Trying Out BB Before Next Purchase, Opinions Needed
So over the past few years I have had two iPhones and two Android devices. My most recent phone being an android (nexus one) crapped out so I decided to give blackberry a try and picked up a Bold 9000 on amazon for $88. I really have fallen in love with aspects of the Blackberry but it seems to fall short in other core areas. Am I missing something? Is my phone software too old? I am running 5.0.0.1067.
I will be trying to decide between the Bold 9900, Samsung Galaxy S2 or an iPhone 4/5. My main needs are: Fast easy typing, Gmail integration and Google Talk
So first what I love the BB for:
1) Obviously the keyboard. It's nice to touch real buttons again.
2) With the keyboard comes really, really fast dialing. Just start to type a contact name.
3) Its feels great in the hand and looks professional grade.
4) Its a real phone: good calls, good speakerphone
5) All the core apps are nice: Facebook, Foursquare, Twitter, Flixster. The BB app world doesnt have 10,000 fart apps but the apps i care about are almost all there.
What it seems to be missing:
1) No free option for turn by turn directions. When traveling or going someplace new, I dont want to borrow someone else's phone to get there while they make fun of my BB
2) Gmail integration seems terrible. Is everyone using IMAP? Its not a real sync of your inbox.
3) Requires a ton of restarts when configuring things.
4) Google Talk app signs out by itself and sometimes won't sign back in stating it can't connect.
5) Any way to Wi-Fi tether? I got bluetooth tethering but that doesnt help me tether my tablet.
My main problems would be in Google product integration. Does this mean that BB isn't best for my needs? Do newer phones work better with Google Apps and Talk? Please give me some feedback from you BB gurus! Thanks