which is better, a Blackberry 8800 or a Blackjack II?

6/3/2008 1:56:58 AM

I have a Blackjack uno and hate it, the phone is fine, but fucking cingular/at&t is fucking shit... I drive by their FUCKING HEADQUARTERS and lose my fucking signal

6/3/2008 1:59:21 AM

iphone

6/3/2008 2:02:22 AM

blackberry ftmfw

I just got the curve 8330 and I'm loving it

6/3/2008 6:42:37 AM

I've had Cingular/AT&T for like 8 years now, and I really cant complain. I've changed my plan like umpteen times since, have had billing problems, but I call and get them fixed.

I've got this guy right now: http://forum.xda-developers.com/files/8525.jpg
I call it my little brick but I love it!

The reason I didnt get a blackberry is because I wasnt going to use it to it's full potential. I'm a text messaging whore, so I wanted a full size keyboard, and being able to turn it side ways makes it all the more convenient. I love that mine has wifi, so if I want internet, I'm usually within the vicinity of an access point, and dont have to pay for it



[Edited on June 3, 2008 at 7:04 AM. Reason : I havent used an iphone, so I dunno, but my friend who has one said he cant receive picture texts?]

6/3/2008 7:03:25 AM

^i had an 8525 and hated it eventually got them to give me a treo 750 instead

6/3/2008 7:31:50 AM

Depends on if you have BES set up already or not.


With the Blackjack you can have direct push email after 30 seconds right out of the box if you don't have BES.


If you do, get a Blackberry, because the UI is about 600x better.

6/3/2008 7:44:22 AM

I just got the BlackJack II and it seems cool so far. I didn't want the blackberry due to the OS but Windows Mobile 6.0 is still taking some getting used to (also, this is my first smartphone/PDA)

6/3/2008 9:07:07 AM

Quote :

"but fucking cingular/at&t is fucking shit... I drive by their FUCKING HEADQUARTERS and lose my fucking signal "

i dont get why some people's at&t service seems so sporadic

i've been all over the country in the last few years with mine, and never had the slightest issue

6/3/2008 9:09:26 AM

^agree. (at least the eastern seaboard and a few locations west)

6/3/2008 9:18:44 AM

Quote :

"blackberry ftmfw I just got the curve 8330 and I'm loving it"

Seconded

You can also expect to have problems with any Windows Mobile phone. My friend is still boo hooing from when her Moto Q took a huge dump and lost her whole phonebook and all pictures a few weeks back.

6/3/2008 9:28:46 AM

6/3/2008 9:31:22 AM

I have the pearl and its tehwins

6/3/2008 9:33:29 AM

You can get the Curve 8310 for $49.99 right now (w/ 2yr contract) at Best Buy. (AT&T)

I chose the blackjack for its "thinness".

Also wasn't a fan of the tiny trackball on the BBs.

[Edited on June 3, 2008 at 9:47 AM. Reason : +]

6/3/2008 9:37:07 AM

I have the pearl and I love it, but I want to upgrade to a bigger one (probably the curve)

6/3/2008 9:43:16 AM

Quote :

"With the Blackjack you can have direct push email after 30 seconds right out of the box if you don't have BES."

On the Blackberry, if you don't have BES, you can set up any POP or IMAP account through the Blackberry Internet Service (BIS). Unless you're using Lotus Notes, then your work account will probably work straight away.

I get the impression the Blackjack is a cheap ripoff, but then I'm a bit of a Blackberry fanboy.

[Edited on June 3, 2008 at 9:55 AM. Reason : u]

6/3/2008 9:54:23 AM

I heart my Blackberry Curve

6/3/2008 10:03:28 AM

my only complaint with the blackjack is the battery

horrible battery life, even with the extended life battery

6/3/2008 10:21:56 AM

my 8830 is wonderful.

The UI is great and all of the bells and whistles are useful as well. The GPS system is a plus as well.

6/3/2008 10:22:41 AM

Quote :

"my only complaint with the blackjack is the battery"

I or II? Mine can last 2.5 days with minimal use. But battery life sucked on the BlackJack I from what I've heard, like many smartphones. The II has a pretty powerful battery according to a c-net review I watched.

