Bold 9700 vs. iPhone
- Thread starter LEIRBAG D.
- Start date
I was a major fan off bbs until I wanted to just try out an iPhone and see what was so awesome about it, let me tell you it's great I started off with a 3g and then went to a 3gs and I don't miss my bbs at all, speed makes up for everything I've lost switching to a iPhone oh and the fact it's a lot more user friendly from the start
The things I don't like about the iPhone from what I have read is poor call quality, bad battery life, dropped calls, no physical keyboard and no BBM. I see the iPhone as a multimedia powerhouse catering towards games and apps which for me I have little interest in so the main draw to the iPhone is something I don't even need. I've played around with my father in-laws iphone and its cool, i love the touchscreen since I have a Macbook Air with the same touchpad, its awesome to navigate with, but I tried to type with the touchscreen and it was frustrating.
I think both phones are a great comparison each with almost equal pros and cons, but I think what its come down to for me is battery life and BBM so I'm leaning heavily towards the Bold.
I think both phones are a great comparison each with almost equal pros and cons, but I think what its come down to for me is battery life and BBM so I'm leaning heavily towards the Bold.
NoSurprises
New member
Call quality is good -- if you're in a good area.
Most of the complaints are from Americans living in high-density cities that AT&T is only now upgrading capacity for in earnest -- mostly NYC and San Francisco. In Canada, I don't think congestion has ever been an issue except in those events where there's a sudden, huge glut of users in a small area (Canada Day in downtown Ottawa, for example). And at that point most networks won't survive, no matter which phone you're using.
I would say this: the Bold 9700 is still of the old school of phones, where any non-voice is just basic messaging. The iPhone is much more like a touchscreen computer that happens to make fairly good phone calls.
Most of the complaints are from Americans living in high-density cities that AT&T is only now upgrading capacity for in earnest -- mostly NYC and San Francisco. In Canada, I don't think congestion has ever been an issue except in those events where there's a sudden, huge glut of users in a small area (Canada Day in downtown Ottawa, for example). And at that point most networks won't survive, no matter which phone you're using.
I would say this: the Bold 9700 is still of the old school of phones, where any non-voice is just basic messaging. The iPhone is much more like a touchscreen computer that happens to make fairly good phone calls.
pianojazz man
New member
You're going to spend how much per month on smartphone plans and you're worried about $50 on the initial phone price? 
Think about it: even if you use a minimal $50 smartphone plan, per person that's $1,800 over three years. You'll probably keep that phone for most if not all of that period, and of course two lines could boost that up to $3,600. Dropping an extra $50 for each iPhone 3GS over a Bold 9700 is trivial if it means you'll be happier with your phone over its useful lifespan.
As long as those friends aren't explicitly depending on BlackBerry Messenger -- if it's just regular AIM/MSN/Yahoo or SMS/MMS, that's fine -- you'll probably like an iPhone a lot. The touchscreen keyboard takes a little while to learn but can actually be faster than the Bold's (I've used both), especially if you need to cut and paste text or insert numbers and special characters.
There's already a Sirius iPhone app, of course, and more importantly the iPhone is worlds better as a media player. RIM does have a BlackBerry media syncing app, but there's nothing quite like directly syncing with iTunes.
One last bit: no matter which phone you get, don't expect the battery life you're used to with a "regular" phone. I'd give a slight edge to the Bold for battery, but having background e-mail checks, active web browsing and music will use more battery than something that only ever gets pulled out to make a phone call or text message. Battery to me isn't an issue as long as you remember to connect the phone to your computer at night; with an iPhone, you'd want to do that anyways to back up data and sync any new apps, music or photos.
Think about it: even if you use a minimal $50 smartphone plan, per person that's $1,800 over three years. You'll probably keep that phone for most if not all of that period, and of course two lines could boost that up to $3,600. Dropping an extra $50 for each iPhone 3GS over a Bold 9700 is trivial if it means you'll be happier with your phone over its useful lifespan.
As long as those friends aren't explicitly depending on BlackBerry Messenger -- if it's just regular AIM/MSN/Yahoo or SMS/MMS, that's fine -- you'll probably like an iPhone a lot. The touchscreen keyboard takes a little while to learn but can actually be faster than the Bold's (I've used both), especially if you need to cut and paste text or insert numbers and special characters.
There's already a Sirius iPhone app, of course, and more importantly the iPhone is worlds better as a media player. RIM does have a BlackBerry media syncing app, but there's nothing quite like directly syncing with iTunes.
One last bit: no matter which phone you get, don't expect the battery life you're used to with a "regular" phone. I'd give a slight edge to the Bold for battery, but having background e-mail checks, active web browsing and music will use more battery than something that only ever gets pulled out to make a phone call or text message. Battery to me isn't an issue as long as you remember to connect the phone to your computer at night; with an iPhone, you'd want to do that anyways to back up data and sync any new apps, music or photos.
After going to the Telus store I really like the iphone, its just so easy to use and the keyboard in landscape mode is not that hard to type. I just need to convince myself that I don't need BBM and instead use MSN. The rep did tell me call quality is not great with the Iphone, any input on that?
And i must vent, I went into all of this with the understanding that Telus's Shared Plans are 1 shared plan like they were last time I had a shared plan with them, but now its 2 plans that CAN be shared. My wife is going to be pissed since I told her it will only cost us $30/mth more for this, and I just sold my contract to someone.....dog house here I come.
And i must vent, I went into all of this with the understanding that Telus's Shared Plans are 1 shared plan like they were last time I had a shared plan with them, but now its 2 plans that CAN be shared. My wife is going to be pissed since I told her it will only cost us $30/mth more for this, and I just sold my contract to someone.....dog house here I come.
