Questions from a potential Blackberry 7750 Buyer...
Hi everybody!
First off, thank you for letting me join in your discussion of Blackberry PDA/combo phones. I'm sure you can help clear up a few general questions I have...
First, I am not a member of a company that uses Blackberries. I'm self-employed, and also teach martial arts on the side. This means I have several different email addresses and whatnot. I've heard that Blackberry has a "web client" that services people like me. I've tried to find out some information on this, but I haven't been too successful. Can you describe this for me? I have 5 different POP 3 email accounts...will the Blackberry work for me?
I understand the differences between push and pull email. I have a Treo 600 and Hitachi G1000 that pull email in every 10 minutes or so. Will the Blackberry using the web client be a better solution for me? Or will I see about the same level of service?
It's my understanding that the screens on the 7700 series are "Bright and Crisp." As these phones haven't been released yet, I'm sure many of you haven't seen them to make a judgement about them. However, do you think I can expect a screen that's in the ballpark of the Treo 600 (which is low rez but bright) and the G1000 (which is just great)?
In case you're interested, the reason I'm thinking of a Blackberry is that Verizon has great service here in Los Angeles, and the keyboard seems to both backlit and awesome. The Treo's keyboard is tiny, and the G1000's isn't backlit. Since I do a lot of emailing, I rely a lot on the keyboard and thought I might take a flutter on the 7750 when it's released. What do you think?
Thank you for your time -
Sifu Z.
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www.kungfuschool.org
Welcome (potentially) to the world of BlackBerry - good to see another martial artist here (although I am but a student).
Having only seen the 7750 once at a trade show, I won't pretend to be an expert, but here is my opinion. As a bit of background I have a Treo 600, a BlackBerry 7510 (Nextel) and Nokia 6600 to compare with.
First of all, the BlackBerry Web Client (BWC) does what you suggest with the five (5) POP3 e mail accounts. It polls them every 15 minutes, and send the results to your BlackBerry. YOU CAN ONLY REPLY WITH ONE E-MAIL ADDRESS. If you have the POP3 e-mail accounts forwarded to the BlackBerry e-mail account (part of the BWC), then there is no 15 minutes poll - the e-mail hits the BB quickly.
The best part of all BlackBerrys is the keyboard, and the intuitive software that it uses (there are tons of shortcuts - like hitting the space bar three times to give you a period, two spaces and capitalize the next word). I hit the Treo micro-keyboard space bar three times and get, well, three spaces.
Backlighting has traditionally been a source of discussion on BlackBerrys. I've always found in adequate. The 7700s have much better backlighting. The trade-off is between backlighting and battery life. Most PDA phones have awful battery life. With the BB you can get 2-3 days (with "average" phone use) which I've found to be better than the other PDAs. That is completely subjective.
I am not a big fan of Verizon Wireless - because it has been difficult to get information and assistance on the BlackBerry. They are the last vendor to come out with a color BlackBerry, their cost structure is at the high end (important when you have 400+ BlackBerrys floating around a company), and they were the last to come out with the 3.6 software. I also believe their domestic network is the best in terms of coverage and speed. Verizon Wireless does NOT support web browsing on their BlackBerry. All of the other carriers do support web browsing.
It depends on what you need. If you need real-time (or near real-time) e-mail, then get the BlackBerry. If you need lots of third party applications (read: games) use the Treo 600. My wife liked the Treo so much she got one. Mine is sitting somewhere in my office. My BlackBerry is never out of reach
Thank you so much for your reply! It is a great help. What martial art do you study? While I teach Kung Fu, I always consider myself a student too!
Would you clarify two more things for me? First, my Treo can "poll" my email addresses every 10 minutes or so, and reply from the various accounts. So I'd give the edge to the Treo there. However, I wouldn't mind forwarding and replying to and from one account if that made it instant. Is this something that gets set up from inside BWC? Or would I have to go into the mail settings on my main computer, set up forwarding for each account and then leave my computer on all day?
Also - I had read that you can browse the web with the Blackberry. Is this only a Verizon thing?
If you don't mind my asking, what really draws you to the Blackberry? The keyboard I understand. What else appeals to you?
