I have had a company cell phone for years and a seperate device (VX6700) for email, browsing, windows apps, etc. for a couple years. Our company is pushing us to a Blackberry and I'm not thrilled. I see this device as an top notch email device but I really don't want my company email with me 24/7. Beyond that as a PDA is seems average at best. The palm and windows devices seem to have a much greater selection of software, particularly engineering related programs. As a phone none of the devices draw particularly rave reviews either. The form factor is large. The pearl is the only exception but without a qwerty key board it will take me forever to type an email, I'm not a texter.

Can anyone tell me what BB brings to the table other than good email and perhaps a little more stable OS?

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The blackberry is simply the most elegant email appliance, in my opinion. But sounds like you don't have a choice, anyway, so make the best of it. I suspect, however, that if your mind is open, you'll fall in love with it.

If you're expecting the Blackberry to be a tablet PC, you will be disappointed. First and foremost it is a communication device - and an excellent one at that.

Don't let the small keyboard of the Pearl scare you. I LOVED the smaller keyboard when I had one and could type a lot faster (whole words) than I can with the full keyboard.

You don't have to speak 'text lingo' to use it, either. Those models have a technology called 'SureType' where you press the keys you need once to spell a word and when you get to the end of the word you will (98% of the time) get the word you wanted. It sure made me a better speller

If your company is expecting you to be answering 24/7, I think you have more potential issues than the Blackberry, but if they are just wanting to use the technology, then there should be no reason for you to reply off hours.

I support of a lot of BB users globally so I will reply to email off hours. My hubby puts his down when he gets home and doesn't pick it back up until he leaves for work in the morning - and that's ok with his boss.

Just make sure you know what the company's expectations are and you'll be fine.

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The pearl will take about a week maybe 2 to get used to. It is amazing how it learns the words you use. I typed my emails much faster with it than I do with my full qwerty! The curve is a nice sized device as well.

Be little open minded I think you will change your mind once you get to using a BB

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I should add that the OS is not "a little more stable.". It is stable. And the blackberry is not just the handset and the OS; it is that plus the service side of things provided by the carrier and RIM. I can't speak for others, but in my case the entire package is reliable and top notch.

Not to rock the boat here, and I really do like my BB. But the adamant statement "it is stable" just doesn't sit with the frequent advice given here and on other forums about fixing problems by removing and reinserting the battery. If the BB was as stable as your statement implies, there would be no need to impart such advice with such regularity.

Yes, the BB is a great communications device in a decent package, and I wouldn't be without it. But I've never had to 'reboot' any handheld device as much as I have this one.

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Compared to what I've known, it is stable. I seldom have to do a hard reset, either with my 8700 or the 7100 I had before. Granted, maybe, I haven't used a newer model and haven't experienced the memory leaks and what not, but I also pretty much stick to the native software with very few aftermarket additions. On a forum like this it is hard to really know how many problems are not self-inflicted, too. Take issue with my opinion if you like; it's just my opinion. In my experience, the OS is stable.

Not taking issue with your opinion, just offering an alternative opinion. In my view, the functionality of the BB far outweighs any minor operational niggles.

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Ditto, KeithO. Big factor for me is I have never, ever lost PIM data with a blackberry. I can't say that in the case of any PDA-type device I've owned before. Maybe things have changed with those other models, but I don't intend to give them another chance.

I appreciate the feed back and I don't want to PO anyone, but it seems the common thread through this is that the BB platform is a great communication device (mainly email) and so so with everything else. Nobody has told me that about all the great applications available, the multitude of advance features it has, the high quality of the phone, or the continious stream of upgrades. I just have a hard time accepting a device touted as a "smartphone" that is so limited. I can understand a phone with limited abilities but not a smartphone. I have read on this forum that this is a professional device targeted toward sales and that does seem to be the case. I'm not in sales! I'm an engineer and I have grown acustom to have a relativly powerful device to travel with. This just doesn't seem to be one unless I'm still missing something. I don't want to be condescending, but I'm still trying to see the light.

The BlackBerry is not for everyone. There are many applications for the BlackBerry, but possibly not ones that you can use or want to use. I can assure you that it is a powerful device, though. For messaging it is great. For my contact management it works great, too. There are many things you can do with it. However, it won't fit everyone's needs. Again, it all comes down to how you will use it. For me, I am very satisfied with the device as it does everything I need: Messaging, contact management, task management, appointment management.

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The blackberry may not be the best device for you, dunn782. If you can acquire the device you believe is best, do it. If you will be stuck with a blackberry whether you want it or not, keep an open mind, as I and another said above, and make the best of it. I for one don't want to "sell" you on blackberry. It's an individual thing.

But you need to know that that the blackberry serves different purposes for different people. I wouldn't say that it is a salesman's tool primarily. I'm an engineer, too, and also travel a lot and do a lot of volunteer work with others. My 8700g is my personal property. For me it is email device, mobile phone, address book, notebook, do list and calendar that also doubles occaisionally as a gps (when paired with a puck). It's also handy for quick research and lookups on the internet in a pinch. Others have their own uses with maybe different priorities.

What do you require? Lots of available software and advanced features isn't an answer. What tasks do you need to do from your mobile device? The answer as to whether the blackberry can do it (and with what app) is probably on the forum, but someone can answer if it is not or you can't find it.

I love my Blackberry for it's simplicity and ease of use ... It does a great job at emails and the PIM functions are great (Think Palm OS) the apps don't look that great, but they work. I have had to do several battery pulls here and there, but nowhere near as many as I had to do with Windows Mobile and Palm Devices. If I set an alarm I know that I can count on it going off, my Blackberry has never failed me.

I hated SureType for the first three days. After day two I had decided I was going to stick it out. About day four it seems SureType kicked in. As you say it is faster than the full keyboard as you hit 1/2 the keys to type a word.

I have had Palm devices for years. Freezes and resets are frequent. With the Blackberry there has not been one tiny glitch.

if you go in kicking and screaming, you are going to hate it. i resisted bb's for the longest time and felt so stupid for doing so once i switched. bottom line you can still carry your PDA to get what you want. i just don't need one at all - the bb is simplicity at its best.

IMHO it just sounds like the OP already has his mind mad that the BB won't work for him.