• Hi Guest - Come check out all of the new CP Merch Shop! Now you can support CigarPass buy purchasing hats, apparel, and more...
    Click here to visit! here...

The 'man' is bringing me down

nfulton

nfulton

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2006
Messages
1,515
Location
Marietta, OH
It isn't enough that I spend my day running from three different computers, taking call after call, and doing my job. Now I must be accessible at all time :angry: . Though I don't believe I am paid enough for this, I don't have a choice if I want to keep my sanity. At least it will keep me out of the office a few weekends. Anyhow, enough bitchin'. I need to get a Blackberry or smartphone and I am completely lost in a sea of little button machines. Any suggestions as to where to look or models/brands that have worked well for you. I need phone, PDA, Email, texting, web browsing, and bluetooth capability. I don't need a camera, but I suppose it couldn't hurt. What are the important features I need to keep in mind such as memory and 'teathering' capabilities.


Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

Nate
 
I just picked up the Cingular 8525. Awesome smartphone. Got all the bells and whistles and you can tether your laptop to it and use Cingular's G3 data service with your laptop. Downloads of up to 2 MB/s.
 
Okey dokey...

I work with these things all freakin' day long, and in my opinion, it all depends on what you REALLY want to do, and who you carrier is.

First off if you want speed you need either a 3G/UMTS/HSDPA device from Cingular/AT&T (or whatever they want to call themselves), or a EV-DO Rev A device form Verizon or Sprint.

If you need primarily email, and you need your email ASAP Blackberry. If you want to do anything else besides email get Win Mobile/Smartphone, or even a Symbian device.

Here is how I see it
--Blackberry--
-Great, fast, direct "push" email (meaning you don't have to get your mail, it just shows up on the device)
-Horrible navigation (IMHO)
-Best for email

--WinMo Pocket PC--
-Touch screen (easy nav)
-Remote desktop
-easy browsing
-"push" email (as long as your backend has WinServer 03 with the Exchange Push patch)
-Word, Excel, Power Point integration
-much more like a cut down laptop
-devices are FREAKIN' HUGE (in comparison to a normal phone)

--WinMo SmartPhone--
-Remote desktop
-easy browsing
-Word, Excel, Power Point integration (typically)
-"push" email (as long as your backend has WinServer 03 with the Exchange Push patch)
-much more portable

--Symbian--
-quick easy to use
-you can install the Blackberry Email client (email using Blackberry push)
-most functionality beyond standard organizer needs to be installed 3rd party

What would I get in these areas?
--Blackberry--
Pearl or the 8800 (not out yet)
-The Pearl is smaller (more like a phone) the 8800 is just a full size (like a freakin' sandwich). The trackball is great to navigate, and is probably the best thing RIM has ever done with one of there devices

--WinMo Pocket PC--
Cingular 8525 or Sprint 6700
-The 8525 is a 3G GSM world phone. So if you go over seas it will work. The Sprint 6700 is CDMA/EVDO (not Rev A), but nice and quick. Both have slide out keyboards and WiFI (a really big plus in my book)

--WinMo SmartPhone--
T-Mobile Dash or T-Mobile SDA II
-The Dash (aka HTC Excalibur) and SDA II (aka HTC Tornado) both have WiFI. The Dash is like the Moto Q, just a bit smaller. While the SDA II is a phone with benifits. Both have memory card expansion up to 2GB (MicoSD and MiniSD respectively). Whatever you do here don't get a Q!
-
-Symbian--
Nokia E61
-Cingular carries the E62. The only differnce being that the 61 has WiFi and the 62 doesn't. Again this device is a Q like form factor. Nice overall, but without the WiFi you are stuck with EDGE as your fastest data connection.


Just remember most of the GSM devices can be unlocked, and therefore a carrier independent. So that means for you, unlock and put in the SIM. Done. Verizon and Sprint devices are technically capable of being unlocked/flashed and activated on another carrier, but neither will activate a device that doesn't have there name on it.


Hope that helps out :cool:
 
Good lord, man! That is exactly what I was looking for. No nonsense. Looks like the Blackberry Pearl it is. I looked up the 8800, but time is short. I can always upgrade. Thanks for the advice OpusXKC. I learned more in your post than I did in an hour searching the web.
 
