StarDestroyer.Net BBS

So PDA's? Sidekicks? Until now I've could care less but it has come to my attention that my boss at my new place of work wants everyone to get a Blackberry because A, our wireless setup here was built with Blackberry's in mind. And B, I don't want to shell out Iphone level money. His exact words were Iphoe or Blackberry, but Blackberry's are cheaper and by the way, we get excellent Verizon service in the building and at all the remote sites in Kentucky and Ohio which we work at.

That said I face an issue of sorts because I don't know jack about them. I own an mp3 player, I own a digital Camera, I owned several cell phones and a dozen computers at least. Never have I wanted text or tweet someone. My cell phone was my cell phone, my camera my Camera and my computer was my computer, never did I want to combine them.

Now however since I'm getting one anyway I might as well ask, who has had Blackberry's and which models to you recommend? Assume less than 200$ is being spent on said phone and I'd prefer 100$ or less unless there's some wonderful feature the extra $$$ will get me.

Edit
And before anyone asks, yes I am reading reviews, but I'm asking you the board population for your experiences with the various fruit based communication devices.

I'd suggest the Curve 8330, it's what I'm upgrading to when I renew my contract with Verizon next month. The two-year contract price is $169.99, and if you set up your contract on Verizon's website you get an additional $70 discount. Three other people at work have one, and through them I've had some experience with it, mostly because they're not technologically inclined, and assumed that the computer geek must know everything. It's not terribly difficult to figure out, and I like the trackball/keyboard combination far more than the iPhone's touchscreen. The camera's nothing fancy, about average cell phone quality. Call quality is excellent even with low signal strength, and audio quality is mediocre when played through the external speaker(s?) and excellent over headphones. Unlike a lot of "music" phones, it has a four-pole 3.5mm headphone/headset jack rather than a 2.5mm jack, so you can plug any pair of headphones into it. It only has 96MB of onboard flash memory, but it can be upgraded with microSD cards that can be had for dirt cheap. You can get an 8GB Kingston card for $21.49 from Newegg, with free shipping. One caveat, though, is that the card slot is located under the battery, so it's a bit awkward to switch out cards.


If you get one, I suggest downloading Opera Mini, as it's worlds better than the default web browser. I also suggest that if you want any accessories, go to Newegg. It's a lot cheaper than ordering directly from RIM, for example the desktop dock is $12.99 from Newegg vs. $39.99 from RIM.

Damn 10-minute window.

If there's someone you could trust with sharing a contract, Verizon's website offers a second Curve for free as long as you set up a two-year contract on both phones.

I recently upgraded to my first Blackberry (also on Verizon), going for the Storm rather than the Curve, though that was a tough choice for me.

Though this is day three (and the "oooo shiny" phase hasn't quite worn off yet), the Storm has been able to efficiently and sleekly replace my possible mp3 player, note recorder, video player, camera, task list minder & to-do list, web browser, SMS, and phone with one device. I am able to check my work email (Groupwise Corp-type) and my home Gmail account with it concisely and easily.

My current "to-do" list includes creating my own wallpaper and ringtones for it, adding proper pictures for all contacts, and adding an application to read .pdf, .doc, and .txt files.

I also second getting Opera Mini as the browser, as it is quite simply awesome on a stick compared to the stock Blackberry web browser.


With all that said, I'd be open to learning any and all tips & tricks from other Blackberry users, as well as referrals to specific Blackberry application stores (should we wait for the official Blackberry Apps Store, or just use Handango, for instance?)

Some quick Googling turns up no free options, at least not for Word documents, but MasterDoc is only $20 and supports PDF, DOC, DOCX, XLS, XLSX, PPT, ODT, ODS, CSV, RTF, TXT, JPG, GIF, TIF, PNG, and BMP files. eFile, a free program from the same site, supposedly has a PDF viewer built in, but I have no way of confirming that myself yet.

Mr Bean wrote:So PDA's? Sidekicks? Until now I've could care less but it has come to my attention that my boss at my new place of work wants everyone to get a Blackberry because A, our wireless setup here was built with Blackberry's in mind. And B, I don't want to shell out Iphone level money. His exact words were Iphoe or Blackberry, but Blackberry's are cheaper and by the way, we get excellent Verizon service in the building and at all the remote sites in Kentucky and Ohio which we work at.

