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Treo, Blackberry, Ipac, Q...which smart phone is the best?

Blackberry Phone Q Phone Treo 755

OK, I am in a quandary...in the next two months I will be in a position to get a new phone...I have a Treo 650 and I love it, but I really like the Treo 700. Now they have the Treo 750, 755, 680, etc...

I know people who swear by the Blackberries, and someone just bought a Q? What about that Ipac? I have looked at the Consumer Report style sites but I am really interested in some real world reports from people who use their phones in similar aspects as me...

I like the calendar program and being able to sync with the computer, i need IR or Bluetooth, I really need the e-mail function, contact management and/or storage is a must, must have a decent camera, video is good as well, being able to customize the phone is great, I need a Qwerty pad for texting, love the ability to surf with it, decent battery is nice but extended time is not necessary, touch pad is awesome and I am ok with either Palm or Windows OS (no experience with anything else) ...I'm not asking for too much am I? :)

The only problems I have with the Treo is its kinda glitchy (that may be the service provider though, Verizon) and the e-mail function is really tough to work with (could be the Palm OS). Maybe the newer Treo's have resolved this or maybe I am just doing something wrong?

I appreciate all the feedback I can get!

Posted by Trevella Williams on 05/30/2007 12:24 AM

Comments (32)

smart phone, treo, blackberry, ipac, q, bluetooth

Post is included in group: Gadgets, Tools, & Extras
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32 Comments on Treo, Blackberry, Ipac, Q...which smart phone is the best?

MAY

2007

So many choices. It's hard to know you are making the best decision.

Keep us all posted what you decide.

Carolin Benjamin
Bob and Carolin Benjamin
The Benjamin Team
Keller Williams Integrity First Realty
Gold Canyon Arizona

I currently have a Q. I loved it when I first got it but then something happened and it was all downhill. I could hear the person I was talking to clearly but they said it sounded like car horns blowing in the background when I was talking. All I can say is their customer service is HORRIBLE. They ended up offering to exchange it but I had to send it in which no temporary in the meantime. I had to send it in for a return. The phone was lost after it was delivered and if I had not paid for the delivery confirmation and insurance I would have been without a phone. I had to fax the signature card I got after the delivery was signed for and they told me no person worked there by that name. Next, they said they couldnt replace the phone because all the accessories were not returned. I sent the proof of contents and then they told me another story. It was one thing after another. If I had not gotten all my documentation, I would have been in a real bind. It took two months to get my phone back (instead of the 10-14 days I was promised) which you know can be a NIGHTMARE for a Realtor.

I now have my replacement but had such a bad experience I want something else. I like the Treo 700 and 750. I have heard good things about both of them including how well they work with our MLS. I also heard one of the new Treos will run the Windows Mobile but not sure which one it is. I am looking forward to what others have to say about this topic because I want a new phone like YESTERDAY.

I up and got the Blackjack, through cingular. Probably the least 'functional' of the smart phones, but definitely the sleekest and best looking ;)

Kimberly~ EEEK! My gawd! That is just horrible...what a reminder to us, "Its all about the service"!

Kaushik~ Which Blackberry did you get? My sons friend got the Pearl and its gorgeous but he hates it! Not enough "doodads"!

Trevella,

I too am phone shopping and experiencing information overload. Wanted to leave a comment to receive notice of responses.

Cheers,

David Swierczynski

Personally I am holding out for the Apple phone. I will be anxious to learn which one you decided on and how you like it though.

I understand that the Treo 700 can be "tethered" to a laptop & used as a router, My understanding is that it is only the Palm version that can do this? And there is another conundrum...I want to be using my phone while I am on the laptop, I expect there is no way to split it to do both?

Dawn~ The Iphone? I dont know much about that one...when is it coming out?

Yummy, Lychee...my favorite!

MAY

2007

I heard the Treo's crash quite a bit. Good at first, but kinda a pain as time goes on.

