Posted by Mr Miyagi
As the title says people. I like the new blackberry pearl but should I actually get one?
Is it a mainly business type device where as the main purpose of using it is only for emails or Is it more than an email only device? How easy it it to get used to the keypad? Please note this is coming from someone who will be new to blsckbrrrys and from someone who has always had a nokia and recently an iPhone. Are there many applications u can install on a blackberry like u can on a symbian device? What's the battery life like and is it prone to crashes etc? All advice would be great if anyone can answer them as well as the pro's and con's of having a blackberry.
Thanks in advance
Posted by fatreg
simple answer is Yes get one.
more detailed answer to follow
Posted by haynesycop
Yeah i should never have sold mine, im a tool!
Posted by zootzoot
Yes get one.... you'll be hooked....
Ps: reg i wont your pearl 8120.... or curve....
Posted by fatreg
On 2007-11-24 22:40:46, zootzoot wrote:
Yes get one.... you'll be hooked....
exactly! I've had BB for the last year and I'm now on my 5th BB with no interest of going else where...
Posted by fatreg
On 2007-11-24 22:33:57, Mr Miyagi wrote:
1)I like the new blackberry pearl but should I actually get one?
2)Is it a mainly business type device where as the main purpose of using it is only for emails or Is it more than an email only device?
3)How easy it it to get used to the keypad?
4)Are there many applications u can install on a blackberry like u can on a symbian device?
5)What's the battery life like and is it prone to crashes etc?
1) Yes! I've got an 8120
2) it's amazing at emails but it's more than that, PIN messaging, BB messenger, and a phone that just works! it's brill
3) I picked up my 8120 at 1830 last night and I'm used to suretype already, If I were you I would either get a Curve with fully qwerty or just get an 8120 and get used to suretype, suretype seems to get used to how you type.
4) lots of apps, what do you want on your BB?
5) well my 8120 has been on wifi all day and I've got half left.. never crashes, well unless you hammer it
Posted by Mr Miyagi
thanks for replys so far guys but what would I end up missing from like me n73 if I go for the blackberry? I mean I do use the music funtion on me phone camera etc even though the blackberry has a 2 mega pixel camera that don't bother me but would u feel der is something about the blackbery that would help me overcome things that I may been used to on me nokia? That would make me say"I can't believe I never came across the blackberry earlier"?
At reg il compile more questions tommorow thanks for reply so far but me calling it a night for now
[ This Message was edited by: mr miyagi on 2007-11-24 22:01 ]
Posted by 5nak3
could i ask what the business capabilities of a blackberry actually include, i am at a loss over these devices to be fair. I cant understand their use. To me it sems as if they are a simple device to keep track of your emails anywhere you go which is fine.
But do they offer any other office feature e.g. allowing you do edit office documents such as WM or Symbian devices?
Do they actually have any multimedia features such as other handsets?
I just cant get my head around the idea of this device, so if anyone can help that would be great.
Posted by fatreg
Before I had my BB 7290 I used a Vertu Ascent, got my 7290 and I've not used another device since well except BB.
Music function is cool, cam isn't brill, it's the little things that make the difference, like on a Curve you can press K and it will lock the keys, threaded messages like on the iPhone, but as I said Bb messenger is what I couldn't live without, there's only a few peeps that have BBs so only a few that have messenger but it is essentially MSN for BBs, and it's free to use just comes out of your data bundle, but if you want MSN etc, you need jivetalk, it's the only piece of SW I've ever paid for. $30 gets you a license you can use on any BB. So I bought it for my 8700, moved it to the 8800, the Curve now pearl 2.
But a proper address book, to do list, calender etc..
it just works!
in other words, just get one!
Posted by jcwhite_uk
I have been trialling blackberrys at work and am very impressed. As we are using it mainly for emalling I dont like the pearl as typing is a bit slower compared to the 8800 which i have been using. I would recommend them.
Posted by masseur
so my question here would be why choose a blackberry device over, say, the P1?
Posted by NightBlade
Ditto. I mean, it doesn't even have a touchscreen!
Posted by fatreg
Until you've used one it's hard to explain but nanu was a devout SE fan boy until I convinced him to get an 8700, he's now on a Curve and thinks it's the best thing since sliced bread.
I was in the same boat, I had had a P990i up until I got my 7290 and it was like stepping back in time to a phone with no cam, no wifi etc but you just get used to it.
I did have push email set up on an E70 for about 30 mins but it just wasn't a BB so went back, like macs are easy to use and intuitive, the same can be said about BB and they just seem to work, only downside to the curve is you can't change the mem card without taking the battery out...
