A Bold upgrade
January 29 2010
Extremely grateful to my friends at RIM for upgrading me to the new Blackberry Bold 9700. I was one of the first Bold 9000 users, and I abused the heck out of that thing. It was finally a Blackberry that became a Crackberry for me...the whole reason I never wanted a Blackberry in the first place. This is, oddly, sort of a good thing. At least professionally it was.
Anyway, my Bold 9000 was a trusted companion for the last 15 months, but it started "white screening" frequently and having the occasional spontaneous reboot. Also the trackball was getting tired of me cleaning it. So, while we were at Lotusphere, RIM provided me with a new Bold 9700.
The verdict? I'm still a very happy Blackberry user. It's a fractional bit smaller, which is nice. The new touchpad that replaced the trackball is a godsend. It is easier to use and hopefully won't get all lint-y. The 9700 also is WAY faster on the 3G network at web page rendering and download, and the keyboard is easier to work with. My main complaint is the new mute/standby "button" -- it's not an actual button but more like a slight toggle rocker, and when a call comes in while in standby mode, the phone seems to be stuck in standby mode. A little weird.
I'm also not digging the fact that they changed to a different micro USB connector, rendering my home and car chargers obsolete, but such is the price of technical progress.
People keep asking me why I haven't gone iPhone. Simply put, I'm afraid of more addiction there. My wife has the "words with friends" Scrabble-like game on her iPhone, and plenty of other distractions. I think I'd never put the thing away. As addicted as I am to the 'berry, I can tell that would only be worse. However, if my friends in Cupertino would like me to be continue to be a mostly-Apple-household, that iPad can head my way....at least with Lotus Notes Traveler available now on iPhone, Nokia, and WinMo, and soon on Android, I have options. I like options.
Post a Comment
- 2
Volker Weber http://vowe.net/about | 1/29/2010 10:56:36 AM
They changed from miniUSB to microUSB, which is now the standard for all future phones in the EU. One charger to rule them all.
- 3
Gregg Ginsberg http://www.boxtone.com | 1/29/2010 11:20:37 AM
Don't throw away those old chargers yet...
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- 5
Darren http://www.dadams.co.uk | 1/29/2010 11:58:26 AM
Yep, microUSB will be the standard until the next standard comes along.
To be fair to Apple, their connectors have remained consistent apart from some changes to the charging. My new iPod touch works with the JBL donut speaker we bought about 5 years ago, That's much better than Archos' track record for their recording and battery docks.
I had the choice of a Bold or a Storm from RIM, chose the Storm because I thought the new Bold wouldn't be that much different from the Curve mark II. All I can say is that Word Mole is a far better experience on the Storm ;o)
- 6
Rob Novak http://www.lotusrockstar.com | 1/29/2010 4:47:22 PM
We are a house divided as well, at home and work with Bold/iPhone splits. We're doing development with both now with Lotus products on the back end. I'd likely carry both and might in the future though I don't like that iPhone doesn't yet work with meetings (creating or accepting). I live through con calls and have to accept them right away or they can scroll from the Inbox.
Really excited about the new widget technology for BB development, and of course like the smoothness of the interface of the iPhone especially for native apps.
- 7
Eric Mack http://www.EricMackOnline.com | 1/29/2010 6:59:50 PM
Ed, Thanks for blogging about your 9700. Quick Q: Will it allow you to file an email and create a new folder from the BB?
Supposedly that's a new feature of the 9700 OS5, but I haven't been able to get a confirmation.
- 9
Henry Ferlauto | 1/29/2010 10:08:09 PM
You should be able to get a miniUSB to microUSB adapter to slip over the end of all those miniUSB tips.
- 10
Magnus Töyrä http://www.exait.se | 1/31/2010 6:43:26 AM
To bad Blackberry doesn't work so good in Sweden. But I don't mind being stuck with my Iphone now when Lotus Traveler working so well on it.
- 11
Danny Lawrence | 1/31/2010 12:43:24 PM
I was going to post a link to micro-to-mini USB converters, but Greg beat me too it. I'll point out that a lot of Bluetooth headsets (including my fave the Moto H710) also use the same connector, so that now my BB (Pearl Flip), mt Wife's (Bold 9700) and both our BT headsets (Moto H710 and a Plantronics) all use the same charger. Very useful.
- 12
Peter Meuser | 2/3/2010 3:03:39 AM
@7: folder management works like a charme with OS5/BES5
@7: "mail delivery is fast" Ed, you know the speed of light is relative. Since some time I am carrying a Bold (Notes-Sync via BES5) in my right hand and an iPhone (Notes-Symc via Traveler) in my left hand. Guess, which of both is receiving a new mail most of the time first? It's the iPhone via Traveler! Well done IBM!!!
- 13
Bilal Jaffery http://www.bilal.ca | 2/3/2010 11:57:26 AM
Waiting for my 9700 to arrive as well. Although Bold 9000 has served me well and I am totally impressed with the OS5 upgrade on the Bold 9000 as well.
My brother was one of the first ones in our circle to upgrade to 9700 on the launch day in Canada and he has since converted 6 others from iPhone to BB. lol
- 14
peter okwach | 4/18/2011 6:38:06 AM
Wonderfull
Well if you go to an iPhone, then all your cable chargers and whatnot would be just as, if not more so, obsolete. At least micro USB is an industry standard and you can get them pretty much at any half decent electronics shop rather than paying for overpriced branded adaptors. Or just carry a spare battery and swap it. Oh thats right; can't with an iPhone.
Of course, it's not that I'm biased at all. (^_^) But we do like to take care of our own.