Blackberry?

[Girl.]

I've been offered a free Blackberry by work but don't know if I should take it or not. I've heard a lot of people say that once you have one you're expected to be on call 24/7, but having said that I've had a few occasions of having to stay tied to my desk waiting for emails/calls to come in from clients and it's always a pain in the ass.

My other question is about what type of Blackberry, if any, I should get - I can choose between a Blackberry Pearl and another type (8700 I think?) and I'm not sure about which is best.

Comments/suggestions?

[Nalixor]

I find the Pearl too small to be a decent Enterprise solution really. Sure, its compact. But you're using it for emails and the like, you need a larger screen for it to be effective enough. Also, you should probably go for the 8700 or 8800 if you have that option. I love the little mousewheels in the middle. So awesome.

But yeah, I dont think you're "expected" to be on call 24/7. But you'll definitely receive your work emails 24/7. I know a couple of managers where I work (state government) who have blackberries for the purpose you mentioned (not being tied to the desk waiting for a response) and who dont answer emails when they're at home/off the clock or on the weekend at all!

I would imagine its wholly up to you to find a balance. You should never be "on call" 24/7 unless its part of your job to be on call.

[Nalixor]

Oh, one other thing. The 8800 is sleek, the newest model out here, has all the latest firmware, and just looks sexy! The pearl, while having the little mousewheel, is a little too small! I think I just re-iterated my point. But you should go with the 8800 if you can.

[kré]

the pearl is a piece of shit.

[kré]

then again, the rest of them aren't all that much better.

[Girl.]

Regarding being on call, we're given a Blackberry on the understanding that if we take it, we're expected to check our email/take client calls on weekends and after hours. However, I often work erratic hours and weekends and don't really have set work hours so the only difference I really see is that I'll be working from home rather than hanging around the office on weekends.

Thanks for the input though, I think I'd be using it quite a bit for email because thats the main way clients communicate with us.

[Nalixor]

then again, the rest of them aren't all that much better.

What problems have you been having with yours?

I've had mine for 3 months now and its served me very, very well (Its a 8800).

[Nalixor]

Regarding being on call, we're given a Blackberry on the understanding that if we take it, we're expected to check our email/take client calls on weekends and after hours. However, I often work erratic hours and weekends and don't really have set work hours so the only difference I really see is that I'll be working from home rather than hanging around the office on weekends.

Thanks for the input though, I think I'd be using it quite a bit for email because thats the main way clients communicate with us.
If you're on call anyway, I dont see what harm getting a Blackberry will do. But once again, get the 8800! :D

[dozer]

i hated the pearl at first but have gotten used to it. im not going to write an essay on the keyboard but comes in handy checking emails and if something needs a long response i use the pc. the 8800 is good but too big to carry around for me.

its not the best hardware, ive had 4 in 6 months but it did survive toliet submersion.

dont forget to install the scroll hack to change the scroll wheel colour.

[Dan]

Both me and my girlfriend are blackberry converts,

I have the Vodafone branded 8707v and she has the 8800.

When i got my 8707v i had the option to get the 8800 but decided against it, for a few reasons, i wanted a phone and email handset that was it, i run my own business and have to manage 1000+ customers, i didnt need extra storage space, or GPS or anything like that all i needed was a simple solution, that would do the job of handling emails and phone calls very well, to give you some background, i can destroy a brand new phone within about 6 months, faded keys, small scratches etc, i tend to put my phones through their paces and spend roughly 6-8 hours a day on it. (brain tumour here i come)

The main consideration for you is what you want your blackberry to do, if you want something to receive emails, make and receive phone calls get the 8707v or 8707g as they are the 3g handsets available through optus and vodafone, i dont believe telstra has an equivalent 3g handset but i could be wrong, the 3g is a nice fallback if you need to look for something on google etc, which does happen.

If you want something which will allow you to look at google maps, has ample storage for videos etc (expandable memory on the 8800 whihc is not availbale on the 8700)

Essentially both handsets are the same, firmware can be upgraded on the 8700 series to firmware 4.2, so your not missing out on anything.