That said I face an issue of sorts because I don't know jack about them. I own an mp3 player, I own a digital Camera, I owned several cell phones and a dozen computers at least. Never have I wanted text or tweet someone. My cell phone was my cell phone, my camera my Camera and my computer was my computer, never did I want to combine them.

Now however since I'm getting one anyway I might as well ask, who has had Blackberry's and which models to you recommend? Assume less than 200$ is being spent on said phone and I'd prefer 100$ or less unless there's some wonderful feature the extra $$$ will get me.

Edit
And before anyone asks, yes I am reading reviews, but I'm asking you the board population for your experiences with the various fruit based communication devices.

I've got a Blackberry Pearl myself. If all you need is only the occasional texting and basic email functionality, with the ability to view docs it works great. I'm not sure if the deal is still going on but the phone itself was free when I got it from Verizon's site with a 2 year contract. Can't really say about other Blackberry models though, as this is my first one.

I've got a curve, and its great. The full keyboard is important for sending emails (I'd never be able to push emails out on the Pearl), and its got a solid little web browser. The only downsides is that it cannot use wireless, I don't think it uses 3g and you have to pay for GPS. The last is more of a provider issue, and I think in a year or so when I can get a new phone I might go to AT&T's Bold. Its a little bigger than the curve, but access to GPS and 3g would be worth it for me, even if I like the verizon network better in the NY/NJ area. Regarding the Storm, head to a store and try it out yourself. I found it to be slow and the web browsing is no different than the other blackberries (which is a real shame, the IPhone's browser is really great).

I feel for ya. I recently got a Pearl so I'm in a steep learning curve myself. Though, thanks to the guys for the opera mini idea.

I've had the Curve 8330 for a few months now and I love it. I'm on Sprint and don't have to pay for GPS (assuming you mean GPS data, and not a GPS-based navigation system, which you do have to pay for). It's also 3G CDMA.

I only have a 1GB card in it right now but plan to get an 8GB card soon so I can store more music on it. I've pretty much do all of my IMing (Gmail, AIM, Yahoo) as well as Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace on it. I don't even IM on my home computer anymore, and just do IM with a separate account at work. I do most of my e-mailing from it as well. I have my own domain email setup on my blackberry and I also have GMail mobile on it. My calendar and address book are kept in sync with my Google Calendar and Address book automatically via Google Sync. They also recently allowed your To Do list to do the same thing but I haven't had time to download that app.

I take notes on various projects on my blackberry. It's largely replaced a pen and pocket notepad for jotting things down. I plan to get a Blogging App and a Doc viewer/editor. I also have Opera mini but the Blackberry Browser is not half bad either, once you enable CSS and Scripting. In fact, I often browse and post to this forum using my Blackberry.

The keyboard takes some getting used to, but after about two weeks I was pretty proficient with it. I also have Yahoo weather on it but I am looking for a better weather app that fetches the current weather forecast based on my location rather than zip code. I highly recommend Google maps for Blackberry. It's usefullness is close to a full GPS navigation system. I imagine it will only be a matter of time before Google adds voice output and then commercial GPS navigation apps will be screwed.

I'm looking harder and harder at an 8330 due to the full scale keyboard. I am going with Verizon(Access and price knock-off) now to look into accessory, specifically bluetooth headsets.

Note for those that know. Why exactly do I have to shell out 25$ a month for email service with a Blackberry? I pay 30$ for 1.5 meg internet service (Which I note is 1.99$ a meg with Verizon). I can buy Cell-phone Internet with Verizon for 40$ a month here. Is this just a website issue that it forces me to chose some kind of expensive email plan?

I went with the LG HBS-200 for a headset, but then I was looking for a stereo headset so I could listen to music, too. It's only $40 IIRC, which is a steal given the excellent sound quality.

I listen to music(More often podcasts) with just one ear for years now. I'd like a headset with good audio that can be used to make it appear as if I'm doing something business related when my Blackberry is playing back podcasts.