6/3/2008 10:24:32 AM

my life would be more difficult without my Curve and Google Maps

it uses the GPS to find your location and then gives you directions

6/3/2008 10:24:39 AM

^depending on who your service provider is, and what features you have enabled, its far more likely that it's using triangulation off of cell towers

but again, it depends on whether your service provider is verizon or not, because they disable all the extra features (GPS) and make you use their shit for $$$

probably the one major drawback to verizon

6/3/2008 10:29:24 AM

Get the Blackberry. I've owned both phones and the Blackberry is hands down better. The user interface is much easier to use and did I mention the Windows Mobil sucks balls!!

6/3/2008 10:30:21 AM

AT&T

its weird - sometimes it can't find me
like in Central Park

6/3/2008 10:30:30 AM

i went from a Q (worst decision of my life) to a Pearl for personal use, and have been thrilled with the UI and overall performance difference

the Q sucks balls, mostly due to WM

6/3/2008 10:35:42 AM

http://www.forbes.com/2008/05/12/cellphone-signals-personality-tech-wire-cx_ew_0512signals_slide_2.html?partner=links

6/3/2008 10:37:05 AM

i have the 8830. its no so bad, but the BB is fragile. mine won't hold a charge. i'm waiting on my new one now.

6/3/2008 10:39:26 AM

i rock a pearl, ftr

and enjoy it, although i have concerns about hardware durability

6/3/2008 10:59:46 AM

The pearl is soooo slippery so I got one of those rubber skin thingies to put on it. It has saved me a lot of trouble on drunken nights!!!

6/3/2008 11:08:42 AM

i just upgraded from a pearl 8100 to an 8110 last week

it's damn near a perfect device for my needs

Quote :

"^depending on who your service provider is, and what features you have enabled, its far more likely that it's using triangulation off of cell towers "

it's easy to tell: if it's using cell towers, it'll show a blue circle around the blue dot; if it's using gps, it'll just show the blue dot

[Edited on June 3, 2008 at 11:13 AM. Reason : ]

6/3/2008 11:12:44 AM

i just wish i could get all of the preloaded pictures and ringtones off my phone. they really take up more space then i need.

i have a bb pearl.

also seems to run out of space quickly by just using the normal content while saving everything else to a memory card.

oh and i hate not being able to cut off my camera noise. i think the sound is so annoying and unneeded.

[Edited on June 3, 2008 at 12:35 PM. Reason : d]

6/3/2008 12:32:27 PM

^ step 5 here covers the removal of preloaded images: http://www.blackberryforums.com/general-blackberry-discussion/112029-losing-call-logs-sms-emails-optimize-your-bb-how-setup-max-free-memory.html

the camera sound annoys me too, but apparently it's FCC mandated because of privacy issues

6/3/2008 12:43:26 PM

i love my pearl for the most part.

but now my trackball is only partially working after having it for a year and a half.

6/3/2008 12:45:56 PM

Quote :

"i rock a pearl, ftr and enjoy it, although i have concerns about hardware durability"

That wheel isnt going to last methinks.


Also its fed up to have to pay more for navigator

6/3/2008 12:47:07 PM

my 8100 was starting to fall apart as well, before i upgraded last week... i had it about 15 months

whether you need to buy gps software or not depends on your carrier

6/3/2008 12:53:28 PM

i still dont understand why the need for a full keyboard. T-9 texting works fine.

6/3/2008 12:56:05 PM

A full keyboard is handy if you do more than just texting. If you actually have to answer countless emails with your phone, T9 gets rather annoying!

6/3/2008 12:57:07 PM

^^lots of people are using their phones more and more for emails nowadays...and while you'd expect emails sent from a handheld device to be a little more concise, a full size keyboard is very nice...if you're just texting its not as big of a deal

^exactly

[Edited on June 3, 2008 at 12:57 PM. Reason : .]

6/3/2008 12:57:11 PM

T-9 kicked ass on my old LG phone, but once I got the RAZR it sucked ass. Depends on the phone imo.

