Curve - Piece of junk? What is not working on your phone? - BlackBerryForums.com : Your Number One BlackBerry Community

keano

Here is a list of things that are not working on my curve

1. The camera (tried the pressing thing, got it to work for a bit, now is no longer working)
2. No longer charging - When I put the usb charger on few weeks ago I must have bent one of the usb pins on the phone so now the phone no longer charges/connects to the usb
3. The trackball only moves UP/Down and sometimes right. Can not move to the left. It is PIA to browse since you can not move the cursor.
4. The left convenience button is no longer working

I have had the phone for just about 2 years. Still works as a phone and I do not mind getting another curve (maybe 8320), but just wanted to see what other problems folks experience.

zerog46 · 08-21-2009, 11:38 AM

And here is a good place to complain about them.

Moved to Rants and Raves.

MikeLip · 08-21-2009, 12:55 PM

Everything works on mine.

You bent a USB pin? Ugh. Not sure how you do that. Seems kinda hard to do. You could charge using a cradle if your curve has rear charging terminals.

ArgonNJ · 02:58 PM

It's 2 years old. Time for a new device. These things don't last forever. The Curve is hardly a piece of junk.

NJBlackBerry · 08-21-2009, 03:33 PM

Pebkab

daphne · **OS:** 4.7.1.40

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJBlackBerry

Pebkab

My thoughts exactly.

barbwyr · 03:26 AM

Hmmm....You call it junk because it doesn't work after you have abused it. Interesting. First off a battery pull would probably fix the camera, a cradle will charge it since YOU damaged the usb pins, the key and trackball sound like they suffer from the same moisture or dust damage. I have a Curve and my wife has 2, 1 hers and 1 work. All 3 are coming up on 2 years old and they still function like champs. Of course I treat my electronic devices with care and all 3 are in the factory cases when not in use so....

Yeah...pebkab for sure.

kathrynhr · **OS:** 5.0.0.328

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJBlackBerry

Pebkab

LOL! +1

My Curve definitely <> a piece of junk. I take good care of it, and it takes good care of me.

TonyEye · 08-24-2009, 09:25 AM

The Curve is a great device. It's AT&T's service that sucks.

keano · 08-24-2009, 10:57 AM

what is pebkab?

I am telling you my experience. I love the device and I will be getting another one, but just bit disappointed that is starting to fall apart after 2 years of service.

jsconyers · **OS:** 4.5.0.175

Quote:

Originally Posted by keano

what is pebkab?

Normally it is pebkac; Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair. Basically saying an end user error.

Since this is about a BlackBerry, it would be pebkab; Problem Exists Between Keypad And BlackBerry.

NJBlackBerry · 08-24-2009, 11:01 AM

keyboard and brain.

jsconyers · **OS:** 4.5.0.175

Ahh, good call!

ArgonNJ · 08-24-2009, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyEye

The Curve is a great device. It's AT&T's service that sucks.

Too bad none of the OP problems are network related.

juwaack68 · 08-24-2009, 02:33 PM

Two years is pretty long to have a BlackBerry these days, IMO.

Did you keep the device in a protective sleeve/holster at all times, never drop it, and never get any moisture/dust/lint on/in it?

ArgonNJ · 08-24-2009, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juwaack68

Two years is pretty long to have a BlackBerry these days, IMO.

Agreed. I usually get a new device every 6 mos, just to have to latest and greatest.

angelbear1973 · 08-24-2009, 03:34 PM

Ive had my curve going on two years and I have used and abused it in a construction enviroment. Large gouges on all four corners and battery cover, screens scratched, battery needs replacing. Track ball was replaced through Horizon wireless. But all in all it takes great care of me and everything functions perfectly.

barbwyr · 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyEye

The Curve is a great device. It's AT&T's service that sucks.

Matter of opinion here. I am very happy with my AT&T service but have very bad things to say about Sprint and Verizon so to each his own.

Quote:

Originally Posted by juwaack68

Did you keep the device in a protective sleeve/holster at all times, never drop it, and never get any moisture/dust/lint on/in it?

Judging by his remarks of the trackball and key not working and admitting that HE broke the usb port I would say...No, No and No...lol

CoDudette · **OS:** 4.6.0.282

i've had my bold for a year now! happy birthday bold :D and now i have to just replace the trackball..

i think you just need to update your device. my friends have had their curves for 2 years too, and they're still in surprisingly good condition. i guess you could have abused your curve which is why it's gone cuckoo on you. take good care of it, and you'll be rewarded with good service.

did that sound shady? oops.

endure161 · **OS:** 5.0.0.314

I have had several BB's - a 7100i on Nextel, an 8800, an 8310 Curve, and now an 8900 - last three on AT&T... While the features of the 8900 are great, especially the WiFi, it is the worst of the bunch for physical integrity. Compared to the others, it is quite flimsy. Out of the box the keyboard was loose and the trackball worked erratically because it is not mounted securely like the others. The shiny chrome scratches very easily during normal use. After three months, it fell off my desk and the LCD cracked even though it was in a gel skin that cushioned it some. Because it was unlocked (TMobile used on AT&T) the warranty will not be honored by anyone, either. That was the last straw for me. I went back to my 10 month old 8310, which is still solid, looks good and works very well. What is supposed to be the latest and greatest is not necessarily that way.

