Learn me Blackberrys

I've used an 8330 Curve for years- the old one with the track ball. Gave up the ghost.

I just tried to switch to a tablet + basic phone. That's not gonna work. Touchscreen is too fragile for my environment, and a basic phone doesn't handle the business data I need. I want a BB again, and I guess I'll just have to pay the restocking fees.

So learn me a bit... They've got so darned many models, and they all look the same.

My primary use is basic business data- emailing, texting, large contact list, and occasional internet access. No video, gaming, apps, or heavy usage. I do want a camera and the ability to shoot video.

I am also hard on them- if one is more rugged than the others, I need it.

NO TRACKBALL. That was a stupid idea. Don't really want a touchscreen, unless it is a secondary input.

I'm willing to buy a refurbished unit, and willing to commit to a contract if necessary. Gotta be Verizon.

Good sources to buy?

Thanks!

For work I carry the torch which is a touchscreen unit with slideout keyboard. But on my latest trip overseas they asked me to take one of the new 9930s to test (seems some models dont play well with european roaming) I still prefer the Torch because it is the most iPhone-ish but the 9930 was nice. Standard BB screen and KB layout but the screen is touchscreen too.

Generally I dont like blackberrys but they are getting better, the 9930 is a nice piece of kit and worth checking out.

I've never been a BB fan - if you're lucky RIM will still be around in a year or two, but I wouldn't put too much money on it personally.

We've got 20 iPads out in the field with just normal folio style cases and haven't had a problem or issue yet. A couple have even been dropped (small dents in aluminum edges and corners) but no broken screens or any other problems.

Hmmm... interesting. The guys who don't like BB's are giving advice on them!

I don't want a primary touch screen. I want a full QWERTY keyboard with buttons.

I am really fast with a QWERTY. Touchpad keyboard and I'm always hitting the wrong letter.

Plus, the BB's message management system is second to none. I understand some people love their touchscreens and YouTube videos. I just want to be able to respond to customers quickly and accurately.

I'm sticking with BB while I can. I just need some help understanding the new available products and features.

In reply to SVreX:

I had a Bold at the old job. It was nice. Decent camera with flash, video was OK. I got a curve at the new job, which feels similar in size and form factor, just somewhat chintzier in construction. The camera is terrible- near unusable- but I like the phone and email/text parts.

CN: AT&T Bold good (crap network coverage), Verizon curve bad (crap phone, great network coverage.

I am thinking about moving to an iPhone instead of the BB- I just don't care much for the cheapo corporate Curve.

SVreX wrote: Hmmm... interesting. The guys who don't like BB's are giving advice on them! I don't want a primary touch screen. I want a full QWERTY keyboard with buttons. I am really fast with a QWERTY. Touchpad keyboard and I'm always hitting the wrong letter. Plus, the BB's message management system is second to none. I understand some people love their touchscreens and YouTube videos. I just want to be able to respond to customers quickly and accurately. I'm sticking with BB while I can. I just need some help understanding the new available products and features.

Dont get me wrong, Im not bashing the BB, its a good business tool, I've just been on iPhone longer and I dont adapt to change well.

I dont think BB is going anywhere, there are still alot of corporations (mine included) for which BB is the default platform and iAnything and Android is considered a personal toy not a business tool.

Check out the 9930 if you can, I have to admit it just had a really nice feel to it. Still not quite as intuitive as my iPhone but again that's more likely because I've been on the iPhone much longer.

The BB 9930 will be very much the same as the Curve that you had. The most notable change is that it has replaced the track ball with an optical pad (which is equally controversial as to how well people like it) but the optical pad achieves the same functions in a completely similar way.

As an additional choice, what about the Droid Pro by Motorola? This is Androids answer to customers who prefer BB.

Full time BB-style keypad while other functions are done through touchpad.

If you feel it has gotta be Verizon (VZ) and it's gotta be BB then unfortunately you will get forced into a contract. Agreed, VZ has a good network but by far it is also the most expensive and most unfriendly network to be on.

Rural South GA- VZ is the ONLY carrier with decent coverage. AT&T and others may be fine in metropolitan areas and on interstates, but not in the rural south.

I won't need a contract if I buy a unit outright, but it doesn't bother me- I will be using it for at least 2 more years.

The 9930 is awfully pricey.

As for the price, you do not have to buy new. You might want to place a WTB or Trade listing on CL. Just be honest and state that you have this nice Android but would rather switch back to BB. There must be someone in your area who wishes the opposite of going from BB to Android. Perform the switch by all meeting up at your local VZ store.

Or, via CL or Ebay you could just buy a used BB outright, keeping your Android as a back up.

Buying equipment outright from VZ is quite the anal probe. See my earlier comment about most expensive carrier.

Just don't buy a Storm.. please god don't buy a Storm.

