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Bold or Droid?

I currently have a Blackberry Curve and need to upgrade my phone for a number of reasons. I send a ton of emails and use my blackberry all the time for work sending emails, phone cal. People have been raving about how great the droid is, but I am not sure it is practical to use for work and I already love the Blackberry. Any advice as to whether

Comments

brcarn7

Sorry--any advice as to get the Bold (or other BBerry) or get the Droid INcredible or X? Thanks!

papercliped

I'm wondering the same thing. I'm looking to get a new phone soon (from the palm pre plus), and I really like the Droid X because it has a huge screen, better battery, and fully integrated with google. At the same time, I also like the Bold because it is one SOLID phone - blackberry email wins all and I really miss having a phone that lasts the whole day (I used to have an 8330). I'm leaning towards the Blackberry because the OS has totally improved since 4.5.. and they are really getting back in the game hard. Android seems very "bloated" to me.. plus.. the blackberry keyboard is unmatched.

TheGreatOne

I would recommend geting one of the Droid phones. Droid X is newer then the Incrediable. If you want the newest android toy then go with the X.

SydneyK

I'm on the fence about this myself. Here's my take, after using a Curve for two years and now an Android device for three whole days: If emailing is mainly what you will use it for, BlackBerry cannot be beat. If you already love your BlackBerry, you may be disappointed.

My email delivery has been reliable on Android, but I spent a lot of hours in the Verizon store getting my GoDaddy account to work. And I have it set to poll every 15 minutes to conserve battery, so delivery's not quite as fast. (I'm not so important that I can't wait 15 minutes for email, however.) I am still getting used to not having the incredible battery life of the Curve, but I don't mind charging more often.

I'm sure knowledgeable Android users find tweaks to get the email experience closer to BlackBerry's. And I'm amazed at how much my new device can do and how much fun it is. With BlackBerry, I was starting to feel like I was paying $30/month just for mobile email, as that's all I was doing on my Curve, but it was definitely reliable and easy and didn't require much thought or effort.

Good luck deciding!

johnmh

After months on the fence, I finally got the Bold. The Droids had 2 deal-killers for me - can't easily sync with Outlook, and no Global feature for use outside the US. I would love a bigger screen and bigger keys, but I'll now have to wait until the end of my new contract for that.

A day after I bought my Bold, ATT announced a new BlackBerry Torch that sounds pretty good. Verizon may pick that up some day, and that may fill some gaps.

SydneyK

After giving it a go for a week, I ended up returning the Android device and reactivating my BlackBerry. I had to see what the hype was about, but Android wasn't for me. I really missed the simplicity and familiarity of my BlackBerry. I wasn't crazy about the touch-screen and I really did not like the horizontal sliding keyboard ... it was awkward for me and I found myself not replying to messages so I didn't have to use it.

I won't bore you with all the things I didn't like about Android in general, but I've tried many other devices and can't find anything that comes close to BlackBerry's security, keyboard, and push e-mail capabilities (that also use data much more efficiently).

I think Android is a fun, exciting platform though and I'm glad I tried it.

StreetDocRN

Sydney,

Yay, we can now play Word Mole...

Doc

SuzyQ

Interesting discussion...thanks for letting me listen in! :smileyvery-happy:

In the coming months I'll be looking at both the Android phones and Blackberries. Depending on the holiday deals and how good they are, I may upgrade before my NE2 rolls around in January. I haven't yet played with either one (Droid or BB) but any feedback and information from "real" users is helpful!! I know that what you are used to and your expectations for a new device play a huge role in how satisfied you are likely to be, so I try to take that into consideration when reading reviews.

Trying to make a device do things it was never intended to do, or wish it had features that it wasn't designed for is just setting yourself up for disappointment and dissatisfaction, so first I need to learn what to expect from each device, and see if it's something I really do need and will use. Then go play with them in the store and see if friends will let me mess around with theirs.

Anyway, I'm rambling....but I do enjoy hearing others' experiences, and this thread seems to compare the two phones I am contemplating....so thanks for the insights!

