mail addy and password and you are all set. I prefer to use Yahoo mobile though for my Yahoo e-mails. If I had to pay for it though, I would go with something with a camera, that is the only thing I don't like about the BB.
The Pearl has a camera and audio...just no video camera...

[Jyruiz]

The Pearl has a camera and audio...just no video camera...
I know, but my work went thru Verizon, and I don't think they have The Pearl.

[riverbound]

I know, but my work went thru Verizon, and I don't think they have The Pearl.
they will have one shortly.

[Caribbean Jet]

I have the Sprint World phone and love it. To access my work email and my personal email is quit easy. My office is giving the I phone away, but most people love the internet options but HATE the phone features. Most are selling them as they get them...

[JetBoatRich]

never have had one or touched one...
ARE they worth having?
Thanks
Necessary evial at work:eek:

[IN2-IN2MX]

Had the iphone but returned it a week later because I couldn't text message quickly enough. Got the Curve and only paid a third of what the iphone cost me. It's been about 6 weeks and I love it. It's easy to use, full keyboard and great for texting, internet service rocks (through Cingular), great for personal emailing and surfing the web when I'm bored. Mike has the Palm and likes my Curve much better.

[25Elmn8r]

I have the 8830 world through Verizon, and it is pretty good. Going thru an Enterprise server is the way to go if you want to sync your contacts and calender, but I also use it to retreive my Yahoo mail. You can setup upto 10 e-mail accounts, you just type in the e-mail addy and password and you are all set. I prefer to use Yahoo mobile though for my Yahoo e-mails. If I had to pay for it though, I would go with something with a camera, that is the only thing I don't like about the BB.
Ditto for me! If it only had a camera it would be perfect.

[BajaMike]

IMO...the best thing about the Blackberry Enterprise is not the e-mails...
...it's the realtime synching with Outlook. I make a change in my Calendar on my Desktop, and it appears seconds later on my Blackberry. The address book also synchs realtime- no more uploading phone numbers- ever.
You need to have a company Exchange Server and Blackberry Server for those features to work......If you have that....they are great!
:idea:

[Havasu Hangin']

You need to have a company Exchange Server and Blackberry Server for those features to work......If you have that....they are great!
:idea:
They give it to you if you have 10, or $4K.
Otherwise, you gotta sync with the cable.

[riverbound]

You need to have a company Exchange Server and Blackberry Server for those features to work......If you have that....they are great!
:idea:
i an do the same with my pocket PC and treo through our co. exchange server. In all reality I love it becuase no matter where I am or where I put a number into, it all syncs up. laptop, phone, internet email client, office.

[reDECKulous]

I've had every phone you can imagine... Blackberry is hand down the best phone. I have two different emails set up on the phone and it works like a charm. Can't even compare the Treo's to it.

[WestTNRiverRat]

Love my CrackBerry. :D Lets me work from anywhere. During the summer I rarely ever leave the river house, might actually go into work one day a week for some stupid ass meeting. Don't know how I ever lived without it.

[duffster]

never have had one or touched one...
ARE they worth having?
easy to access Emails?
Internet access decent?
what model to get?
Want a I-phone, but the battery issues scare me away from I-Issues.
Thanks
I'm on one right now responding. I think for business the Blackberry 8830 is the best phone and I have used them all. Treo and PocKet-PC suck only get one of those if you like rebooting your phone every day and missing calls. Just make sure your office has a Blackberry server installed to push your email.

[TOBTEK]

thanks everyone for all your input. I'm tech challenged. :( :D

[TOBTEK]

I'm on one right now responding. I think for business the Blackberry 8830 is the best phone and I have used them all. Treo and PocKet-PC suck only get one of those if you like rebooting your phone every day and missing calls. Just make sure your office has a Blackberry server installed to push your email.
??? whys that, Cant I run the mails back through my Yahoo account? Plus if im in the office, id be using the decktop computer.

[Jyruiz]

Ditto for me! If it only had a camera it would be perfect.
I can't complain too much, the company is footing the bill.:D

[Jyruiz]

??? whys that, Cant I run the mails back through my Yahoo account? Plus if im in the office, id be using the decktop computer.
Yes you can, also, you can install the BB software and run the desktop redirector for your company e-mails, but you will have to leave your desktop on while away.

[TOBTEK]

by the way....Verizon is my current carrier. With my current contract, I can get a new BB for about 49 dollars. Thats for the model right below the world model. Is the World that much better???

[TOBTEK]

Yes you can, also, you can install the BB software and run the desktop redirector for your company e-mails, but you will have to leave your desktop on while away.
interesting...... if you do this redirect, will all the company email come to the BB and NOT the normal desktop?? OR if redirect software isn't installed, and up to 10 email accounts are std with the BB, wouldn't the emails appear on both devises?? I only have three email accounts.

[Jyruiz]

interesting...... if you do this redirect, will all the company email come to the BB and NOT the normal desktop?? OR if redirect software isn't installed, and up to 10 email accounts are std with the BB, wouldn't the emails appear on both devises?? I only have three email accounts.
It would go to both, and then on the BB you can tell it to delete from both or one or the other.

[TOBTEK]

It would go to both, and then on the BB you can tell it to delete from both or one or the other.
ahhhhhh, gotga. If you use the BB for all your email use, is it expensive?? or is the 40 whatever a month all inclusive? Also, cant you use the BB as your internet card for the laptop if im out in the field?