Posted by fatreg
On 2007-11-24 23:16:12, NightBlade wrote:
Ditto. I mean, it doesn't even have a touchscreen!
you don't need one, trackball is much much better
Posted by NightBlade
But touchscreen is fancier. And more fun. And you can write with it and select on-screen. More.. interactive.
And besides, all P series phones have trackballs, too.
Posted by masseur
my point is that my understanding of blackberry is that its all about push email
on many devices for the last 2-3 years I have had auto email delivery on my phones set to 10 minute intervals without the need of a blackberry service, and I don't think I have never received an email that required more urgent attention than 10 minutes
so... what do I get in a blackberry that I can't get in a P1 or TyTN II and what am I missing in these devices that I can get in a blackberry?
these really are serious questions because I have just never understood the fascination and additiction of blackberry devices
Posted by fatreg
BB messenger, PIN messaging are what you can't get on a normal phone, and while they are only good for use with others with BBs
Since having a BB I know use email more like text and send god knows how many emails a day now.
I'll wait for tbag to appear as I can't really explain it, all I know is I'm not sure I could use a normal phone anymore.
Posted by NightBlade
On 2007-11-24 23:30:03, masseur wrote:
these really are serious questions because I have just never understood the fascination and additiction of blackberry devices
Me neither.
Posted by masseur
sorry, I'm still none the wiser. BB messenger? pin messaging?
I almost never text unless in response to a text sent to me but I email more than I care to admit and can't imagine needing more to do that than I already have.
Of course, ignorance may be causing me to miss out here hence my questions
Posted by NightBlade
On a side note:
A classmate of mine told me a really neat way of BT messaging. No additional apps, no ..other stuff. Just pure note-sendin' over Bluetooth.
Works like a charm in class.
[ This Message was edited by: NightBlade on 2007-11-24 22:42 ]
Posted by Nanu
On 2007-11-24 23:27:43, RightSpade wrote:
But touchscreen is fancier. And more fun. And you can write with it and select on-screen. More.. interactive.
And besides, all P series phones have trackballs, too.
With a BB you don't need to pull out a stylus to write on screen you just type at amazing speeds with your thumbs on the full qwerty! with a BB you dont need to select on screen to open an app you just press the corresponding key! N = BB messenger, M= Messages, L=calendar, C=compose, U=Calculator, B=Browser K=keylock etc etc etc
Then you can assign speed dial to all of the letters not just 1-9 but a-z with the exception of W/1 which is for Voice mail, so for instance i press M i get messages I press and hold M I speed dial Masseur
And besides I have owned/still own every P series bar the P1i and none of them AFAIK have a track ball unless I missed a trick?? and don't go there with the jogdial it isn't a patch on the trackball especially since we lost the 5-way!
@ Masseur,
Each BB has its own pin number which is used to send pin messages which are similar to text/email and also BB messenger which is BB's own MSN for BB users and both use data from your BB plan.
Sure I still Love my P990 and the camera may be better and it may well have a touch screen and wifi, also a full qwerty and 3g but I am still drawn to the curve, It's different it's complicated at first yet so simple after an hour's use!
To be honest Masseur, you'll never know what you are missing until you try a BB and no one will ever be able to put down in words why you need one, all I can suggest is to try one! T-mob will add BB to your just sim for £10/month and you can cancel at any time! and you seem to be the type of person to try different devices so I am surprised you haven't already!
@ Mr Miyagi
How rude of me not to answer your question when it is your thread!
YES get one!
I have transferred tracks to both my N95 and Curve and to be honest I find the Media Player on the Curve to be a better player!
Also videos are handled very well on the curve too! though I cant speak for the Pearl as I don't own one!
_________________
+11 A-Z +276 eBay.
I
My New Curve!!
[ This Message was edited by: Nanu on 2007-11-24 23:16 ]
Posted by Nanu
I Do apologise, My mistake upon closer inspection it appears my P990 does have a trackball I have simply failed to notice it!
I will check the others in the morning!
Posted by 5nak3
I feel i am in the same boat as Mass on this one, really dont know the addiction to the BB, while i understand it may be a case of playing with one to understand one, there is one major point which no one has addressed which still bugs me.
All these BB to BB features are fine and dandy, but i cannot see how anyone needs email getting streamed to them all the time on the fly. As Mass said automated email updating is fine, in fact that is how i use many of my pop3 accounts, every 5min they update, if people want me and it is so urgent i have a phone number for a reason.
