Cellphone Forecast: Not So 'Stormy'

Hi cbrown,

The Storm is definitely a business class device.  It has all the software of any other BlackBerry, including all the security and IT administrator tools.

I like the Bold a lot -- WiFi, camera, video recording, GPS, very nice screen, good keyboard, trackball, much better browser, okay multimedia player, MS file software, etc.  I highly recommend it for people who need this sort of device.

I have used the iPhone multiple times, although I don't own one.  I haven't used the keyboard enough to provide a valid opinion.  I know I make relatively few mistakes on BlackBerry keyboards and I type pretty fast.

Hi Mike Acker,

Sorry about your phone problems.  Perhaps I just treat my phones more with kid gloves.

The more rugged phones are usually ugly and with fewer features.

"The main question is whether the Storm's unique click/touch screen will be a hit.  I know two mobile/computer experts who really like it.  So far, I much prefer the physical BlackBerry keyboards, and I've used just about all of them."

That seems to be the crux of the matter: either you prefer a touchscreen device or a physical keyboard, and that's one reason why RIM hedged their bets by launching the Storm and the Bold nearly simulataneously. None of the Blackberry users in my office that I've talked to seem interested in the Storm. There's a perception that because it's like the iPhone and doesn't have a physical keyboard that it's not a "business-class" device. At the same time they are salivating for a Bold and are probably going to accidentally-on-purpose lose, drop or drown their older handsets in exchange for one.

I have an iPhone for personal use that I've owned for about a year now, and a few months ago  I got a Blackberry 7500 for work. Having never used a Blackberry before,I expected to prefer the Blackberry's physical keyboard to the iPhone's touchscreen. To my surprise I much prefer my iPhone's keyboard, but it's the software, not the physical interface that makes the difference. I can type as quickly as I can on the iPhone and its auto-correction nearly always detects the typos and corrects them with uncanny accuracy. The Blackberry,by contrast, misses a lot of the typos that are obvious to the iPhone, although newer versions like the Bold may perform better. Reiter is right when he says that a timely software update may elevate the Storm from OK to great.

="I don't know how many phones I've tested and used over more than 20 years, but almost none have broken, although software crashes are another matter."

let me just say this about that: I have a wife & 2 daughters on a shared family plan and these folks like flip phones.  so far not 1 flip phone has made it to the end of the 2-year contract.  the flip always breaks.  i always buy the mil-spec rugged phones for these ladies too and even that doesn't help.

there's a lot of difference between clinical testing of phones and the test the ladies put them to carting them around in  their purse for 2 years. which is why I say I am not interested in any chincy phones.

i have examined each phone that has had to be replaced myself personally and I have not seen any sign of rough handling or mis-use.  the phones just have not held up. 

hbetts3,

The Storm is, in many ways, a "true" BlackBerry, as I just noted in the previous reply to "Statistician."  There seems to be something a philosophical debate about whether a true BlackBerry can exist without a physical keyboard.

Also, the software is buggy and many people seem to be experiencing some problems with sluggish performance, a flakey accelerometer, crashes, poor still photo quality, etc.  The number of software problems is somewhat unusual for a RIM product; most are much more reliable when first introduced. 

As I've mentioned, though, many -- if not all -- of these problems will be fixed with OS updates.

The main question is whether the Storm's unique click/touch screen will be a hit.  I know two mobile/computer experts who really like it.  So far, I much prefer the physical BlackBerry keyboards, and I've used just about all of them.

I give credit to RIM for trying to innovate to come up with a solution that allows a touch screen and a better virtual keyboard experience.  I wouldn't write off the Storm just yet.

Hi Statistician,

There are all sorts of phones catering to all sorts of markets, so I agree that different people want different types of phones. 

However, the future of phones is increasingly advanced power and features, and many people already are using phones for computer-like features.  Checking out Web pages, watching videos, listening to music, viewing maps -- those are all activities we also do on computers. 

So while many people might not want to view, edit or create documents on their phones, most people want to use their phones for other computer capabilities and that trend certainly will continue.

To be clear:  I'm certainly not trashing the BlackBerry Storm.  Indeed, that's why I said I wanted a NiAStorm that incorporated a variety of attributes.

The Storm has many excellent features, including the same great BlackBerry e-mail capabilities, a good multimedia player, excellent screen, good video recording (for a camera phone), Microsoft document software, A-GPS, maps, etc.  Also, I'm sure RIM/Verizon will offer OS upgrades that will fix or improve many of the problems I've encountered.

However, the big difference with the Storm is the "click" touch screen and it remains to be seen whether it's a hit and will become an important part of the "future" of cellphones.  I suspect it's an interim step -- but, then, everything is an interim step in approaching the never-approachable "future"!

I'm still plugging away with the Storm's keyboard, but I know I'll like the entire Storm experience better when the OS has been through one or two upgrades.  I'm not convinced the Storm keyboard is the best for entering text compared to a physical keyboard on a cellphone, but it's a compromise for people who want a larger screen without the size and weight of a hardware keyboard.

Hi Mike Acker,

I'm sorry you didn't like the phones you were offered, but, frankly, I don't think phone quality is much of a problem.  Even cheap phones are often (although not always) made quite well.  Also, if you're sticking with $20 phones, you're getting $20 quality!  (Actually, the quality is more than $20 because phones are typically subsidized.)

I don't know how many phones I've tested and used over more than 20 years, but almost none have broken, although software crashes are another matter.

There's a huge variety of phones from which to select, so I disagree with your contention.  Also, all cellular operators offer prepaid plans so you don't have to be locked into a contract.  Yes, I know, prepaid plans don't fit many subscribers' needs.

Alan,

Thank you for your review of this product.  This has been the second IE post I have seen that shows it is not up to the same standard that RIM users have come to expect.

It looks to me like you have made a clear evaulation of the product and I only hope that the industry is watching this and other blogs for input like this.  If they are interested in customer satisfaction, they will act and let this "Storm" blow over.

Hello, Alan!

There are certain things which are not proposed to be used for typing of Microsoft documents and writing emails. They appear on the market more to entertain people and less to provide services. It is not a secret that companies use psychological aspects to attract attention of customers to such kind of goods.

However, I agree that future of cells phones will be correlated with providing opportunities for people to type in text editors and work in the Internet, to enroll in video conferences, even, to use a phone instead of a credit card or access card. In this connection, new BlackBerry is one of many attempts to make future closer, and I am sure that several modifications of original version will make the phone more convenient for different groups of customers.  

All the best, Vadim.

I went shopping for a new cell phone last night.

all the phones were pretty chincy,-- compared with my i305

and the same old deal: twenty bucks for the phone man, just sign here for the two-year contract.

The Clam-shell trap: your phone will either break before the two years are up and you can replace it with another new $20 phone if you continue to extend your contract with us for another two years or if yer phone doesn't break for some reason we have not anticipated then we will just obsolete it.  no problem though twenty bucks and another 2-year extension and we have got you permanently trapped