Phones etc

DonovanB · 2012-06-18T11:49:47+00:00

So what's a good phone nowadays? I've got a Blackberry Curve currently but I want a bigger screen. Also not keen to pay a span for over rated gadgetry and d...

Phones etc

Warren

nicovlogg wrote:

My HTC, which is technically a smart phone, is way cheaper than a blackberry and has better features :-\

Way cheaper than which BlackBerry? Which HTC?

Heath

head to head blackberry and HTC are pricewise comparable , in the end HTC does have better features , but also depends what you looking for .

nicovlogg

ShreddySmurf wrote: Way cheaper than which BlackBerry? Which HTC?

Than the comparable model that I had the option of choosing when I upgraded? Got the HTC Wildfire instead. Entry level android phone, not great, but way better than a(ny) blackberry.

DonovanB

nicovlogg wrote:
ShreddySmurf wrote: Way cheaper than which BlackBerry? Which HTC?
Than the comparable model that I had the option of choosing when I upgraded? Got the HTC Wildfire instead. Entry level android phone, not great, but way better than a(ny) blackberry.

Both my in-laws have Blackberries now. (sp?)

It's perfect for them because communication is cheap and easy. Theirs are very simple as well.

This debate will only be about as fruitful as a strat vs Les Paul debate. It's always a personal preference.

It is silly and rather insulting to insinuate someone is a douche and/or insane for getting a phone/guitar/amp/car/computer/anything that relates to his/her preferences.

Bob-Dubery

ShreddySmurf wrote: I'm happy with my BB. I don't need my phone to do anything other than instant messaging, mail and calls. Android phones and iPhones are great, but they're also very expensive, and they sport lots of features that I just don't want or need. Blackberry gives me what I'm looking for at a price I'm happy with. I also don't want to have to stress about my data bill because some random app I downloaded shreds my monthly cap without me even knowing it.

+1. Some folks like a Telecaster into a Twin Reverb. Some folks like 8 string guitars with multiple coil tapped PUPs, on-board pre-amp, pedals up the wazoo and multiple amps. Neither is a crime or a stupidity.

The BB works fine for me. FB and email follow me. BBM provides good, fixed-cost messaging and I get GPS. If I get stuck in a loooooong queue then I can surf or play soduko. I can also talk on the thing at a push.

Warren

nicovlogg wrote:

Than the comparable model that I had the option of choosing when I upgraded? Got the HTC Wildfire instead. Entry level android phone, not great, but way better than a(ny) blackberry.

OK, I stand corrected on pricing, checking Vodacom's site. Entry level Android phones can be had for similar money.

I'm still wary of the data contracts though. The entry-level HTC has a 100Mb per-month data bundle, whereas the equivalent BB has no such cap.

What is it that you feel is "way better" about the HTC?

nicovlogg

ShreddySmurf wrote: OK, I stand corrected on pricing, checking Vodacom's site. Entry level Android phones can be had for similar money.

I'm still wary of the data contracts though. The entry-level HTC has a 100Mb per-month data bundle, whereas the equivalent BB has no such cap.

What is it that you feel is "way better" about the HTC?

The kind of apps that it can run, the ease of use of android (admittedly not IOS level) and the fact that it doesn't break as easily or often as the BB's do.
I buy a R50 data bundle every month that covers all the data use I have, and it's still cheaper than a BIS contract. I'm not trying to make people with BB's (or strats ? ) look like tools, just trying to correct the misconception that all android phones are pricey, complicated affairs.

Squonk

nicovlogg wrote:
ShreddySmurf wrote: OK, I stand corrected on pricing, checking Vodacom's site. Entry level Android phones can be had for similar money.

I'm still wary of the data contracts though. The entry-level HTC has a 100Mb per-month data bundle, whereas the equivalent BB has no such cap.

What is it that you feel is "way better" about the HTC?
The kind of apps that it can run, the ease of use of android (admittedly not IOS level) and the fact that it doesn't break as easily or often as the BB's do.
I buy a R50 data bundle every month that covers all the data use I have, and it's still cheaper than a BIS contract. I'm not trying to make people with BB's (or strats ? ) look like tools, just trying to correct the misconception that all android phones are pricey, complicated affairs.

There isn't a misconception about Android phones, but you are fueling the misconception about BB ?

nicovlogg

Squonk wrote:
There isn't a misconception about Android phones, but you are fueling the misconception about BB ?

Sigh.. I don't care what phone you or anyone else uses. Obviously it's an emotional question for some people. :? Use a BB if it makes you happy :-\

DonovanB

I've now had a week with the phone. I can easily say that with wifi at home, my data usage is minimal.

I'm not a bog browser or downloader. I had good use out of Blackberry and now I see that the BIS charge, can easily go into a data package and I get the same usage out of it, with more apps available. That was the big swig for me, there are more developers working for apps on the android OS than on BB.

Warren

nicovlogg wrote:

The kind of apps that it can run, the ease of use of android (admittedly not IOS level) and the fact that it doesn't break as easily or often as the BB's do.
I buy a R50 data bundle every month that covers all the data use I have, and it's still cheaper than a BIS contract. I'm not trying to make people with BB's (or strats ? ) look like tools, just trying to correct the misconception that all android phones are pricey, complicated affairs.

Fair enough.

For me, I'm not really interested in Android (or iOS) apps. They're fun for a little while to mess around with, but none of them are indispensable (at least for my purposes). I use a Galaxy tablet and an iPad for work related things, and although some apps can be handy, there's nothing that I absolutely can't live without, day to day. Standard stuff like mail, calendar, camera / video, multimedia playback i.e. the things you actually use all the time are available and functional on all the platforms.

