The Blackberry 8703e
I recently bought a Blackberry 8703e from Verizon Wireless and so far I have been very pleased with the device. It’s easy to use, it has the full QWERTY keyboard, and it’s small enough to fit comfortably in my pocket.
Initially I bought a Treo 700p but I took it back less than 24 hours later because I couldn’t stand the operating system. I know some people swear by the Palm OS but it didn’t feel intuitive for me and I didn’t want to “learn” to feel comfortable on the Treo.
I also considered a Blackjack, some Nokia smart phone, and the Motorola Q. Instead I ended up with this Blackberry.
OSX and the Blackberry
My MacBook tries very hard to play nice with the Blackberry but it doesn’t always work perfectly. It works very well considering syncing a Blackberry with my Mac requires third party software - RIM doesn’t create desktop management software for Apples. PocketMac works very well and while others have complained that the software crashes a lot I haven’t had any troubles…yet.
Until recently it hasn’t been possible to tether Blackberry as a Bluetooth modem. Fortunately another third-party vendor created a small piece of software called Pulse that’s relatively cheap ($50) that allows Apple connect to the internet using their Blackberry.
I know the Treo would have worked better with the Mac but as I said before, I just could not have learned to enjoy the Palm OS.
My One Essential Blackberry Application
So far the single most important application for me is the relatively simple Gmail app. It works a lot like traditional Blackberry email accounts and continually checks for new mail. It doesn’t alert me when there is new mail, but I can live with that. It beats using the Gmail mobile interface on the Palm (which was nice, but no where near as “full featured” as the Blackberry application).
I get a lot of email every day and being able to keep up with it while I’m not at the computer is a huge time saver for me. I don’t have a problem with being “always connected” - I think it’s a huge advantage to me considering a significant amount of my contact with clients is through Email and instant messaging.
My favorite mobile websites
Bloglines works very well in my Blackberry’s browser. I can keep up with feeds while I’m walking around campus and not waste time once I’m back at the computer.
Facebook is a site that I use significantly less than most college students, but being able to access it on my Blackberry eliminates that “waste of time” feeling since I am on the move and have a few free minutes to check in on what my friends are doing.
Overall, I think the Blackberry 8703e is a great device. My only “big” issue are the limited syncing capabilities with Mac OSX but I can live with that. The benefit of having a phone, Gmail access, a web browser and my calendar all in my pocket trumps the negatives. If you’ve ever considered getting a smart phone, do it.
8 responses so far ↓
3 Jan 2007 at 4:08 pm
Ben, I just got the same phone as you a few weeks ago, and I’m loving it as well. All the benefits you mentioned plus having my address book is a big plus for me. The mobile version of Facebook and eBay are pretty cool and I don’t use them much, but when I do it’s awesome. Even using BB messenger is cool with my friend who works at RIM. Nice article.
6 Jan 2007 at 1:42 pm
It’s amazing how quickly you become addicted to the Blackberry, isn’t it?
13 Jan 2007 at 10:14 am
Ben, I’ve been eyeing the 8703e from Verizon for some time now, and I’m in the process of trying to get my boss to add me to my company’s corporate phone account (so I don’t keep using my personal Moto e815 for work). I run the graphics/prepress dept. for a Grand Format print shop (all Macs!) and want to have a device that will sync w/ my Mac and give me access to my all of my email-contacts-calendar wherever I go. Now the hurdle is to get him to spring for this, because he’s cheap and just wants to get me a basic ‘phone’ and not what I need!! Any words of persuesion that will help me work on him? Anyone?
*As a Steelers fan myself, any thoughts on this year, and prediction for next season now that Cowher is gone?
21 Jan 2007 at 3:11 pm
I’m not addicted,.. yet. I try to turn it off on dates, when friends are over and other important times. I’m trying to stay in control and not have it be in control. However, I do love it and yeah the iPone is cool, but we’ll what happens come summer.
Jason, I think you need to show your boss how this phone is going to make you do your job better, faster and smarter. I know that’s why I got a blackberry and I’m better for it.
25 Jan 2007 at 10:27 am
I think the problem now lies w/ the IT Administrator instead of my immediate boss. My boss says, “Get what you need..” Well OK then! On the other hand, the IT guy is a Pro-Windows, Pro-Windows Mobile Smartphone blockhead!
My email conversation w/ his is as follows:
IT Guy: How do you plan to use the Blackberry? We don’t have a blackberry server to work with that device.
Me: …as far as the Blackberry, I can still sync my contacts/calendar and pull email from my work email address, couldn’t I? I believe [Bill] does w/ his…
IT Guy: You could pull your email. However, the contacts and calendar won’t sync unless you hook it to your PC. (I don’t know about Macs). If you want your email, contacts and calendar to sync wireless all the time, then you need to get a smartphone that has windows mobile.
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The thing is, I don’t want a Windows Mobile device, and I don’t care if my contacts, etc. don’t sync automatically. After doing my research, I have found that for me and my needs, and my service w/ Verizon, this Blackberry is the best device for me as a Mac user…
25 May 2008 at 8:58 pm
It’s better than the pearl I can tell you that much ;0
9 Jul 2008 at 9:03 am
This is a great phone and definitely worth the price.
2 Aug 2008 at 10:14 pm
Very nice!!
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