photo credit: Victor Svensson

I first touched an iPhone in late July of 2007. I was immediately taken with this revolutionary device, and within a few days had one of my own. Like many I found the iPhone to be revolutionary. I initially got the iPhone, planning to use it as my “recreational” device by using a windows mobile handheld for work. Within a week of getting the iPhone however, it was the only device I was using in my windows mobile handheld was on eBay. Its impact on my computing life was remarkable, and with each new version of the operating system it became less and less a “smart phone” and more and more a handheld computer. When the App Store opened a little over a year ago the mobile space was changed forever.

So enamored of the iPhone was I, that for a year I owned and operated an iPhone application review site. When I left that site to put the entirety of my blogging attention here on Gear Diary, I came on board as one of the resident Apple-dedicated site members (aka “crazy fan-boys”). The overwhelming majority of my posts initially focused on iPhone apps and accessories, as well as Mac news and applications.

Over the past few months I have become increasingly disillusioned with some of the moves that Apple has made. Moreover, I have grown increasingly concerned that Apple’s insistence upon total control over the App Store and the device itself, not to mention their often shoddy treatment of developers may in the long run damage the growth and usability of the platform. Add to that my decision to move to Google Voice, and relying exclusively on the iPhone became increasingly problematic for me. Yes, I own both of the “offending” Google Voice applications that Apple unceremoniously pulled but even they don’t fully integrate with the device due to the core limitations Apple has imposed. Even in the best circumstances Google Voice has to initiate the call, call me back, and then connect.  It’s Obnoxious.

All of this led me on a search for a possible alternative device. Half a dozen devices were purchased and returned in short order, but finally – a week ago – I came upon one that is a keeper. Here’s my journey away from full-fledged iPhone-maniac to gasp… joining the ranks of the Blackberry addicts.

First Stop — Windows Mobile

photo credit: fantasysage

When I began looking for an alternative device, my first stop was my old standby Windows Mobile. Perhaps I picked the wrong device, but within 20 minutes of trying to use the Samsung Epix I knew it wasn’t for me. To load an application on the iPhone all you need to do is download it from the App Store.  Assuming Apple hasn’t pulled it, it loads automatically. With the Samsung, however, it was a multi-step process. It truly was similar to my feeling about using a Mac versus using Windows– I find the Mac to be a simpler, more elegant solution that makes the whole experience far more enjoyable. Back went the Samsung.

The next week Doug was kind enough to send me one of the latest Windows Mobile devices. I used it for two days and was able to quickly conclude my issue wasn’t only with the Samsung; no, it was with Windows Mobile itself. I was devoted to Windows Mobile for years, but those days are long gone.

Second Stop — Symbian

photo credit: simmessa

A few summers ago I tried the Nokia E61. I didn’t like the hardware, and I liked the operating system even less. I found it sluggish and cumbersome and was thankful that there was a large demand for the devices on eBay. A few years later, however the E71 was getting rave reviews, and since I was eligible for an upgrade on one of my AT&T lines, I could get one relatively inexpensively. So stop two… Symbian.

I picked one up, brought it home and was absolutely wowed by the hardware. It was gorgeous. Small, light, beautifully built, and a real joy to hold and use. Unfortunately, it was running the same operating system that I disliked so much two years prior, and it was as bad as I remembered. I hate hate hated it. Back it went along with the $10 open box fee.

Third Stop — Android

photo credit: louisvolant

I have always been interested in Android, as I truly believe it is the OS to watch after OS X iPhone. I reviewed the G1last year and while I liked the OS but really felt like the hardware left much to be desired. HTC Hero, on the other hand, was a different story. It promised to solve many of the issues that previously existed and the hardware.. wow! I ordered an unlocked European version of the device and was so excited I got one-day shipping. As expected the hardware was excellent. HTC did a fabulous job with it. In addition, the new version of the operating system worked well. Add to that the fact that HTC has a wonderful job of overlaying their own customization on the UI and the end result is the first device that really seems to compete with the iPhone. Because it’s “the Google phone” integration of Google Voice, Gmail and Google Calendar is phenomenal. On many levels this was a great alternative to the iPhone for me.

Unfortunately, HTC’s UI overlay put just enough drag on the device that it’s far from optimal to actually use. With a better processor the device would be a homerun but not yet. In addition I realized quickly that I was kidding myself if I thought I could go back to device that ran only on Edge data speeds. Finally, since the Android market has been slow to develop many of my top productivity apps were not yet available for it.

Back it went, although it did confirm for me that at some point in the relatively near future and Android handset will likely be a good option for me.

About three weeks later, Wayne was talking about his experience with the T-Mobile MyTouch3G. It sounded good. I thought it might be worth a shot, so I headed to T-Mobile, opened account and got one to try for a week or so. Of course, before going to T-Mobile I had checked their coverage map. It indicated that while my house isn’t in the best of signal areas but would certainly be good enough. Since that’s all I get on AT&T anyhow I thought it would not be a problem. Unfortunately it was a big problem. The map was wrong, and there wasn’t a single spot in my neighborhood where I got any signal at all. I brought it back to T-Mobile.