I just got the Motorola Q and just starting to get the hang of it, but I am returning it for the Blackberry 8030 (Verizon's Version of the 8800). I have to exchange it because TopProducer Mobile doesn't work on the Q. I chose the Q because it had the camera, which the Blackberry does not, but I am excited to get the Blackberry.

If camera and battery (I bought a double battery to go with) are not an issue, from my limited knowledge and experience, I would choose the Q.

However, I am also excited about the Blackberry. Just have to remember to have my Canon Powershot A710 IS handy.

Don't know if that really helped much, but that's all I have for now.

Troy Heffner - Marina Del Rey, CA

yeah, my Treo is always needing rebooted and its really frustrating me...but the battery strength is good and I love having a camera...I am using a different contact management than Top Producer so maybe the I should look into the Q?

Thanks for the comment! It does help!

JUN

2007

A friend sent me your post. I am not a realtor but my company writes software for mobile devices and we work with a lot of realtors. I have been writing software for handheld/mobile computers for 10 years and have played with most of them. A few thoughts and comments about each platform mentioned above:

The Palm OS hasn't changed much in years. The Treos are too big and bulky with poor battery life for my tastes. I am not in love with the Windows Mobile operating systems (both the Pocket PC version in devices like iPaq and Smartphone version in devices like the Q and BlackJack.) My customers seem to move between them a lot -- buying a Palm OS then Windows Mobile Pocket PC then Windows Mobile Smartphone and back again. This tells me they aren't very satisified with any of them. I have also heard quite a bit of complaining about their daily use (loose connections for syncing, odd failures, constant resets, etc.)

We just started developing for BlackBerry in January and I am quite surprised by it. I always thought of it as a poorly designed email device. I thought going back to a keyboard and non-touch screen was like going back to a DOS computer. I don't feel that way anymore. While the software isn't sexy, it just works. It is very straight forward to use, in my opinion, as the interface consists of a screen and menu. Email was very easy to set up and works well (although I have learned a few tricks over the months.) The Pearl and Curve both have cameras.

The iPhone is very interesting but doesn't allow third-party development. If you need any calculators, MLS listings, Top Producer, maps, etc., you have to have a web product and connection to do it. (Someone asked when iPhone ships: June 29.) Personally, I can't get too excited about a product that hasn't shipped yet. They always look good in the demos ;)

For background, I have used Sprint, Verizon and T-Mobile. I use T-Mobile currently. I have been very happy with both services. I have heard nothing good about Cingular in my area (Portland, OR) and haven't used Sprint since 1999. Because I have never found a combined handheld/cell phone that I liked, I always carried two separate devices for day-to-day use. This changed in February when I bought a BlackBerry Pearl.

I hope my input is helpful. I will try to watch and respond if anyone wants to comment to my comments! You can also contact me directly if you prefer: elia at infinitysw dot com.

Elia Freedman
Infinity Softworks
www.infinitysw.com

Elia~ WOW, thanks for all the info! It is very helpful...this pretty much helped nock the Iphone out of the running (i didn't realize they allowed no third party goodies, bummer!).

I did fight with the loose sync situation but I got that wipped (i think), I bought a stand up charger/syncer cradle (it even charges a extra battery at the same time).

Palm isn't sexy either but now that i have used it it seems more intuitive to me (I always thought I was Windows dependent!), I think i am going to have to go play with a Blackberry!

Mahalo!

JUN

2007

I used a Palm handheld and cell phone for years. Palm devices have their quirks but, as you said, have always been very intuitive for me to use as well. I wish the company ahd stayed together (both the OS/hardware split and the core management team leaving to start Handspring). I can only imagine where the OS and devices would be now.

One of my problems with Windows Mobile is Microsoft seems to cram as much of a desktop OS as they could into a handheld and, for me, it just doesn't work. I am interested to see their new version, though. With each new release their OS gets a little better. BlackBerry, Palm, they were designed for a tiny, mobile device and I think it just works better.

