Re: blackberries etc (the electronic sort)

**"* P* L* <t*@spamfodder.com>**

> As a modern device, I had assumed that they worked as efficiently as a  
> normal computer screen as far as loading pages goes.  I am toying with  going into 
> the modern world with my phone (the phone will do internet, I just  object to 
> the pricey contract). If pages are very slow to load though, as akin  to dial 
> up, I may not bother. So my question is how many people have  'Blackberry' 
> things, and what are the drawbacks?

Hi Kate,

I love my Blackberry Bold and would gladly choose it over an iPhone.  There
are a number of reasons:

   1.  The Blackberry has a QWERTY keyboard that doesn't take up screen 
       space.  It also, as my wife pointed out, works when you have long
       fingernails (iPhone doesn't)

   2.  The Blackberry will work with an external keyboard, so I can actually
       use it to type real things if I settle down in a coffee shop.  I
       have a small, portable bluetooth keyboard, but want to upgrade to
       one of these:

          http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/input/8193/

       An iPhone cannot use an external keyboard.

   3.  The Blackberry allows you to switch between running applications 
       easily.  I can browse a Web page, switch to my GPS navigator, look
       something up, and then switch to my Word editor and enter it in. 
       The iPhone doesn't allow too many apps to run concurrently.

   4.  Oh, did I say Word editor?  Yes, the Blackberry has a limited  
       Word document editor, Excel spreadsheet editor, and PowerPoint
       slide creator.  It's great to type simply formatted documents
       or to read drafts that people send (where formatting doesn't 
       matter).

   5.  There is a turn-by-turn GPS Navigator service available with the
       Blackberry. 

   6.  Swappable memory cards.  I bought a few 8GB cards for $10 each.  I
       copy movies from my TiVo onto them and swap cards with my wife so
       that we can watch things in our free time.  It's great when you're
       on a bus/train/waiting at the in-laws.

There are some disadvantages, though:

   1.  The iPhone has many more third party applications.  I haven't found
       that are really essential for me yet, though.

   2.  iPhone costs less.  If you're not doing a number transfer/portability
       and just want a new phone number you can get a Blackberry for the same
       price from Amazon.con, though.

   3.  My Blackberry supports wireless, supposedly.  I have yet to connect
       to an access point with it and have pretty much given up.  I use the
       AT&T 3G network for everything, but it would save a lot of battery
       and give me more speed to use wireless at home/work/in coffee houses.
       The iPhone is much better for this.

I'm sure there are many other aspects that I've missed, but this is what I
came up with off the top of my head.  I really like my Blackberry.

Oh, and regardless of what you get, get an InvisibleShield cover for it.  It's
worth the $25.

Chris
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