Is BlackBerry OS 5.0 VASTLY better than OS 4.5, or are 'Berry fans in denial?

[ravenvii]

So my mom had a problem with her BlackBerry Curve 8300 today and of course she turns to me to fix it.

To skip to the ending for those anxious, yes I fixed it. But that's not the point of this post.

Basically, after "using" it for a bit trying to fix it and back it up on the computer and setting it up after a wipe, I've concluded that the BlackBerry OS, version 4.5 at least, really sucks and is incredibly behind the times.

The interface is so clunky, the trackball is such a slow and clunky way to navigate, and the eye candy looks like it's lifted from Windows 95, with lame attempts to "modernize" the widgets.

The browser... don't even get me started.

All the apps for it? Looks like poorly written ancient relics from the 1990's. Takes forever to start up, forever to connect to the network, and sometimes gets spastic about some archaic technology that is valuable in today's computing, but that should be void of almost any issues, such as in modern OSes such as Windows, OS X, the iPhone OS, Android, **** even Linux.

Countless little quirks - such as the network-dependent apps disappearing if you disconnect from the network, how retarded is that? And many icons thrown all over the place, many of which could easily be grouped into a, wow, "preferences" app. (Yes, the iPhone has this problem, too, but the built-in apps only take up one screen and one block. All the rest of the icons you add yourself. Not so with the BlackBerry. Sure, it's nice that you can hide them, but it can get annoying if you need to use said apps once in a while.

I understand that business-types love them - they tend to like utilitarian and ugly, hard-to-understand interfaces (gives them a professional look, maybe, I dunno) and the integration into the corporate network is fantastic, apparently. I'd think the iPhone and Android's compatibility with Exchange dissolves the majority of the BlackBerry's advantage, though.

And yes, emailing and texting is much faster with the BlackBerry than the iPhone or the Android, and the integrated mailbox is genius. But the iPhone and Android isn't *that* slow, and it's more than acceptable to wait an extra 5 seconds, in my opinion, and the integrated mailbox is merely an interface choice that's easy enough to code in (Note to Apple - steal this idea, please!).

All in all, this is a review of BlackBerry OS 4.5. My girlfriend is getting a BlackBerry Bold, which obviously includes OS 5.0. Having never used OS 5.0 myself, is it vastly better? And is the replacement for the trackball any better? If not, I'll have to say that RIM will be dethroned in short order, unless they do a massive overhaul of their relic of a OS.

 

[420-THC]

I used to have a curve 8320 back before my E71x, and it was a great phone granted the browser sucked on it. But I installed opera mini and that did the trick, the battery life was AWESOME even after a year.

Just My two cents, I still like the iphone way more

 

[CrzyCanuck72]

BlackBerries aren't about eye candy and pretty fart apps. They're about firing off emails and texts, and actually being able to make calls.

 

[Rodimus Prime]

8300 will not be getting os 5.0. I do not believe it has enough ram to run it. The phones that are getting it have at least 90 megs the 8300 has 64 megs. It is a fairly old phone.
Bb are still king when it comes to email and text. Crap on web broswering. Bolt is a good web browser for a blackberry. Far cry from the iPhone is king when it comes to broswering the web.

 

[JD914]

So my mom had a problem with her BlackBerry Curve 8300 today and of course she turns to me to fix it.

To skip to the ending for those anxious, yes I fixed it. But that's not the point of this post.

Basically, after "using" it for a bit trying to fix it and back it up on the computer and setting it up after a wipe, I've concluded that the BlackBerry OS, version 4.5 at least, really sucks and is incredibly behind the times.

The interface is so clunky, the trackball is such a slow and clunky way to navigate, and the eye candy looks like it's lifted from Windows 95, with lame attempts to "modernize" the widgets.

The browser... don't even get me started.

All the apps for it? Looks like poorly written ancient relics from the 1990's. Takes forever to start up, forever to connect to the network, and sometimes gets spastic about some archaic technology that is valuable in today's computing, but that should be void of almost any issues, such as in modern OSes such as Windows, OS X, the iPhone OS, Android, **** even Linux.

Countless little quirks - such as the network-dependent apps disappearing if you disconnect from the network, how retarded is that? And many icons thrown all over the place, many of which could easily be grouped into a, wow, "preferences" app. (Yes, the iPhone has this problem, too, but the built-in apps only take up one screen and one block. All the rest of the icons you add yourself. Not so with the BlackBerry. Sure, it's nice that you can hide them, but it can get annoying if you need to use said apps once in a while.