By the way, I started writing a blog in the last few weeks and thought that this is a great issue for me to tackle as well. I will reference your blog as my motivation. If you are interested: http://mobilesuccess.infinitysw.com

Elia

MAR

2008

I just got a full size Blackberry. Had the Pearl but couldn't stand the keyboard or the tiny screen. But now I have trouble surfing the local MLS. My nephew fixed it by adjusting Java in the browser. But now it's reverted back to it's blocking of my full MLS again.

How do I adjust the Java Settings and whst should they be set too!

Thanks

MAY

2008

Trevella, whch one did you end up getting? Do you like it? I am the same crossroads now:)

MAY

2008

Trevella,

I just got a HTC 6800. It is wonderfull, It has a slide out full qwerty keyboard. Windows 6.0 mobile, IR, Bluetooth and tons more.

Aloha! I upgraded to the Treo 700...turned out to not be such a great choice, very glitchy phone/computer. Regularly it will just freeze for 10-20 seconds, randomly turns off, changes my settings, and the lag time is ferocious! I will be texting and notice that the curser stopped moving two lines up! Very frustrating! I have gone online for the patchs and done the updates (none of which are easy or convenient no matter what they say), but the problems reoccur.

My Broker has the new Blackberry and swears by it! He is always doing e-mail and checking efax, etc... while we are in the field. The 700 can do all this as well, it just takes 5 times as many clicks and 5 times as long... So I guess I am going to have to get a Blackberry ;}

In reviewing some of the past post here I remember that one of my concerns was having a camera...the new Blackberries camera is great, good quality and seems easy to use.

One thing that held me back from the Blackberry was my Verizon service and the fact that they offered insurance for the Treo...no longer! Must have been too many claims... So I am really considering not only changing to Blackberry but changing my service provider as well, another downside to the treos is that they don't get the best reception (I have tried numerous external antenas :( , combine that with Verizons hit or miss reception areas and it's a recipe for disaster...or at least lots of dropped calls!.

So it looks like I am going to have to find my thrill on Blackberry Hill! Sorry...couldn't resist the cheap pun...;)

MAY

2008

I have read these posts with interest because I think I am ready to upgrade to a smartphone and was looking into the Blackberry. Seems like the right way to go, thanks everyone!

I have a blackberry and love it, but I am going to be upgrading to the Blackberry Curve since it has a camera. This has just become available through Verizon. I like the fact that my email comes to me automatically, I do not have to go download it. It has contact management,calendar and everything else

Do you pick the phone first or the service first? I am thinking about the step up from a cell phone to something more useful - email, texting (still getting used to that being a verb??), video and camera, uploading, and whatever other technology will lead me forward.

I am with Verizon, and was talking with a TMobile salesman. It seemed to me that the phone went with the service - Verizon had the larger blackberry, TMobile had the Pearl, AT&T had something else, and someone else had something other else.

Does the service choose the phone, or are all phones compatible with all services? Which service seems best? I have no problem with Verizon. What about TMobile. It probably depends on the area.

JUN

2008

I love my Treo 755 Palm. Everything is at my fingertips from MLS to EKey. I can search a listing from a viewing if my clients have passed another house that looks like it might meet their criteria. I keep all of my own listings under contacts...make a new folder calling it listings and again, if someone calls me while I'm out and wants information, I have it all ready and waiting...no downtime! I can also use the ELoan calculator that comes with the EKey software to quickly figure out or adjust a previous mortgage payment. It's great ! It has never crashed on me either. The calender is easy to use. There is nothing negative about it !

Kimberly

NOTHING beats the Blackberry! It was literally made for business and is perfect for real estate. My two cents worth!

JUN

2008

I have been a TREO user for a couple of years. The 650 worked but once the memory got close to capacity the phone would love up. I upgraded to the 700p and have had no problems since. My e-mail comes through my phone, the bluetooth works great, web browsing is fairly quick and the sound quality is much improved over the 650.

