Switch from a Treo to a Blackberry

[Kerryd]

Rogers is offering to change the Treo for a Blackberry Curve and I wanted to ask, before I do this, how people find their Blackberries generally and how they find it using Missing sync with their Mac.

The reason I will probably change as I discovered that the Treo, using Rogers Mymail service does all this handshaking, which can generate a substantial amount of data against my plan. I feel I should not be responsible for this as this is a part of the way their system has to work to determine if I have mail. However, the only solution, to get rid of all this unnecessary data usage, is to go with a Blackberry. I just accidentally discovered this and confirmed with their tech support that this is what goes on and it explains the discrepancy in my bills relative to data usage and the actual amount of email coming through.

Anyway, your thoughts generally on the Blackberry and specifically on its interaction with a Mac using Missing sync would be greatly appreciated.

[headcronie]

I'm retiring (read - killing) my Blackberry today. Yes, BB does email, and it does it well. The email interface resembles looking at a blank screen with text. Don't expect any eye candy. Don't expect more than a pittance of 3rd party apps.

I cannot comment on how it works with a Mac, as I don't have or use one.

[raspabalsa]

My opinion is similar to HC's. I almost switched to a BlackBerry Pearl a few weeks ago. Luckily I had the chance to play with one for a couple of days, and essentially reached the same conclusions HC did. As a business-oriented device it seems very robust and reliable, but if you expect a Treo (or in my case a TX) replacement then I think you won't feel satisfied with it. A look around the web confirmed that there is very little (next to nothing) in the way of 3rd-party apps, so it will be very hard or impossible to do all the things that can be done on a PalmOS, PPC or even Symbian device.

I can't comment on the Mac side because I only use Windows XP.

[Hook]

Again, can't comment on a Mac, and admittedly I have an older BB (8700g) locked down by work, but the BB does one thing and only one thing very well. It does that one thing better than any device in existence-- Push email. But everything else-- EVERYTHING-- is worse than any oher device you can think of. It's PIMs are intolerable and web browsing makes Blazer look like the iPhone.

Can you tell how much I love my BrickBerry?

[ArGiEs]

As a communications device, I think it's fantastic. Now, granted, I didn't get it for a smartphone. I bought it as a communications device, and for that, I love it. Its OS is more stable than Palm's, and far more that WM; yes, the PIMs are rudimentary in some respects, but for handling data its great. Has some features, like an excellent voice-dialing capability, that I believe one has to buy for a Treo. Google maps (realtime GPS) works great on it (wish I'd had that years ago). Opera Mini works as an excellent alternative to the built-in browser--read and post to Brighthand on it regularly. Use Google Talk for IM if not its own version, Blackberry messenger, which is only slightly slower. I haven't tried the media player in headphones yet, but its built-in speaker has surprisingly good quality. My 8830's iPod-size display is clear, and very bright. And, the battery can handle what you throw at it--outdoes any cell phone I've ever owned. Can't answer the Missing sync question, sorry. Also, there are are accessories galore compared to the meager offerings for the Treos. Sorry to spoil the thumbs-down run, guys.

[raspabalsa]

On the contrary, thanks for your opinions and observations, ArGiEs. I had not thought about accesories for BBs. I did spend little time playing with one and focused mainly on the software side. If I have the chance to re-evaluate I'll take your points into consideration.

[headcronie]

Just to note, the 8830 has GPS, but most of the other BB devices do not. All of T-Mobile's current BB's lack GPS. So, as a blanket statement, Google Maps does not universally have GPS ability out of the box.

I have found the memory management to be horrid. Applications cease to function, and need to be manually exited and restarted. Yes, the phone doesn't really crash, but other applications do. Sometimes a reboot of the phone is a quicker solution than trying to exit all the applications to get it back up and running.

Watch out that your browser cache doesn't get too big, and check and clear your system error log. If those get too big, your device can start dropping email messages and more.

[ArGiEs]

On the contrary, thanks for your opinions and observations, ArGiEs. I had not thought about accesories for BBs. I did spend little time playing with one and focused mainly on the software side. If I have the chance to re-evaluate I'll take your points into consideration.

Thanks, raspabalsa Again, wouldn't buy it for a smartphone, (and absolutely not for a pda) as a feature-to-feature replacement. Just thought I'd throw in my two cents in as an actual user who bought it for a non-smartphone purpose.

[ArGiEs]

Just to note, the 8830 has GPS, but most of the other BB devices do not. All of T-Mobile's current BB's lack GPS. So, as a blanket statement, Google Maps does not universally have GPS ability out of the box.

I have found the memory management to be horrid. Applications cease to function, and need to be manually exited and restarted. Yes, the phone doesn't really crash, but other applications do. Sometimes a reboot of the phone is a quicker solution than trying to exit all the applications to get it back up and running.

Watch out that your browser cache doesn't get too big, and check and clear your system error log. If those get too big, your device can start dropping email messages and more.

Good advice to consider. I'll confer with my resident technician (son), which, by the way, is where I get some of my info. Over the years at the Nextel/Sprint dealership where my son works, he's been able to see some very consistent patterns in service/reliability between Treos and Blackberries. By far, BBs outsell Treos; yet he's seen only one BB come in for a crash problem, as compared to the occasional Palm OS Treo issues, and the frequent( ) WM Treo crashes (I thought it was ironic how Palm via their advertising jabbed at RIM after their last email system blackout in regards to reliability--but they didn't mention how much downtime individual WM Treo owners have probably clocked up due to software/OS problems). Now, your comments remind me that probably most of the BB users that buy from that store aren't using their devices as you are, or perhaps as I am. So I appreciate the heads-up on the browser cache and system error log. I rarely ever/never use the resident PIMs, so that may not bring up issues.

[raspabalsa]

ArGiEs, so you don't use your BB as a PDA, and don't use it as a cellphone either, right? So it's just your browser/email/IM gadget? In your opinion does this justify the high price?