Cell phone issues

[jonmulzer]

I am a Blackberry user, but lately I seem to be going through a lot of them. I am on my fifth Blackberry in a little over two years and this is getting expensive. With my work I spend the majority of my time on dusty jobsites and it is really taking its toll on the keyboards and trackballs. So, my thinking is that I might be better served with a touch screen phone like the iPhone or the Blackberry Storm. Service provider is not an issue since I will be buying an unlocked phone though I do use ATT. It seems the major areas for dust infiltration is the keyboard and trackball, but some does seem to come in through the seam on the sides.

I LOVE my Blackberry and it really is a requirement that I get excellent email service at all times. I have no experience with the iPhone, but it does seem like it is sealed much better and would have less issues with dust. The Storm is constructed like other BB's with the seams on the side. The thing is, I am not so sure how I would like not having the tactile sensation of the keys. I am sure I could get used to it, but there is something about feeling the click that feel normal.

I wish I could just stay with my 8320 but $150-$200 every three months to replace my BB is getting really old. I have been through two 8800's and three 8320's in a little over two years, so something has to change. For the users of the Storm and iPhone out there, how do you like yours? Any annoyances or shortfalls?

[LCHIEN]

do they have an silicone rubber skin cases you can operate thru?

http://www.blackberrysource.com/stor...id2=0&view=all

[Kristofor]

We have seen LOTS of failures of BB Curves in much less demanding environments (office/lab), but the Bolds and even some flavors of the Pearls have been better. None of them are really ruggedized out of the box for field use though so I wouldn't expect changing to one of those models would help your issue.

They are coming out with a replacement for the trackball on future models that will be a touch sensitive pad instead. You could replace the trackball module today for <$15 if that's the main/only issue.

Personally, I like the iPhone as a device, if it was strictly for personal use, I'd probably go this route. I have the option to use either for work and tried out an iPhone for a few weeks, but I like the real (if small) keyboard on my blackberry better for typing with my big/clumsy fingers (and at the time I tried it cut/paste was too advanced for the iphone (now fixed)).

[lebomike]

I have a Blackberry STORM and it is a very touchy thing. I am on my second one in 5 months. I don't think you would like the BB StORM . I am serously looking at going back to my BB Curve or the TOUR. If you have trouble with the trackball, take it out and clean with ahlochol every so often. I work around cement all the time and understand the dust issue. I have a silicon case that fits around the edges and keeps the dust out very well. If you have any other questions feeel free to email me.
Good luck
Mike

[JSUPreston]

Makes me wonder if I've been a little too hard on a rep we have at my office. I've replaced her Curve 8300/8310 at least 3 times in the past year. Other than battery and the fact that the Curve is no more advanced that Blackberries of 10 years ago, I've replaced mine once, and that was due to troubleshooting a user's BB. Nothing was wrong with that rep's BB or mine.

I'm holding out for getting a new iPhone soon and giving back the BB to the office. I'm trying to convince the folks higher up that we would be better off using the iPhone and ActiveSync as opposed to the outrageous licensing we pay to RIM for a BES, when all we use it for is e-mail redirection.

[jonmulzer]

I have cleaned the trackballs many times. The fine dust is not what causes problems for me, it is the gritty stuff. It locks up the ball pretty solidly and then I am SOL. They are easy enough to replace but it sucks paying $15 for a piece of plastic no bigger than the first joint of my pinky. The keyboards are another issue. The first time one messes up I can usually take my BB apart and clean it and it will work for another month, then the next time it is shot.

I may pick up another Curve or a Bold and try the silicone case route. It will keep the dust from coming in on the sides anyway but if I don't get more than a year's worth of use out of this next BB I might have to go to the iPhone and give it a try.