6/3/2008 1:14:51 PM

6/3/2008 1:16:04 PM

something like this is also pretty easy with Suretype

6/3/2008 1:16:22 PM

Quote :

"i dont get why some people's at&t service seems so sporadic i've been all over the country in the last few years with mine, and never had the slightest issue "

mine is HORRIBLE, over several different phones, so baring really really bad luck with phones it wasnt just bad phones... I will be standing still, have 5 bars, make a call, hold it up to my head, and nothing happens... so I look at the phone and I have no bars at all... and havent moved a foot. I have been under umbrellas and have the damn thing go out

6/3/2008 1:31:40 PM

I'm looking at the BB8830 and the Motorola Q (second gen - q9c, q9m, q9*)

Right not I'm leaning to the Moto Q just because I like the idea of service being cheaper (~$25 cheaper/month) and getting all the features. I'll be using emoze for push e-mails and some other free software to make text messages thread themselves and for free tethering.

Honestly the free tethering is the solid reason I'm leaning Q9c, cause I can hook it up to one of these:http://www.cradlepoint.com/phs300/phs300.php

Toss in a folding solar array and I'm SET for them long train rides to NYC

6/3/2008 1:44:11 PM

i got the curve and love it... i probably wont buy another iphone when the new ones come out for a few months at least

6/4/2008 8:30:33 PM

Quote :

"My friend is still boo hooing from when her Moto Q took a huge dump and lost her whole phonebook and all pictures a few weeks back."

i back my shit up. i also don't buy motorola.

i haven't had a single problem with my tilt, but i guess that's just me. i've used the blackjack II and it's actually ok, but the blackberry 8800 is tops for power users (mail/messaging), for internet it suckskkkkkksksks.

i like the iphone for it's overall design, but the onscreen keyboard blows.

i'm glad i've never had an issue with at&t.

[Edited on June 4, 2008 at 8:36 PM. Reason : s]

6/4/2008 8:36:02 PM

What makes the blackberry so great? What's it do...

Quote :

"While including the usual PDA applications (address book, calendar, to-do lists, etc.) as well as telephone capabilities on newer models, the BlackBerry is primarily known for its ability to send and receive e-mail wherever it can access a wireless network of certain cellular phone carriers. It has a built-in keyboard, optimized for "thumbing", the use of only the thumbs to type. System navigation is primarily accomplished by a scroll ball in the middle of the device (older devices used a track wheel on the side). Some models (currently, those manufactured for use with iDEN networks such as Nextel and Telus) also incorporate a PTT (Push-To-Talk) feature, similar to a two-way radio. Some BlackBerry devices don't depend on mobile phone service coverage and are Wi-Fi compatible like similar handheld devices that are on the marketplace."

K, I figured that. Isn't that basically what the iPhone is?

[Edited on June 4, 2008 at 8:39 PM. Reason : l]

6/4/2008 8:37:11 PM

notes on BB (at least the curve)

- I too, wasn't sure of the trackball at first, but now I love it. You can change it's "sensitivity" to your likings, and it does seem that it will last. It works great and makes using a BB so much easier

- The new browser is teh winz. Haven't had a problem with any webpages so far, unlike previous BB browsers, and Windows based PDA's.

- You can get almost any email on it, in fact, I haven't heard of any email provider that hasn't worked with a BB (but I'm sure there's a few out there)

- The set up is easy

- Has a new media player which works great. play mp3's, videos.

- decent size built-in memory, with the option to purchase an expansion card (SD maybe? I haven't looked into it yet)

- The only drawback is battery life. I get about 2 days out of it, though I'm don't talk a whole lot on it. but hey, that's what chargers are for (and you have two options to charge - usb or electrical socket)



In summary, I recommend, again, a BB. I've had WM based PDA's, they were ok, but nothing compared to a BB. Also, a BB can open a word/excel/pdf file. It's not as easy to edit them, since you're not running windows, but you can view/edit them (obviously excluding pdf editing)

I think that's all I have for now

6/4/2008 9:06:00 PM

Quote :

"Isn't that basically what the iPhone is?"

the iphone is much better for web browsing. the touch screen and browser are just unmatched by any other phone that's out right now IMO.

as for email i prefer the blackberry because of the qwerty keyboard instead of the on screen one the iphone has.

6/4/2008 9:09:12 PM

^agree on all of that. but I don't think the iPhone is worth the money really. And I hate AT&T

6/4/2008 9:11:35 PM

yeah, i'm back to a blackberry and will probably stay with it for another 6 months or so. i was originally just going to use it until the new iphone comes out in a few weeks (presumably) but i dunno, just doesn't seem worth the money at this point when what i'm using is better what i do the most of.. email.

6/4/2008 9:13:37 PM