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The topic today is the Black Berry versus the iPhone.
If you're more the business than just-for-fun type I think you're a Black Berry person. But if you're a creative techie type then I think you are an iPhone.
My problem (as my Myers Briggs test can confirm) is that I am a rare combination of both creative and analytical technical, which at times like now when courting new electronic gadgets can cause me to become a bit indecisive.
Here's the deal: My current BlackBerry 8703 that I've had for the last 2 years, while it has served me well in both personal and professional situations has become something of a relic. It doesn't even have a camera on the phone to take mobile pictures. *Gasp*!!
My 2 year contract with Sprint is almost up and I'll be free to make the move to AT&T which is the carrier for iPhone or Verizon which is the carrier for the new BlackBerry Storm 9500 - the first touch screen BlackBerry.
In the making of the Storm, it seems the developers have taken everything that's good about previous BlackBerry phones and made a full-on touch screen model to compete with the IPhone.
But does it?
The IPhone has all the bells and whistles, it's fancy and jazzy. Its all stream lined and lightweight... not a big clunker like some of the Black Berry models. Perhaps the biggest appeal to me for the iPhone is the Multi-touch controls. For me, it is all about the flick, tap, and pinch screen navigation.
There is no doubt that for surfing the web, downloading video, and taking pictures, iPhone is the way to go. But what about all the other functions at the core of my mobile phone usage and at the root of Black Berry's strengths:
• Email
• Text
• Phone
• GPS
Does the iPhone compete in these areas?
One negative I am aware of about the Storm (and this is an important one to me) while it boasts multi screen navigation technology don't be fooled into thinking it has the same functionality as the iPhone, because it doesn't.
The Storm does not have the same kind of "pinch to zoom" multi-touchfeature as the iPhone..... and that's the best part!
The multi-touch on the Storm seems to only apply to the cut-and-paste technology. Which is disappointing. I could be loyal to the Black Berry brand if only it measured up in this area.
My feeling is if I'm gonna upgrade and be locked into another 2 year situation - I want something that does it all:
I want the flick, the tap, AND the pinch!
It sounds a lot like a lesson one could give as to the proper progression of oral sex on a female. Doesn't it? If you think about it, it's the same formula. I know you ladies out there know of what I speak.....and if I may, that Steven Jobs is one brilliant innovator!
I guess what it comes down to for me is that I want all the jazz without sacrificing any of the functionality.
Which one would you choose?
Leah commented December 9, 2008 10:40 PM
I don't know much about the Blackberry Storm, but I have the 3G iPhone and LOVE it! I use it for my personal phone but travel a good deal for work and find it really helps me keep in touch.
The GPS is great, text is great, email is great--I love it all! Can't wait to see what you choose!
JAke Bogie commented December 9, 2008 11:05 PM
Look at the reliability of the RIM network over the past 6 years. I still have a hard time understanding why a company or an individual would rely on a device that requires a middle tier network for something as simple as a mail protocol. Keep a penny from my two cents.
Lori commented December 9, 2008 11:09 PM
Jake - So in English...what does that mean exactly ? :)
layman speak please..
Lauren commented December 10, 2008 1:49 AM
I'm SO totally glad you guys are discussing this... I've been looking into the Storm & reading about it for a few days now... I'm sorry my old phone is dying, but also so happy I can finally move on!
SJ commented December 10, 2008 8:05 AM
Jake is telling you BB is way more reliable! Not to mention the storm has the clicking on the screen sound. Either way its a major adjustment to the key pad. If want better technology with your interests you could also try the BB Bold. Also new with 3G tech but still has the keyboard...
You are not a Mac girl, don't go to the other side...I am missing the ref to oral sex. though?? this is more interesting than this tech conversation!!
deb commented December 10, 2008 8:34 AM
I'm very interested in everyone's comments, too! My husband and I are both thinking about upgrading either to Blackberries or iPhones. He wants the BB and I think I want the iPhone. Lori, I'm kind of like you in that both phones have features that would suit me well so choosing is very difficult!
Trudy commented December 10, 2008 11:27 AM
Uh oh, 50-50 when I voted; big trouble! Haven't you seen the commercial? The Blackberry is not just for the business folk anymore!
lex commented December 10, 2008 1:03 PM
That is a tough decision. I have only had my blackberry for a few months but I love it. The hubby has had one for a few years now. He really wants the storm, he loves the idea that it is similar to the iphone and has the 2 keyboards. Here in Canada, the iphone is still very expensive to use since our rates suck compared to in the states.
Good luck!
Becky commented December 10, 2008 6:05 PM
Blackberry is my choice, mainly cause I am a retired Verizon employee and I have to be loyal. Vote was still 50/50 when I voted, too.
Kelly commented December 10, 2008 6:39 PM
Steve Jobs rules, lol! Get the iphone!!!
MacGuy commented December 11, 2008 7:40 AM
Hmmm
I think Jake is saying go iPhone
my reason behind that (besides the fact that I am an Apple follower) is that the iPhone can sync to your exchange server directly - where as RIM makes your company redirect the mail to Canada to RIM server where it sends the mail to your device. Now thats just for exchange and a big company right? WRONG to my knowledge you need to link your account lets say gmail to an other RIM server which checks your gmail account and then forwards it to your device.
