vB Easy Archive - 8830 - let's hear the downside!

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8830 - let's hear the downside!
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Posted by: MtnBikerChk

I was waivering between the following:

BB 8830
Treo 700p (Palm)
Treo 700wx (Microsoft)
Motorola Q (Microsoft)

My heart wanted Microsoft but my head can't deal with the instability. WIth all the positive things I've heard about the bbs, AND the fact that I think my company is getting the enterprise server.....I think I'm getting the BB8830 (Verizon). I know they all have their pros and cons - I just want to make sure I can live with the BB's cons

BTW, my only choices are the 8830, 8703e and 7130e.

I love new toys

Posted by: joedarat

very low ringers, especially if you use standard mp3s

Posted by: Massonite

It doesn't make coffee for you or control the tv...

Posted by: joedarat

no camera, or wifi..

Posted by: DubDub

Verizon 8830 has the GPS disabled.

Posted by: sjjones

I think most complain about the extra $$ for the Blackberry service? If you OK with spending Aprox $40 extra per month compared with Sprint data service you will love the the 8830 very very stable. (ex treo P owner)

Posted by: jase88

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8830/4.2.2 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/109)

Quote:

Originally Posted by joedarat

very low ringers, especially if you use standard mp3s

This must be a problem with a select few devices, as mine is very loud.

Posted by: jase88

Wirelessly posted (BlackBerry8830/4.2.2 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/109)

The 8830 supports Micro SD memory cards, GPS and A2DP stereo Bluetooth. A much better choice over the 8703e or 7130 IMO.

Posted by: tDAWG

Quote:

Originally Posted by MtnBikerChk

I was waivering between the following:

BB 8830
Treo 700p (Palm)
Treo 700wx (Microsoft)
Motorola Q (Microsoft)

My heart wanted Microsoft but my head can't deal with the instability. WIth all the positive things I've heard about the bbs, AND the fact that I think my company is getting the enterprise server.....I think I'm getting the BB8830 (Verizon). I know they all have their pros and cons - I just want to make sure I can live with the BB's cons

BTW, my only choices are the 8830, 8703e and 7130e.

I love new toys

OS is stable on blackberry. But Microsoft is like trying to stand on a bowl of jello

Posted by: veks

memory leak is an issue for some.

Posted by: MtnBikerChk

Sounds like all things I can live with. Do they make all the neat palm-type apps for blackberry? ie: games etc?

Posted by: bt711

Make sure you get to test it out for a while in the real world. The ringer volume is making me ready to return it. For me until they make a holster that clips to my ear it's basically useless.

Posted by: Orlando_65

I also HATE that you have to hit the power button twice in order to get the screen bright enough to be read in sunlight...

Posted by: mgerbasio

Try www.blackberryforums.com. I have a 8800, not the 8830 but the complaints I've read have been covered here. Verizon disables GPS so that's a deal killer for me. GPS makes the BB so much more useful (Google Maps, Beyond411, InfoSpace Find It, Yahoo Go!) if you spend a lot of time out of the office. I jumped ship from Verizon years ago when they were slow to release a bluetooth phone, then crippled features. Seems like the same old stroy. The only other 8830 complaint I've heard about is battery life being poor with the 8830. Mine isn't great with the 8800 but I make it through most days; same with my last WM phone

I've been a BB user for about three years, every model gets much better. Available software is still an issue as the RIM API isn't what MS offers according to developers, and, software is expensive. For example, you can't find a program like PocketInformant for a BB yet and MS Office applications will run you at least $100. Having the IT Department disable my memory card is also a bummer. There have been two BB data outages this year so far killing for several hours. Syncing files from your PC and the ability to view and edit are an issue. What I'm getting at is make sure you understand your needs before you buy. If you need instant email in a secure, centrally managed device, the BB is for you.

As for Windows Mobile, I've used it since HP had the Jornada 400 series. My last was a T-Moibile MDA and a iPaq. If I could get corporate email on a Motorola Q9 that would be my choice. Why? Better integration with pop/imap email; html email support. More third party software available (less expensive), better integration with desktop files and I can use it to listen to podcasts/music (same with the BB if I had a memory card enabled). Yes, my MDA did require more frequent resets, as I recall about once a week. No big deal to me as I had a lot of third party software running and that doesn't help the situation.