Now here is the big one, my girlfriend prefers my 8700 to her 8800, and this is the big reason to choose one over the other, especially if you are female and have finger nails. The 8700's keybord is raised higher and the keys are more well defined (raised and seperated from each other) so if you are planning on using the device alot, you have to get the 8700, the 8800's keyboard is flat, and although it still a great keyboard it is nowhere near as functional and easy to use as the 8700.

Anyway that about it, if you want a phone & email device that you can use quite easily get the 8700, if you want to store some media on your phone and do exactly the same things you can do on the 8700 get the 8800.

If you have longish fingernails, get the 8700!!! i cant stress that enough, all i hear from my girlfriend is the 8800's keyboard is fucked because of her nails.

anyway thats my 2 cents worth, hope it helps.

Also being on call all the time, it actually lessens your workload, as i get emails all day / Night but the 2-3 minutes it takes me to reply means i dont have to sit in an office, or swith on my laptop and freak out at the number of emails i have to reply to. Works for me anyway.

[kré]

What problems have you been having with yours?

I've had mine for 3 months now and its served me very, very well (Its a 8800).

i dont have one personally, but i know a lot of people who do, and i've heard of nothing but drama. i've played around with them a bit and i like the dea, but personally they feel a bit more like a toy for late-teens than a real hardcore business tool - so far.

also, the interface (especially the text) gives me the shits.

[Dan]

wow just read the other posts, im definitely going against the grain, saying get the 8700, but i get to play with both of them at home so its just my opinion and experience

[Mr Bigglesworth]

ive got the 8700v. had it for a year and a half almost. the phone has been dropped, stepped on and bumped into desks a million times. the hardy little fucker survives well. it has been easily the most used phone I have ever owned, and besides the speakerphone on it which is shit (all blackberry speaker phones are shit) the phone has been awesome.

definitely recommended. I dont know the Pearl or 8800, however if you get a non-qwerty Blackberry it defeats the purpose if you ask me.

[Spades]

8800 rules - bt the missus fuckn hates me getting emails at home

[Dan]

ive got the 8700v. had it for a year and a half almost. the phone has been dropped, stepped on and bumped into desks a million times. the hardy little fucker survives well. it has been easily the most used phone I have ever owned, and besides the speakerphone on it which is shit (all blackberry speaker phones are shit) the phone has been awesome.

definitely recommended. I dont know the Pearl or 8800, however if you get a non-qwerty Blackberry it defeats the purpose if you ask me.

You know i used to find the speaker phone to be shit, then someone told me turn the phone around and talk into the back of it..

and you know what???????

It makes a fucking huge difference, i love the speakerphone

lmao

[imp]

Depends on what you like in a device. The Pearl has a very small keypad/qwerty keyboard but the 8700 has a QWERTY keyboard with a letter per key. This makes it much easier to type with but the device is a lot bigger. The Pearl is about the thickness and size of a slim mobile phone. At MBF most people preferred the Pearl.

Getting emails after hours is tough though. Stopping yourself from checking them is near impossible. I know with my Blackberry I had to put it away or i'd never stop checking but when you're trying to use it as your mobile phone as well it's tough b/c well... you need to keep it handy obviously. Will you be getting your current number BB activated and using your personal SIM in the device?

If you're staying back at work to wait for emails and calls it's going to be the way to go. :)

[Girl.]

^ Yup I'll be keeping my current number, mostly because it's printed on my business cards already and changing it would be too much of a pain in the ass.

Thanks for the comments so far everyone <3

[imp]

^ Yup I'll be keeping my current number, mostly because it's printed on my business cards already and changing it would be too much of a pain in the ass.

Thanks for the comments so far everyone <3
OK well I guess from there you can figure out if you want a larger style one or the smaller 8100 Pearl. Most people who will be using the BB as their personal device choose the Pearl b/c it's as small as a mobile. :)

You get used to typing on the small keyboard and the predictive text is pretty damn helpful too.