Blackberry v Iphone

Blackberry v Iphone

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My mobile phone contract is up for renewal. I am thinking should I change to Blackberry from Iphone?

I do not have any issues with iphone. I thought Blackberry is better as a business phone. I am not a big app user. The ones I need are also available on Blackberry.

Would it be better to move to a windows phone since I use Microsoft Office? How about an Anroid?

It is all very confusing.

My needs inaddition to making and receving calls are:

1) Outlook access

2) Some apps that I use

3) Simple camera

4) SatNav (I have an app for this)

5) My itunes stuff audio books and music. This I think means I am stuck with Apple?

Thanks

Replies (10)

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By thacca
19th Dec 2010 21:23

Android

I have an android phone that with a paid for app syncs well with hotmail (where I keep my calendar via outlook connector). I understand it works with ms exchange server as well.

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Giraffe
By Luke
19th Dec 2010 23:23

Blackberry Storm 2

I have a Blackberry Storm 2 which is wonderful in every way apart from one fairly fundamental - the reception is shocking when compared to other phones on the same network.  My other half and I are both on vodafone, one phone shows full reception yet mine is often stuck on a SOS signal.

That aside, it does everything you'd want it to and has a lovely feel, if it wasn't for the reception issue I'd be getting another but will think twice when it comes to upgrade next summer.

It depends what sort of apps you use, but there are far fewer apps available for blackberrys, iphone still have the main choice on that front.

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By thisistibi
20th Dec 2010 11:36

Pointless asking us

It's pointless asking AW users.  The answer is that you need to choose the one that you find best for your needs.  A lot of this could be personal preference due to having a real keyboard (like on the Blackberrry) or wanting the latest technology where Blackberry can't keep up (like Android or the iPhone).

You need to go and use both of them in a store.

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John Stokdyk, AccountingWEB head of insight
By John Stokdyk
20th Dec 2010 12:01

Don't think it's pointless to ask

I'll have to disagree thisistibi. It's always a good idea to ask friends and acquaintaces about their experiences with technology when making a choice of your own.

Just testing a device in the shop won't give you anywhere near enough data to make an informed decision. But collecting feedback from users who have some experience under their belt can highlight the strengths and weaknesses that really matter to you in the long term.

So, Max, as a BlackBerry user given to occasional iPhone envy, I'd say that if music is a priority, don't waste your time here. But I notice it's fairly far down your list of priorities. Apps are relatively low too, and since you're looking for Outlook integration, that's a strong point in BlackBerry's favour. We use it connected to a corporate Exchange system, and while the email synching is very good, I've noticed that my BB diary has stopped picking up appointments and dates. I'll need to contact our IT department about that - which is one of the issues you need to consider. While Outlook integration is great with BBs, someone needs to set it up. Will that be you? Or do you have someone to take care of it? Exchange will also bring a cost implication.

If you're only using it on an individual level, you'll need to look into the BlackBerry Internet Service - a web interface that handles the integration. But I don't know the cost implications either, as you may find you need to use wireless data connection. BlackBerry has a mediocre camera, but I find it works quite well with a built-in "email to" facility I use to post images on Twitpic.

The Storm model I use is a nice size, but at the expense of the screen. I also prefer a physical keyboard to on-screen, but again this reduces the screen size.

If you are looking to surf the web from your smartphone, again I would look at Windows or iPhone options, both for speed of connection and visual quality. Some of that will be down to the device itself, but also the quality of the network signal. When it comes to sending email, though, the BB is very fast.

Gina, meanwhile, has a new HTC Desire that she's very pleased with. I'll get her to offer some advice too.

Hope this helps, and let us know which device you go for.

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By Hugh Scantlebury
20th Dec 2010 12:20

...and then buy on-line

...as it's normally cheaper (no o'heads to support) and importantly you get a cooling off period of 7 working days under the Distance Selling Regulations. If you find it's not for you, you can send it back with no quibbles. 

Just a penny-worth: It's 2010, the choice is the Apple iPhone or Android.

BB, like Nokia (Symbian) = old tech. Windows Phone 7 and WebOS (Palm Pre) too niche and also-rans.

Android  is equally as capable as iPhone, there are options for units with keyboards and things generally work out cheaper.

Saying that, I love my iPhone 4.