NJBlackBerry · 08-25-2009, 11:03 AM

Interesting. My 8320 was all beat up, yet my 8900 - which I got before they hit the street - is fine. To each his own.

keano · 09-15-2009, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barbwyr

Matter of opinion here. I am very happy with my AT&T service but have very bad things to say about Sprint and Verizon so to each his own.

Judging by his remarks of the trackball and key not working and admitting that HE broke the usb port I would say...No, No and No...lol

I did not brake the USB port, I plugged in the charger!!! Bad engineering if you ask me.

Add to the list of issues the fact that the devise has stopped vibrating.

Really, really falling apart.

JSanders · 09-15-2009, 04:46 PM

But after... what... daily charges? Almost daily? That would be 500-700 connections made. Accidents happen. Bad or good, my two curves after two years still work. I don't use them as much now, but for the first 18 months, I did.

penguin3107 · 09-15-2009, 04:50 PM

Isn't the Curve the best-selling BlackBerry model of all time?

ifonline · **OS:** 5.0.0.296

Quote:

Originally Posted by keano

2. No longer charging - When I put the usb charger on few weeks ago I must have bent one of the usb pins on the phone so now the phone no longer charges/connects to the usb

Quote:

Originally Posted by keano

I did not brake the USB port, I plugged in the charger!!! Bad engineering if you ask me.

Hey, just thought I'd put these two posts together for you since apparently you blacked out (or possibly fell and hit your head) after writing the first post and therefore forgot what you had said.

No thanks needed. I did this for you because I care. Really.

jsconyers · **OS:** 4.5.0.175

Quote:

Originally Posted by penguin3107

Isn't the Curve the best-selling BlackBerry model of all time?

No, ask the OP; the Curve is a piece of junk.

penguin3107 · 09-15-2009, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsconyers

No, ask the OP; the Curve is a piece of junk.

Oh, I'm not debating that... the Curve is definitely a piece of junk.
I simply find it fascinating that it's both a piece of junk, and the best-selling BlackBerry of all time.
;)

Jimmyelp · **OS:** 4.5.0.138

My camera stopped working one time and I did a batt pull and that fixed it!

JSanders · 09-15-2009, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jimmyelp

My camera stopped working one time and I did a batt pull and that fixed it!

Jimmy, with that much information, you could go to work for one of the mobile provider call support centers.

Really, I am serious.

barbwyr · **OS:** 4.5.0.52

LOL...I have a Curve I use all day long, my wife has one for personal and one for work that she uses even more than I do and all 3 are almost 2 years old and still solid. I really want the 8900, but can't justify replacing a perfectly good device...lol. Damn RIM and their reliability...lol.

Oh wait...I do know of a Curve that went belly up. My sister took hers swimming with her and it stopped working. You would think they would idiotproof...I mean water proof these things..lol.

keano · 09-16-2009, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ifonline

Hey, just thought I'd put these two posts together for you since apparently you blacked out (or possibly fell and hit your head) after writing the first post and therefore forgot what you had said.

No thanks needed. I did this for you because I care. Really.

Junior, how old are you, 12?

Yes, I bent the pins by plugging in the charger. How else can you bend them? PLus, if you search you will see that there are other folks that this has happened to them. Plugging in a charger?

And now the vibrate does not work?

Trust me I do the battery pull every day, when I switch the batteries from my phone to my wife's phone for charging.

I am not saying it is not a good phone, and I may get another one, but I think that it has about 2 year lifespan.

Is that tough to comprehend?

NJBlackBerry · 09-16-2009, 09:03 AM

Hey sport - you asked if the Curve was a piece of junk.

You gotten your answer.

juwaack68 · 09-16-2009, 09:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keano

Junior, how old are you, 12?

Yes, I bent the pins by plugging in the charger. How else can you bend them? PLus, if you search you will see that there are other folks that this has happened to them. Plugging in a charger?

And now the vibrate does not work?

Trust me I do the battery pull every day, when I switch the batteries from my phone to my wife's phone for charging.

I am not saying it is not a good phone, and I may get another one, but I think that it has about 2 year lifespan.

Is that tough to comprehend?

