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"Almost perfect" on by ivanawfulitch
Pros: Easy to use,
Cons: Voice dialing is a joke
Summary: This is my first smart phone. Having upgraded from a Razr, I expected the voice dialing feature with the Blackberry to be just as good. Unfortunately it is almost useless, but that is the only con with this phone. The capability to have video and music is a great feature. I would highly recommend this phone.
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"Don't rely on Verizon Navigation software" on by zydeholic
Pros: Easy to use once you get used to it, file transfer with usb cable
Cons: GPS will only work with Verizon Navigator, not Google Maps
Summary: I got this phone for evaluation, comparing it against an ATT Tilt. The Tilt is a better unit, but ATT wouldn't offer an inexpensive data-only plan.
I tried out the VZ Navigator software, and it seemed to work fine at first, but maybe it was because I was driving through some very old neighborhoods. Then I tried to get it to go to an address on a street, but gave it the wrong town name (the street runs through two towns, and the address was very near the border). VZ Navigator couldn't even find whole city blocks in that area. WHen I fixed the city name, it still could not find whole city blocks in that area. The ATT Tilt found it on the first try. Since the Blackberry was going to be a less expensive phone to operate than the Tilt (due tot he voice and data plans), I was determined to keep it. I just figured I'd used Google Maps instead when it ran into a problem. WRONG. Verizon has limited the GPS to where it will only operate with VZ Navigator. Also, the phone will only handle 4gb memory cards. The store told me 8gb at first, but it wouldn't recognize the extra storage.
I ended up returning this phone after two days.
Otherwise it was a decent unit, but I refuse to be manipulated at such high prices. I'll allow myself to be manipulated at low prices. -
"A superior smartphone!" on by engillis
Pros: Rock-solid stable OS, multimedia features, gorgeous screen
Cons: keyboard could be better, not as zippy as other Blackberries
Summary: I seriously considered the Moto Q and the Treo 755p before deciding on the Blackberry 8830 (I'm on the ALLTEL network). I've used the Blackberry 7130e for the last year, and I've been extremely happy with it.
The 8830 has not disappointed me one bit. RIM put a four-way trackball on the front for navigation--takes a little getting used to, but after a day of using it, I can get around quickly on this baby. The screen is amazing--very bright even in direct sunlight.
RIM made some nice cosmetic improvements to the OS--some new fonts and richer themes. The voice dialing is great. It's the same software as on my old Motoroloa RAZR. Also the GPS with Blackberry Maps seems to work well, though I've not tested it extensively.
All my old programs work better on this unit: Google Maps, Beiks Bible Reader. I have noticed, however, that the OS lags just a little bit when opening programs and navigating around (compared to lagging hardly at all on my 7130e). I realize there might be more to this OS version than previous ones. This is almost a non-issue, however, especially when I consider using the Moto Q (with Windows Mobile) or a Treo (with Windows or Palm OS). I've owned other units like these previously, and they don't even come close to the stability and reliability of Blackberry.
All of the above being said, I would like to see a future version of this unit with:
1. a keyboard with the buttons a little farther apart (like the 8703e)
2. another dedicated program launch key so i can get to my email faster -
"Almost everything my Treo 600 was" on by cputrdoc
Pros: Much improved sound clarity over other BB models
Cons: Poor man's todo list, kept screwing up appt. reminders, hard to navigate
Summary: I tried to upgrade to this phone from the Treo 600. I guess I was a bit spoiled there... I loved having a one-button touch for the applications I used most frequently. This BlackBerry is the opposite extreme. Having to go out to the Home menu was something I decided I could get used to, but with the trackball I found I would sometimes miss and hit the wrong thing, making me have to undo what I had done, popping up a menu every time I wanted to click "Done" or "Save" or "Apply" was annoying, and despite what Verizon told me about the Switch Applications option at the bottom of most menus being a fast way to switch applications, that's the long way.
It finally came to a head when I realized it was only reminding me about appointments if the calendar application was active, and even then, if I missed the notification (e.g. in a noisy place), it wouldn't remind me a second time.
I also found that though it supported video playback, the sound was loudspeaker only. It would not pipe the data through a Bluetooth handsfree device.
I ended up returning this for the Motorola Q9m, which has met my needs much better. -
"Very close to perfect" on by sgibbons7
Pros: very user friendly, sd card, sleek styling
Cons: keyboard takes some getting used to
Summary: I am a long time blackberry user, and this is the best one to date that I have used. I was able to get the phone for $150, so that makes it even sweeter. If you cannot be without your work email and calendar, it's a must have unit.
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