1. JimGo's Avatar
    I'll start off by saying no, I'm not trying to start a flame war. PLEASE keep the conversation focused on the general question, below.

    I'm on my third BlackBerry in about 7 or 8 years, and up until I upgraded to OS 6 on my 9650, I was a fairly big fan of BlackBerries. I had Pearl 2, and a Tour before this phone, for background, and was generally pleased with those phones. But, my 9650 has left me feeling very frustrated with Blackberry. I HATE the fact that it takes a good 3-5 minutes for the phone to boot, and another 4-6 minutes for it to be useful after I enter my password. That's a good 10 minute interval where my phone is useless. In an emergency, that's unacceptable.

    I'm also furstrated by the lack of apps for the phone, the slow-performing browser, the touch-pad, and the annoying lock-ups (both with and without the hourglass, even when I have most apps closed).

    So, I'm now at a point where I'm starting to research my next phone. It can't be an Android phone, because of security concerns with my work. That leaves me with WinMo, BBOS/QNX, and iOS. I'm a recovering techy (former Systems Admin., etc.), and still like to have "cool" toys, though at this point reliability is an important factor, too. I do want LTE, in part because I hope to use it to tether my laptop and other devices to the phone when I'm traveling.

    I am leery about switching to a touch-screen only phone, because I'm so used to a tactile/physical keyboard, though that's something that I might be able to overcome.

    I'm leaning toward waiting for the iPhone5 to come out, but I'm not sure I'll be able cope with my 9650 for that long (current rumor is "Fall" 2012).

    If you were looking to buy a phone in the next 4-6 months, with the limitations I've laid out above (LTE, not Android, preferably with a keyboard) what phone(s) would you consider?
    01-04-12 09:34 PM
  2. Alex_Hong's Avatar
    that doesnt really leave much choice if you really want LTE but not android. current iOS, BBOS/QNX and WinMo7 phones doesn't have LTE as far as i can recall. iPhone 5 and QNX LTE phones probably wont be out in the next 6 months since they rumoured to be waiting for LTE chipsets. The best bet would be WinMo.

    Just hang on for a few more days. CES 2012 is coming up so probably you'll see some new products then.
    01-04-12 09:55 PM
  3. gord888's Avatar
    Get a curve or 9790 to tide you over until the next generation lte phones arrive. Its cheap enough to be "disposable" and has allthe speed ans stability improvements you wanted.
    01-04-12 11:16 PM
  4. emirozmen's Avatar
    Get a phone and wait for the iPhone 5
    I suggest you try Windows Mobile, i am liking it more and more each day. Go to a store and play with them, I hope you will like it.
    01-04-12 11:26 PM
  5. CanadianThomas's Avatar
    Don't wait for iPhone 5, it will still be a frustrating experience for someone who likes a proper keypad and can spell for themselves. Let me qualify my opinion then expand on it.

    First off, I'm a computer tech as well, Apple specialist in fact. Been using the Apple toys since before the Lisa (pre curser to the first Mac). Second, I am no fanboy at all, I believe in the right tool for the job, but I did switch to iOS as soon as the first iPhone came out.

    Now, at first i never saw it but there is a big trade off. when you go to the full touch screen phone, even the awful 9860, you get a great multimedia experience. Full screen apps, great for video and music too, the bigger the screen the more fun it is to scroll through your music list.

    for a few apps like navigation the larger screen can be good but in this day and age we have nav in 10 year old cars. I do use gps when out in nature, riding dirt bikes, camping and so on but the screen size of a new bold is the same as any of the outdoors type garmin gps units and I have my phone instead.

    But lets get back to compromise.

    The iPhone, as android is out due to security, has the apps but do you need them? Im not saying they are not worth it but think this way for a minute. Why mess around on that little screen, and you don't sound like a fresh faced 18 year old (read eye sight), when you can have an amazing blackberry playbook bridged to your very cool and amazing BB phone for hard core communication (read bold 99xx) and a bit of fun. now once again, lets get back to compromise.

    A phone is a communications tool, first and foremost, and with the extensive list of features a BB OS 7 device gives, it wins. LED light for notifications, and with cheap/free apps you can colour code it to all kinds of crazy levels. Instant push email delivery, and I don't mean the old polling battery drain way. a great keypad, even my 9810 slider has a great keypad and i get a nice size touch screen as well. Social features built right in. It goes on and on. But as a communications tool, IMHO, the BB has a slight edge, and i don't mean just because it has the BEST keyboard. It was designed for this stuff from day one and they just get better and better and better.

    all in all the things that make an iPhone are (almost) replicated on the Playbook but better on a bigger and better screen. and when paired (bridged) to a BB phone its amazing. They even have an app in the store for your BB phone thats sends text (sms) to the playbook and you can send back, or even start the conversation.!!!!!