My only reason for looking to Verizon here is the coverage. It drives me crazy when people can't get ahold of me or calls drop due to bad covereage. Here in Los Angeles, I'd say the best service comes from Verizon and Sprint. AT&T is okay, but T-Mobile and Cingular are terrible.
My wife and I considered getting a pair of Nextel Blackberries - but the screens seemed a bit dim looking...
Again - thanks so much for your help and your time!
Sifu Z.
__________________
Check out my Kung Fu School!
www.kungfuschool.org
I study Okinawan Kempo Karate (Ryu Kyu). Pressure points and pain Should have started it years ago (I could be referred to as entering middle age - my kids just call me old). Whole family does it. The family that kicks together sticks together.
The key advantage to the BlackBerry is the integration with a corporate e-mail system - that is its niche and heritage. The BWC just appeared last year - for those without a corporate e-mail network. I've been using a BlackBerry for 4-5 years because of the integration with corporate e-mail. The phone and web browsing came later.
Remember that the Treo "pulls" e-mail; while the BWC "pushes" it. That's an important distinction - especially if you can forward e-mail to your BlackBerry e-mail address (then there is no 15 minute delay).
You can browse the web. On every carrier except Verizon. You can browse on Verizon if you have a "BlackBerry Enterprise Server" - which, again, is a corporate tool. There are third party BES providers that you can use (for a fee) - but I've never used them and can't really comment.
The BWC does NOT require you to leave a PC turned on.
I really like the Nextel BlackBerry. Great speakerphone. I am one who does not complain about the screen brightness - I am more than happy to trade that for outstanding battery life. But I travel overseas and the Nextel doesn't. So I use T-Mobile, which has good coverage where I am normally...
That's some really good food for thought. I think I can forward my POP 3 emails to the Blackberry with no problem - but the web stuff concerns me. I'll probably do a little research into the 3rd party solutions before I make my decision.
You've been a great help! I'll let you know if I take the plunge...
Cheers!
Sifu Z.
__________________
Check out my Kung Fu School!
www.kungfuschool.org
If web browsing is very important, take a good look at the Nextel 7510. It has a more robust TCP/IP stack, and can run third party browsers (which many of the others can't unless you have the BES/MDS combination). Nextel Online (NOL) is their built in WAP web browser (not too bad), but with the ReqWireless browser, you have reasonably full HTML browsing.
Do you like the "push to talk" feature? That's why my wife and I were thinking of getting them.
I noticed that the Verizon phone has no antenna...does the antenna bother you at all, or do you not notice it?
You don't happen to know if NEXTEL has good reception in Los Angeles, do you?
One thing I liked about Nextel was that their service plan was unlimited incoming calls, and 300 minutes of outgoing. That is way within my normal phone usage.
By the way - I just got back from teaching our Saturday class, and forgot to tell you that a friend of mine studied your martial art! Loved it, and if he hadn't had a couple of kids would have continued pursuing it. I don't know much about it - but he sure swears by it!
Cheers!
Sifu Z.
__________________
Check out my Kung Fu School!
www.kungfuschool.org
I've only used the PTT once or twice - I just got the Nextel a few weeks ago, but one of our divisions loves PTT and just ordered a pile of the 7510s. The antenna is a little bothersome, but not overly so. I wear it on the side side of my belt, tileting forward so the antenna doesn't jab me. Not the worst. The Treo also has a stick out antenna
Don't know about LA reception - sorry...
Okinawan Kempo is fun - I am really getting into the mental aspect (which pressure points combine with which other points, and how they all interact). It's taken me three years just to start to understand it... We also do weapons training (mostly sticks) which is not part of Okinawan Kempo, but our instructor likes them My wife clocked me in the head with a stick at the last test.
My wife does kung fu with our class too. She's a red sash, one below black. I've been at this for over 11 years now...hard to believe. Check our our website if you have a minute - www.kungfu.tv. (or the lijiaquan address below.) Let me know what you think - our approach is pretty contemporary for a traditional style...
As for the Nextel - I'll look into it. Problem is, the Nextel reps all tell me the service in L.A. is great - but all providers say that. I need to find somebody in L.A. with a Nextel phone to let me know how their covereage is.
Thanks!
Sifu Z.
__________________
Check out my Kung Fu School!
www.kungfuschool.org
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