Yo Nate... I got the Blackberry 8700c for Cingular Wireless and I love it. It's the slightly bigger model that has a QWERTY keyboard just big enough for me to type on effectively, other models had keyboards that were just too damn small. The phone has Bluetooth and the Web Browsing has been fast. I get emails from several different email accounts. And I tether it to my office PC to sync all my appointments, contacts, and tasks. This thing is great!

Check it out here

and I don't work for either Cingular or Blackberry.

One more warning...these things are crack and you'll be running to it more than you can imagine when you do get one. Hence the nickname, "Crackberry."

edited for spelling
 
seadub said:
Yo Nate... I got the Blackberry 8700c for Cingular Wireless and I love it. It's the slightly bigger model that has a QWERTY keyboard just big enough for me to type on effectively, other models had keyboards that were just too damn small. The phone has Bluetooth and the Web Browsing has been fast. I get emails from several different email accounts. And I tether it to my office PC to sync all my appointments, contacts, and tasks. This thing is great!

Check it out here

and I don't work for either Cingular or Blackberry.

One more warning...these things are crack and you'll be running to it more than you can imagine when you do get one. Hence the nickname, "Crackberry."

edited for spelling
Click to expand...

I was looking at that too. What the hell is Querty? I know it has to do with the keyboard, but is it a style? The company is switching to Cingular so that may be a great option. I am a bit scared of the ones that are shaped like a phone. I am a big guy with big fingers. Now I have something to compare with the Pearl. Laura has already informed me that if I ever choose it over her I will wake up to find it lodged sideways in one of my orifices ??? :laugh: .
 
QWERTY - the order of the keys from left to right on your keyboard, left hand, upper row...

Other keyboard layouts include Alphanumeric and Dvorak.

You can wiki the the whole "qwerty" thing...but basically engineers designed the keyboard and put the most used keys away from your power fingers so you can't type that fast....back in the day when things were actually "mechanical" it was a problem....
 
I put an order in on Monday with T-mobile for the Pearl... I dropped my 7100t off a 2 story building accidentally... :) Should be here Friday. Let me know what you think of it!

-Vinny
 
nfulton said:
I was looking at that too. What the hell is Querty? I know it has to do with the keyboard, but is it a style?
Click to expand...

Look at the clicky thing you hit with your fingers - then notice the first few keys on the left in the first row of letters ;)

The company is switching to Cingular so that may be a great option. I am a bit scared of the ones that are shaped like a phone. I am a big guy with big fingers. Now I have something to compare with the Pearl. Laura has already informed me that if I ever choose it over her I will wake up to find it lodged sideways in one of my orifices ??? :laugh: .
Click to expand...

I have the 8125 - wouldn't trade it for anything (for too much to list), but the newer version has 3G (nearly 2 mbps (that's megabits per second - not MBs ;) ), and you can get micro-SD cards to expand the memory (up to 4 GB cards these days!). If they're paying, don't even hesitate, but wither way it's worth it. If you need to get a unit without the camera, you can call Cingular's business line and get the 8100 (the 8125 PPC without the camera). Everything you need, plus good stuff like WiFi (so you can use the internet at higher speeds, for free, etc.), media player (music, movies, etc.), plus there are tons of other programs you can add to make the most out of these little things, and the OS is easily upgradeable (and hackable too ;) ). Plus these are a lot smaller than most dedicated PPCs.

The only drawback with most PPC PDA's is that you're stuck with on-screen keypads for dialing, making it nearly impossible to dial new numbers without looking and using 2 hands (even harder for those of us with fat fingers). The good thing with these units is you can simply pop out the keyboard and use the actual keys to dial as well, unless you use voice recognition software (there's a few options aside from rudimentary one the one that comes with WM5).
 
I had the 8125 up to about a week ago, when I was upgraded to the 8525. Awesome phone...they've improved on the older model by quite a bit, especially with the 3G capabilities and the support of both wifi b and g. Only thing that ticks me off is that now my miniSD card is obsolete...pisses me off that I have to buy a new microSD card for it.
 
Ok shameless work plug, but you guys might like this. I do QA Testing for Handmark. Our main deal is an app called Pocket Express. This is an informational app (ie News, Weather, Sports, Stocks...etc). So for all you Palm, WinMo, and Blackberry guys, if you are interested in what I do, give it a whirl.

