Ramblings on IT

I made the plunge and switched to a Curve from my Treo 700wx, installed Blackberry Professional Software and, well, it’s OK.

Is it perfect – no, nothing is. As with most things there are some good and some not so good points. So here are my first impressions. . .

Good:

• It’s small with a bright screen. Easy to hold.
• Battery life is great.
• Bluetooth works perfectly.
• BPS data usage is WAY, WAY less than Exchange push. Where my office is, the EVDO signal is weak, and my Treo was constantly losing it’s data connection, and would be polling for my Exchange server all day. This was actually one of the biggest reasons for the switch (being in Canada where data rates are high).
• Easy to learn.

What I miss:

• Applications: I’m going to have to pay for some apps that were either free for WM (HandyShopper), or that I had purchased (AutoKeeper, ExpensePlus). Honestly haven’t found anything equivalent. I need (must) have a mileage tracking app that does it’s job in litres/100km. The only BB app I’ve found so far only does US gallons – HEY – RIM is Canadian! There’s a market up here!
• Touch Screen – I like having a stylus – especially the after-market ones that double as a pen. Also makes web browsing a lot more usable (as much as that can be usable on these things).
• A speaker phone – I actually miss this a lot.
• A file system I can transfer files to and from the device directly via USB.
• The little TS app for doing RDP.
• Games – come on folks, Brickbreaker is just lame – I want my Cubis back!
• My Treo keyboard – Palm got this right – RIM’s doing the best they can without infringing on any patents, but the Treo keyboard with the oval domed keys is the best I’ve used.

So I probably won’t stick with a BB forever. My goal is to get familiar with it as a user of the device so I can better relate to my clients, and even train them on their devices. The only other thing I need to do is get a new housing – long story, but my 8330 is PINK, thanks to an eBay purchase gone wrong. I figured I’d just get a new faceplate/housing, but the 8330 housing is slightly different than the 8310/20 housings, and they aren’t available yet. I guess I’ll just have to live with it for now as a sensitive new-age guy (SNAG).

I haven’t left you for good WM – I’ve got my eyes on the HTC Touch Pro – nice.