Freezing. Sluggish. Enough is enough.

[ApacheIndian]

I have been a loyal BlackBerry user and fan for 4 years... 8830 World Edition, then 8330 Curve, now the Tour. I have used them and sung their praises and recommended them to others. I have not jumped ship to iPhone b/c of the iPhone's lack of a keyboard and resultant inability to type on rapidly -- and also b/c of VZW's superior coverage and service as compared to AT&T.

But I haven't been happy with all the freezing up and sluggisness of my BB's. I have done all the memory maximizer hacks, deleted a lot of apps I don't use, and I've even refrained from installing apps that I wanted in order to "conserve" precious processing power/memory. (Won't even mention how some very important apps -- e.g. Audible -- doesn't even work right on BB.)

VZW Droid is coming out soon and is getting rave reviews. I am seriously considering bailing.

Thoughts?

[Caledan]

I'm on AT&T and I too am getting tired of the Bold being slow. The network is very slow in Vermont since we still don't have 3G, though when they took over Unicel network they said it would be here soon. Most towns have 2 bar reception unless in the Hills then it's hit or miss, in the cities 3 /4 Bars & SLOW! Bring on the Droid & hope it's better.

[Daughain]

As a linux user, I've been watching the dev of Android from the beginning. The Moto Droid looks good, but, I would say wait till Android 3.0. The interface and speed should be better. Also, there should be enough apps available so you wont lose anything with the changeover. Or, you might look into the XPphone when it is released.

[ApacheIndian]

I think BlackBerry's days are numbered. Adapt or die.

[NJBlackBerry]

Wow.

[penguin3107]

Originally Posted by ApacheIndian

I think BlackBerry's days are numbered. Adapt or die.

hahahaha

[ApacheIndian]

RIM is not responding to its own deficiencies or to new market needs. iPhone is trouncing BB in the general consumer market, and picking up steam in the business market. If Apple came out with an iPhone with a slide out keyboard, that would hit BB right where it hurts, as many, many BB users would switch to iPhone (myself included). Apple has not done that.

Enter the Droid. Google Android + VZW + iPhone functionality + slide out keyboard = unbeatable combination.

Anyone at RIM listening?

[NJBlackBerry]

Do you actually read what you write before hitting the Post button?

If Apple came out with an iPhone with a slide out keyboard, that would hit BB right where it hurts, as many, many BB users would switch to iPhone (myself included).

So, when do you get your Droid?

[ApacheIndian]

I'm sticking with the Tour for now, but watching the Droid closely.

Check this out:

Midnight Droid madness in Manhattan | Wireless - CNET News

My last post was before I read this snippet mind you

[NJBlackBerry]

Remember This - all the pioneers are dead on the prairie. Every new device is not going to solve your problems. Especially a new device, new OS, from a manufacturer that is taking a huge risk (Motorola) as it tries to kick start their mobile phone business.

Good luck.

[wabbit]

Originally Posted by ApacheIndian

VZW Droid is coming out soon and is getting rave reviews. I am seriously considering bailing.

Thoughts?

how much money has moto and verizon invest into that one phone?

hence the "quote" good reviews.

considering moto is releasing 2 android phones and one from htc on verizon

the reviews are fixed since the most talked about phone is this "droid"

that's my thoughts on the subject.

[jsconyers]

Originally Posted by ApacheIndian

I have been a loyal BlackBerry user and fan for 4 years... 8830 World Edition, then 8330 Curve, now the Tour.

If the 8830 was your first BlackBerry, then there's no way you have been using BlackBerry devices for 4 years as the 8830 was released in May of 2007.

[ApacheIndian]

Ok... 2.5 years. Had a Moto Q before that -- certified piece of junk that was.

My point by posting this isn't to stir things up. I am just frustrated with my BB woes and venting -- wondering if anybody else feels this way... surely you all have the same problems -- sluggish performance, freezing, needing constant reboots and battery pulls, slowing down with apps, some apps not working right, need for tedious high-end hacks to simply work right -- how is it that y'all are ok with these problems - ???

[ApacheIndian]

Originally Posted by NJBlackBerry

Remember This - all the pioneers are dead on the prairie. Every new device is not going to solve your problems. Especially a new device, new OS, from a manufacturer that is taking a huge risk (Motorola) as it tries to kick start their mobile phone business.

