iPhone versus Blackberry, do I cross to the 'other side'?

[hewlett]

I'm a long time blackberry user of which my usage is about 50% phone, 30% email, 10% video (low res' survey videos taken as part of my job), 10% web browsing - time wise. After years using it I'm reasonably quick on the BB suretype pad and have lots of autotext set up. I'm tempted to go down the iPhone route for better web browsing, video quality and just the whole 'loads of great apps' thing - the BB is very restricted in this area. Does anyone think that the typing being a bit slower (no doubt) will become unbearable? I send about 20 emails a day, mostly fairly brief but it's easy and quick. Also, does anyone know how good the video quality is? Thanks

[gshughes]

I don't think the iPhone captures video at all.

[Dakkon]

iPhone, does not do video, camera is rubbish, battery is rubbish, cannot forward txt's, cannot delete individual calls or txt's, but it is good, great for going on the net, some very good apps have been developed.

[Landlord]

Dakkon said:

iPhone, does not do video, camera is rubbish, battery is rubbish, cannot forward txt's, cannot delete individual calls or txt's, but it is good, great for going on the net, some very good apps have been developed.

Spot on (apart from the battery bit - for me it's been great).

[mel]

You will now have hundreds of replies and it will be roughly a 50/50 split either loving or hating the iPhone, it is such a personal thing but people get really hot under the collar about it and quite irrate when one camp can't see the other camps point so stand by.

From my POV I use an iPhone and love it, it's the 3G version and a great improvement over v1. I use it pretty much as you describe but my only concern would be the ability to view the videos you need to for work, you tube is fine but video attachements struggle and remember it's an apple so anything created in or for windows makes life difficult. The iPhone does have limitations and there are a fair few things that it can't do, but what it does do it does so well that I find it worth living with.

[isee]

Dakkon said:

iPhone, does not do video, camera is rubbish, battery is rubbish, cannot forward txt's, cannot delete individual calls or txt's, but it is good, great for going on the net, some very good apps have been developed.

had no issues with the batt here
you can capture video in uncomppressed format with the help of a few apps.
As you can imagine a 2mbit uncompressed video is actually a lot better than on any other phone i have seen recently and that includes a 5mp sony ericsoo.

Ihave no experience with a blackberry though

[Landlord]

mel said:

You will now have hundreds of replies and it will be roughly a 50/50 split either loving or hating the iPhone

Very true.

The thing I'd say in summary about the iPhone is that the user interface is awesome - easily the best I've used and continues to be a joy to use even having "got used to it".

It depends on whether you want quantity of "features" or a well designed implementation a limited number of features. Oh, plus the potential for the add on apps is awesome.

[B16JUS]

i went from a blackberry to iphone it is very good but does have its faults

mainly battery life
keypad size with big fingers cant touch type etc

the forwarding of texts isnt really a issue for me and if im going out and need to take pics will take a camera same with video

apart from that it does everything else much better than anythink else

J

[hewlett]

Yes I understand there are quite a few video apps now, the blackberry is just so easy to use on that front, set up a side button shortcut and press n go. I've got the Pearl 8110, the Storm is an option but learning a new way of typing on the touch screen concerns me that I'll have weeks of wasted hours until I get used to it. It seems an almost irrelevant concern in some ways but when it's about the only object you use all day every day, for a multitude of tasks, getting the choice right is important (ish).

[NDA]

I have both. The Blackberry is a far better email machine.

[[AJ]]

I don't know a single BB user who has switched over to the iPhone who has regretted their decision. The iPhone OS is just so much more advanced and polished. There are applications that allow for video capture and video playback is second to none. The camera is fine when used outside, but the lack of flash doesn't make it very good for indoor or low light conditions. That is my only criticism of the iPhone.

There is quite likely going to be a new generation iPhone out in June/July this year, so if there are any hesitations and your need to swap isn't urgent, then it may be worth hanging on to see what the next generation brings.

[[AJ]]

NDA said:

I have both. The Blackberry is a far better email machine.

Please explain?

[Zod]

I have an iphone (personal) and a Blackberry Bold (work) and use both every day. Each has its good and bad points. An iphone with a decent keyboard, camera, cut and paste, sms forwarding and flash would be my ideal. Alternatively, a blackberry with an interface and browser as good as the iphone's.

[hewlett]

[AJ] said:

I don't know a single BB user who has switched over to the iPhone who has regretted their decision. The iPhone OS is just so much more advanced and polished. There are applications that allow for video capture and video playback is second to none. The camera is fine when used outside, but the lack of flash doesn't make it very good for indoor or low light conditions. That is my only criticism of the iPhone.

There is quite likely going to be a new generation iPhone out in June/July this year, so if there are any hesitations and your need to swap isn't urgent, then it may be worth hanging on to see what the next generation brings.

Thanks, this is particularly relevant as my 18 month tmobile BB contract is up in early June.

[Targarama]

Some of the apps are very clever, some are plain fun. I downloaded a shotgun application onto my iPhone last night. I can now cock, load and fire with my wrist/hand/phone, and the phone makes the right sounds. Keeps people in line in meetings :-)

[n3il123]

I have a pearl and have thought of getting an iPhone, the thing that really put me off wasn't any of the things like interface etc but the iphone is a lot bigger with the pearl its like a "phone" I can put it in my pocket and not really notice it. Also I would worry that with the big screen putting an iPhone (or any other big touch screen phone for that matter) into my back pocket and sitting down would result in a broken screen and therefore useless phone.

In summary I like the way that the pearl is small and like well a phone.

[dundarach]

try try try would be my advice...

friend just bought the new nokia to much mockery of my iphone - I was not impressed at all - however she loves it...

we were dicussing the fact that no one gadget offers everything and at some point there will be compromise.

list what you need and go try all the phones that do it

[Don]

NDA said:

I have both. The Blackberry is a far better email machine.

My business partner and I are experimenting. He has an iPhone and I have a Blackberry (we do this as our software solution supports both and we want familiarity with the platforms we support).

Blackberry email rocks.

iPhone web-browser makes Blackberry's look like poo.

They both manage to be a phone.

HTH

[funkyol]

Ok,

I have a 3G iPhone and a new BlackBerry 8900 (the Javelin / new curve)

Whilst both have their merits, I prefer the BlackBerry.

The battery life on the iPhone really is as crap as people say and if mine lasted 24 hours I would donate my monthly wage to charity.

The camera on the iPhone really is dire too - the BB I have, has a 3.2mp auto-focus, compared to the 2mp fixed focus on the iPhone.

I've only got an iPhone as we get them through work.

Personally, I'd get a Blackberry 8900 and an iPod touch - then you've got the best of both worlds.

[ChrisDT]

I was in a similar quandry - then opted for the HTC Touch HD - yes it's windows mobile but it's 6.1 (6.5 due soon - I feel an upgrade coming on!) and to be honest it is the best of both worlds for me.

Excellent 'Pub Phone' for posing if thats your bag, looks like an iphone sort of - has some good applications and is fully customizable too.

Only had it 2 days but so far it's done everything I need it to do and the battery life has been excellent. (Also charges off USB when plugged into the PC). Sync's with outlook and all my other windows applications which I would have had problems with the iphone as I don't have a mac and by all accounts the iphone doesn't like Outlook (can also revieve my 'Hotmail' e-mails on my HTC via the onboard e-mail link).