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"Honest Review from prior Palm User" on by par4bri
Pros: Graphics, Weight, Stereo Bluetooth, Filtered Synch, GPS Navigation, Voice Dial w/Bluetooth
Cons: Too Many Steps to Complete any Task, Customization Limited, No Camera, Battery Life
Summary: After being loyal to Verizon for fifteen years, I am tired of the over charging, ridiculous pricing, and now $1.95 per line - per month for detailed billing. **** up a rope Verizon! I have determined that Sprint's coverage is just as good, pricing is a million times better, and as for all you complaining about tech support and customer service......it is the same everywhere. Terrible service and support is the industry standard with just about every type of product now.
I was really torn between the Treo 755P and the new Blackberry 8830. My sales associate at the Sprint store highly recommended the Blackberry. Note; he has never used a Palm and I have never owned a Blackberry. I truly think it is narrowed down to what you are used to. I can only imagine if I was a long time Blackberry user, I would rate this phone a 10+++. The graphics are awesome and I can customize my contact synchronization with Outlook (filter only to synch business and leave the personal contacts on my device). I was unable to do this with the Treo 650, and I did utilize both Verizon’s and Palm's tech support. I believe I can do this now with the Palm with, of course, a purchase of software. I love the fact that I can dial through my Bluetooth headset without ever pulling the phone out of the pouch on the Blackberry. One touch of the headset, and I hear, "say a command" through the headset. Did I mention I love this feature?
The graphics rock on this device. I feel like I am at home watching my plasma when I look at this screen. I also enjoy the option of full MP3 for a ringer.
As a prior Palm user, I will say the Palm software is FAR superior to the Blackberry. I can complete twice as many tasks in half the time with the Palm. Whether I am purging a call log, editing a contact, setting an appointment, or customizing the phone, the Blackberry takes triple the amount of steps necessary to complete the task.
I also do not like the fact that I have to remove the battery cover to access the MiniSD card, and the battery life is terrible, even though I was promised it is strong.
I am likely to return the Blackberry and exchange for the Treo 755P. I think the setup is a bit more challenging on the Treo (in all fairness I dig deep and utilize every possible function), however; once setup is complete the phone is very versatile and user friendly. My time is valuable and even considering that I would acclimate to the Blackberry OS, I can accomplish twice as much in half the time with the Treo. Too bad, I really like the look and feel of the Blackberry much better. -
"Awesome email and productivity capabilities!" on by naraiz
Pros: Track-ball navigation, applications, and globral capability.
Cons: Blackberry desktop manager software & Vista
Summary: Until I purchased the Blackberry 8830 I used the Samsung A900. Wow! What an improvement in productivity and email functionality! The push-email is feature is truly impressive. I don't mind the absence of a camera since I don't use my phone for serious photo taking anyway. The only real gripe I have about the phone is the Blackberry Desktop Manager software. I spent 2 1/2 hours with a Sprint representative installing and uninstalling various versions of the software to no avail. On the last attempt (which I did by myself) I chose the "ignore" option on the error message I received and the application finished loading. Surprisingly, the software then worked fine with Windows Vista Business. My 8830 now synchronizes perfectly with my MS Outlook 2007. Once I breeched this obstacle my experience has been wonderful with this device. I recommend the Blackberry 8830 just be sure to use the Blackberry Desktop Manager SP1 as this is the version compatible with Vista
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"The Best Phone Ive Owned" on by lmallen2790
Pros: big screen, easy to navigate, blackberry customer service
Cons: No camera, surface scratches easy, sprint customer service
Summary: The keyboard is actually easy to use. It is easy to navigate through to applications. Set up was easy and I like that it is a bit bigger because I have not dropped it once like I usually do my smaller phones. It is easy to drag and drop music and I love the instant messenger and although it doesnt have a camera you can still receive emails with picture attatchments. I dont think there is a such thing as a perfect phone, but this is close. Another great thing is that if you have problems you dont have to call Sprint you can just call Blackberry. They have knowledgeable and friendly reps who can handle everything for you except the billing aspect.
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"Sprint Service is AWFUL!" on by teeree33
Pros: The phone itself is a great device, very easy to use and very easy to set up.
Cons: You are unable to do text messaging outside of the US with Sprint. In some countries where Sprints site says they have voice service they really don't, and there customer service is awful.
Summary: I was in Buenos Aires which on Sprints site says that voice and data are available. However neither were available to me. I contacted Sprint every day for 1 week and they never resolved the issue and every time they said they would call me back at the hotel they NEVER did.
Then this week I was in Mexico City the voice and data both work fine however I am unable to do text messages. I called Sprint and they said text doesnt work internationally. However I have a Chat message that I saved from a conversation that I had with a Support person from Sprint and he told me that Text would work internationally. IT DOES NOT! A co-worker shows up in Mexico with the SAME (different color of course) device but his service is with Verizon and he was able to do text messaging from his phone in Mexico but I cannot with Sprint. I am within my 30 days, I called to cancel my account with Sprint and it took 4 hours to do. When I get home I am going straight to the Verizon store. -
"Great device but customer service is HORRIBLE!!!" on by nikolas70
Pros: Easy setup. took 10 minutes out of the box to begin receiving e-mails and making calls
Cons: Spint?Nextel customer care is the worst I've ever experienced.
Summary: I have nothing negative to write about the device itself. Easy to use (and this is my first Blackberry). was able to set up e-mail and load pictures within 15 minutes. Keypad is a little small but I got use to it in a day, and I have fat fingers!
BIG PROBLEM...Sprint/Nextel customer "care". I had two minor issues I needed help with. It took two days, 7 transfers and over an hour of hold time to get someone to help me. It was a very bad experience.
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