vB Easy Archive - Treo 600 User Looking to go Blackberry...

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Treo 600 User Looking to go Blackberry...
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Posted by: leejp

I am presently with Sprint PCS and use a Treo 600. The device is a versatile PDA (it's even my MP3 player) but the connectivity was never really great. I have a need to get my lotus notes email while I am out of the office and my company has standardized on the blackberry platform (dropped Palm).

As is oftencase when switching platforms I now have to research and learn as much as I can before purchasing a unit and signing a contract. So... which service? which device?

The area I need the best coverage is in between NYC and Albany, NY on both sides of the Hudson. Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Ulster... Of course Columbia County is a mobile black hole so I won't even bother asking. I do on occasion get to Northern NJ and Eastern CT. Cingular, Verizon, Nextel and T-Mobile all offer service in this area. Of course, the carrier I choose will pretty much determine the device.

Given that I will primarily be using the blackberry as a phone and an email+calendar RETRIEVAL device. I'll compose email and IM relatively infrequently on the device (of course that is for now... who knows once I get the device). Which is the better device? The 7100 or the 7200 series?

And what is the best method to purchase the devices? Least expensive, the longest trial period... Given that I am currently with Sprint with 5 phones on the acoount (wife and family) but not under contract (was up this past Jan but I stayed with them), is there a way to leverage my present situation to get a great deal?

Also... I used PCS vision to connect my notebook on line with the treo 600 and a data cable. Can the Blackberry be used as a modem for my notebook?

I had a co-worker demonstrate the e-mail and calendaring capability. I was sold instantly!

Posted by: martin_j001

Wirelessly posted (Blackberry 7520.|: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.0) BlackBerry7520/4.0.2 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1)

I can't offer any info about coverage between carriers in the area you need, but the bb device usually has a 30 day trial period with any carrier, if I'm not mistaken. Also, I'm not sure on this, but I was under the impression that Sprint BB's were for business customers only--if that is the case, this will limit you as well. Also, if you want wireless sync capability with bb you will have to use BES (which it sounds like your company may already be doing). As far as devices themselves go, if you aren't going to be typing a lot on it, then the 7100 may be great for you due to its more phone-like size. On the other hand, if you are going to be typing a lot, my personal preference is with the 72xx and 75x (Nextel) series, as I fine them much easier to type on (personal preference though). Also, keep in mind that some carriers allow roaming on other networks (at least for phone use) and some (Nextel) don't roam at all--not sure if that will be important to you or not. Hope this helps somehow.

Posted by: ina-nyminute

Quote:

Originally Posted by leejp

I am presently with Sprint PCS and use a Treo 600. The device is a versatile PDA (it's even my MP3 player) but the connectivity was never really great. I have a need to get my lotus notes email while I am out of the office and my company has standardized on the blackberry platform (dropped Palm).

As is oftencase when switching platforms I now have to research and learn as much as I can before purchasing a unit and signing a contract. So... which service? which device?

The area I need the best coverage is in between NYC and Albany, NY on both sides of the Hudson. Westchester, Dutchess, Orange, Ulster... Of course Columbia County is a mobile black hole so I won't even bother asking. I do on occasion get to Northern NJ and Eastern CT. Cingular, Verizon, Nextel and T-Mobile all offer service in this area. Of course, the carrier I choose will pretty much determine the device.

Given that I will primarily be using the blackberry as a phone and an email+calendar RETRIEVAL device. I'll compose email and IM relatively infrequently on the device (of course that is for now... who knows once I get the device). Which is the better device? The 7100 or the 7200 series?

And what is the best method to purchase the devices? Least expensive, the longest trial period... Given that I am currently with Sprint with 5 phones on the acoount (wife and family) but not under contract (was up this past Jan but I stayed with them), is there a way to leverage my present situation to get a great deal?

Also... I used PCS vision to connect my notebook on line with the treo 600 and a data cable. Can the Blackberry be used as a modem for my notebook?

I had a co-worker demonstrate the e-mail and calendaring capability. I was sold instantly!

The last time I checked with Sprint their bb was the old model which I would stay far away from, sprint seems really behind for some odd reason.

I use Nextel but I go southwest from NYC toward princeton, philly, & out toward Easton PA/ phillipsburg NJ on route 78 so I don't know about your areas.
I have the older model of Nextel bb (7510 vs. 7520) but I have really come to depend on it. The push-to-talk 2 way plus the excellent Nxtl speakerphone is a big plus and the data service (bb through B.E.S.) works top notch for me.