Regards-Michael G.

Posted by: Mr. Bond

I never had an issue with the low ringers...as a matter of fact, I had a Michael Bolton mp3 as my ringtone and was able to hear it perfectly.

Posted by: californiajay

I think there must be a big difference between the Verizon and the Sprint versions. If anything I had to put my ringtone on medium because it was too loud on high (I am with Sprint). It constantly amazes me what I can do with GPS on this phone...google maps, blackberry maps, telenav, berry411 are all programs that do amazing things and I dont know what I ever did without the GPS that they all use. I have even used the phone as a tethered modem with Sprint at no extra charge (something Verizon will not allow). I have also heard many reports of a lot of background noise on the Verizon 8830 but mine sounds excellent even in a car with the window open.

Posted by: Radio.Dude

Not a single problem.must have recieved one of the good ones.

Posted by: lodo1

1. Disabled GPS - painful
2. Poor key illumination in dark - annoying
3. Intermittent reception via BT with Motorola s9 headset - annoying

Posted by: blacksrt4guy

Its on Verizon. Thats a huge issue.

Posted by: ward66

i have had the 8830 for a week and a half, i love everything about the phone, except the freaking ringer volume, can hardly hear it when it is sitting on the desk next to me...other than that, it is great

Posted by: kwhyte

I agree with all of what everyone else has said about the 8830 on Verizon. The ringer is the pits and is pretty much useless. The other problem I have with the Verizon 8830 is the background noise. It is as if the background noise is amplified more than your voice. People will have trouble hearing you. I have tried all the fixes people have suggested to resolve this and nothing helps. If you use a headset wired or bluetooth it isn't a problem. Between the lack of GPS and the other issues I would buy something else if it was a personal phone. What makes it worse is finding out that people on other carriers don't have this problem.

If you can wait I would as I belive that Verizon will have a couple of new BB's to choose from real soon.

Kirby

Posted by: CarlGalgano

I wonder why there is such a difference between the 8830 and the 8820. My ringer volume is plenty loud on my 8820.

Posted by: MtnBikerChk

Quote:

Originally Posted by kwhyte

If you can wait I would as I belive that Verizon will have a couple of new BB's to choose from real soon.

Kirby

I think I am gonna wait....... THANKS!

Posted by: lodo1

However, I do think the 8830 a great smart phone and a definite upgrade to the Treo 700w I was using. I miss not having a camera, a little, but the form factor, phone quality and general usefulness of the unit is quite good.

Just had the chance to use it in a couple of countries in Europe and the service was excellent - no problems with voice, text or email.

If the GPS gets let loose I will be a happy man.

Posted by: wase4711

it appears the riger volume on the 8830 is only an issue with Verizon; my Sprint 8830 ringer is SUPER LOUD!!

Posted by: kernelhappy

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orlando_65

I also HATE that you have to hit the power button twice in order to get the screen bright enough to be read in sunlight...

You can disable the auto-brightness adjustment on the 8830:

Options->Screen/Keyboard->Automatically Dim Backlight: off

As far as the ringer volume goes, the phone rings louder when it's in the holster (it senses the leather holster, the plastic one it doesn't) and it's loud enough. Hopefully RIM/Verizon/Whoever will ll make it optional for different volumes in/out of the holster and enable full volume out for people.

If you want to hear how loud it is in the holster, go into the media, enable the speaker and play the ringtone from there.

The only downsides to BB's is that there are not many free programs or themes available. Although that seems to be improving as they become more popular outside of business users.

The disabled GPS from Verizon thing annoys me to no end, but now that Google maps does the triangulation thing, it alleviated my biggest complaint (I go from jobsite to jobsite and I need to find businesses and stuff nearby all the time, it's accurate enough for that).

Oh and you have to log into Verizon's crappy VZWpix website to see MMS messages, which is painfully awkward and slow.