Mr Bean wrote:I'm looking harder and harder at an 8330 due to the full scale keyboard. I am going with Verizon(Access and price knock-off) now to look into accessory, specifically bluetooth headsets.

Note for those that know. Why exactly do I have to shell out 25$ a month for email service with a Blackberry? I pay 30$ for 1.5 meg internet service (Which I note is 1.99$ a meg with Verizon). I can buy Cell-phone Internet with Verizon for 40$ a month here. Is this just a website issue that it forces me to chose some kind of expensive email plan?

The big difference is push-email, as I understand it. Instead of having to wait for your messages due to the way the server works, they automatically get shoved through almost as soon as they're sent. Which is pretty much essential for jobs that depend on large volumes of email communications.

The big difference is that there's a Blackberry server somewhere that lets you get push email that you're paying for. Also, because they can make you pay the extra cash.

One nice thing to is that your blackberry will now sync with iTunes as well and the media player is quite good if you don't want to have your MP3 player with you.

Mr Bean wrote:I'm looking harder and harder at an 8330 due to the full scale keyboard. I am going with Verizon(Access and price knock-off) now to look into accessory, specifically bluetooth headsets.

Note for those that know. Why exactly do I have to shell out 25$ a month for email service with a Blackberry? I pay 30$ for 1.5 meg internet service (Which I note is 1.99$ a meg with Verizon). I can buy Cell-phone Internet with Verizon for 40$ a month here. Is this just a website issue that it forces me to chose some kind of expensive email plan?

Blackberries require a special Blackberry service plan on every carrier afaik.

Well when I went into a Best Buy and talked with a Verizon rep in person I got a far better explanation than the website gave which is that my 30$ is an internet connection. Specifically I can surf the Intertubes and download and upload via the Blackberry without paying any download or upload feeds. I get internet(Not sure of the connection speed but "3G" is stated, 3G can be ISDN or a good DSL connection depending on where your standing)

The next question is how to turn my Blackberry into a wireless internet connection for a laptop or similar, I hear speak of such things that let the Blackberry turn into a Internet connection. When I move again(Closer to work) in four months I might consider not shelling out for cable(Which I only buy to get internet) at my next place if the speed is good enough. And the plan unlimited enough.

Mr Bean wrote:The next question is how to turn my Blackberry into a wireless internet connection for a laptop or similar, I hear speak of such things that let the Blackberry turn into a Internet connection. When I move again(Closer to work) in four months I might consider not shelling out for cable(Which I only buy to get internet) at my next place if the speed is good enough. And the plan unlimited enough.

Tethering costs extra money (IIRC, $15/mo) and there may be rather low transfer caps.

Mr Bean wrote:Well when I went into a Best Buy and talked with a Verizon rep in person I got a far better explanation than the website gave which is that my 30$ is an internet connection. Specifically I can surf the Intertubes and download and upload via the Blackberry without paying any download or upload feeds. I get internet(Not sure of the connection speed but "3G" is stated, 3G can be ISDN or a good DSL connection depending on where your standing)

The next question is how to turn my Blackberry into a wireless internet connection for a laptop or similar, I hear speak of such things that let the Blackberry turn into a Internet connection. When I move again(Closer to work) in four months I might consider not shelling out for cable(Which I only buy to get internet) at my next place if the speed is good enough. And the plan unlimited enough.

From my own experience, the broadband speeds of carriers have usually translated into weak breasted DSL connection. Around 70 kb/s download speed, so much faster than ISDN.

Ok now I have my Blackberry 8330. I've got Opera Mini installed, I've got a nice Bluetooth headset(Planatronics 855), I've got my email accounts set up, it's synced with Itunes(Which now also has my music library)

Now what? What further games, programs, and misc stuff should I get for this thing?
Also the Camera? Ass *Edit, but it will be perfect for taking blurry out of focus pictures of the next UFO, Terrorist attack or Police beating I see.

There's a neat little Java app called NeoReader that will let you use the camera to read several kinds of barcodes, including the 2D QR Codes that are all the rage in Japan for providing mobile users with website links and extra stuff, and are starting to crop up here, too.