I've got an 8530, I love it!! I actually have all the software to make themes for it and all that. I have an automotive theme with a Tachometer as the signal bar and a Fuel Gauge as the battery bar. There's also some other cool stuff, but if you get one, let me know and I'll email you the theme.

From my personal experiences with BlackBerrys... - I loved how the email was pushed through from my email server to the phone. I always got my email super fast and effortlessly. I also enjoyed how it said "Sent from my BlackBerry" at the end of emails sent from my phone. (This option can be removed, I just never did).
- It is a very practical, business oriented phone. Easy to use professional applications on it such as multiple email services, Microsoft products (mobile editions), calender, browsing the internet, even the alarm clock and timer functions were simple.
- All of the apps that you get for the phone come from the BlackBerry App Store, which isn't as good as the Android Market or whatever the iPhones use. There are ways to get the apps direct from the creator's websites and such, but not in a simple way. However, the apps that are available for BB that are created by RIM (the manufacturers of BlackBerrys) are solid and integrate smoothly with the phone. Other app related comments, there are not that many great apps created for the BB, and if they are they usually come out later than for iPhones and Android devices. On the plus side, there is a program coming out for BBs that will allow Android Market apps to be loaded and run on BBs, so its just a matter of time. - Messaging on BBs is super easy. Having BBM (BalckBerry Messenger) really is super easy to use and communicate with other BB users. Even when not using BBM, the text messaging is simple and effective, no lags or delays in text input or sending time. On the touch screens (Storm, Storm2, Torch) that use user tactile input (your finger) to type on the screen, the SureType input method that BB uses is second to none. (I wish my phone had that now).
- I can't vouch for the other BBs that had physical keypads, I always liked the full touch, but the set up on the phones was easy to use if I was borrowing or messing around on a buddy's BB Bold or Pearl or Curve. The track ball was awful, but the new track pads are super easy and amazing. The newest Bold has a QWERTY keyboard, a track pad, AND a full touch screen. The touch screen makes it AMAZINGLY easy to use the phone for more detailed selecting, easier scrolling, and zooming in.
- The user interface on BBs is super easy to pick up on with a very simple and "duh" kinda factor. Everything just makes sense. The folders are labeled accurately with what they contain, and you can add your own detailed folders for apps and downloads, and files all you want. It isn't hard to learn how to use one. With some other phones (my droidx) I still have to scroll through a lot of the time to find exactly what I need or remember what exactly I was looking for.

-OVERALL, I loved my BB a lot. I had the Storm, and there were just too many flaws in that phone for me to keep up with it. Since I wanted a full touch phone, I switched to a DroidX from Motorola through Verizon. Solid phone, but really aimed at utilizing the phone as a time waster. A lot of childish and gamey apps, I never have my email at my fingertips when I want it ( I have to manually sync it up all the time), and the user interface is just...well, its just lacking something I can't place my finger on. To be honest it's just too much at once. And I did try the DroidPro and it just sucked. The shape of the phone is very difficult to use, the screen is kinda worthless as a touch function on the phone, and the keys seem smaller and easier to press multiples on the keyboard. It's best to go in person and play around with the phones. You'll figure out what is best for you. Just my $0.02 though.

I resisted getting one for the longest time ( I really despise being at a business dinner where almost everyone at the table has their heads down) but finally caved and got a BB Curve last fall. I really like it. It's easy to set up your email, all three of my accounts automatically send to the phone. Have to remember to purge your accounts regularly though, as too many files will cause freezing. t's become invaluable to me while traveling – I rely on it for the alarm (since wakeup calls are notoriously unreliable), the calendar, Twitter updates (for work) and even Google maps (which I've only needed a couple of times, but sure was great to have). The camera totally sucks, but what the heck. I don't use games or "fun" apps at all, it's mostly a work aid.

I had a Blackberry Tour, since replaced with the Bold.

I liked the durability, size, phone functions, email, messaging, battery life, and real keyboard.

I didnt like the trackball (no longer an issue), the random crashes, the menu and file structure, and the "locked down" feeling.

I have since replaced it with an HTC EVO (the first true Android powerhouse phone) and I never looked back. I like how you can tinker with the EVO to get it exactly as you want, there are many free aftermarket OS options that greatly improve it, and that its more of a little computer than a phone. It took me about 6 months to get as good as using a touchscreen as I was with a physical keyboard, and I still cant use it while I drive like I could with the Blackberry.

I am excited for my 1 year renewal in a month to look at a Gen II Android phone, they have made leaps and bounds.

The biggest complement I have to my Android phone is that I never carry my Netbook with me. The EVO replaced my smartphone and my netbook.

93gsxturbo wrote: and I still cant use it while I drive like I could with the Blackberry.

Well, thank berkeley for that.

Amen!