I hate to admit it but I think I’ve grown fond of the BlackBerry I got from work.
If I had known prior that I would be getting a BlackBerry for work, I would have fought tooth and nail against it. Who wants to have a 24-hour lifeline to work all the time? I didn’t need to have constant access to my work e-mails and I definitely didn’t want to be easily reachable via phone. Lucky for work they just sprung the BlackBerry on me without consent. But I have to say, today I am singing a different tune.
The BlackBerry is convenient and I don’t even mind the constant access to e-mails. I haven’t received very many calls (outside the work hours) so it’s not the horror story I imagined it would be. This will probably all change in the future once I’ve been with the company longer but for now, I like the BlackBerry. In fact, I don’t think I can go back to my Windows Mobile PDA smartphone anymore. It’s funny how you can go from detesting something one day and then being enamoured with it three weeks later. And now I bring you the top 10 reasons why I like the BlackBerry:
10. It’s sexy. Look at it, I know you want to lick it. I don’t keep it in a case or anything because I like how it looks.
9) BlackBerry Messenger. An IM network strictly for BlackBerry users? Awesome.
8 Apps. There aren’t as many apps available as there are for Windows Mobile smartphones but the apps I’ve installed so far are kick-ass. There’s hardly any loading time and it’s very integrated with the rest of the BlackBerry OS. So far, I’ve got apps for weather, instant messaging, Twitter, and Facebook. And although they are technically applications, they never feel like the applications of the Windows world.
7. It doesn’t feel like a resource hog. There’s a distinct lag whenever I run programs on Windows Mobile. If I want to view a picture, there’s a lag. If I want to launch the browser, there’s a lag. When I want to text, there’s a lag. With the BlackBerry, I don’t get any of that.
6. No reboot required. The BlackBerry doesn’t run Windows. Therefore, it doesn’t hang, it doesn’t crash, I don’t need to reboot it. Actually, let me qualify this by saying I’ve yet to reboot my BlackBerry. Like any OS, the BlackBerry is prone to problems that require a reboot. However, I’ve had my BlackBerry for about a month now and I’ve yet to reboot it. I think I rebooted my Windows Mobile OS smartphone about 10 times within the first week.
5. It’s got this status symbol attached to it. Maybe I’m being brain-washed by the might of the BlackBerry but it makes me feel important. It says I have a BlackBerry because people NEED to be able to get in touch with me anytime via phone and/or e.mail. It’s like a power suit, but for my hand.
4. The trackball. It’s just awesome. It’s just like the trackball on my Mighty Mouse
3. I can use the BlackBerry with one hand. That might not sound important but when you’re used to using a stylus to move around Windows Mobile and using two hands to type on the keyboard, being able to use a device with one hand is immeasurable. If I’m driving and I need to make a call, send a text, or look at the map, I can do it while I still have one hand on the wheel. Not that I do that, mind you. Never.
2. If I want to call or text someone, it’s super easy. From the main screen I can start typing in a name and it will automatically bring up the dial menu. Once it filters down to the name I want, all the numbers appear and I can call them by pressing the dial key or I can hit the menu button and then choose to text them. With Windows Mobile, if I want to call someone, I need to bring up the dial menu and type in the contact. If I want to text someone, I need to go to the text menu and type in the contact. If I want to call someone and go into the call menu but then change my mind and decide to text, I need to exit the call menu and go to the text menu. It shouldn’t be this cumbersome.
And the #1 reason why I love the BlackBerry…
1. The BlackBerry OS. I never really liked the organizer and address book on the Windows Mobile OS. I had to download PocketBreeze to meet my organizer needs (and even that seems sub-par). The BlackBerry OS, however, has a great organizer and address book. Every syncs to/from my desktop exactly as they appear. Entering a new appointment or a new contact is easy, sweet, and simple. The BlackBerry media player is pretty great, too. It shows all the music, videos, ringtones, and pictures you have and viewing anything is simple. The image quality is top-notch (though that could be just a comparison between the two specific units I have). The log screen shows everything (calls, e.mails, text) so I don’t have to jump from one area to another. Seamless integration is the key phrase here.
