Blackberry vs. Android

[ChuckstrPT]

Any experience out there with these two? I've never been a Blackberry fan, and am not really a "social" phone user. I've used a Palm Treo 650 for years. No email, no data. Just the phone, and my life's organization in the calendar, contacts, tasks, and memo's. I very much like having back up on my computer. And my understanding is that Android can't do that, but can sync to Google Calendar, nothing for contacts, tasks, or memo's. I really don't know much about the Blackberry, being a Palm user....But, I'm under the impression that it sync's to Outlook, so I'd have back up on the home puter. I'm not really happy about spending another $25 /month (make that 50 cause If I upgrade the wife has to upgrade) for data, but can't get either without it. So that's a non issue. In addition to Blackberry, I was looking at the Motorola Cliq. We're on Tmobile. I think I wanna stay with some kind of physical keyboard, not ready to commit to full touch screen.
My use: I'm a Home Health Physical Therapist, and use my phone frequently for calling patients, doctor offices, and my office all day long, on the road. I used to love my Sony car radio that answered my phone for me while I drove (can't hold a phone and shift at the same time) UNTIL it died yesterday... I have no experience with email or FB updates on the go, or any other internet uses. I have all my contacts for everything on my phone, and the schedule books up a month in advance, both work and family. Currently, my phone IS my strategy for staying organized.
Any input appreciated:wave1:

 

[old_man]

I run a Blackberry Curve at work. My wife runs an HTC Droid. The BB sync to Outlook is nice and without it at work I would be lost, but the Droid has a much nicer interface and works much better for browsing. She has it set up to get here email from a half dozen servers. The Outlook calendar for scheduling appointments and meetings is a requirement for work, but if I could get my IT department to allow the Droid inside the firewall, I would change in a heartbeat.

 

[Johnnie Walker]

I would say a WM powered phone would be best. I have used all three, and like the Wm powered phones the best. I do not like how the RIM software is, same with the Android OS.

 

[red-xj]

I love Android. I program for the phone as well. It's open, durable, has a GREAT gps (high-end survey units use the same chip...I can get sub-meter accuracy with tweaking), and I love the interface.

If you're on the road all day, Google Maps on Android in the best thing ever! It has built in voice guidance and turn by turn. I'm a android fanboy, but the best thing to do is mosy into a cell-shop and play with each. Who's your provider?

 

[ChuckstrPT]

I love Android. I program for the phone as well. It's open, durable, has a GREAT gps (high-end survey units use the same chip...I can get sub-meter accuracy with tweaking), and I love the interface.

If you're on the road all day, Google Maps on Android in the best thing ever! It has built in voice guidance and turn by turn. I'm a android fanboy, but the best thing to do is mosy into a cell-shop and play with each. Who's your provider?

Tmobile. I've also looked at WM HTC Touch Pro 2, but it's 269....ouch. The BB is only 130, the Cliq is 150? I'd consider the Touch Pro 2 more if it wasn't 150 more than the others. As for GPS, I looked at the phones about 9 months ago for GPS, and came to the conclusion that if I'm using GPS every day, all day, and I do, then a stand alone unit would be best. Love my Garmin 500
And....Tmobile is running Buy one Get one until 3/31....so we're considering...(of course that comes with a $50/month bump in our bill.....:rattle
Thanks for the input!

 

[ChuckstrPT]

I would say a WM powered phone would be best. I have used all three, and like the Wm powered phones the best. I do not like how the RIM software is, same with the Android OS.

So sell me on Windows Mobile? What do you like about it? I've never been a huge Microsoft fan...not that they aren't useful.:wave1:

 

[Johnnie Walker]

Well, I myself pretty much dispise windows OS for desktop/laptop stuff. But there are tons of custom roms and BYO setups. easy to navigate (especially with touch screen). Most of the newer ones have built-in GPS, and there are so many programs you can download/run on them. Most of the time when there is an updated/newer version of the WM OS you can get it for free. I recommend checking out the forums over at xda-developers.com If you don't want to pay for the touchscreen, then maybe check out the dash 3g. Has the same OS, just doesn't have full touch screen. And it doesnt seem like you NEED or HAVE TO HAVE that since you are looking at the BB's.
In case you did not know. as a loophole, you can upgrade with T-mo then after you get your phones, you can switch to the other plan that is 10+$ cheaper.
gsmarena.com is a good place to research phones and check out reviews and features and such.

 

[ChuckstrPT]

In case you did not know. as a loophole, you can upgrade with T-mo then after you get your phones, you can switch to the other plan that is 10+$ cheaper.
gsmarena.com is a good place to research phones and check out reviews and features and such.

Thanks for the input and the website....looks very useful! What is this "other" plan with Tmobile?? We're currently in the family package, w/me on unlimited minutes.