Wow! Seems to be a real division in the ranks... "and in the right corner we have the sleek sexy Blackyberry with it's lighting like connections speeds...while it opponent in the left corner is a power house of capabilities with unequaled experience in this arena! Touch gloves and come out swinging!"

I have never played with the Treo 755 P, is it really that much different than the 700 P?

Interesting point Sam, maybe part of my problems are stemming from my memory capacity? Hmmm...what to get rid off? The birthday party pictures or the listing contract that sold 6 months ago!? :))

Richard & Lesley: I can not imagine not having a smart phone, just the Calender and Contacts management alone is well worth the upgrade! & then when you make better usage of all of the applications (Like Kimberly Does! Wow!) you will truly just fall in love! I am so dependent on my PDA phone it isn't even funny! It's kind of like learning how to fill out contracts & such on the computer/Zip Forms and then having to go back to filling every thing in by hand...feels like a step backwards!

Mahalo for the thought provoking comments!

JUN

2008

I decided on blackberry curve; both, people in my office and Verizon representative recommended it against Treo since it freezes a lot. So far, I love it, but have trouble accessing MLS. Anyone knows how to adjust Java scripts?

JUN

2008

My treo is terrible and reading everyone's opinion is helping me to decide to get the Crackberry......uh, I mean Blackberry. One thing I didn't pick up on is whether or not the Blackberry will operate the Supra lockboxes? Maybe I missed it.

Supra's website gives a list of all the devices compatible and I don't remember seeing a Blackberry device on that list. Maybe they haven't updated it.

Steve Rider

JUL

2008

I called MLS; apparently there is a special website for blackberry; now I can do everything on it and love it!

JUL

2008

Ok, new update...Blackberry BOLD (AKA: Blackberry 9000) looks like the way to go! But the new Thunder with it's touch screen is very enticing...why can't I get the Bold with the touchscreen keyboard!? Argh! How am I supposed to text message without a physical qwerty keyboard? The kids get really cranky when I don't keep my eyes on the road ;)

Hopefully, it will be available at my local verizon this coming month, if they are even going to support it? (Which brings up the comment Richard made earlier, & how do they decide which company gets what? Maybe they auction it off or something...).

Crackberry said that he bought a 9000 off Ebay, but when I went on Ebay to search earlier they just had attachments available? Why is the company playing so close to the vest about release dates?

I want! ;(

AUG

2008

So, does the Blackberry Bold have the infrared technology to open Supra keyboxes? That is one of my main interests. Also, does anyone have a release date? We are all on hold till it comes out. I read somewhere that AT&T has exclusive rights to it right now. Not sure how reliable that information is.

Sorry Christi, looks like we do not get to open the Supra with our Blackberry, doesn't look like they have a infrared port. Check out this data sheet for the Blackberry Bold 9000 The infrared port isn't as important to me only because our MLS that chose to use the Supra also chose not to offer the infrared capabilities.... I really was looking forward to it because the TREO does have the IR, I would love not to have to keep track of yet one more "little black box".

The word is that AT&T will get the Blackberry in August and every body else in January?! (Please no! say it ain't so!) I have also heard that Verizon will have it in September, so the truth is no one knows (even Blackberry apparently)... But I have seen numerous reports that show many carriers getting it, no long term exclusivity for AT&T.

It is getting very hard to wait...my Treo glitched out and doesn't reflect a clients two phone calls, now I have to do damage control! My client thinks ignored him! Whaaaa :{

AUG

2008

I know that Verizon had a lot of issues with the 700p but I got a Palm Centro about a month ago and it is great so far. Palm has sold 2 million Centros and most of the reviews I read before buying were favorable. I have had Palm devices for over ten years and like the intuitive operating system,so I stuck with it. So far, so good. I wrote this on my Centro.

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