Agreed -- the Motorola part of it is admittedly a bit of a gamble. But VZW is a proven entity. And Google -- well, Google is a force to be reckoned with -- unfrigginstoppable. Google has proven time and time again their ability to make ostensibly complex tasks mind-numbingly simple, easy, intuitive -- and more often that not -- free for the user.

Early reviews -- on discussion forums, not professional reviews which admittedly are circumspect -- on the Droid are overwhelmingly positive.

I'm not bailing on BB just yet, but I am keeping an open mind

[monkeypaw]

Another round of development on Android and I think I'll end up with some version of that. Whereas BB used to be a main platform for app releases, now iphone seems to be the one that rolls out. Android will be now that enough devices are coming to market.

For example my bank, USAA, has iphone an app where you can take a picture of a check to deposit it. They've offered at home scanning to deposit for a couple years and then rolled out the iphone app months ago. But no BB app. And CNBC, which you would expect to have a BB app, has an iphone app, but no BB app.

The BB core features are great, but phones are mini computers now and apps are what is going to differentiate them.

[blackbelt]

Originally Posted by monkeypaw

Another round of development on Android and I think I'll end up with some version of that. Whereas BB used to be a main platform for app releases, now iphone seems to be the one that rolls out. Android will be now that enough devices are coming to market.

For example my bank, USAA, has iphone an app where you can take a picture of a check to deposit it. They've offered at home scanning to deposit for a couple years and then rolled out the iphone app months ago. But no BB app. And CNBC, which you would expect to have a BB app, has an iphone app, but no BB app.

The BB core features are great, but phones are mini computers now and apps are what is going to differentiate them.

your right apps will differentiate the phones. but mostly the OS that allows the apps to run smoothly. David Pogue on CNBC said they should start calling them App phones

[djm2]

Originally Posted by ApacheIndian

Ok... 2.5 years. Had a Moto Q before that -- certified piece of junk that was.

My point by posting this isn't to stir things up. I am just frustrated with my BB woes and venting -- wondering if anybody else feels this way... surely you all have the same problems -- sluggish performance, freezing, needing constant reboots and battery pulls, slowing down with apps, some apps not working right, need for tedious high-end hacks to simply work right -- how is it that y'all are ok with these problems - ???

I don't know about others, but I rarely have these problems -- some to be sure, but not all the time. Is it possible that there might be some user effect here?

[ApacheIndian]

Originally Posted by djm2

Is it possible that there might be some user effect here?

I guess that's a possibility, but I consider myself a technophile and quite BB-savvy, so I kind of doubt it. Besides what I've noticed is that on these boards most of the mods and vets/experts are all in the tech industry. I and most others aren't. So if you have to be in that relatively small industry to get a BB to work properly, is it really a good, user-friendly device for most non-tech consumers? Well I think the iPhone's popularity has proven that it is not. And all that has prevented advanced-but-non-expert frustrated BB like myself from jumping ship has been the lack of a keyboard.

Oh and c'mon -- friggin Audible hasn't worked right on BB for 2 years -- ??? That's inexusable imho.

I think monkeypaw makes some solid points.

I think how Droid handles email -- the one, admittedly huge, strong point to the BB -- is going to be the decisive factor.

[ApacheIndian]

Originally Posted by djm2

Is it possible that there might be some user effect here?

Oh yeah, do you have a Tour? My Tour always has these problems, and it takes like 10 minutes to reboot. And the popular and effective -- albeit time-consuming and tedious -- memory hack on these boards doesn't work for the Tour. (I have wasted plenty of time trying it.)

[NJBlackBerry]

What memory hack?

[jbairdjr]

My Blackberry device is quick and responsive.
I Love my Blackberry

[JSanders]

Ten minutes to boot?

wow.

[The SPCS Guy]

Yup..mine takes just that long. I thought it was a problem. Now i see it's the norm.

JE

[ApacheIndian]

Originally Posted by NJBlackBerry

What memory hack?

The whole "Losing calls..." memory maximizer hack posted by John Clark -- I mean accolades to him and all, but to have to go through that process every couple months with each OS upgrade or whatever is just too much.