Google's Blackberry tools are also a must-have, I'd say. Google Maps will give you every bit of functionality VZ Navigator would, with the exception of voice directions, and even some things it doesn't, like Street View and satellite imagery. Best of all, you don't have to pay $10 a month for it.

If you use Facebook, the free app is superior to the web interface, as you can access the camera directly from the app and post photos with one click.

If you like Sudoku, there's a shareware app that comes with a few hundred puzzles in three difficulty levels, with registration providing access to daily new puzzles.

A further update, as most of the "shiny object" phase had worn off of my Blackberry Storm by now, and it is for me what it should be - a highly useful and versatile tool.

To agree with what has been said above, the built-in Browser does work nicely, after CSS and scripting are enabled. Opera Mini is much faster and displays pages better, but its selecting behavior (touch vs. click to select links) is just different enough from the rest of the Storm touch interface to be somewhat annoying at first.

As of a week ago, my Blackberry has replaced my Franklin-Covey planner for organizing things per span of time, and I am grateful for it. I am still looking into PIM programs available (chiefly Agendus and Personal Informant), but have not purchased one yet.

I did purchase Aerize Optimizer to automate memory management, and it does help quite a bit in managing applications' resources, though I still must remember to close programs properly instead of minimizing them. I hope the next model of this sort has more memory and a faster processor, but I digress.

As far as just being a phone, the Storm's shape isn't uncomfortable as a phone, has excellent clarity and reception, and manages my contacts and call log nicely.

The OS version loaded onto my phone (through Verizon) does still have issues I've noticed; sometimes it'll resume playing a paused song or movie from the Media application while the Blackberry is locked. I've also noticed that it can sometimes show random colored pixels for a few seconds after being taken out of its holster, but those are the only real experiential complaints I'd have so far. From what I've read on crackberry.com, it appears these issues (and more) will be fixed with the next OS update - when Verizon finally pushes it out.

One small complaint - I found out RIM just made another version of the Storm for AT&T Canada. The only difference from the Verizon one? It has WiFi capability. That's annoying, as WiFi would be nice to have.

In conclusion, in this progress report of mine, I am completely pleased with my first Blackberry, and now completely understand why their owners adore them as they do. However, I have so far managed to restrain myself from doing as so many others where I work (in Roseville, CA) do, and try to use mine while driving.

rhoenix wrote: One small complaint - I found out RIM just made another version of the Storm for AT&T Canada. The only difference from the Verizon one? It has WiFi capability. That's annoying, as WiFi would be nice to have.

What kind of data plan do you have? I can't possibly see the wifi capability being useful if you're on an unlimited one.

General Zod wrote:What kind of data plan do you have? I can't possibly see the wifi capability being useful if you're on an unlimited one.

I would place having WiFi would in my "nice to have" category of feature requests, as I have the unlimited data plan through Verizon. This is purely feature envy on my part.

rhoenix wrote:As of a week ago, my Blackberry has replaced my Franklin-Covey planner for organizing things per span of time, and I am grateful for it. I am still looking into PIM programs available (chiefly Agendus and Personal Informant), but have not purchased one yet.

An incremental update regarding my search for a proper planner for my Blackberry Storm. Here appear to be the options thus far (links are to handango.com's store):

• e-Mobile Today Professional + e-Mobile Planner (Storm Edition) - together, these two appear to handle most angles of PIM-ishness, and look slick for the Storm besides. They together cost nearly $50, but they both are worth looking at, it seems.
• Pocketday Professional - this one appears to have one or two good ratings, but I don't see much other information on it.
• Agendus - apparently in development for years on the Palm platform, its transition to the Blackberry appears to be...in progress.
• AddTo (I've only seen this in the official Blackberry App Store) - This appears to be a simple addition, allowing one to more easily add Tasks or Calendar entries, by tying the built-in apps together better. The better part is that it costs by far the least of the bunch, at $5.00 through the online Blackberry App Store.

Additionally, it appears that RIM is already planning a "Storm 2" model, rumored to be released this fall for Verizon - it'll boast a 5mp camera, and WiFi capability. Nice.