I understand that business-types love them - they tend to like utilitarian and ugly, hard-to-understand interfaces (gives them a professional look, maybe, I dunno) and the integration into the corporate network is fantastic, apparently. I'd think the iPhone and Android's compatibility with Exchange dissolves the majority of the BlackBerry's advantage, though.

And yes, emailing and texting is much faster with the BlackBerry than the iPhone or the Android, and the integrated mailbox is genius. But the iPhone and Android isn't *that* slow, and it's more than acceptable to wait an extra 5 seconds, in my opinion, and the integrated mailbox is merely an interface choice that's easy enough to code in (Note to Apple - steal this idea, please!).

All in all, this is a review of BlackBerry OS 4.5. My girlfriend is getting a BlackBerry Bold, which obviously includes OS 5.0. Having never used OS 5.0 myself, is it vastly better? And is the replacement for the trackball any better? If not, I'll have to say that RIM will be dethroned in short order, unless they do a massive overhaul of their relic of a OS.

Ridiculous review since you are basically talking about an outdated device (8300) with an outdated OS (4.5). You also go as far to admitting never used Blackberry OS 5.0. So whats the point of your pointless review? Oh yeah! that's right you feel good bashing the competition, so you can feel secure that you have the best device on the market!

 

[renewed]

Ridiculous review since you are basically talking about an outdated device (8300) with an outdated OS (4.5). You also go as far to admitting never used Blackberry OS 5.0. So whats the point of your pointless review? Oh yeah! that's right you feel good bashing the competition, so you can feel secure that you have the best device on the market!

For someone who unnecessarily quoted his post, you must of not read it. He said, and I quote:

All in all, this is a review of BlackBerry OS 4.5. My girlfriend is getting a BlackBerry Bold, which obviously includes OS 5.0. Having never used OS 5.0 myself, is it vastly better?

This shows that he reviewed 4.5, and asked about 5.0. So in essence it isn't a pointless review. It is an opinionated review of 4.5 and a question about if 5.0 is better.

Your reply is not even slightly relevant.

 

[str1f3]

BlackBerries aren't about eye candy and pretty fart apps. They're about firing off emails and texts, and actually being able to make calls.

You can mouth off about fart apps all you like but BB's apps don't even compare to Android apps, much less iPhone apps. Their App World is a complete and utter failure. As for your comment regarding dropped calls, it's about at&t's network which a majority of BB's use. You don't hear about dropped calls on BB because reporters don't care. The iPhone is the sexier story.

Texts are no big deal from one cellphone to another and, if it's email that floats your boat, then have fun on it.

As it is the BB OS is old and decrepit. While BB's servers are neat, they've had a few major outages in the past few weeks which proves that it can also be a weakness.

 

[Applejuiced]

I had to help a friend update his bb storm the other day. Even to get the updated firmware was a pain in the rear. I guess it wasn't pushed to his phone thru verizon or maybe he didn't know and rejected the update.
Menus and trying to setup things after the install felt so outdated it reminded me of the atari days menu within menu within 20 subsettings.
only used it for 10 minutes and hated it. Don't get me started on that clickscreen thing either.....
You can talk down about the iPhone and crappy fart apps but the user experience and ease of use and navigation thru the os is amazing.
My friend played with my 3GS for a few minutes and later on he was calling verizon to find out when his contract expires.

 

[Quu]

BlackBerries aren't about eye candy and pretty fart apps. They're about firing off emails and texts, and actually being able to make calls.

There has never ever been a time where I've gone 'I really want an app to do xyz' where the app store hasn't had an application for it. When I wanted a VNC client I typed it in and about 30 came up. I lost my front row remote for my notebook and I was like 'I wonder if theres an app for that?' and there was and not only was there several of them but there was also a combination app that would control VLC, MCE, Boxee, AppleTV and my notebook.

There are so many apps for this device to limit its range of software to the words 'pretty fart apps' just shows how little you know about the phone and thus all statements you make from here on out referencing the iPhone should be accompanied by a note from you stating how little knowledge you have in your possession surrounding the device, as we would never want your ignorance to spread!

Furthermore I can make calls on my iPhone just fine. I live in England and any drop call issues are an AT&T of America issue and not a problem with the iPhone which sells in over 70 countries worldwide, lets not forget you are participating in an Internet forum and generalised statements like the one you made that are fully attributed to AT&T's network become false when presented on a world stage.