 

[FlexdXJ]

I have a BlackBerry Storm. When it works good its awesome, when its acting stupid I want to shoot it!

 

[wolfpackjeeper]

My mom works home health PT in NC. Her company just got everyone a blackberry curve and linked their email and contacts to it. My mom is not a big techno gadget person at all but is really starting to like the blackberry.

As for me, It will be a while before I own something that is not a blackberry. I like mine.

 

[ChuckstrPT]

As for me, It will be a while before I own something that is not a blackberry. I like mine.

What is it about your Blackberry that you like? what functions? how does it make your life easier?

 

[old_man]

My biggest complaint is that the browser isn't great on normal web sites.

 

[wolfpackjeeper]

the email is great, I use it a lot. The browser is not bad, you just have to get used to it. Other than that it has just been a good phone.

 

[GrimmJeeper]

i love my G1. best phone i've ever had, and to top it off most of the apps for it are free. the android OS works great for what I use it for, and I like being able to keep up on my email and such. the text message threading is a godsend if you are coming from a phone that doesnt do it. Also, with google maps integrated into the OS, your phone becomes a navigation unit FOR FREE, after a recent update it even has voice nav and turn by turn navigation. you can even have it overlay the street view on the nav screen, so you can move the phone around and see if you are in the right place or go a couple directions ahead and see what your next turn or destination is going to look like so you can watch out for it.

overall I am really impressed with what the phone can do, and it keeps getting better.

 

[RichP]

One comment if it matters, only the iPhone has a cisco client, none of the others have them or are they available, if your company uses cisco firewalls that becomes an issue.

 

[ECKSJAY]

One comment if it matters, only the iPhone has a cisco client, none of the others have them or are they available, if your company uses cisco firewalls that becomes an issue.

When was the last time you checked?

 

[RichP]

I tried a couple of packages within the last month or so that were supposed to work on the android, couple of people have their own. No way to set the group passwd. Got a cisco guy coming in wed to straighten out the licensing on our asa and put in anywere without hosing the vpn setup. I need it for win7 64bit users seeing as how cisco decided not to come out with a standard 64bit client.

 

[ChuckstrPT]

One comment if it matters, only the iPhone has a cisco client, none of the others have them or are they available, if your company uses cisco firewalls that becomes an issue.

Although I use it for work, it is not a "work" phone. We get a monthly stipend to put towards phone, and we can use it any way we need to. So, It's used daily for work, but also will be personal. And needs to be able to keep me as organized as my old Treo 650. I'm really needing good, clear phone function, Calendar, Tasks, and Memo's. I'd really like that to sync to my computer, as well as share one calendar with my wife. With the palm software, we have separate calendars, not convenient. The extra's, internet access, GPS, Facebook are nice but not needed. Unfortunately, I have to have data plan, so either way, I'll have access. So why not grab the best fun stuff too?
If the Blackberry doesn't do the fun stuff as well, why not grab one of the others if they do the organization too? I'm really thinking Motorola Cliq (x2 to cover the wife). I found a sync program that sync's to the computer, Companion Link. I like the idea of a bigger screen. It seems to do the Fluff Stuff better than BB. I like the mechanical QWERTY. It's got a 5mp camera. And that Andriod OS seems to be growing, and I've read good reviews. The only reason I'm not considering the Touch Pro 2 (WM) is the price. I think price equal, I'd more closely consider that...I like the tilting screen.
Did I miss anything? I'm kind of disappointed the BB did end up more favorable. I like the packaging...but has a small screen.
Thanks for the input!

 

[ECKSJAY]

The only reason I'm not considering the Touch Pro 2 (WM) is the price. I think price equal, I'd more closely consider that...I like the tilting screen.

Have been running the TP2 through T-Mobile for a few months now and LOVE IT. I have since upgraded to the TMo Windows Mobile 6.5 ROM and it runs great. I've done some research and mildly tweaked it with info from XDA-Developers.com (registry and advanced settings) to speed it up a little. I held my breath because my last experience was several years ago with a Dell Axim...and that thing needed to be 'formatted' once a farking week it seemed. The 6.5 on this thing feels a thousand times more stable and very rarely do I have it hang. I have found damn near everything that I want for it (except a shot timer, which is available for iPhone and Android, I believe), so that hasn't been an issue. I have GPS with a big display and geocaching abilities. I tried Outlook just to try the synchronization and it worked brilliantly. I use Microsoft My Phone to upload selected files/contacts automatically in the middle of the night. I have been VERY impressed with this phone thing and if I were to do it again I'd have the patience to wait for something that could run WP7 effectively (of course that would have meant more $$$). Wife and I got these essentially free after upgrade rebates by sending our old smartphones in and with credit built up with T-Mobile.

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

 

[DrMoab]

If I had T-Mobil (or Verizon now) I would have the new Google phone...hands down.