The device is two years old and the warranty has long since expired (a year ago). Be glad you got 2 years out of it.

ifonline · **OS:** 5.0.0.296

Quote:

Originally Posted by keano

Junior, how old are you, 12?

No. And I'm definitely not "junior" either. You?

Quote:

Yes, I bent the pins by plugging in the charger. How else can you bend them?

So you did break it. Why are we going in circles here?

Quote:

PLus, if you search you will see that there are other folks that this has happened to them. Plugging in a charger?

Yeah, and there are plenty more that aren't gorillas and break things just by trying to use them. I mean really, just how hard is it to put a USB cable into a USB socket? I suppose if I close my eyes while aiming for the USB port, plus use a hammer to make sure the plug is seated, then I might do some damage. But honestly, who would do something like that?

Quote:

And now the vibrate does not work?

Trust me I do the battery pull every day, when I switch the batteries from my phone to my wife's phone for charging.

I am not saying it is not a good phone, and I may get another one, but I think that it has about 2 year lifespan.

Okay.

Quote:

Is that tough to comprehend?

Nope. Is it tough to comprehend that your case is not the norm, but rather the exception?

kathrynhr · **OS:** 5.0.0.328

Quote:

Originally Posted by keano

I am not saying it is not a good phone, and I may get another one, but I think that it has about 2 year lifespan.

Is that tough to comprehend?

Keano, a question: how long, in your opinion, should a phone last? I can't imagine buying a phone and expecting it to last longer than 2 years.

Yes, they cost as much as some laptops these days, but they're also in almost constant daily use for some people, and therefore take a lot more abuse. I mean, just in the last 6 months my 8330 has: been dropped multiple times, gotten water dumped on it, been smeared all over with peanut butter, been in the dog's mouth, been in a steamy bathroom many times, been slept on and been stepped on. Not to mention I've used it daily as a phone, messenger, music player, alarm clock, gaming device, etc.

Apart from a few scratches, it's still running strong.

If I get 2 years out of my phone before I need to replace it, I will be a very happy camper.

jsconyers · **OS:** 4.5.0.175

Kathryn,

That type of abuse cannot be excused! Peanut butter Berry?!?! That's a first for me.

kathrynhr · **OS:** 5.0.0.328

Quote:

Originally Posted by jsconyers

Kathryn,

That type of abuse cannot be excused! Peanut butter Berry?!?! That's a first for me.

Yes, peanut butter! Courtesy of a 4-year-old boy who is determined to pull all the crust off his sandwiches since I am too "mean" to slice it off... and manages to squeeze out all the peanut butter in the process.

And then wants to play with mommy's phone...

keano · 09-16-2009, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kathrynhr

Keano, a question: how long, in your opinion, should a phone last? I can't imagine buying a phone and expecting it to last longer than 2 years.

Yes, they cost as much as some laptops these days, but they're also in almost constant daily use for some people, and therefore take a lot more abuse. I mean, just in the last 6 months my 8330 has: been dropped multiple times, gotten water dumped on it, been smeared all over with peanut butter, been in the dog's mouth, been in a steamy bathroom many times, been slept on and been stepped on. Not to mention I've used it daily as a phone, messenger, music player, alarm clock, gaming device, etc.

Apart from a few scratches, it's still running strong.

If I get 2 years out of my phone before I need to replace it, I will be a very happy camper.

Well, I am just disappointed how everything seems to be falling apart. Sure they get a heavy usage and abuse, but still. Why would the vibrate stopped working? Why my left convenience button is not working, why the camera is not working, and let's not get into the trackball.

I just wanted to gauge if other people have similar problems.

I think the phone as a device should work 3-4 years without a problem. I understand if let's say one thing brakes, or physical damage is done to the phone and the screen brakes, water damage, etc, but just things braking on its own.

JSanders · 09-16-2009, 12:38 PM

I don't feel like scrolling back through this entire thread, it's too painful.

BUT, try an OS upgrade to the latest, a complete JLCmder wipe and load the OS.

It won't fix hardware problems like USB slots, a broken vibrator

or buttons, but it might fix your camera.

OrangeBDS · 09-17-2009, 12:27 PM

It sounds like all the OP's complaints are in regards to physical pieces/things that move on the device. After 2 years of use on a device that compact, it's not surprising to see button failures and other physical aspects go haywire.

"The camera pressing thing?" sounds like a button, I think, after two years there's probably a lot of dirt/dust/grime built up inside it. Same with the trackball and the convenience key. And as for the USB, that's all phsyical damage, obvious why it's not working.

The curve is the device I run into the most often, which in my line of work is normally a bad thing as I do troubleshooting, but most, if not, all the time it's because of email issues or browser issues. I really can't recall anyone complaining about anything other than a trackball that hasn't been cleaned properly. I'd have to say you've gotten a good life out of the Curve.