Thank you

 

[The General]

BlackBerries aren't about eye candy and pretty fart apps. They're about firing off emails and texts, and actually being able to make calls.

I do that on my iPhone all day long, every day. Plus I get eye candy and pretty fart apps.

 

[calvy]

I love how people claim BB is for text/email. I find it absolutely frustrating to send emails or text on my work issued Blackberry 8310. I can't imagine it's much better in a newer bold. I'm sure you still have to scroll your way through menus to click send and crap like that.

 

[chill.]

well, you should look back at 2007 and where the iphone was back then. it wasn't until 2008 with 3G, subsidized pricing, and the app store that the iphone really took off

 

[Compile 'em all]

BlackBerries aren't about eye candy and pretty fart apps. They're about firing off emails and texts, and actually being able to make calls.

Do you work for Microsoft?

Eye candy and utility are not mutually exclusive. If you have used OS X, you should already know that by now.

I don't live in the states and rest assured I CAN make calls, fire off emails and texts all within an easy to use, FAST, and beautiful UI. I challenge you to show me an app that is on par with Tweetie, Facebook, Pastebot, Convert for the BB. Yeah, didn't think so.

This fartapps argument (and that the iPhone is a toy) is really getting old and would only come from someone who works for MS, never used an iPhone, or is just ignorant.

 

[ThatsMeRight]

Don't know. Don't care. Welcome in the iPhone section.

 

[AppleMatt]

Ridiculous review since you are basically talking about an outdated device (8300) with an outdated OS (4.5). You also go as far to admitting never used Blackberry OS 5.0. So whats the point of your pointless review? Oh yeah! that's right you feel good bashing the competition, so you can feel secure that you have the best device on the market!

He talked about a number of problems with a shipping phone and shipping OS. If they have such problems, that's a valid review as they're out there in the wild being used by 1000's of people!

Customer: My phone doesn't work properly.
Your logic: OMG how totally stupid, this phone is like two years old and the software is outdated too. Buy a new one.

AppleMatt

 

[JD914]

He talked about a number of problems with a shipping phone and shipping OS. If they have such problems, that's a valid review as they're out there in the wild being used by 1000's of people!

Customer: My phone doesn't work properly.
Your logic: OMG how totally stupid, this phone is like two years old and the software is outdated too. Buy a new one.

AppleMatt

Don't know. Don't care. Welcome in the iPhone section.

Couldn't have said it better myself

 

[JD914]

Don't know. Don't care. Welcome in the iPhone section.

Thank you!

 

[Rodimus Prime]

I love how people claim BB is for text/email. I find it absolutely frustrating to send emails or text on my work issued Blackberry 8310. I can't imagine it's much better in a newer bold. I'm sure you still have to scroll your way through menus to click send and crap like that.

Did you start on you iPhone before you got a bb. If so the change is your problem. The bb has a much steeper learning curve than the iPhone. Take some time to learn the short cuts and it really helps out. I know I was frustrated trying to figure out how to get emails set up on mu iTouch I got for christmas because I am used to my blackberry.
Another thing the bb has over the iphone is customizing. Theme, customs sms, no work around to put free ringtones on the phone. The iPhone is extremely limited on custom tweaks to the phone that is really nice.
Lastly the push email feature on the bb is by far better than the iPhone. Can you on the iPhone have multiple push email accounts. My understanding is you are limited to only on exchange account.

OS 5.0 adds thread sms which is nice. Also the ground work is being laid for 2 way syncing of emails being marked as read and updated. Right now that only goes one way but everything is be set up to be done 2 ways.

 

[CrzyCanuck72]

Do you work for Microsoft?

Eye candy and utility are not mutually exclusive. If you have used OS X, you should already know that by now.

I don't live in the states and rest assured I CAN make calls, fire off emails and texts all within an easy to use, FAST, and beautiful UI. I challenge you to show me an app that is on par with Tweetie, Facebook, Pastebot, Convert for the BB. Yeah, didn't think so.

This fartapps argument (and that the iPhone is a toy) is really getting old and would only come from someone who works for MS, never used an iPhone, or is just ignorant.

Nope, don't work for MS, just someone who owned an iPhone for a year, had my fun, and moved on.

