Hi everyone!
I've been on CrackBerry for a year, but I'm a Palm user from back in the old days.
With the news that my poor old 8310 will NOT be gettin OS5.0, I'm planning to upgrade to a new mobile device in the next couple months, and I'm faced with a dilemma.
A new BlackBerry or a Pre?
So I'm asking you, the CrackBerry addicts, to HELP ME by arguing the merits of staying with RIM.
Here's a little back story on me you can skip if you want.
Currently I'm using a BlackBerry Curve 8310, which I've had for a year now.
It's my first Smartphone. Prior to the BlackBerry I used several PalmOS based Sony Clies, and a separate "dumb" phone.
My Curve was used when I got it, and I've always found it a bit slow, and it's now starting to die a slow painful death.
Now here's a few advantages and disadvantages the Pre has (imo) right away.
Advantages::D
1 and 2)Full Touchscreen AND a Keyboard. In a Vertical SLIDER configuration no less.
I can't tell you how often I caught myself taping the screen on my Curve when I first got it, and cursing "Why doesn't this !@#$%^& thing have a touchscreen!". It doesn't bother me too much anymore, but it would be nice to have the touchscreen back again.
However, since I type a lot, touchscreen ONLY devices like the iPhone and BB Storm are out (No you can't talk me into it with "you'll get used to it, you just need practice"), likewise, I don't like Horizontal sliders like the HTC Dream, as I find them kludgy to use when I'm on the go. The Pre seems about as perfect a form as I can ask for.
3)Nostalgia. I loved my Clies. If Sony hadn't discontinued the line and Palm hadn't screwed up with the next-gen OS, there's every chance I'd still be happily going about my business with a Clie at my side.
Disadvantages::(
1)I've heard not great things about the battery life. My Curve is lucky to last a full day of what I consider moderate use. I hear the Pre isn't any better. However all of the newer RIM devices are supposed to have much better life over my Curve.
2)Network. I would strongly prefer to get a GSM/GPRS/HSDPA device rather than CDMA/EV-DO based hardware. Here in Canada, our major CDMA network (the Bell/Telus shared network, or Belus as I call it) is actually moving to HSPDA, with parts of the network going online any time now. Even a "World Phone" that can work on both networks is preferable to a CDMA-only device.
I know the European GSM Pre is about to drop, and I've heard rumours about the North American version being close behind as well, but until I can hold it in my hand, I'm not counting on it.
3)No Trackball. I know I just gave the touchscreen a big thumbs up, but I can't deny the usefulness of the BlackBerry's trackball. Ideally, I want both. If I can only have one or the other, the trackball would probably win.
Now with all that said here's some reasons I love and hate my Berry.
Love it!:D
1)"There's an app for that." I know it's not a fair comparison, as the Pre (and webOS) is only a few months old, but between the CrackBerry app store and the official app store, there is an app (usually several choices actually) for pretty much everything on my Curve.
2)Tethering. I'm on the road a lot and I use my Curve as my internet connection whenever I'm out of wifi range. I read that Sprint doesn't allow tethering with the Pre, but I'm in Canada and I haven't heard either way about Bell. However my Curve will tether over BT or USB.
3)E-Mail. You knew this one was coming. The BlackBerry is still the premiere mobile e-mail platform. Period. At least 33% of the use my Curve sees is e-mail.
4)BBM!
BlackBerry Messenger is way handier than I had ever imagined. I absolutely love it! Most of my most important contacts have Berries, so BBM is super handy for keeping in touch.
Hate it!:(
1)SLOW! My Curve is too damn slow, both for apps and the cursed EDGE connection speed.
I've even heard from a friend, who recently moved from WinMo to a BBTour, that he finds the OS slow compared to his WinMo devices. Not exactly the ringing endorsement I was hoping for from my most trusted IT advisor. I hear the 9700 is supposed to be stupid fast though, so maybe that's my answer?
2)Not enough Storage. I HATE not having enough space for all the apps I want. I know, that ANY Berry I might upgrade to will have at WAY more space, but right now, it`s an issue.
3)OS. Maybe not hate it, but the bbOS just seems old fashioned sometimes.
Having all my apps on one big screen with no way to organize them other than folders is just SO 90's c'mon that's how Windows 3.0 worked. Compared to the iPhone or even my old PalmOS Clies, the BlackBerry just feels like it wasn't designed for lots of apps. And to be fair, it wasn't. The OS does tons of stuff the designers never dreamed of.
4)Boot time. I don't know how long other devices take to boot, I just know the BerryOS is crazy long. I can boot every computer I own one after another in less time than it takes to boot my Curve. Considering that I pretty much HAVE to do a battery pull every couple days to keep my Berry usable, it`s a PITA.
I'm really torn here. Please help guys (and girls).