Topic: Blackberry 8310 with ATT - Yay or Nay?

[shock]

I currently have a regular, average slider phone.  I'm considering upgrading to a Blackberry because I like the idea of being able to check my email constantly as well as being able to shoot off quick ones.  Instant Messaging is also a plus, as is having a device that is able to browse HTML websites at all times of the day without having to worry about WiFi or starting up my laptop.  I'd grab a 2GB MicroSD card and throw some songs on it, too, as it has a headphone jack and a decent media player(I mean, it's no iPhone, but I don't really need something of that size).  Ooh, and the camera is 2 megapixels.  Not bad.

I'd be getting the Blackberry Personal Max plus Unlimited Messaging plan, which is an additional 49.99$ per month, but adds unlimited texting/messaging, unlimited email, and unlimited web browsing (as far as I can tell).

Anyone have any experience with them?  Thoughts?  How is the web browser?  Are you able to browse nearly all web sites?  What is the media player like?  Did I pick out the right plan for my uses(I don't use a corporate email, but rather just a university one and Gmail)?

[beo]

i haven't used a blackberry myself, but engadget recently did an "ask engadget" feature on 3G smartphones and the blackberry didn't come out too well. the Nokia N95, HTC Tilt, and the XDA all received a much better reception.

http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/30/ask-engadget-best-3g-smartphone/

[scottws]

I think the biggest thing holding the Blackberries back is the Edge network.  3G is supposedly much faster.  I have a Blackberry Pearl, and I do like it.  But web browsing can be pretty slow sometimes.

But yeah the e-mail thing is really nice.  I use it all the time.  Web browsing less so.  But I use Google Talk on it too.

The web browser is ok.  I don't have any qualms with it.  You can also get Opera Mini, which is more like a true desktop web browser, which is both good and bad.  For instance, some websites detect if you are using a mobile browser and scale the site way back so there isn't as much scrolling or image loading.  The Blackberry browser is one of those detected browsers.  Opera Mini is not.  This forum looks very different in both browsers.

I don't know if you need the unlimited plan.  I have some plan where I get like 5000 text messages and unlimited data for $40.  I text a fair amount and I think the most messages I had were like 600.  I don't even use data all that much, but I do generally use more than the 4 MB that one plan offers.

[beo]

i haven't used edge, but i have been trialling a bunch of 3G data cards / USB modems for work so can attest for 3G's speed. i have no idea what speeds you get state-side, but my throughput has averaged somewhere between 1-3Mb/s, which for a mobile device is pretty good.

[shock]

Wow.  I am really liking everything I am reading about the Tilt.  It's a bit more expensive, but it sounds like it may be worth it.  That could nearly be an all in one device, cutting down on my need to lug my laptop around with me to get quick information from the Internet.  And it's got MS Office, WiFi, a 3MP camera, etc.

With Windows Mobile 6, I'm assuming it comes with some kind of mobile version of IE as a browser.  However, I am guessing that I could get other browsers on their pretty easily if things weren't working out.

Thanks guys!

[iPPi]

I'd rather get a Nokia N95 8GB.

[scottws]

i haven't used edge, but i have been trialling a bunch of 3G data cards / USB modems for work so can attest for 3G's speed. i have no idea what speeds you get state-side, but my throughput has averaged somewhere between 1-3Mb/s, which for a mobile device is pretty good.

Understatement of the year.  Yeah, that's pretty quick considering in the U.S. that's the average home broadband speed, with 3 Mb/s being on the high end.

[beo]

yeah, it's nice and speedy. unfortunately if the area you're in doesn't have 3G coverage, you're dropping back to ISDN type speeds (or occasionally, nothing at all). the coverage is good here though, and getting better by the day. if you're in a "good" area, you'll get a consistent 3.6Mb/s, which i have on good authority is going to be raised to 7.2Mb/s over the next year or two. that said, 3G has been around for a while here and given that we're a small, densly populated island, the uptake of new networks is a far quicker process than in the US, so i wouldn't expect the same speeds or coverage that i've been getting.

anyway, enough on that tangent.

[Pugnate]

Learn how to spell Crackberry imho.

Also I want one.

[scottws]

yeah, it's nice and speedy. unfortunately if the area you're in doesn't have 3G coverage, you're dropping back to ISDN type speeds (or occasionally, nothing at all). the coverage is good here though, and getting better by the day. if you're in a "good" area, you'll get a consistent 3.6Mb/s, which i have on good authority is going to be raised to 7.2Mb/s over the next year or two. that said, 3G has been around for a while here and given that we're a small, densly populated island, the uptake of new networks is a far quicker process than in the US, so i wouldn't expect the same speeds or coverage that i've been getting.

anyway, enough on that tangent.

We talked about why Europe and Japan are so far ahead of the U.S. in wireless technology in one of my IT classes.  Basically, it's easy and inexpensive to set up or change towers/receiving stations/antennae when you are only worried about a "small, densly populated island." (sic)

When you have a shit-ton of land to cover, and much of it is sparsely populated, it is difficult enough to get 100% coverage and then you have emerging technologies rolling out that require upgrades to the infrastructure.  Needless to say, it is a massive undertaking.

[shock]

After some more searching, I came across the Blackjack II.  Seems to offer a lot of the same features as the Tilt in a smaller package.  For example, it weighs 4oz instead of 6oz.  And I love the Samsung I have now. I've beat this thing into the ground and it always keeps on truckin'.  There are 2 decent downsides: 1) No WiFi - This may sound like a bigger deal than it is, as it is likely that I can stay on G3 which is comparable, 2) The screen isn't a touch screen, but rather has a little wheel thing that you navigate with.  Meh.

Perks:
Fastest G3 service of any phone tested, best call clarity, etc
Windows Mobile 6
MS Office
Windows Media Player 10 Mobile
GPS
2MP Camera (supposedly the camera doesn't look too good for a 2MP one, but I rarely use my 1.3MP one that I have now)
Half the price of the ATT Tilt

[beo]

just make sure to check what your 3G coverage is like. also, unless you've got a liberal data plan in place using net access on 3G devices can get pricey.

[scottws]

Is Windows For Mobile any good?  A guy at work has a Motorola Q and he's always bitching about all the errors he gets.

[Cobra951]

It works reasonably well.  No major problems on my PDA over about 3 years time.

[shock]

3G coverage in my areas are good.

I'm back to the Tilt, now.  I'll post pics when I get it.