So if email on the go is not the issue here as it can never be THAT important otherwise, if it was a life or death situation people would ring you. My confusion sets in because no one has actually mentioned the office application integration of the BB. I for one, ever since getting the P1, feel as if i dont need to be at the PC to do my work, quickoffice has aided me a lot. My morning commute allows me to get some basic emails sent off, check for any emails, and also get started on the days work.
Get to work, simple transfer from phone to PC and off i go again no time lost. On the way home same story, or i play a few games, whatever.
The BB from what i understand does not have an office suite, so surely this is counterproductive.
Multimedia i personally dont care about, yes it is "cool" to have all the latest gadgets and gizmos and yes the odd music track when shaving or the odd game on the throne...is fine. But lets be honest, i have a slim digi cam for a reason, i have an mp3 player for a reason, i have certain games consoles for a reason, and then the P1 just brings them all together but that is not the reason for the P1. My reason for the P1 was to have an office on the move, the ability to access email if i need to, and a means to let others know if i will be late, what plans i have for tonight etc (through the phone features of the device)
The BB as far as i can tell is a device which provides a mix of the multimedia and phone and email but being marketed as an office device fails to provide any office solution...please tell me i have the wrong end of the stick here, because i just cant understand why people would need what the BB offers and why no other device on the market can satisfy this need.
[ This Message was edited by: 5nak3 on 2007-11-25 00:01 ]
Posted by Nanu
See the thing is people will go and buy a WM device and they'll go and buy a Symbian device with no specific need to buy it, yet because the BB does a specific job well and is catching up on the others it becomes somewhat of a taboo!
Whilst the office apps preloaded on the phone aren't the greatest, as we speak the very same apps available to the symbian and windows mobile market are being developed ready for release very soon if they haven't already.
As I said in my previous post, no one will ever put down in words why you need a BB, it is just yet another alternative.
And a damn fine one at that!
Posted by 5nak3
From a personal point of view when it came to buying a new phone i knew what i needed, i wasn't bothered about multimedia but the more multimedia functions it had the better. I've always looked at the phone as being phone first, other device second. While in this day and age with the phones coming out of production lines this is a dated view i think it still holds true because if i want a camera i dont buy the n95, i buy a real camera.
In my case my specifics (while i'm sure i had more the big ones that needed ticks) were, it has to have a qwerty keyboard, it had to have office software (on it, or easily available), it had to fit in my pocket without too much commotion.
Now when i went to the store this little list ruled out many phones while i liked the look of the XDAs they were a bit too fat for my liking, and Windows Mobile was something i was willing to accept and use, i decided against the XDA's based on their thickness. So it came down to the e65 (which was ruled out quickly due to lack of qwerty), BB curve the silver one (think that is the right name) or the P1
I settled for the P1, never owning an SE before, because out of the 3 it was the one that ticked the boxes, the BB does not offer the office on the move out of the box and also i didn't really know anything about the BB's just knew them as email devices with a phone tagged on the end, and while it may be an excellent phone the sheer fact it failed to offer what i consider a very basic essential for office users made me choose against it.
Now it must be said that my choice was not based on any hands on with any phone in store. It was simply looking at the feature list for the phones and looking at my requirements. Sure i didn't look into the applications available for the BB or the coming applications, but i think until it actually gets to a stage where it (the BB) can compete with the others not in terms of multimedia but simply as an office device, i will sacrifice email on the fly, for a more well rounded device in my eyes, which is better suited to my needs.
Again for users who multimedia is all the rage and want the best camera or walkman or whatever on their phone, the BB is not an option at all, for those who want an office device again i struggle to see the BB being the device of choice. Until it breaks from the current mould and starts to fight the competition with a more robust office package afterall they are not marketed at teenagers but rather the professional, i think the BB will not do as well as it can.
If Nanu as you say the BB has programs coming out which will offer the same functionality as WM or symbian devices, they who knows my next device could very well be a BB.
[ This Message was edited by: 5nak3 on 2007-11-25 00:46 ]
Posted by Nanu
I was the same for many years! I didn't get the whole BB thing until earlier this year I went for BB connect on the E61 and then onto a BB 8700.
RIM really are coming on leaps and bounds with their devices now in both Office and Media.
So it shouldn't be long before proper office functionality comes as standard and I wouldn't be surprised if it comes in an update from RIM in the meanwhile!
Posted by *Jojo*
I'm planning to GET one of these SOMEDAY . . . but NOW . . . not YET !