Is it really too much to ask to get a turnkey BB ready to go? Is it reasonable for RIM to expect me to spend half a Saturday (as I recently did with my new Tour) deleting bloatware, maximizing memory, selectively downloading apps, etc???

Oh yes and allow me to get on one other soapbox -- in the same vein, why the heck is setting up and maintaining BES so friggin complicated??? Why do I really need a System Admin for something that -- really and truly -- should be simple. Google Calendar achieves this elegantly and easily via the cloud. A username and password is all that is required --> walah -- you are immediately synced across all computers and handhelds, seamlessly. Did I mention FREE? A major nod to the Droid.

[daphne]

You want to make a comparison between the security of Google Calendar, or other "cloud" apps vs. the security of BES?

[daphne]

Originally Posted by ApacheIndian

The whole "Losing calls..." memory maximizer hack posted by John Clark -- I mean accolades to him and all, but to have to go through that process every couple months with each OS upgrade or whatever is just too much.

I have never done that. Never felt the need to and I have no problems with my Tour. I do a battery pull every day or two, but that's all.

[quote]Is it really too much to ask to get a turnkey BB ready to go? Is it reasonable for RIM to expect me to spend half a Saturday (as I recently did with my new Tour) deleting bloatware, maximizing memory, selectively downloading apps, etc???
QUOTE]

The BlackBerry is "turnkey" and ready to go out of the box. Everything else is user preference and would not fit all users.

[ApacheIndian]

Originally Posted by daphne

You want to make a comparison between the security of Google Calendar, or other "cloud" apps vs. the security of BES?

Disclaimer: I am not an expert in this arena. If I'm grossly wrong in any way, please do correct me.

I disagree that it's a security issue. I think that's what MSFT would like you to believe b/c that justifies their fees and closed ecosystem.

Google's open and free ecosystem dominates the email and search realm, is picking up steam in the browser and docs space, and, IMHO will put BES out of business. Granted this last part will take time -- MSFT is deeply entrenched into all of our lives -- but slowly but surely Google is chipping away at market share.

[monkeypaw]

[quote=daphne;1502954]I have never done that. Never felt the need to and I have no problems with my Tour. I do a battery pull every day or two, but that's all.

Is it really too much to ask to get a turnkey BB ready to go? Is it reasonable for RIM to expect me to spend half a Saturday (as I recently did with my new Tour) deleting bloatware, maximizing memory, selectively downloading apps, etc???
QUOTE]

The BlackBerry is "turnkey" and ready to go out of the box. Everything else is user preference and would not fit all users.

No one should have to do a battery pull every day or so as maintenance. Long time users think nothing of it, but its not normal.

[penguin3107]

Originally Posted by ApacheIndian

in the same vein, why the heck is setting up and maintaining BES so friggin complicated??? Why do I really need a System Admin for something that -- really and truly -- should be simple. Google Calendar achieves this elegantly and easily via the cloud. A username and password is all that is required --> walah -- you are immediately synced across all computers and handhelds, seamlessly.

This could be one of the most absurd things I've read in a long time.
Do you even know what BES is or what it does?

[NJBlackBerry]

Wow. Apache - you keep digging a deeper hole for yourself.

Get another phone, and see if you are happier with it.

Right now, you are deliriously ranting about things you have no clue about.

P.S. I haven't used the memory optimization techniques since the 8320. As newer devices have more memory, you don't need to. I have an 8900 that never requires a reboot, is filled with apps, and has 100mb applications memor free.

You really should take a break.

[djm2]

Originally Posted by ApacheIndian

Oh yeah, do you have a Tour? My Tour always has these problems, and it takes like 10 minutes to reboot. And the popular and effective -- albeit time-consuming and tedious -- memory hack on these boards doesn't work for the Tour. (I have wasted plenty of time trying it.)

I should update my profile -- yes I do have a Tour, and while the boot time is long everything else is fine. How much free memory do you have? Have you loaded all sorts of crap on it?

[djm2]

Originally Posted by ApacheIndian

Disclaimer: I am not an expert in this arena. If I'm grossly wrong in any way, please do correct me.

I disagree that it's a security issue. I think that's what MSFT would like you to believe b/c that justifies their fees and closed ecosystem.