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By Gina Dyer
20th Dec 2010 12:24

At the risk of sounding like a cheerleader...

Go HTC Desire! I just got mine this week (free with my Orange contract, which is £17.50 a month) and I think it's brilliant. I am an Apple fan and desperately wanted an iPhone but I just couldn't afford it. The contracts on those are extortionate and the price for just the handset was more than I could pay.

However, the HTC Desire does everything you've listed above and more, for about half the price of an iPhone and in many cases you can get it for free with pretty decent contract terms like I did. It looks much like an iPhone too if you're bothered about that kind of thing.

I had a Blackberry before this and I find it much more user friendly than the Blackberry.

One of the biggest endorsements I can give you for the HTC Desire is that all the IT geeks I know have it - and they are usually very demanding of their gadgets!

Good luck with your phone hunt.

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By stevemick
20th Dec 2010 14:30

HTC Desire

I would concur with what Gina has said about the HTC Desire. I've had mine for about six months now and wouldn't switch to anything else.

The built-in Mail app handles Exchange mail, calendar and contacts very well.

The camera is pretty decent for a phone and has a good flash on it.

For music, the in-built app is average but not great. However as it is an Android phone you can easily download a new one (my personal preference is Cubed).

For books, there is the new Google Books service, although I don't think that's available in the UK yet. There is of course the very good Amazon Kindle app.

For Sat Nav the Android beats other phones hands down simply because of the in-built Google Navigation app. I paid £80 for my phone soon after it was released and this feature was worth the price alone. Couldn't be without it now!

If you're not yet sold on a touch screen keyboard (it took me a few weeks to get used to it) there are other models (I think the HTC Desire Z being one) that have slide-out keyboards. Because of the wider range of manufacturers there is a wider range of hardware specs out there, so you should find something to suit.

Hope this helps!

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Teignmouth
By Paul Scholes
20th Dec 2010 20:36

HTC Desire - Just in time

A well timed thread thanks.

With friends' stories of dropped sync with their office systems and the need to get a techie  to sort it (echoed above) and with some keeping an ordinary phone for voice & text,  I looked for a BB alternative and came up with the Nokia E72.  It has a similar look to the BB and the qwerty keyboard has a better feel, texting is good, it also took only minutes to sync with my Exchange Server (and my personal Gmail account) and has maintained this without fail for nearly a year now.

I understand however that the BB handles email far more effeciantly and more securely than this and other devices, anyone know if that's true.

The E72 has it's cons, ie it's heavy, the navigation button is poor, it never recognises phone numbers till I've answered them(!) and it throws a wobbly once or twice a month meaning I have to remove the battery to re-set it.

With an eco policy of "use till it drops" I'll stick with the Nokia but my wife wants to make the leap to a business phone and whilst drawn to the iphone, we think it would be overkill and so I'm interested in the comments above on the HTC Desire. 

Maybe a stupid question but will it sync to web-based email accounts (eg Virgin media, Gmail, Yahoo) also is texting OK (she makes a lot of use of that)?

I see there's an HD version but I presume that comments above are on the original model?

Thanks in advance

 

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By User deleted
21st Dec 2010 09:46

Thanks for a really helpful response. Over the Christmas and the New Year period, I will walk into my local phone shop and test the Android phones. Reading the response, these do appeal to me since I am not tied to one provider like Apple. They just have too much power as a result! All my audio books and music are on Itunes. This means they have a strong hold on me.

Will post the outcome here.

 

 

 

 

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By cverrier
25th Jan 2011 13:38

HTC - Data sync

When my old iPhone contract came to a close a while back, I got an HTC to play with.    I didn't like its interface much (HTC's custom front end clashed rather with the rest of the OS - so it felt very inconsistent - although I'm sure I'd have got used to it).

The deal breaker for me, however, was the discovery that the HTC software wouldn't support synchronisation with Outlook 2010.   HTC support were no help (either in person or on line).    So back it went.    Out of curiosity, I left the call open even after returning the phone, and I'm still awaiting a response after MONTHS of waiting.    Being with Apple had made me forget how painful it is to deal with other technology companies. 

I went for an iPhone 4 - and it synchronised Outlook 2010 without the slightest trouble.   I don't ever regret the choice.

Sorry Gina!

 

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