Pocket Express -- A link for PC browsing
pxme.us -- A link for your handheld. Or type in pxme.us from your handheld browser, if you don't want to come here to get it.

Tell me what you guys think :cool:
 
AAAARRRGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!


My universal translator has gone up in smoke (partagas). You all must be speaking Portuguese, or you might as well be. OpusXKC, I will remember this thread should I ever have the misfortune of stepping into your world.
 
Buyer beware!! Ok - I don't know how many of you are concerned with the term of commitment on your phones....but.... it seems to be a trend with service providers to up your agreement with each time you swap out your SN's ( serial numbers ) Even if you didn't buy it from them or get a break on your plan....
Thank Goodness I don't work for those people anymore...
 
Cheekie said:
Buyer beware!! Ok - I don't know how many of you are concerned with the term of commitment on your phones....but.... it seems to be a trend with service providers to up your agreement with each time you swap out your SN's ( serial numbers ) Even if you didn't buy it from them or get a break on your plan....
Thank Goodness I don't work for those people anymore...
Click to expand...

I'm guessing you're referring to CDMA phones. GSM phones aren't tied to networks vis an ESN or an MSL code - you can easily unlock a GSM phone via software and use it on any network as long as you have a working SIM for it's network (as well as use any phone on your carrier's network without having to go through them first).
 
yes ...Sim's a layman's friend- but, alas carriers are getting wiser by the minute, I know of two carriers who have implemented a system called "TOES" it can pinpoint IMEI's ( NXTL ) and MSL's on the non sim based phones. They do this once the phone hits network to send data packets. They are wise to our work around to the infamous contract up's....
 
Ok....seeing as I watched my Motorola, it was a nice one to, get run over by a bulldozer this past weekend at the dump (damn thing feel out of my pocket while I was walking around on top of the bed of the dump truck) I am looking into getting another Motorola but the Razor this time.

Question, I have another phone that I am temporarily using (LG - I hate it) and without checking, if it has a SIM card in it I should be able to purchase an unlocked phone, possibly Ebay, and add the SIM to it. Correct? My contract is up so if I don't have to re-up for another 2 years it that would be a good thing. Are SIM cards account or carrier specific?

What does this statement mean? "quad-band GSM — for global calls where GSM network coverage and roaming agreements are present."
 
PSTAN said:
Ok....seeing as I watched my Motorola, it was a nice one to, get run over by a bulldozer this past weekend at the dump (damn thing feel out of my pocket while I was walking around on top of the bed of the dump truck) I am looking into getting another Motorola but the Razor this time.

Question, I have another phone that I am temporarily using (LG - I hate it) and without checking, if it has a SIM card in it I should be able to purchase an unlocked phone, possibly Ebay, and add the SIM to it. Correct? My contract is up so if I don't have to re-up for another 2 years it that would be a good thing. Are SIM cards account or carrier specific?

What does this statement mean? "quad-band GSM — for global calls where GSM network coverage and roaming agreements are present."
Click to expand...

SIMs are what ID's you and your account to the network, so if you get an unlocked phone you should have no problems using it with your SIM. The Quad band just means you can use it in more places (different countries use different frequencies) - if it's unlocked that is (which would allow you to pop in a different SIM in a foreign country instead of paying over-seas roaming charges; pre-paid SIMs are more common overseas, you can even get limited data plans, etc. If you're using T-Mobile or Cingular, you've most likely got a SIM as they use GSM networks. Sprint and Verizon are CDMA - no SIMs (generally speaking of course).

You can get good deals on new or used phones, but I wouldn't recommend eBay unless you're looking for an older used phone. If you want to buy new or used, there are a lot of places that sell and guarantee unlocked phones (something that would be sketchy at best will an eBay seller):
http://www.dweiniger.com
http://www.mobilecityonline.com/
http://www.mobileplanet.com/t.aspx?f=22

Remember, you're going to pay a huge premium for an un-subsidized phone (IOW, without a contract)

The only problem you may have is getting a crappy Razor (unless you like having to recharge their notoriously crappy batteries once or twice a day ;) )
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top