[Jyruiz]

ahhhhhh, gotga. If you use the BB for all your email use, is it expensive?? or is the 40 whatever a month all inclusive? Also, cant you use the BB as your internet card for the laptop if im out in the field?
I could not tell you what the cost is, my company foots the bill and I never see it. You can use the BB as a modem, but it is not very fast.

[duffster]

??? whys that, Cant I run the mails back through my Yahoo account? Plus if im in the office, id be using the decktop computer.
Yes Yahoo or Gmail accounts work. I just use it for my work Outlook account and it gives me a ton of freedom being able receive and send from wherever.

[Angie]

I luv my BB Pearl.
Simple to use / navigate.
Has real-time synching.
Small enough to carry, yet screen is just big enough to view Internet, pix, & messages.
Note that buttons might be too small for those with large fingertips.
My unlimited data plan is $55 (company pays) with AT&T, which is probably pricey, but I keep this carrier since I receive coverage in tons of places and in some areas where Verizon doesn't.

[riverracerx]

I have a Disney issued Blackberry. For a corporate environment it is great. Syncs with outlook perfectly for my email and my calendar. As a phone it sucks ass!
My wife has an iPhone for personal use. For Yahoo, Gmail, other personal email accounts it rocks. As a phone it works flawlessly.
Disney is looking into giving us the option for either one...
If you are a small business I would go iPhone. If you are corporate: Blackberry.

[TOBTEK]

I have a Disney issued Blackberry. For a corporate environment it is great. Syncs with outlook perfectly for my email and my calendar. As a phone it sucks ass!
My wife has an iPhone for personal use. For Yahoo, Gmail, other personal email accounts it rocks. As a phone it works flawlessly.
Disney is looking into giving us the option for either one...
If you are a small business I would go iPhone. If you are corporate: Blackberry.
I would do a I-phone in a heart beat.... BUT the battery issues scares me! Heard that they will die after 350+ charges, then you have to send it back to the factory for battery replacement. $120.00 battery plus labor and shipping, AND down time...cant be without a business phone.

[Jyruiz]

I would do a I-phone in a heart beat.... BUT the battery issues scares me! Heard that they will die after 350+ charges, then you have to send it back to the factory for battery replacement. $120.00 battery plus labor and shipping, AND down time...cant be without a business phone.
Thats 350 cycles, meaning that you would have to drain it all the way down 350 times and charge it back up 350 times. If you charge it before the battery dies, then that does not count as a cycle.

[riverracerx]

My iPod battery has not died yet after 4 years.

[ChumpChange]

IMO...the best thing about the Blackberry Enterprise is not the e-mails...
...it's the realtime synching with Outlook. I make a change in my Calendar on my Desktop, and it appears seconds later on my Blackberry. The address book also synchs realtime- no more uploading phone numbers- ever.
Agreed. It's awesome for work.
thanks everyone for all your input. I'm tech challenged. :( :D
Same here. I had to adapt to the BB when I started my new job three months ago. It is not that bad to learn and once you get it, you'll love it. If you think you're more tech challenged than me, I didn't even have the internet in my house until a couple months ago. Technology sucks.
I'm on one right now responding. I think for business the Blackberry 8830 is the best phone and I have used them all. Treo and PocKet-PC suck only get one of those if you like rebooting your phone every day and missing calls. Just make sure your office has a Blackberry server installed to push your email.
Have you found a way to make it format better to this site? I have the 8700 and this site is hard to navigate with it.
I can't complain too much, the company is footing the bill.:D
Bingo. The best way to have it. :D

[BoatFloating]

I have a Sprint World Edition Blackberry- works great.
Easy access to personal e-mail accounts, but you need an Enterprise activation for work stuff...or it's clunky.
Sprint uses high-speed internet- much better than the (slightly better than) dial-up speeds I had with Cingular on my last one.
Mine even has MP3 player, movie player, and GPS maps with realtime navigation built in.
Look at Bill Fing Gates......:D

[essexjet]

Toby + Blackberry = trouble (why too complicated for you Toby :D )
Keep to what you works for you:
http://www.techcrunch.com/wp-content/oldphones.png

[HemiDude]

Not one mention of the Palm Treo.....???
I have had both, and the Palm Treo 700 thru Verizon, I think is the way to go. Great phone, emails, internet and camera. Also have my outlook sync to my computer and contacts. It does everything you would expect and more user friendly.
Most of the executives in my company have switched from Blackberry to the Treo.
Just my 2 coppers....
:idea:

[Jyruiz]

Not one mention of the Palm Treo.....???
I have had both, and the Palm Treo 700 thru Verizon, I think is the way to go. Great phone, emails, internet and camera. Also have my outlook sync to my computer and contacts. It does everything you would expect and more user friendly.
Most of the executives in my company have switched from Blackberry to the Treo.
Just my 2 coppers....
:idea:
Goes to show you that is is a preference thing, here we have moved the VP's from Treos to BB, they like the BBs better.

[duffster]

Have you found a way to make it format better to this site? I have the 8700 and this site is hard to navigate with it.
Yes get a 8830 I had a 8700 and they suck. I'm able to totally keep up on this site when on the road.

[ekbearly]

curve is the best

[Mrs. 33]

My husband and I both have the BB with sprint. The pearl will be out with sprint in march however- the nextel version is suppose to be out this time next year sprint network with nextel walkie talkie (blackberry). So we will convert to that..For now we really like what we have and We have both emails accounts on one phone.:)