LCromwell

Suzy I have been a BB Storm user for 1 year this month. I have to tell you I like my storm, with that being said it requires constant maintenance. I have had to install quick pull which I use at least 3 times a day. I have to clear the cache after every internet browse or search. Most people would not like to have to do all this maintenance. Also you cannot trust a new OS release from RIM. You have to hide and watch boards like this one and Crackberry to see how the new OS is affecting others phones and even then you may have to find a Hybrid OS as I did and VZW never released an OS number above .328 ! RIM released .419 and it works great other than excessive bat. Drain and huge memory loss, but hey the phone works great. So if you don't want to fiddle with the phone a lot stay away from BB's. Maybe the new 9800 series OS and phone will be better. I start out with 12 Mb of free memory and in no time I have to pull bat. I have one game Word Mole, none of the office apps no themes . The storms just do not have enough memory period.

brcarn7

Thank you so much for the information. I am definitely going to pick up the Bold today. Thanks again!

SuzyQ

brcarn7 wrote:
Thank you so much for the information. I am definitely going to pick up the Bold today. Thanks again!

Let us know how you like it! Or not, as the case may be. Inquiring minds want to know.....

TheGreatOne

SydneyK wrote:
After giving it a go for a week, I ended up returning the Android device and reactivating my BlackBerry. I had to see what the hype was about, but Android wasn't for me. I really missed the simplicity and familiarity of my BlackBerry. I wasn't crazy about the touch-screen and I really did not like the horizontal sliding keyboard ... it was awkward for me and I found myself not replying to messages so I didn't have to use it.

I won't bore you with all the things I didn't like about Android in general, but I've tried many other devices and can't find anything that comes close to BlackBerry's security, keyboard, and push e-mail capabilities (that also use data much more efficiently).

I think Android is a fun, exciting platform though and I'm glad I tried it.

:smileysurprised: Once a blackberry user....always will be a blackberry user? Yeah touch screen does take some getting used to. I know for myself it took me awhile to warm up to the touch screen on my phone. Then I got to not minded it and actually do like it. I guess everyone is different

SydneyK

Ha! You're so right ... There's no getting off the Crack for some of us. Happy to be back, even with the quirks ... For instance, I can't close out of App World without doing a battery pull. :smileyhappy:

Hope you like your new Bold, brcarn7 ... Let us know!

Jude526

I have played with the Android phones so many times and I cannot leave Blackberry. I love the Bold and everyone I talk to who has a BB says the same thing. If you are into all the games and hoopla Droid offers, then go for it. I rely on my email and clear phone calls, text messages can listen to my music. I dont play games. I love the BB design as well. It is reliable and the new OS 6 when it is released along with the webkit browser will just be awesome. But in the meantime, all is fine with my BB

You have to make the choice yourself. It is a personal choice. But you have 30 days to make the choice and have to pay a 35.00 restocking fee if you change your mind. Some people like the Android and there are those who return to BB

So play with them and then make your decision

SuzyQ

Jude526 wrote:
You have to make the choice yourself. It is a personal choice. But you have 30 days to make the choice and have to pay a 35.00 restocking fee if you change your mind. Some people like the Android and there are those who return to BB
So play with them and then make your decision

Excellent advice - I've given the same advice many times. No one can tell you what is going to work best for you. And the only wqay to know is to play with the phones, and actually use them, and see how you like them (or not)!

I'm considering moving up to a Blackberry or Droid from my Voyager, and based on the discussions I'm reading and how people use them, I'm tending towards the Blackberry. But I have yet to go to a store and handle each of them, push the buttons, play with the menus, etc....and I won't really know till I'm using it, taking calls, sending messages, etc.

What's perfect for me may not work at all for you. To each his (or her) own and all that....

alzie

Do your self a FAVOR, and steer clear of the bold. We have had nothing but disasterous results from our phones and customer service. Not even worth taking a chance. Go with the Droid

StanleyDraughon

TheGreatOne wrote:

I would recommend geting one of the Droid phones. Droid X is newer then the Incrediable. If you want the newest android toy then go with the X.

