Blackberry or Iphone? for many people the question is a stupid one – a bit like PC or Mac.
Some argue if you could afford one who wouldn’t want a Mac?
Others would argue why spend double the amount on a computer that just comes with nicer software but doesn’t work with the corporate system?
Blackberry’s are the PC’s of the phone world. They work seamlessly with the office based servers, they are cheaper, they have a useful sized keyboard and they generally just work (ok that last one might not be a PC trait). The IT guys at the office are more likely to be pro blackberry for the company phone package. Just like your IT guys are more likely to supply you with a DELL latitude than they are give you a Mac Book Pro.
Iphones – well they cost more, they don’t have as proper keyboard, you can but they have a huge app store with tonnes of exciting apps from those that make weird noises, simulate beer drinking, machine guns, some great games like angry birds and some useful apps too.
So which will you choose? Well the decision might have got a little bit more difficult.
The new Blackberry Torch offers a touch screen phone with a brand spanking new operating system Blackberry OS 6 and a decent sized slide out keyboard.
Positives:
1. Social networking integration
The new operating system has some lovely features such as a very tight social networking integration – if there’s a hash tag in an email you can immediately click on it to be taken to your twitter application.There’s also an integrated single in box that shows you your facebook messages, email and twitter direct messages.
2. Camera
The 5 megapixel autofocus camera is actually pretty good – (I took these photos of the carol concert i was speaking at it with it.) You can easily zoom and turn the flash on and off. Its has quite a lot of shutter lag – which means there’s quite a gap between clicking and actually taking the photo.
3. Video
The video quality is pretty good too – with direct upload to you-tube – which may eat your data allocation if you are not careful.
4. The full size keyboard
Great to have access to a full size keyboard – which is especially useful if you are trying to type one handed for some reason.
5. Screen
Its a lovely full size screen that comes with the phone – nice and bright – the spec is: 360 x 480 pixels, 3.2 inches
6. Optical Trackpad
I was surprised how useful this is on a touch screen phone – basically when trying to use the phone one handed – its more useful to have a track pad to be able to use with your thumb.
Negatives:
Size
It’s quite a big phone – it does feel solid – but the keyboard makes the phone quite thick and bulky.
Battery
My Blackberry Bold 9700 had an amazing battery on it and was nice and small.
Will this blackberry kill the iphone? No. Will it help Blackberry owners feel a little bit more 21st century? Yes.
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Seriously Krish - that's the choice? You seemed to have neatly avoided the biggest and fastest growing (and IMO best) OS in the mobile market - Android.
Honestly I would say the choice is more likely to be iPhone vs Android than Blackberry. Working in IT I can tell you that any mobile device is a bit of a nightmare when it comes to integration with company systems. Blackberry may seem from the user-end to do a better job but it's all smoke and mirrors really.
Seriously Krish - that's the choice? You seemed to have neatly avoided the biggest and fastest growing (and IMO best) OS in the mobile market - Android. Go look at the HTC Desire HD and then re-consider the Torch.
Honestly I would say the choice is more likely to be iPhone vs Android than Blackberry. Working in IT I can tell you that any mobile device is a bit of a nightmare when it comes to integration with company systems. Blackberry may seem from the user-end to do a better job but it's all smoke and mirrors really.
Interesting review, not sure if its all about the iphone or Balckberry though, there are a number of new phones out there which challenge the monopoly including HTC and Samsung. You're right though that it's similar to the Mac v PC argument, the iphone however seems to be more preferable to a wider general public where the mac computers still tend to appeal to the more creative users...with money. I am one of those creative people that have to use Pcs and more importantly neither the blakberry or iphone...yet, due to financial constraints and often dream of affording one! one day my dream will come LOL!
Good point crimperman. I guess the IT managers out there would have the same problem with Android as with Apple devices. The price point of android devices is so much better and a lot of them have good keyboards too. Thanks for raising these points.
Speaking as a post IT systems analyst now theology student; I would simply add, that the only reason why corporate entities supply DELL's is down to cost not quality and a legacy investment in PC oriented networks. The reason for this is largely historical (this is what we got, this is what we got to work with). The PC operating system is still burdened with a registry and a system that uses resources very poorly, and frequently creates massive problems in the corporate world, that you never hear about because of the IT boffins in the background fixing problems before people largely know about them. In the IT world there has historically been distrust towards Macs because they just work on the whole, and IT nerds don't really like it when things just work! I have had discussion colleagues to this effect
Over the years I have attempted to configure all manner of mobile devices to corporate systems all of which have been massively problematic especially on PC where basic syncing and causes registry clashes and DLL issues , thus spoiling experience. IPhone is the first mobile device I have ever used flawlessly across home and corporate networks; VPN, University Web CT access (although the University shows warnings about using Safari, this difficult problem yet).
I hope blackberry have changed their resource architecture; because from my experience it gets clogged up very very quickly and maintenance routines need to be performed just to keep things working smoothly IA bit like ye'olde disk degrag). I have had an iPhone for now for six months and so are her to do very very little to it keep it working sweetly, which means I can concentrate on things not IT such as Christian philosophy! oooo dear!
Very helpful comment. IT officers do a vital work hope I didn't come across negatively on that front. Thanks for letting us know about iPhone integration I will chat to our IT guys about this.