EMBOLDEN

[ehowton]

I know it takes time to get used to new devices before rashly declaring something "suck" but in the same way I was surprised at the intuitiveness of the Touch/iPhone when I first started using it, I'm equally surprised at the...obtuseness and awkwardness of the Blackberry Bold 9700.

Now the Blackberry does one thing really well, it connects to corporate BES/Notes servers securely. Well done! As for the rest, well some of that may be my fault for not understanding how to properly configure it - I've linked my gmail account to the BlackBerry, but now my inbox on corporate and personal are intermingled as "messages" which might be fine if they didn't come in twice, the other being my personal inbox on the Blackberry. And so far, it looks like you HAVE to read them to get the notification icon to go away.

What a pain.

And now a word about "Us vs. Them"

No this isn't about technophobes and technophiles, rather those who blindly cling to any single provider/vendor. I didn't buy my Touch because OMGZ!SHINY!APPLE rather because its très functional, and it was *exactly* what I needed. Yes I would consider a droid had I reason, but its difficult for me to consider the opinion of Google!heads - those who gush like schoolgirls over anything preceded by the Google logo. Its the same blind OMGZ!SHINY!APPLE mindset and ultimately unhelpful.

I'm sure over the coming weeks I'll get my BlackBerry just like I want it, and since my Touch is not an iPhone, it'll be nice to have a 3G browser away from home (Opera mini on my old flip-phone was less than ideal) but I do miss the ease of which I could both make and receive calls on my Nokia.

Hey, work forced me to carry a BlackBerry, they paid for it, by golly I'm gonna use it.

I just need a free Twitter app now.



Ok, now this is cool - A BlackBerry Desktop Manger...for linux:
http://www.netdirect.ca/software/packages/barry

A kind-hearted user on the Anna Texas Forum posted it for me. Awesome!

Comments

[mr-dowg.livejournal.com]

ubertwitter is an awesome twitter app for Blackberry....just so you know!

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

I'm a gonna place your name under 'technophile' for the gadget-geek you are. Thanks!

[mr-dowg.livejournal.com]

LOL....thanks....I guess....

To make a case for that gadget-geek comment....my new HTC Evo4G will be at my house this evening when I get home.....I can not wait! Love my android phones! (has nothing to do with Google being associated with it though)

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

I know - You're like the original go-go heterogeneous vendor-independent gadget geek dude. Bet you can't wait to get home!

On a somewhat related note, I was just notified that my lenses (http://ehowton.livejournal.com/327482.html) have arrived! Be on the lookout for new photographs coming soon!

[ubet-cha.livejournal.com]

I just had the ‘you should carry a work-blackberry’ discussion yesterday and think I convinced them to simply port their pages over to my Samsung Moment. I’m afraid I have grown a little attached to my Android OS, although I would still say PALM makes a better calendar application and wish Google had stolen it for this OS.

* - Not a fan of any OS simply for the company’s name. The phone is just convenient.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

BlackBerry's at my company are for Director-level & above only, but during the outsourcing many admins already had them and the client demanded that they keep them. I don't know how it happened exactly, but POW! (http://ehowton.livejournal.com/323042.html) was able to authorize all of us to get them.

Of course I got mine last, because I didn't want to carry one. It surprises me how many of my co-workers did. Entitlement I suppose and all that. My hand was forced at last, however.

Good luck on the port - the only thing worse I imagine than carrying a BlackBerry is carrying one in addition to your existing phone!

[ubet-cha.livejournal.com]

"how many of my co-workers did. "

I have seen that here. Baffling.....


Thanks carrying around TWO devices would get silly IMHO.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Thanks carrying around TWO devices would get silly IMHO.

http://ehowton.livejournal.com/112076.html

[melancthe.livejournal.com]

I'm so used to the BlackBerry keyboard (and how quickly I can type with it, even one-handed) that I would find it awful to switch to any other device.

Although your BES and BIS messages are combined in the Messages folder, couldn't you ignore/hide/move that folder and just read personal emails and corporate emails from their own folders respectively? Once they're read in their own folder, they'll be marked as read in the main Messages folder.)