As for the apps, I agree that BlackBerry apps are miles behind iPhone apps. My point was that BlackBerries don't need the pretty apps because that's not their raison d'etre. People don't buy BlackBerries expecting to be able to remotely control their computers, or have a really pretty twitter client (though ubertwitter, as a free twitter app, does everything that I need). They buy them as communications devices - to reliably make calls, send emails, etc. Those functions are almost an afterthought on the iPhone (see: lack of unified inbox, no MMS until this past summer, no copy/paste till this past summer). After a year of having an iPhone, I realized that it was really great at what I did 10% of the time, but terrible at what I did 90% of the time (paraphrasing something I read on these forums I think - can't remember original source). BlackBerry is the reverse. That, and BBM is fricking awesome and blows texting out of the water.

 

[courtney.bella]

Maybe BlackBerry fans...oh, I don't know, don't really care? I mean, maybe they like their phones. Maybe they don't care about how amazing the iPhone interface is, or about apps, or anything. Maybe they just want their email, texts, and phone calls, and the ability to get an app or two for something they might really need on their phone? They are always ******s on every forum about phones--here about BlackBerry's being outdated and clunky, on BlackBerry forums about the iPhone being a 'toy' and useless. I think we should just respect the fact that not everyone likes a touchscreen, and not everyone likes that you have to go through three or four menus to get to something on a BlackBerry.

 

[Bullshark]

I have a blackberry bold 9700 (newest one) right now. I'm switching my sim btwn phones trying to decide which one I like better.

They both have their positive points. I'll tell ya this (not like it hasn't already been said).

iPhone has nice interface (although lacking some nice options.)
blackberrys new interface is decent at best.

The trackpad on the new blackberry is great. MUCH better than the trackball. Doesn't compare to the ease of touch screen though.

Typing on the iPhone is easier and the autocorrect is a feature I find hard to live without.

I'm not gonna compare everything, but I'll say iPhone better step it up big time with the new version. The resolution on the display is misery after looking at the blackberry screen for the past 2 days. And the interface needs to change. Android is coming out with some much nicer (and more logical) interfaces. Put apples performance to the droid interface and multitasking features and you have what the iPhone was when it first dropped. A market changing smartphone.

Sorry this turned into a vent.

 

[scaredpoet]

BlackBerries aren't about eye candy and pretty fart apps. They're about firing off emails and texts, and actually being able to make calls.

Funny, that, because I can actually make calls. I do so all the time on my iPhone.

I can send e-mails too. Even when Blackberries can't

 

[Compile 'em all]

Nope, don't work for MS, just someone who owned an iPhone for a year, had my fun, and moved on.

As for the apps, I agree that BlackBerry apps are miles behind iPhone apps. My point was that BlackBerries don't need the pretty apps because that's not their raison d'etre. People don't buy BlackBerries expecting to be able to remotely control their computers, or have a really pretty twitter client (though ubertwitter, as a free twitter app, does everything that I need). They buy them as communications devices - to reliably make calls, send emails, etc..

Your argument that the iPhone can't reliably make calls or send emails is getting really old. I can already do both on my current iPhone reliably. Even on my 2 years-old iPhone I have never had a dropped call. True Story.

Well sure, the iPhone didn't have MMS, copy/paste, and an App Store. We also didn't have computers 50 years ago. But we do now. And now is what matters.

 

[renewed]

Misquoted and Misread, apologies.

 

[Mikey B]

Your argument that the iPhone can't reliably make calls or send emails is getting really old. I can already do both on my current iPhone reliably. Even on my 2 years-old iPhone I have never had a dropped call. True Story.

Well sure, the iPhone didn't have MMS, copy/paste, and an App Store. We also didn't have computers 50 years ago. But we do now. And now is what matters.

Man, I wish it was true that the argument for the iPhone being an unreliable telephony device was old, but I fight that battle every day while my fiance's Bold, right next to me, has no issues. I find it hard to believe that you've never had a drop call, but more power to you. I'm jealous. I've had about 3,000. Not to mention all the times voicemails magically appear with no record of a call, if they appear at all. It is maddening. I stick with the iPhone because it's pros outweigh the cons for me, but it is hardly a world-class telephone or email device. I love the iPhone and it does many things better than any other platform, but as a communications/messaging device, it still has some ground to make up. And until AT&T straightens out their network or the iPhone is opened up to other carriers to relieve network congestion, I don't really see this changing. No matter what hardware or software changes are made to the device.