Posted by jortiz1200
the other day i was at my local mobile provider and the sales man was showing me his bb pearl and i must say the sure type was very cool and in all black looks the buisiness, but when it comes down to it i just dont get it,the trackball is nice its a simple interface,but then again so is a m600i or an e61i and you get much more flexibility out of the two symbian devices ive mentioned.plus bb email. i use activesync,used to just use the built in pop3,but enjoy my calendar and contacts and email instantly synced to outlook. does bb email sync cal/contacts ??
Posted by fatreg
BB does sync yes and even with a mac!
Posted by themarques
BB is ok but the hype is a bit much, most of the stuff that you do on a BB I can do on a N95. Take push email, I dont need to subscribe to a BB service I can know set imap on gmail to pretty much pull the emails i need as and when so pretty much push email.
Another free options is mail2web live you can sync your email and contacts for true push email at the monthly cost of your service plan.
Ok BB messenger is the only thing which cant be done but then who else do I know with a BB nobody so its of no use to me.
But once again its down to the same old apple and pear story and what works for one doesnt work for the other but in the end we all get there.
Posted by fatreg
Indeed it's the apple and pear story but out of everyone I know that has had a BB, not a single one hasn't fully enjoyed it and most people are on their 2nd or 3rd BBs...
there has to be something that's good if it pulls you back every time? it really is the basics for me that make it, a phone that just works, calls that are clear, and email, mms, sms and pin all in one inbox in you want or separate if you want, the flexibility of a BB is also spot on, like the main menu, if you don't want to see ""calander" you just hide it, now how many other phones can you customise the menu on like that as standard?
But as Nanu said, there's is no way to quantify getting a BB, just take the plunge and get one, I can pretty much assure you that you will be hooked within a week.
Posted by Mr Miyagi
Thanks for the replys everyone. I have some further questions, its been interesting reading all the replys so far in relation to this. Are you also able to open up word documents etc, as you can do on quick office on a N73?
I have a scheme at work where i can take out the handset and use it for a week the blackberry. So what i might end up doing is, taking it out for a week and seeing how I get on.
The Msn application you can get it on? How is that like? To me its like moving from a PC to a Mac, come to think of it, since when I was thinking of moving to a mac, i had so many questions and doubts, but now i love it. So i think i'll try and see how i get on with it for a week, and make my decision then if its going to be a future handset, mind u, i aint due for an upgrade till april next year, so by that time, who knows what blackberry might have introduced.
Thanks for all the comments though about it
Posted by haynesycop
I was hooked on the BB pin messaging that was awesome but wasn't sure on the actually phone but now i don't have one i miss so much. Being able to send messages as much as i want without using up my sms was great, just don't know many people with a BB. Try it and see, there pretty awesome, i may actually go and get a pearl again to be honest, should have waited for the newer one really.
Posted by mo-00786
i was thinking of buyng a blackberry pearl too because it looked nice and had a kind of qwerty keyboard,but im only 16,i dont think i wouldve used it to the ax of its capability and wouldve looked kind of stupid with 1 too
Posted by jortiz1200
i still dont get it, im going to at&t later and spend some time with the curve,but i still dont see how its any diferent than my m600(besides hard/software) the bb's just do less. and im assuming that pin messages are bb to bb, and cant be fired off oneway. for free messages or im i've been using slick from lcg has been great aswelll as free. ohwell i'll go see for myself,they do look nice though. also wondering if they have b.t. PAN for connecting to a dsl internet connnection? i use that at home cause its like wifi but doesnt drain the batterie like wifi does.
Posted by Mr Miyagi
PIN messages? are they only from BB to BB users, or from BB users to other mobile phone users too?
Posted by Nanu
On 2007-11-25 20:20:41, Mr Miyagi wrote:
PIN messages? are they only from BB to BB users, or from BB users to other mobile phone users too?
Yup BB to BB only!
Posted by MWEB
Truth be told, we don't have ANY BB users on Mobile-Review, without any offence to BB users on here, we tend to view them as something of an oddball choice TBH, never tried/owned one so i cannot concur with that presumption.
Posted by fatreg
On 2007-11-25 20:45:40, mweb6161 wrote:
Truth be told, we don't have ANY BB users on Mobile-Review, without any offence to BB users on here, we tend to view them as something of an oddball choice TBH, never tried/owned one so i cannot concur with that presumption.
I'm quite happy with being an odd ball..
but don't knock it til' you've tried it!
Posted by Mr Miyagi
i tried the scroll bar on the original pearl today, its pretty neat and smooth, choosing the different icons u want to pick. It feels like the track ball on my apple mighty mouse, which is just as cool. beats joysticks like the ones on s.e handsets and my nokia handset.