Google's open and free ecosystem dominates the email and search realm, is picking up steam in the browser and docs space, and, IMHO will put BES out of business. Granted this last part will take time -- MSFT is deeply entrenched into all of our lives -- but slowly but surely Google is chipping away at market share.

Wow. If you think that Google is doing all of this out of the goodness of their capitalistic heart you have really been drinking the Kool-Aide. My clients are concerned enough about security that even BB wireless connectivity is questioned and vetted, and cloud apps are a strict no-no. Do you really believe that Google doesn't data mine everything you put up there just to get a better profile of you, and to help them target ads to you?

[NJBlackBerry]

Originally Posted by djm2

Do you really believe that Google doesn't data mine everything you put up there just to get a better profile of you, and to help them target ads to you?

That's ALL Google is trying to do....
Virtually all of their revenue is from ads. GMail is read so they can target ads.
Apparently no one cares!

[djm2]

Originally Posted by NJBlackBerry

That's ALL Google is trying to do....
Virtually all of their revenue is from ads. GMail is read so they can target ads.
Apparently no one cares!

Some of us do care. Heck, even ToDoMatrix use has to be limited in my world simply because it stores data where I do not have 100% control and legal responsibility.

Edit: Oh, and I have not done JC's memory optimization on the Tour either and have about 100mb free at all times.

[wabbit]

if you want privacy you would not use google. if you dont care you will use google.

[ApacheIndian]

Ok. It is clear I am in the minority here. That's ok. (These are BB forums after all.)

Here are some of my predictions:

1. RIM/BB will continue to lose market share. They are not responding to consumer needs nor are their products improving/evolving. The Tour is in a couple ways better than the Curve, but in a couple ways worse -- net effect? Zero. The Storm is a complete disaster.

2. Google and Google-related products will continue to gain market share. At the expense of Microsoft, RIM, Apple, AT&T, YouMail, Garmin, TomTom, and the like. People like free, fast, and easy-to-use.

3. Cloud-computing is the future. Related security will improve, as will privacy issues. Privacy in particular will become less of an issue as consumers continue to decide that ease of use and speed outweigh a little loss of "privacy." So what if Google data mines??? Who really cares?

4. Android will continue to pick up steam. Maybe the Moto Droid won't be the iPhone killer, but it looks like its gonna be the first contender. Most are predicting that it will be the BlackBerry-killer.

I wholeheartedly disagree that BB works turnkey with no maintenance and minimal effort. I am an above-average user for sure -- no bloatware, no superfluous apps, high memory (although should one really even have to worry about that???). Yet these devices still freeze up, act sluggish, require reboots and silly nonsensical battery-pulls (think about how primitive that is for a second -- a "battery pull"? C'mon -- really...).

[ApacheIndian]

Originally Posted by penguin3107

This could be one of the most absurd things I've read in a long time. Do you even know what BES is or what it does?

Edumucate me please.

[NJBlackBerry]

Ahh - you're a consultant! That must explain it..

1. RIM/BB will continue to lose market share.
An evidence of this? Of course not. What market share have they lost?

2. Google and Google-related products will continue to gain market share.
Google, everywhere, all the time. Except business isn't buying this one bit. Google Apps, Google Wave, Google, Google, Google.

3. Cloud-computing is the future.
Definitely consultant speak. Do you work for Gartner or Forrester? Cloud computing IS HERE. Use Hotmail? Cloud. WebEx or LiveMeeting? Cloud. But companies are not moving very quickly at putting proprietary data into the cloud. One day - perhaps. Soon? No.

4. Android will continue to pick up steam
As what? An enterprise or consumer desktop OS? Or as a phone OS? Or as a BlackBerry or iPhone killer? Who is predicting that it will be a BlackBerry killer (sources please)?

Before you start predicting like Nostradamos, at least demonstrate some basic understanding, skills and credibility. 0-3.

Please..

Android will continue to pick up steam

[blackbelt]

this should explain it all, Seinfeld explains why he doesn't use a blackberry or iphone very funny MacSpotLight.BlogSpot.com: Seinfeld says why he doesn't like the blackberry or iphone(funny)

[MidnightDraven]

Originally Posted by ApacheIndian

They are not responding to consumer needs nor are their products improving/evolving.

So trackwheel to trackball and now trackpad is not evolution?
64Mb, to 128 to 256MB flash memory for more app installations is not improving?