Thinking seriously about selling my iPaq 5555 and going blackberry. I love the fact I'd have real e-mail, web, and IM access. Not to mention a great PIM & a bunch of other goodies. With the new 4.0 release and new hardware out, BB have seriously closed the gap with Pocket PC/Palm devices. Anybody use them, what do you think? Do you use it a ton? Dislikes? I'm looking at the 7520 w/ Nextel.

 

I don't have one, but I support some users who do...they seem to love them. I think they are 7520's. Have cell phone built in. And we do use Nextel. They like the walkie-talkie feature more than anything else.

Email, have to type with your thumbs on the tiny non-qwerty keyboard. Great for reading email on the fly, though.

Oh, and it seems about once a week I have to drop a user from the BES server and re-add them to fix goofy problems. (Might be the service, though, causing them)

 

The company I work for writes financial applications for the BlackBerry. I work in the QA/Software Test department. I get to play with all the new models.

Of all the carriers I test with, I have the toughest time with the Nextel units. Nextel uses a different carrier mechanism than all the other carriers. I also experience more time outs on the Nextel devices - even in areas of good signal coverage.

The Nextel units are bulkier as well. They are thicker, and are the only carrier that requires an external antenna. It sticks up about an inch, and can be extended out to about 4 inches. None of the other carriers have this external antenna, the others are internal and cannot be seen.

Another model I do not care for is the T-Mobile 7100 series. The display is the best I have seen, but the keyboard is more like a cell phone, with 3 characters on each key - where a standard BlackBerry has a full qwerty keyboard.

We have the least problems with the AT&T (Cingular) devices. 7780 or 7290 are both nice units.

If you have any specific questions, fire away, I'll do my best to answer.

Jim

 

I take that back...they are qwerty key boards. As I remember, though, it was akward trying to type with your thumbs.

 

We work in metal-siding buildings. All of my BlackBerry (nextel) users have to stand near a window, or go outside, to get a signal. Not a real big deal for getting email, but really creates a vacuum (sucks) as far as cell phone goes. Their old cingular cell phones worked inside these buildings.

 

Hmmm... I currently have nextel service and am happy with it. I've read other 7520 users actually getting better reception with their BBs. I guess that really depends on network coverage in your area.

The antenna is prolly required since Nextel is in the 800mhz range. While Nextel's network can be difficult for somethings, it's pretty sweet since you get an actual IP address and can do a little more with internet-based apps. Also, their built-in GPS (not just a-gps, but real gps!) makes for some exciting apps down the road. I've seen a map program already that takes advantage of this functionality.

Now, if I can only convince webmaster to make F150online WAP-enabled...

 

I think that is the case here (Huntsville, AL)....Once Nextel gets some better hardware in around here, taller towers , whatever it takes, then they will be the cool service to have. Our users in Orlando don't have any reception issues with Nextel.

 

My dad has one for work. he uses it alot, seems like every 5 min he is on it, i'll ask him later how he likes it

 

hmmm...I wonder if they're hiring...

 

You may know some of them...quite a few live in Melbourne and Cocoa beach, Titusville, all along the coast there. It's an Army installation.

http://www.peostri.army.mil

Gov't. jobs and contractor jobs galore.

 

Bump for bigred & other potential BB users...

 

D,

I talked to my dad about it he said he likes it alot, he has yet to have any problems with it, he has droped it a few times and it still works, he also said its great to be able to get all of his email to his phone. and once again i said he uses it alot (employees and Customers) seems like every time I turn around he is on it.......

 

Excellent bigred! I haven't met a BB user that hasn't liked it. Think it's a done deal... now, anyone want to buy an iPaq 5555?!

 

Just let me know if you have any questions...

 

I have one I like it BUT BB are based and designed for corporate use based on a BES server. I undertsand individual email is not as elegant .

Also there are almost NO applications written for the BB. At least no cheap ones. Since it is a corporate device the few developers there are like to charge big $$ for the smallest software package. You end up stuck with whats included on the BB from RIM - The ONLY app I found that was reasonable was a $5 Texas Hold Em game.

The 7280 series ( ATT ) are tough to hold as a phone - Our users like the new 7100 series better - having 3 buttons on a key is ok since it has predictive text. The form factor is more phone like - display is better -

Doug