Posted by fatreg
it is exactly like the ball on a mighty mouse just a darn sight more reliable!!
so you gonna order an 8120?
Posted by Dogmann
Hi all,
Well when i got my E61 it was suggested to me i try a BB but for me a lack of 3G never mind HSDPA would seriously annoy me when it comes to Web browsing. My understanding of Blackberry is it really is a business orientated device and it's strong points are E-Mail and BB messaging which is only really is useful if you have lots of people with Blackberrys to use the messaging with otherwise it seems utterly pointless to me.
I don't do IM or texts so for me it would be a waste and like Masseur my device handles my E-Mails well enough for my needs with plenty of versatility, but as i always point out there really is no right or wrong choice when it comes to our device only what is right for each of us.
Marc
_________________
Nokia N95 8GB, SU-8W, Fring, Vox, Tom Tom 6, Shure EC2g
Honoured to have won BEST DEBATER
[ This Message was edited by: Dogmann on 2007-11-25 21:44 ]
Posted by Mr Miyagi
@ reg. Not going to order it yet. I am still in contract with my nokia untill April next year. So going to wait, but at the moment, i think i will be getting the blackberry.
Since, i do tend to send emails each day, and do prefer to see them instantly, i do go onto msn each day, so i can have that msn applications, even if i don't use bb messenger, still have that msn application which is good. I know it has a 2mega pixel camera but by the time i get it, it might have more, megapixels, however 2 megapixel is good enough for taking photo's and sending them by mms, i only see the need for more than a 2mega pixel camera, if i am going to print out my images, but having an iphone too with 2mega pixel camera the cam is still good.
at the moment the new pearl has got music function for my mp3's, and a vid function i can see them probably launching a better device by that time too. main thing is, that i have never came across someone who wanted to return a blackberry, so that means that to me, its a good stable device with no issues on it at all. and the battery life i have been told is good.
also i love texting, and i got told u can store loads of sms on it too.
regarding 3g and hsdpa i am sure they will implement in. Neways what I am trying to say, after reading all these posts, and from playing about with it today, for a bit, and other reviews. I would say blackbery have got me as a customer, when it comes to upgrade time.
[ This Message was edited by: Mr Miyagi on 2007-11-25 21:55 ]
Posted by fatreg
On 2007-11-25 22:53:59, Mr Miyagi wrote:
i have never came across someone who wanted to return a blackberry,
exactly!
When I was at Orange we had only just really started selling berrys before I left but I plugged them whenever I could and not once did one come back...
Posted by tmagberry
Ok, I have been away for a few days but seems i missed out on what should be my favourite topic.
I think like the Apple/PC debate this will never been a debate that will end. People either love or hate BBs and its mainly (no disrepect) because people have no understanding what a Blackberry is and what can be done.
Its not unfair to say its a business tool, but you could argue that about any phone. Afterall, we all a mobile as a business tool and whether its a P1i or some other touch screen device its about taste.
So PUSH email is available pretty much anywhere now. But whilst manufacturers can all boast the option, none compares to RIMs answer. Why - you cant hack them, they are secure - (not a fan of the American Forces) but they are prime users. Organisations such as the BBC use them, MI5/6 and i could go on.
The 3rd Party Apps are in abundance, and there arent many Windows Mobile based device apps that cannot be found for a BB.
Opera can be used, Music can be listen, videos watched - you can even get your weather pushed to your BB, or your traffic updates, and the list goes on and on....
Fatreg, Nanu, Zoots etc have all experienced the change from "normal" phones and no matter how much they tell me they might get a different phone, they still have the BB.
The BB PIN messaging and BB Messenger and basically what captured BB users.
All i can say is - you are willing to try every other phone out there...try the Blackberry.
Dont think its just a business tool - especially not with all the consumer models available....
Unfortunately, its one of those - ask what you want to know...- it'll be answered.
If i had a £1m - I would happily bet £100 to anyone who got a BB and then returned it.
_________________
BlackBerry 8700/8300/Pearl
BB Pin: 205dcaa0
Trader F/B(+25 -0)
Crackberry.com
[ This Message was edited by: tmagberry on 2007-11-25 22:29 ]
Posted by bavlondon2
Im tempted by the new 8120. Besides trying to figure out why they still use 65k colors could anyone please answer the following questions.
What formate video do they play? Will i be able to play normal 3gp/mp4 videos i convert for SE and Nokia phones?
Can it send/recieve videos ect....via BT?
Thanks