UberTwitter is nice, but I've switched to the RIM Twitter app because I find the interface easier to read.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

What a fount of knowledge! About the combined messages - I really don't know. I mean, that sounds logical, but it didn't seem to be happening as immediately as I anticipated it. I fully blame my own unfamiliarity. This morning I turned off (I guess what is called, BIS?) and installed a separate gmail app - we'll see how it goes.

I will admit that I was VERY surprised at how precise and accurate the keyboard is. It doesn't look it - so much so it reminds me of a magic trick. I used to have to carry around the old B&W 7200's and those things licked ass.

I'll compare the Twitter apps - thanks!

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Would you also happen to know why I get SMS from "3020" Mobile EmialOZMAIL?

Seriously - WTF?

Thank you for your consideration.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

They seem to come at/around the time I get mail from my gmail account, from an external address...

Curiouser and curiouser.

[melancthe.livejournal.com]

Are you on AT&T, by any chance? If so, look here.

(Had problems posting this comment, so sorry if you get it multiple times.)

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I don't know why I couldn't have done that myself. A bit overwhelmed I supposed. And yes, my employer uses use AT&T.

Thank you for the link. I like how they definitively address the cause, when it actuality it doesn't pertain to the situation I'm experiencing. I installed the gmail app for blackberry from gmail, onto this phone.

Anyway, great starting point. Thanks again!

[celtmanx.livejournal.com]

Well then let us hope that Research In Motion does not fold. It has been teetering on the edge for a while now. I wouldn't want you to be without your Blackberry.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Funny enough, there are lots of reasons that'll never happen. Some of the same reasons we still have OpenVMS ;)

[celtmanx.livejournal.com]

Companies with great technology have folded before. Remember 3dfx Interactive, they folded yet they made the most state of the art video graphics cards around.

[melancthe.livejournal.com]

I keep missing you on AIM. Damn time zones. :(

[celtmanx.livejournal.com]

Yes, damn those time zones!!! I'm usually at work anyway and only log on to AOL in short bursts to check my mail. Glad to see you on LJ. It has been like endless cloudy days without any sunshine without your presence.

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

This is another "See I told you so."

I'm thinking about getting the Motorola Droid because I'm on Verizon and they won't move the iPhone to my carrier. Someone at work has one and I've been impressed with it, though looking at the numbers, I get a little depressed that there are better Droid phones out there that are all touch. Boo!

Also, I have a theory that you only posted this to get me to use my new phone avatar. That's mainly the reason I'm commenting.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Yes, your new phone avatar is outstanding - especially under my page's format. Yours wins.

Also, "I told you so" is exactly appropriate under circumstances when I'm making a decision, and am divided as to which choices to make.

Work telling me, "You're going to start carrying around a Blackberry." is not an appropriate "I told you so" scenario. And I don't hate it, I just find its unfamiliarity obtuse :P

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

obtuse
Obtuse used to be another word for hate in the computer industry long ago. You're mellowing in your old age.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

I was looking for an antonym of intuitive that I hadn't previously used. Apparently I'd already used it. Can you think of another?

[schpydurx.livejournal.com]

Oh.

[unixwolf.livejournal.com]

Ok, now this is cool - A BlackBerry Desktop Manger...for linux:
http://www.netdirect.ca/software/packages/barry

A kind-hearted user on the Anna Texas Forum posted it for me. Awesome!

sooo.. Can you make that work on solaris?

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

Give me gcc & OpenSolaris and I'd sure try!

[thesweetestnote.livejournal.com]

I'm still in a cave drawing on the wall when it comes to cell phones. I have a Lingo and it sucks. I dig the qwerty typing but my service sucks too which has been off for almost two months. I'm kinda liking not having it. Feels like the old days when a land line was all you needed.

[ehowton.livejournal.com]

I admire where you are.

Stand tall.

[thesweetestnote.livejournal.com]

It's very liberating.

[celtmanx.livejournal.com]

Check this out!!!
http://www.amazon.com/Starcraft-II-Wings-Liberty-Pc/dp/B000ZKA0J6/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I173YNTFIIZJF5&colid=1H25KEFKEHZV2