    Think this one through. The Blackberry deserves a good chance in this. Remember in the beginning of this post I explain that I am a very apple guy, work and all. Well I bought a playbook on sale as my son always has the ipad2. Well in 7 days I sold the iPhone and got a BB phone and my life of communications is better than ever. with a boatload of fun in the mix.

    Think about it! This has been Less Nessman reporting.
    Last edited by CanadianThomas; 01-05-12 at 12:43 AM.
    CanuckSoldier likes this.
    01-05-12 12:15 AM
  6. 13echo4's Avatar
    Look at the 9860. It really is a great device. $50 is a steal for this thing. Os7 cleared up all the problems you where having. Although I never has those problems with prior blackberrys.
    At least if your going to leave a keyboard behind anyway just check it out.

    Posted from my CrackBerry at wapforums.crackberry.com
    01-05-12 01:53 AM
  7. Cleveland's Avatar
    I'll start off by saying no, I'm not trying to start a flame war. PLEASE keep the conversation focused on the general question, below.

    I'm on my third BlackBerry in about 7 or 8 years, and up until I upgraded to OS 6 on my 9650, I was a fairly big fan of BlackBerries. I had Pearl 2, and a Tour before this phone, for background, and was generally pleased with those phones. But, my 9650 has left me feeling very frustrated with Blackberry. I HATE the fact that it takes a good 3-5 minutes for the phone to boot, and another 4-6 minutes for it to be useful after I enter my password. That's a good 10 minute interval where my phone is useless. In an emergency, that's unacceptable.

    I'm also furstrated by the lack of apps for the phone, the slow-performing browser, the touch-pad, and the annoying lock-ups (both with and without the hourglass, even when I have most apps closed).

    So, I'm now at a point where I'm starting to research my next phone. It can't be an Android phone, because of security concerns with my work. That leaves me with WinMo, BBOS/QNX, and iOS. I'm a recovering techy (former Systems Admin., etc.), and still like to have "cool" toys, though at this point reliability is an important factor, too. I do want LTE, in part because I hope to use it to tether my laptop and other devices to the phone when I'm traveling.

    I am leery about switching to a touch-screen only phone, because I'm so used to a tactile/physical keyboard, though that's something that I might be able to overcome.

    I'm leaning toward waiting for the iPhone5 to come out, but I'm not sure I'll be able cope with my 9650 for that long (current rumor is "Fall" 2012).

    If you were looking to buy a phone in the next 4-6 months, with the limitations I've laid out above (LTE, not Android, preferably with a keyboard) what phone(s) would you consider?
    I'd say get an iPhone 4S with AT&T - unless that doesn't work either ... They make a slide out Bluetooth keyboard you can attach to it and yes I'm getting 4G-ish speeds on AT&T - 10Mbps in Cleveland

    And according to almost all former bb users at tipb forum they've overcome the touchscreen fear of being used to a keyboard... Most of them love it over the keyboard and they rest that don't still don't care since its such a great device and yes prob fall 2012 for the LTE iPhone
    01-05-12 03:09 AM
  8. torch maniac's Avatar
    No matter what the pace of the upcoming phones is, I'm going to stick to BB
    01-05-12 05:31 AM
  9. FuzzyB's Avatar
    Jim, sounds like you'd fit right into a 9900/9930 bb. If you haven't test driven one yet you should because based on your post I think it would fit your needs.
    CanadianThomas likes this.
    01-05-12 06:24 AM
  10. Mic2cool's Avatar
    I would say check out the new Bold 9900, with OS 7 all the issues that really seemed to frustrate you with Blackberry are cleared up. You mentioned you were weary about moving to an all touch keyboard. I'll say that I just switched back to BB from an iPhone 4 and love it. Plus the new Bold has a slick touch screen which allows for a happy medium.
    01-05-12 04:29 PM
  11. anthonidikosta's Avatar
    For New Phone Suggssion,Black berrry will be most Powerful & Attractgive Instrument at this Time,So many Application will be easilly Availlable on this Phone,Also this phone will be easily availlable in the market.
    01-05-12 05:32 PM
  12. TheYalier's Avatar
    OH MY GOD GET A 9810 OR A 9900.
    I'm in a weird mood right now....weird
    01-05-12 09:59 PM
LINK TO POST COPIED TO CLIPBOARD