To me as Jake stated that might have been the best way 10 years ago? but why?
This is why over the past few years on the news you hear about wide spread blackberry e-mail outages
that aside:
texting on the iphone seems 2nd nature and very mac like
e-mail is full html not some crptic plain text crap (the storm does support html you need to find the menu turn it on and then on each e-mail that has photos need an OK by you to download them
phone and voicemail just works so much easier
GPS - is a gray area; the iphones has a much better mapping engine thanks to full Google maps including streetview. BUT does not talk to you for turn by turn.
I bought two Storms when they came out and they went back the same week-end and bought two 3G iPhones! (in my area ATT does not have 3G yet so I tried the Storm - I do have an open mind) but the faster connection didn't do much as the crappy web browser took longer to render the page. And yes the pinch is nicer! Also do you really want to click the screen for almost every action?
NOTE -- Jake if that is not what you trying to say sorry :-)
John
MacGuy commented December 11, 2008 8:00 AM
part 2
One other cool thing about the do everything phone...
it actually also works well as a handheld game platform with graphics that are pretty damn good (the iPhone has a faster CPU then the Storm and an actual video chip where the Storm has none it uses the CPU for video which well stinks)
if you use iTunes goto the apps page and start looking at over 10k applications that keep growing each day!!!
Jan commented December 11, 2008 9:30 AM
My son John got a Storm yesterday.
His exact words tonight were, "this is the most worthless piece of shit I've ever seen in my life!"
This morning, it totally crapped out, screen froze, he took out battery, put it back in, then voice activation was so low it wouldn't work - it quit texting this afternoon, tonight he called me on the way from home, I could hear him, he couldn't hear me.
Verizon has already had two software updates on it and it's just been out a week. He charged phone last night, used it just twice today, took it to Verizon tonight they couldn't do update because battery wasn't fully charged.
So now he's home, doing the update, it's been updating for 30 minutes, only 1% finished. He's totally furious. He says they released it too early, it was too buggy, probably some VP getting his butt chewed big time because the suits wanted it out before holiday season so they released it. That's his take on it. I don't think he's going to keep it. The rest of us have the Blackberry Curve, and it's a great phone - soooo for what it's worth, you might want to think seriously about the iphone instead.
This will probably be a great phone by summer, once they get the kinks worked out but right now it's not so hot. He was talking to some european clients today, they released it earlier in europe and they said everybody over there hates the thing.
MacGuy commented December 11, 2008 9:54 AM
Yeah Jan is correct -- I didn't want to say it like as well I am an Apple person :-)
I think the real reason it sucks is well RIM didn't want to build a touch screen phone! think about the Bold and Storm come out almost the same time - the Bold is solid and has a faster CPU (but lacks a full screen) and the Storm has a slower CPU and well it sucks! I don't think they even want it to be a good device.
so in short if you want a BB get the Bold ;-)
but
if you want a cool device that also can make calls and other phone stuff get the iPhone - it just keeps getting better with new software. As they say its not a phone or pda its a platform where just about any application can be written.
Lori commented December 11, 2008 10:02 AM
MacGuy - the Bold is a good solid unit but it lacks the multi touch screen features that I desire.
The only two on the market with multi touch are the Storm and iPhone, that I am aware of.
From all these reviews I'm hearing about the BB Storm, I am leaning towards the iPhone.
Lori commented December 11, 2008 10:11 AM
I just thought of something funny...
the poll results are eerily similar to the election poll. I wonder if all the people who voted McCain vote for the Black Berry and all the Obama voters are voting for the iPhone.
sex, politics and consumer electronics....is there really that much of a difference at the center of it all?
MacGuy commented December 11, 2008 10:24 AM
I was going to say that too -- BUT Obama is a die hard BB user
BUT thats said yeah I guess you need to add this to whole sex, politcs saying LOL
correct Bold no touchie -- due to the 3g thing and no corp discount with older iPhones (the new 3G model you can get discounts) I tried all of the touch screens over the past two months. my wife said in a serious tone.... take this Storm back and buy me an other iPhone or well i'd be sorry.
so the iPhone is a serious drug - once you use one you'll never want to use an other touch screen phone.
its biggest issue is with AT&T and that if you live in an non 3G area (most of this state is 3G) the device will drop a call when going from 3G to EDGE. But this happens with any GSM phone switching from EDGE to 3G. You can always turn off 3G and this will not be an issue.
other then that best device you can buy
Lori commented December 11, 2008 10:32 AM
Totally agree with you about the addiction of the iPhone. My brother got one a few months back and I was really obsessed with it, had to play with it whenever he was around. I can see where I'd be more addicted to the iPhone than my BB even.
It has bowling games and rainsticks!
2wildpugs commented December 11, 2008 5:05 PM
I know I am weighing in late but thought it was worth mentioning that Mossberg (Wall Street Journal) did a review of the Storm. If I remember right, his review was iffy at best. Not sure if you have a WSJ account so I sent the review to your email address.