I find the BB very easy to use. Difficult to say if it's better or worse than Android or iOS, but they're all pretty easy from an interface perspective. BlackBerry's penetration of the cheap-end of the market is a solid indication that the devices are no difficult to use.

I haven't had any reliability problems with my BB (any more than other phones I've had before). That said, I think that all mobile phones are actually pretty rubbish when it comes to reliability and longevity: they're built to last a couple of years, before users upgrade to something new. And by the end of that they look like absolute crap. The possible exception is the iPhone, which is very nicely built and pretty durable, for a phone.

In any case, the point I'm trying to make here is: I still don't buy the argument that any of the entry level devices is miles better than any other. You can argue various bits of functionality, and if there's some Android or iOS app out there that you can't do without, then subjectively those platforms will be infinitely better for you. But there has been a lot of stuff said on this thread about how crummy BlackBerry phones (and users) are, and that just doesn't hold up.

flatfourfan

so question for the BB fans........I'm being pushed a 9630 touch that's within my budget does what I need it to do 3G, BBM, email, web for R149 a month. Anything I should know about this BB? I was thinking torch or 9900, but he reckons it's serious overkill and will push me up for R250 a month.

advice?

currently own a C5 nokia and damn I need a new phone. I sooooooooo need a new phone.

- G

MikeM

On the other end of the spectrum, I have had the last 3 BB flagship models, and after swapping over to the Samsung Galaxy S2, I can't believe how dated BBs are. The SGS2 is so much more responsive, WAY nicer screen, low data usage (I do use wi-fi at home) I get around 4x the battery life on this compared to my Torch or Bold Touch.

BB doesn't really have much going for it besides nice keyboards and BIS which is not really SUCH a good option with the price of data nowadays.

Squonk

MikeM wrote: On the other end of the spectrum, I have had the last 3 BB flagship models, and after swapping over to the Samsung Galaxy S2, I can't believe how dated BBs are. The SGS2 is so much more responsive, WAY nicer screen, low data usage (I do use wi-fi at home) I get around 4x the battery life on this compared to my Torch or Bold Touch.

BB doesn't really have much going for it besides nice keyboards and BIS which is not really SUCH a good option with the price of data nowadays.

These Darn Droiders must always get the last word in ?
I think the penalty shootout is standing at BB 4 Android 7 at the moment

MikeM

I am by no means a fanboy, I use android and IOS devices.. After my 3 or 4 years on BB I have realised just how crappy they are.

I really don't mind a utilitarian type phone, but then make the thing work well and stable and have great functionality (battery life in particular). There's a reason RIM has been in decline for however long.

(This reminds me of Gibson vs Tokai, and me bashing Ibanez)

Squonk

MikeM wrote: I am by no means a fanboy, I use android and IOS devices.. After my 3 or 4 years on BB I have realised just how crappy they are.

I really don't mind a utilitarian type phone, but then make the thing work well and stable and have great functionality (battery life in particular). There's a reason RIM has been in decline for however long.

(This reminds me of Gibson vs Tokai, and me bashing Ibanez)

Not true as BB is not copying Samsung or any other mobile manufacturer!

I thought this BB bashing had come to and end.

Red Card for Mike ?

Warren

MikeM wrote: I am by no means a fanboy, I use android and IOS devices.. After my 3 or 4 years on BB I have realised just how crappy they are.

I really don't mind a utilitarian type phone, but then make the thing work well and stable and have great functionality (battery life in particular). There's a reason RIM has been in decline for however long.

(This reminds me of Gibson vs Tokai, and me bashing Ibanez)

Of the points you quoted about your new phone, only the battery life is really meaningful, to me. A snazzy screen is cool, but it's not a deal breaker, depending on what you use the phone for.

I do think that RIM BB in its current form will cease to exist against the onslaught of iOS and Android, and that ultimately those are the stronger technology platforms at the moment. But things can turn around in a few months, so who knows?

(the reason that this is similar to Gibson VS Tokai is because so many people can't play the ball instead of the man ?)

MikeM

I disagree that battery life is the only meaningful point there.

In the month or so I have had this phone, I have not had a crash or a loading screen (besides the obvious ones from games etc). Can't say I ever went that long with such stability on my 9800 or 9900.

That said I am fussy about the performance of my PC, phone etc. I don't like waiting for things to load, buffer, cahce etc.

Squonk

I think I need to clear up this yet again

BB has it's Market, it's user friendly, BIS is great, no worrying about DATA, BBM is streets ahead of any other similar app
Just visit any high school (and primary school) and see all the BB users. Its an economical option. You cannot say that the DATA usage on Android can beat BIS. Come and monitor my daughter on FB, Twitter etc, there is no way R50 bucks per month will cover this ?
I use between 500 MB to 1 GB per month on Data and don't pay any extra. So one goal to BB

Android/Apple has it's own market. It is a more sophisticated and YES the SGS3 is much faster than a BB, has a greater screen, more apps etc
One goal to Android/Apple

But my Father in Law, advancing in years, does he need a SGS3, just to make calls and and the occasional Text or Mail. He prefers the BB, Android is a bit scary for him.

No need to bash BB or any other phone. I could start on Nokia and Pee off huge amounts of people who swear by all things Nokia.

I have seen plenty Samsung, Sony, Nokia and Apple devices fail miserably alongside BB in the last 10 years, but the standards of these devices are improving.
HTC was shocking when they first came out, but are quite jacked now. Motorola has also improved

Can we call it a draw?

Bob-Dubery

Here's a thing. I'm up for a replacement phone. Now I could just say goodbye to BB, but even if I get a new BB I have problems because of all the people who BBM me using the current PIN. Now what?