My bother has the Droid Incredible and a close friend has the Droid X. I have an 8330 with the standard battery and wouldn't trade it for both of the Droids. I am a heavy user and the battery in my 8330 outlasts either of the Droids easily. There is a lot to like about the Droids (screen mainly) but they are BLOATED with crapware and the touchscreen keyboards are not in the league with any BB keyboard. Of course, your mileage may vary!

StreetDocRN

Hi,

I would imagine just from looking at the large colorful screen on the Droid X, it is going to use a lot more battery power just because of the larger screen than a BB. From playing around with my sister's Droid X, it is a really good competitor for the iPhone, with the touch screen and all other features. I can only imagine a year from now what kind of apps will be available, as the number of apps increases every time I look at its available apps. However, I love my Bold. It does everything I want as far as messaging, emailing, and more. Two different devices for which each device has some great features.

Doc

Parkbear

I have recently gone through the same questions. I purchased a Droid X and where I found the phone to be a really cool product, from a business and traveling standpoint, the Blackberry is much easier to use. As I've told others in my office, for people that work at a desk and have the time to sit and do things the Droid is a great phone (and actually the phone itself works very well) but I travel most of the day and found the touch screen impossible to use on the road. Since you are a current BB user, by going to the Droid you lose the ability to quickly search emails from the same customers and the "stock" contact manager is a joke.

SydneyK

Hi, SuzyQ!

I think there's a lot to be said for what someone is accustomed to using. That is why I returned the Ally and went back to BlackBerry ... I was used to the portrait keyboard and nontouchscreen. It was comfortable for me.

However, I thought the Ally was a GREAT phone. (I miss it a little bit ... it was a lot of fun!) I had none of problems I've read about in reviews. The battery life was good for a smartphone ... I didn't even charge it every day. What I didn't like was simply the touchscreen and the landscape keyboard ... it felt awkward to me.

I played with my mom's Droid 2 last week ... also a great phone, but I thought the Ally was just as nice to use (though the Droid's slider seemed a bit sturdier with less wiggle). From what you've said in this thread, I think you might be very happy with the Ally. My only advice is to get a textured case right away ... it felt like it was going to fly out of my hands every time I picked it up, but I'm used to a silicone cover.

Good luck deciding!

njrcjc

I have both the Droid X and the Bold 9650.

The Bold has by far the best hard keyboard on the market .. even for my fat fingers. The touch trackball is excellent. And now that OS 6 is here, the device can finally browse, and the UI is much better. I did use the torch for a day and if that was around, I would have purchased that .. the screen is bigger and it's a touch screen .... always welcome when browsing, and both fits in your pocket well.

OS 6 Contacts, email, folders, available apps, and excellent form factor, makes the bold/torch an excellent choice.

For browsing however, the screen is much too small for my aging eyes .. in comes the Druid X.

If you don't mind having your contacts and calendar on the GMAIL cloud, then the syncing is excellent.

The Droid X is big, and if your Jeans fit, and are not loose, you would have to take it out of your front pocket before you sit down.

Android also needs some set up before you can use it. No PIM, no notes, no recording app. You have to load all of these from the droid market place. Also, syncing, to other places (Outlook), is not out of the box.

Ok .. having said that, the Browsing and applications, and having multiple screens brings my windows desktop with me wherever I go. With various apps, I can Buy sell stock, ebay items, weather. Keep my notes and todo items. The camera and video are excellent. You can play it on any HD monitor with a cable .. really looks excellent (720p looks good .. I do video professionally, and it's not a bad video camera ... considering).

I am very good at the virtual keyboard, and the voice dictation is good. I can dictate my text messages (yes .. while I'm driving).

The Google maps navigation actually obsoletes my garmin Nuvi,(though I wish it had a trip log), you NEVER have to pay anyone for new maps ... it's Google ... they have the latest data.

The incredible, fascinate, and Continuum probably have a more manageable size. I tried out the Droid X, figuring if I didn't like it would swap it for one of the others. I can deal with the size of the thing, I bring it everywhere, the phone has a solid build, and it has survived some drops. I actually had Sprint for a month and the Evo, which is an EXCELLENT device, about the size of the Droid X, however, there were one or 2 places where sprint didn't give me a signal and my Verizon phone gave me enough to call ... a promo family deal from Verizon switched me back.

