A VC: Blackberry 7100t

Blackberry 7100t

About two months ago, I posted on my search for a combo phone/email device. I’ve been carrying around a blackberry handheld for over five years now and still have my Motorola V60 flip phone. It’s time for a change, but I don’t know to what.

A blueberry phone? - I don’t like the form factor.
A Treo? – I don’t like the form factor and I’ve heard quality concerns.
A Sidekick? – Friends love it, but the outlook integration isn’t great.

So I’ve procrastinated.

Recently a couple friends got the new Blackberry 7100t. It’s a phone, not a PDA. That’s a good start. It has great email, web browsing, and PDA features.

The key for me is the keypad. Will I like two letters per key? Will I be able to type fast enough on it? I don’t know, but I think I am going to give it a try. And I’ll probably keep my Blackberry handheld for longer mobile emails as a backup.

If any of you have thoughts - pro or con - on this decision, please speak now in the comments section. I plan to get it in the next week.

UPDATE: Om Malik loves the keypad - my biggest concern - and hates the network - Tmobile. I already use Tmobile and hate it. But that is not going to stop me from getting this phone.

Comments

Any decision is better than no decision. Still stand behind the Nextel 7510 for the multipurpose use. I think you'd really enjoy the hands free speakerphone and simultaneous e-mail capabilities. I've read a lot about the 7100t and share your concern about having to adopting the new keyboard style, although it does seem to have some very cool enhancements from the black/blueberry models. I can cruise on the traditional thumb board thing. My fear is that I'd be blasting out e-mails with a great deal of wrong words or spelling.

Will your provider give you a loaner to use before you commit?

Anyway, good luck with it and let us know how it works out.

Posted by: Tony Alva | October 14, 2004 at 08:40 AM

I wish I could get the 7100 here in Canada. I just recently upgraded to a new Blackberry 7750 after finding that it might be some time before I could get the 7100. It looks like it would be the best phone for the job though.

Posted by: Jevon MacDonald | October 14, 2004 at 11:25 AM

The new Treo 650, supposedly coming out very soon, is reported to have fully-integrated Exchange/Outlook functionality:

http://blog.treonauts.com/2004/10/palmone_license.html

As for myself, I've had the Treo 600 for nearly a year now, and haven't run into any quality issues.

Posted by: morland | October 14, 2004 at 11:38 AM

Can you see yourself blogging from a Blackberry or Treo device?

Posted by: Jevon | October 14, 2004 at 02:02 PM

Just bought the new Blackberry. So far so good. Was able to easily set-up my three email accounts which flood the inbox. Synching with my mac required buying $25 worth of software but it works great - syncs my address book, calendar etc - still haven't been able to do that using Bluetooth though. Bluetooth works great for my headphone - one of my main reasons for buying. Treo doesn't offer this yet.

Like the phone - especially that you can use it in reverse, thereby not marking the screen. Two downsides. I'm not impressed with battery-life - but I have unrealistic expecations. I'm getting about a day right now. The other is that I find the Blackberry mail client - which only runs in IE - a complete pain in the arse. (And I hate IE. Hate it.) I have to log on every few days and delete email otherwise my capacity blows out... really, really, really annoying.

So, I like the little fella, would give it one thumb up. Also liked my little Danger Sidekick - you should take a look at one... BB is a more elegant form factor and the Suretype technology actually does work for the most part making for pretty speedy text entry.

Posted by: Andy Lark | October 14, 2004 at 07:46 PM

here's my review, fred.

http://www.burningdoor.com/steve/archives/000788.html

Posted by: steve | October 15, 2004 at 09:19 AM

I've been a happy Treo 600 user here in the UK since the start of the year. Having been a Palm user since the the Palm III I still have my French/English Dictionary and many other useful apps as well as full integration with Entourage 2004 on a Mac.

I do hate my network though, Orange - but somehow I manage.

I've been tempted by Blackberrys and the biggest risk to my indulgence looks like being the new Siemens phone. I would put a link in but the url is stupidly long. Take a look at the SK65 on www.siemens-mobile.com

Posted by: Stewart Marshall | October 15, 2004 at 01:12 PM

can you setup your email on the 7100t thru the computer.

Posted by: donne | October 21, 2004 at 03:39 PM

Get the wide range of BlackBerry products
from www.connectione.biz .

www.connectione.biz offers
complete BlackBerry functionality, wirelessly connecting users with
important communications and information. The BlackBerry 7100t also puts
top-of-the-line features, such as speakerphone, Bluetooth(r), polyphonic
ringtones and an advanced call log, into a sleek and stylish handset.

Posted by: connectione | November 01, 2004 at 02:17 AM

The Blackberry 7100t is a worthless piece og junk. Web browsing is near impossible due to the 503 errors it continually gives and if you are lucky enough to connect to a site plan on it taking 5 to 15 minutes. However dont plan on logging into any of the sights you normally visit since it wont reckognize a sign in link....click, click, click. NOTHING! It is a worthless piece of GARBAGE. Mine goes back tomarrow!!!

Posted by: tom | November 02, 2004 at 11:39 PM

Thought you would like this Fred:

Morning Edition, January 12, 2005 ·
For many, the Blackberry is a must-have gadget, a wireless hand-held computer that can send e-mail and make phone calls. NPR's Frank Langfitt reports that as the device wins fans, it's making a cultural impact.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4279486

Posted by: Dhrumil | January 12, 2005 at 08:58 AM

Posted by: Mauris | November 17, 2005 at 01:10 AM

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