vB Easy Archive - Couple questions before I order

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Couple questions before I order
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Posted by: 0pusX

1) What are the biggest differences between the different Blackberry's?

2) My wife and I dont care about the Blackberry email system. We just like the organzier features as well as checking sbcglobal.net email via yahoo. Do we need a blackberry data plan? Do we HAVE to subscribe to a BB data plan?

3) If i understand right at&t does NOT offer a warranty/service plan on the blackberry's, is that true?

Posted by: DubDub

In most cases, you cannot buy a BB without a BB data plan. If you opt not to get one, and go with a regular MediaNet plan, you will have very limited Internet capability and no BB email. Not sure why are not interested in that feature, however. IMHO, if you don't get the dataplan, then don't get a BB. You won't be happy with it.

You can use OperaMini as a browser, but it is only a hot or miss type deal from what I have read and heard. Some get it to work, others do not. Plus it has some limitations, such as no OTA downloads and no MMS capability. I do not know how good it is when accessing yahoo via the web.

As for the differences, look at your carrier's website and compare features. The 81xx series uses a SureType keypad whereas the 88xx and 83xx have a QWERTY keypad. Some versions have a camera, some do not. Some have WiFi some do not. Some have GPS some do not. A little research on your part will go a long way in getting someone to help you.

Posted by: briareus

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0pusX

1) What are the biggest differences between the different Blackberry's?

Check out Blackberry.com -- there's even a handy tool for comparing models side-by-side.

You'll basically end up selecting a model based on the features (GPS/WiFi/camera are currently the major ones) you want/need and the keyboard you prefer. The core functionality is the same across models. There may be minor differences due to different OS versions.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0pusX

2) My wife and I dont care about the Blackberry email system. We just like the organzier features as well as checking sbcglobal.net email via yahoo. Do we need a blackberry data plan? Do we HAVE to subscribe to a BB data plan?

You don't have to. However, unless you can get by with just voice and SMS you need a BB data plan. MMS on most BB's requires a BB data plan as well.

There are no email clients for the BB except the gmail client so there's no option to "not use Blackberry email" except with gmail. You'd have to integrate your sbcglobal.net email with BIS (BIS can manage up to 10 existing email accounts) to receive it.

You might want to visit a more active BB forum site like BlackberryForums.com and/or the RIM forum here for more information prior to your purchase as there are some assumptions you're making that you'll probably want to clarify. There's really no way to pull email on the BB. All BB email is push.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0pusX

3) If i understand right at&t does NOT offer a warranty/service plan on the blackberry's, is that true?

You have a 1 year warranty. They don't offer insurance but your carrier isn't the only source for insurance on a BB. In fact, at&t doesn't even cover insured devices directly -- it's a 3rd party insurer anyway.

Posted by: brettatk

If you get a BB you need to subscribe to the BB plan or you will not be able to check any email.