Unhappy with Android; Blackberry a good alternative?

Forums › Legacy mobile platforms (Windows Mobile, Palm OS, Web OS, Symbian, Meego, Blackberry) › Unhappy with Android; Blackberry a good alternative?

markwolk

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#129108 4-Sep-2013 08:42

I have been experimenting with Android devices for 2 years and I am still not happy with any of them. Crashes, restarts, memory full messages, lost settings - basically all Androids I have tried were useless toys. I just have basic business needs, including a large address book (3,000 contacts). Also, after having tried the on-screen popup keyboard for 2 years, I still really miss a physical keyboard.

Would Blackberry be a good, ROBUST alternative? - I am thinking maybe of a Q10 (USD400 on Ebay) or an older model (new or used). - Problem is: it seems that there are hardly any users; e.g. last Blackberry post on this forum was 3 weeks ago.

Opinions on a possible switch from Android to Blackberry?

Mark Wolk

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#889409 4-Sep-2013 08:45

I have been using Android for a number of years never had those issues

nakedmolerat

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#889412 4-Sep-2013 08:47

I don't know which android you have been experimenting. None of them in my experience has ever came out with 'memory full'. Most top end android has 1-2GB of memory.

Can't comment on BlackBerry. Z10 sounds like a good device but you can't use it with 2 Degrees

Paulthagerous

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#889418 4-Sep-2013 08:51

I also have used numerous Androids over the years, and never had those issues. Were they cheap ones you had? The more expensive ones are a completely different story.

If Android is out, have you considered WinPhone8 or iPhone? They might not have the physical keyboard, but the software is better established. It's a bit early to know how well the Q10 etc will age.

zocster

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#889431 4-Sep-2013 09:02

I have both, and I find it less need for me to reach for my toy Android that 10.2 is out in the wild. JellyBean run time makes running side loaded android apps a dream.

Officially 10.2 should be out end of month.

markwolk

101 posts

Master Geek

#889449 4-Sep-2013 09:44

Hmmm yes, the Androids I had been experimenting with were cheap or unbranded, because I never got around the idea of spending $1000 on a phone which I use basically only as a PDA to replace my beloved Sharp Zaurus 5800... However the general idea of the replies I got here seems to be: Blackberry is not more reliable than Android. Thanks for the info.

Still, that does not solve the physical keyboard issue.

Mark Wolk

MikeB4

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#889463 4-Sep-2013 09:47

I have recently stopped using my Android phone ( Galaxy S3) I am using a low end Windows phone ( HTC 8S) to see what it is like, so far so good I like Windows phone 8.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

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#889465 4-Sep-2013 09:48

BlackBerry 10 is a great platform. Some of the main apps are there, but you won't find the variety there's on Android, iOS or even Windows Phone.

I keep going back to my Z10 because the hub is great for communications management. If you have 3,000 contacts then you would love the Hub, where you can see all messages in a single place, regardless of source (email, SMS, Twitter, Facebook, IM, etc).

The on screen keyboard is pretty good and it "learns" as you use it, suggesting words that make sense in the context that you use most.

If they had a bit more apps I'd use it full time. also it seems the latest OS update allows you to udpate the APN settings so it should work on 2degrees just fine.

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markwolk

101 posts

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#889472 4-Sep-2013 09:54

Thanks for the Blackberry encouragement. That may motivate me to spend USD400 and I will report on it here. I am with Vodafone, so hopefully it should be compatible.

Mark Wolk

MikeB4

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#889489 4-Sep-2013 09:58

My wife used Blackberry for work for 4 years, her feelings regarding Blackberry were passionate, colourful and hmmm not poetic. In short she did not like it.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

kiwitrc

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#889538 4-Sep-2013 10:47

Mate I know where you are coming from, after having a Robin Reliant then a Trabant for 2 years, all cars I have tried were useless toys. I was wondering if a bike would be a good alternative.

zocster

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#889544 4-Sep-2013 10:55

If you get stl-2 variant it will work on vodafone

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#889553 4-Sep-2013 11:08

KiwiNZ: My wife used Blackberry for work for 4 years, her feelings regarding Blackberry were passionate, colourful and hmmm not poetic. In short she did not like it.

I can relate. However, having played with BB10 devices (But not used them daily like I do my BB Curve), they seem a huge improvement.

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networkn

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#889557 4-Sep-2013 11:11

markwolk: I have been experimenting with Android devices for 2 years and I am still not happy with any of them. Crashes, restarts, memory full messages, lost settings - basically all Androids I have tried were useless toys. I just have basic business needs, including a large address book (3,000 contacts). Also, after having tried the on-screen popup keyboard for 2 years, I still really miss a physical keyboard.

Would Blackberry be a good, ROBUST alternative? - I am thinking maybe of a Q10 (USD400 on Ebay) or an older model (new or used). - Problem is: it seems that there are hardly any users; e.g. last Blackberry post on this forum was 3 weeks ago.

Opinions on a possible switch from Android to Blackberry?

I've had android phones since before the first Galaxy phones, I could count on 1 hand how many times any of them have crashed IN TOTAL. I've never had the type of problems or in the quantity you have had them.

toyonut

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#889626 4-Sep-2013 12:56

kiwitrc: Mate I know where you are coming from, after having a Robin Reliant then a Trabant for 2 years, all cars I have tried were useless toys. I was wondering if a bike would be a good alternative.

haha, too good.

If you have to have a physical keyboard, you are out of luck for most everything except blackberry. If you want a cheap phone that works well, try the Nokia 520, I have not found an android of that price (around $250) that works anywhere near as well. Otherwise if you are going to look at spending $500-600 on ebay, spend it locally on a windows or android phone. There are many good phones for that price.
Sony Xperia SP comes to mind for between $450 and $550. Great screen, premium construction good specs. Otherwise the Nokia 920 and the HTC 8x is in that price range if you shop around.

Can't speak for any option easily handling 3000 contacts though.

Try Vultr using this link and get us both some credit:

http://www.vultr.com/?ref=7033587-3B

michaelmurfy

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#889649 4-Sep-2013 13:17

I see nobody has said Windows Phone? This doesn't solve the whole "physical keyboard" thing but I find the operating system great for what the OP has described.

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