I don't think you will be disappointed with an Andriod or the Bold. The droid X gave me more room to grow and use other (USEFUL) applications while on the go. Still wish it had a really good integrated, synchable PIM with NOTES and TODO's .. however ... I'm satisfied.. (I am not an Apple fan, however, the iPhone really has it together .. Especially if you have a MAC.).

njrcjc

Totally agree about the BB being good for on the go business use. OS 6 brings and excellent UI, and you don't have to deal with the sliding keyboard of the torch ..... I think of the torch as a cross over. If you want one device that does business, contacts emails well, use the Bold ...

LCromwell

I read recently that only BB has HTML emails and emails on a BB are so much faster than any other brand out there. Care to comment on that, since you have both?
njrcjc wrote:
I have both the Droid X and the Bold 9650.
The Bold has by far the best hard keyboard on the market .. even for my fat fingers. The touch trackball is excellent. And now that OS 6 is here, the device can finally browse, and the UI is much better. I did use the torch for a day and if that was around, I would have purchased that .. the screen is bigger and it's a touch screen .... always welcome when browsing, and both fits in your pocket well.
OS 6 Contacts, email, folders, available apps, and excellent form factor, makes the bold/torch an excellent choice.
For browsing however, the screen is much too small for my aging eyes .. in comes the Druid X.

If you don't mind having your contacts and calendar on the GMAIL cloud, then the syncing is excellent.

The Droid X is big, and if your Jeans fit, and are not loose, you would have to take it out of your front pocket before you sit down.
Android also needs some set up before you can use it. No PIM, no notes, no recording app. You have to load all of these from the droid market place. Also, syncing, to other places (Outlook), is not out of the box.
Ok .. having said that, the Browsing and applications, and having multiple screens brings my windows desktop with me wherever I go. With various apps, I can Buy sell stock, ebay items, weather. Keep my notes and todo items. The camera and video are excellent. You can play it on any HD monitor with a cable .. really looks excellent (720p looks good .. I do video professionally, and it's not a bad video camera ... considering).
I am very good at the virtual keyboard, and the voice dictation is good. I can dictate my text messages (yes .. while I'm driving).
The Google maps navigation actually obsoletes my garmin Nuvi,(though I wish it had a trip log), you NEVER have to pay anyone for new maps ... it's Google ... they have the latest data.
The incredible, fascinate, and Continuum probably have a more manageable size. I tried out the Droid X, figuring if I didn't like it would swap it for one of the others. I can deal with the size of the thing, I bring it everywhere, the phone has a solid build, and it has survived some drops. I actually had Sprint for a month and the Evo, which is an EXCELLENT device, about the size of the Droid X, however, there were one or 2 places where sprint didn't give me a signal and my Verizon phone gave me enough to call ... a promo family deal from Verizon switched me back.

I don't think you will be disappointed with an Andriod or the Bold. The droid X gave me more room to grow and use other (USEFUL) applications while on the go. Still wish it had a really good integrated, synchable PIM with NOTES and TODO's .. however ... I'm satisfied.. (I am not an Apple fan, however, the iPhone really has it together .. Especially if you have a MAC.).

MacDaddy

Tried them all, Android (too many security holes and hacks) Webos (Killer OS but the Pre hardware sucked) Blackberry, Pearl, Storm, Bold, (Top notch Hardware and a OS that just works like it should) If your all into Games, Video and such, Android might be your ticket. If you want a Email, Text, Ok Browsing and Top quality Voice phone then Blackberry is definitely the way to go. And like others have stated, There is NO better keyboard out there than the Bold.

HazelEyedGemini

I have the Pro. It's basically made like a Blackberry. The battery is terrible on the phone. I switched back to the Blackberry because I can get more than one day out of it. The Droid Pro dies in one day. You'll need to ge the extended battery.

SydneyK

Thanks for the insight. A few people have suggested I try the Droid Pro, because it's "just like BlackBerry." Then what would be the point of that, even if true?! Why switch from a more secure platform? (I like your user name, HazelEyedGemini. I am one too.)

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