[EAtoPres&CEO]

I would die without my CrackBerry! Keeps me on top of my calendar, email and contacts at all times. Best of all, it's my lifeline (leash is probably a better word) to my boss, who tends to beat to his own drum. Go for it!

[Ilona]

Are there any Blackberry-lovers out there that have used an iPhone and converted back to a Blackberry?

[lilysunshine]

I think it has a lot to do with the environment you'll be synching with. Blackberry is probably the most tried and true when it comes to working with an Exchange Server - though Apple IS signing on to that finally, I remember how long it took Blackberry to work out all the kinks in their system and I'm not sure how reliable that service will be immediately.

If you don't have to worry about that, pesonally I'd probably go for the iphone. I love my blackberry, but mostly because it keeps me up to date with my work environment - which is unfortunately Microsoft driven. Blackberry is starting to compete, though. There are quite a few free third-party apps available now - gmail's mobile app is a most frequently used for me, as well as the Opera mobile browser (I believe a mozilla mobile browser is close to being available as well).

[lilysunshine]

I have a BB Curve, the CFO of my company has the Pearl, I think, which is the one with the smaller keyboard. We're both relatively happy with our respective phones. I think it has a lot to do with how often you are going to be using it. My boss emails me constantly throughout the day (I believe I am up to 31 so far today, and it's barely lunchtime!) and I've been known to, well, walk into walls or doors while banging out a quick reply. :P I know that personally, I couldn't deal with a smaller keyboard - I use it entirely too much. But the CFO really only reads email on his, and responds to maybe 5 or 6 a day.

Originally Posted by Derek Bambach

I'm interested in this as well, because I think given the work I will be doing here at OA, I'm going to want easy email access for the first time. I've never had an email-capable phone (i'm slow to adopt these things) and I'm not really interested in a web phone (I get distracted easily enough!) but email seems key so I think the Blackberry is it.

My question is - does the smaller format (with 2 letters per key) work well enough or do you really need the full keyboard version? I don't liike how big it is, and I'm pretty comfortable with T9 typing, so I'm thinking the smaller models would do, but i'd love to hear from people who have used them. I'm also a Verizon customer.

[Jackie Nees]

I had a Blackberry in my last job and it was a love-hate relationship. I loved the power of what it could do and that my life was packed neatly into that little piece of technology. However, it's very ergonomically unfriendly so unless you have a Bluetooth or other earpiece it's a bit of a pain to use. Also it can be a little bit of a time zapper since you can end up spending a ridiculous amount of time organizing emails, managing contacts and syncing from your computer and vice versa.

I love the technology, but I'm not sure that I would go back to Blackberry if I were to have the option in the future. However, my friend just got a Palm Smartphone and she loves it. Something to check out! Good luck!

Jackie Nees
jackie@integrityofficesolutions.com

[jacquichew]

I have the Blackberry Pearl and absolutely love the suretype feature where it finishes commonly used words for you.

[Libby Huffman]

It's funny you mention the suretype feature. My fiancé and I both got Blackberry's very recently. I got the Curve and he got the Pearl. We must have spent 3 evenings together trying to figure out how to turn that feature off. Only when we called our service carrier did they explain how to do it. Keep in mind, we both consider ourselves handy with a cell phone. Turns out he loves the feature now. He says it's the best auto fill-in feature he's ever used. Sooo, we went through all that trouble for nothing.

We are still trying to learn all that the Blackberry can do. I rather enjoy the fact that my entire life is wrapped up in its sleek titanium package.

[Coverbay]

I have to say that I have a blackberry and think it is a GREAT tool. Nothing against the iPhone I just have no experience with it so cant say yes or no. However the blackberry has proven to be great with regard to having my email sent to me while away from my desk (great option if you are in sales like myself), it will take a beating and is very rich in features, plus the QWERTY key board is great for texting. The only issue I would caution anyone about regarding is there is a bit of a learning curve you have to travel before you can make the most of the phone, other than that it is outstanding!I would recommend it to anyone.

[Tameka Anderson]

I too was trying to decide on whether or not to get a blackberry and I am glad that I have waited so now I am going to play the devil's advocate here because I will give my reason for NOT buying one and will probably never. My boyfriend is a music producer and therefore he has a lot of other engineers and producers that he hangs out with. That being said, they all ran out and bought the blackberry pearl and after the phone having memory problems, and not being able to do certain simple functions, needless to say, I am not impressed. For the blackberry to be as smart as it is, it does not handle simple functions well and sometimes we all must go back to our simplicity roots! [/font]

[NicoleMiller]

Good point Tameka. I have a Blackberry Curve and had to add memory so I could take more than a couple pictures.