Fourth Stop — Blackberry

photo credit: louisvolant

I went to the T-Mobile store to return in the device resigned to the fact that nothing could replace my iPhone… or even come close. I was wrong.

They asked the reason for the return and I explained that I absolutely loved the hardware, really liked the operating system but, contrary to what their coverage map indicates, I did not get a signal at home. Cost for returning it… $35.

They, however, suggested I try their Blackberry since it has the wonderful feature of being able to switch calls over WiFi when any trusted Wi-Fi zones. That sounded great as it would offer me the best of both worlds — good connectivity when I was out and about and, for the first time since moving to my house is a more rural part of New Jersey, great voice coverage on my cell phone because it would be using my household WiFi rather than a cell signal. The only downside was the fact that it would require my using… a Blackberry! Seriously a Blackberry — the very device that I was hassling my sister Martha about just the other day. A Blackberry — a device that a good friend of mine recently referred to as “a glorified dumb phone that does good e-mail”. I mean… a BLACKBERRY!?!?

Having been through so many different phones over the last few weeks, though I figured, “what the heck”.

I got a Blackberry 8900 and brought it home. It took me a while to figure out the operating system but once I got the hang of it… I kinda liked it. No, it is not as intuitive as OSx iPhone or Android but it runs rings around Windows Mobile and Symbian. “HMMMM”, I thought “I could get used to this.” I actually liked the keyboard… a lot! And this from someone who has always been a fan of the iPhone’s virtual keyboard over a physical one. Add to that the fact that the WiFi connectivity and cell call over WiFi function was fantastic and, shock of all shocks I was going to keep it.

Then I ran into one little problem — I rely heavily on using Jott in my day-to-day life. I’m on email so much that being able to create an email and send it or create a note without having to type it is something I do numerous times each and every day. It has become so important to me that I can’t easily give it up. And wouldn’t you know — Jott’s Blackberry client doesn’t work on this model Blackberry. It may sound silly, but that was a dealbreaker for me.

So back when it the T-Mobile Blackberry and they canceled my account. Another $35 down.

Then I realized that T-Mobile isn’t the only wireless company that carries Blackberry devices.

photo credit: edans

I stopped into AT&T, tried out the Blackberry Bold and was, quite frankly, blown away by the thing. The screen is gorgeous, the keyboard is fantastic — not just good — fantastic. It runs on AT&T’s 3G network and gets far better reception here at home than my iPhone. Even with an upgrade available the device was expensive but I figured, “At this point I’ve tried enough devices and paid enough open box return fees that I might as well try this one out and see what I think.” I bought it and brought it home.

After customizing it to my liking and discovered that I enjoyed using it more than I expected. I downloaded the Google Voice application and, while it doesn’t integrate with the device quite as fully as it would on Android handheld, it does integrate quite tightly and, as a result, allows me to call out without the required “callback” on the iPhone. Moreover, the Jott works with the Blackberry Bold. In fact, on one level, it works far better than it does on the iPhone.

On the iPhone Jott lets you see all of your recent notes, tasks and messages. On the Blackberry it doesn’t do so. That’s a bummer. On the other hand, though, on the iPhone you can initiate an email by voice but, likely due to Apple’s limitations, you can’t respond to specific emails using it. On the Blackberry Bold you can. Seriously, you puch a button, speak and your email is returned. That alone is a homerun. Then I discovered another application –vLingo. At $18 it was more than I’m used to spending on mobile applications (boy is there is price difference between the Blackberry and iPhone app markets.) but it actually takes Jott a step better — it allows you to create notes and messages as well but, unlike the Jott, there is almost no delay between speaking and transcription. It continues to amaze me each and every time I use it.

So here I am — a user of all products Apple — now carrying a Blackberry Bold, and a lemming no more. Is the BB Bold perfect? Not by a long shot. The memory leaks are horrible. And what device lets you use a large micro-sd card but forces you to only use the meager memory allotted for apps such that you hit the upper limit on apps you can load in the first day??? No, it is far from perfect but then again no device is. For my day to day communications needs, however, it is pretty damn impressive.

No, I’m not giving up my iPhone anytime soon. It is still the most revolutionary device around.  And when Apple releases a tablet of the first in line to buy one (depending on the price point of course) butI am  actually back to the plan I had when I initially got my iPhone — my iPhone is more of a recreational device and for work I’ll probably be carrying the Blackberry. In fact, I came to the realization last night that in just the few days I’ve been using the Blackberry it really now functions as my smart phone, while my iPhone is more of an “always connected” pocket computer.

And that my friends, isn’t a bad combination all.

How you would like to subscribe to Gear Diary? We offer:

Full Post Feed | Summary Feed | Comments Feed

Related posts:

1. At the wire it’s Orange by a nose – expected first to UK market with the Blackberry Bold
2. T-Mobile G1 Android review wrap-up
3. Google Maps with voice search available for Blackberry Pearl 8110, 8120, 8130
4. AT&T BlackBerry Bold (Visual Voicemail) wireless upgrade now available
5. Rhomobile’s $10K Mobile Dev Challenge