Posted by: Mr Pink57

Quote:

but the bb device usually has a 30 day trial period with any carrier

As of now for NXTL Martin, BB's fall into the 14 day trial period! Sucks with the new policy.

Also I suggest to stay away from SPCS's BB's, all I hear about them is people getting kicked off the network a lot or being denied a port.

If you do not do any world travel I suggest looking a VZW, they have great all around converage every where. Also there 7250 is the fastest BB on the market now.

If you do do some travel, then I suggest T Mobile, since they will unlock their BB's for you if you are with them long enough, plus the 7290 is quad band GSM. I also suggest T Mobile since the data is a lot cheaper then most other carriers.

... are you going to switch the whole family over or just yourself?

p.s. I do not live in your area, so I can not comment on coverage.

pink

Posted by: whsbuss

Verizon has a 15-day return guarantee. However, you will be charged for the amount of the unlimited data for the amount of time you have the trial.

Posted by: jase88

VZW offers the best coverage in that region, IMO.

Before setting up a new BB with your company (which, as Martin pointed out, sounds as if they have a BES), ask your IT guy if the company has any IT policies in place which may restrict the capabilities of the device. Some companies have very restrictive policies in place.

Posted by: leejp

Good points... looks like T-Mobile is out (even their coverage map is dismal in my home area). As I compare the other 3 (Cingular, Verizon, Nextel)... I notice that Cingular has an unlimited e-mail plan. Is this different than unlimited data? Do they have an unlimited data plan? Verizon and Nextel both have unlimited data plans.

Posted by: Mr Pink57

Quote:

Originally Posted by leejp

Good points... looks like T-Mobile is out (even their coverage map is dismal in my home area). As I compare the other 3 (Cingular, Verizon, Nextel)... I notice that Cingular has an unlimited e-mail plan. Is this different than unlimited data? Do they have an unlimited data plan? Verizon and Nextel both have unlimited data plans.

http://onlinestorez.cingular.com/ce...atid=2210700004

these are the plans you need for Cingular and no other.

pink

Posted by: martin_j001

Quote:

Originally Posted by leejp

Not sure if Pink's link worked for you or not (it asked for my zip code, and then directed me to the general plans page--I still had to navigate to "data plans" and then "blackberry plans" to see what Cingular's BB offerings were....stupid internet

), but every carrier offers an "unlimited blackberry data plan"--make sure you look for the blackberry specific plans. I know that in the case of Nextel, the unlimited plan includes unlimited email, html browsing, chat usage, and other data usage (RSS reading, Telenav, etc). Some carriers say their plan is unlimited, but don't mean that (I know Rogers Wireless did this in the past at least), but I'm not sure if any of the US carriers do that. I've used 20+MB of data for the past several months with Nextel with no problems.

Thanks for the updated info on the return policies Pink and whsbuss--I was under the impression that all BB devices had a 30 day return policy as per RIM, but I guess not.

Posted by: Shinobi

T-Mo's data plan is by far and away the best plan for the BB.

19.95 all you can eat data/email is without a question the cheapest in the country.

by the way I work for RIM

Posted by: Alex_de_Large

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shinobi

T-Mo's data plan is by far and away the best plan for the BB.

19.95 all you can eat data/email is without a question the cheapest in the country.

by the way I work for RIM

Unfortunately TMo's coverage leaves much to be desired, at least in the NE US.

Posted by: ksatterwhite

I am on Tmo and swithced from a Treo 600 to a BB 7290 about 2 months ago. I have not looked back. I will admit that the first couple of weeks was a bit rough. This only because I had used Palm devices for several years before using the Treo, so I was accustomed to how Palm devices work. The trackwheel was very different. And, not having a touch screen was very odd. It's just a matter of time before it seems natural. I'm still learning all the shortcuts. My BB is much more reliable than the Treo. And, I really like to always on connection. I do not use mine for work and still love it. Email and texting is a dream with the BB.

About your wanting to connect to your notebook, I know that with Tmo's BB 7290 you can only connect via BT to headsets and car kits as this is the only pofile that they accept. I think this is the same with all. If you do switch, it will likely take some time to familiarize yourself with the device. But, you will eventually wonder how you ever lived without it.

Just my .02