I use an iPhone on Rogers, and the call quality is just fine; make sure you adjust the volume and put the speaker at the right spot. I've reviewed some Telus HSPA phones, like the Milestone, and call quality is fine.
For IM on the iPhone, download an app like Fring: it's multi-network, so while you might not get BBM you'll be able to sign in to just about anything else (AIM, MSN, Yahoo, Google Talk, ICQ...). It has background push notifications, so if you like you can be told that someone has sent you a message. Just remember to set yourself as "away" so you don't get harassed when you're trying to make a phone call!
Your wife's opposition may melt if you both get new iPhones. Just as long as she doesn't have very long fingernails!
For IM on the iPhone, download an app like Fring: it's multi-network, so while you might not get BBM you'll be able to sign in to just about anything else (AIM, MSN, Yahoo, Google Talk, ICQ...). It has background push notifications, so if you like you can be told that someone has sent you a message. Just remember to set yourself as "away" so you don't get harassed when you're trying to make a phone call!
Your wife's opposition may melt if you both get new iPhones.
Just as long as she doesn't have very long fingernails!You can type very fast on the iPhone if you mastered the feel of a touchscreen keyboard. But the keyboard on the 9700 is just a lot more addictive and fun to use. Like in any Blackberry crack, you're going to look for excuses to use that keyboard; message somebody, send a tweet, update your Facebook.
Official Twitter client for Blackberry coming your way too.
Official Twitter client for Blackberry coming your way too.
Take the iPhone. No contest. I've got the 9700 and it's a clunker in comparison. Particularly if you use the internet. iPhone is reg. web. Other phones are mobile web (no flash). The apps for iPhone are much better and cheaper than BB's. $.99 for iPhone and $20 for BB. Plus apps for iPhone can use the touch screen. All in all, iPhone smokes the competition. I'm waiting for other carriers to get it.
demirocksd.i.s.n.e.y(:
New member
So I got the iphone....replying from it now. I must say its a great phone,typing in landscape mode is super easy and it's overall really fast the 3g that is, I didn't get the 3gs. Very happy with my iPhone.
hmmm pros/cons for me
Pros/Cons for iPhone
+sms threading is beautiful. MMS works flawless
+oleophobic screen is awesome
+form factor is awesome
+screen size
+overall easiness to use
Pros/Cons for BB
+Amazing battery life
+keyboard
+good resolution screen
+email is awesome
-super smudgy screen
+"facebook for blackberry" kooler then "facebook for iPhone" :lol:
but in all seriousness, im really stuck on which phone to use. even though switching sim cards is easy, going back and fourth every few days is quite tiresome.
Pros/Cons for iPhone
+sms threading is beautiful. MMS works flawless
+oleophobic screen is awesome
+form factor is awesome
+screen size
+overall easiness to use
Pros/Cons for BB
+Amazing battery life
+keyboard
+good resolution screen
+email is awesome
-super smudgy screen
+"facebook for blackberry" kooler then "facebook for iPhone" :lol:
but in all seriousness, im really stuck on which phone to use. even though switching sim cards is easy, going back and fourth every few days is quite tiresome.
azgreybeard
New member
I prefer pmessenger
if you're a gamer, get the iPhone. If you're a social bunny, get the Blackberry.
The reason why some kids ask their parents for an iPhone or an iPod Touch, its because they want to play games, especially Bejewelled.
But when kids ask their parents for a Blackberry, its more likely it has something to do with Blackberry Messenger especially and Facebook. Especially when they have peers on BBM.
The reason why some kids ask their parents for an iPhone or an iPod Touch, its because they want to play games, especially Bejewelled.
But when kids ask their parents for a Blackberry, its more likely it has something to do with Blackberry Messenger especially and Facebook. Especially when they have peers on BBM.
zinu_angel
New member
I'm so scared. :reallysad I recently opened an AT&T contract when they offered me a free 9700 (another 3GS was normal $199/299 pricing). Not sure if I'm gonna like it compared to the 3GS I have now but the 3GS is on T-Mobile (which will cancel when I move to AT&T; no ETF since contract expired this month). I will have to compare the phones extensively during my grace period. The 3GS will probably be a new beast now given I can use its 3G.
Music playback, mobile IM/e-mail, web-browsing, and YouTube were my necessities, in that order. 3GS owns for music, web browsing, and YouTube but sucks for mobile IM/e-mail since I don't get push e-mail and I just frankly don't enjoy the push method for IM apps and would have preferred bona fide multitasking.
I can probably off the 3GS for about $600 on Craigslist since it's perfect and unlocked. I'd probably only manage ~$400 for the Bold since it wouldn't be unlocked (CBA to do it myself with school and all). If I find the choice hard I guess I could just sell both of them and buy the new Sony Ericsson X10 coming out, but the NAM AT&T version will cost a ton of $$$ unlocked.
Decisions, decisions.. :sad:
Music playback, mobile IM/e-mail, web-browsing, and YouTube were my necessities, in that order. 3GS owns for music, web browsing, and YouTube but sucks for mobile IM/e-mail since I don't get push e-mail and I just frankly don't enjoy the push method for IM apps and would have preferred bona fide multitasking.
I can probably off the 3GS for about $600 on Craigslist since it's perfect and unlocked. I'd probably only manage ~$400 for the Bold since it wouldn't be unlocked (CBA to do it myself with school and all). If I find the choice hard I guess I could just sell both of them and buy the new Sony Ericsson X10 coming out, but the NAM AT&T version will cost a ton of $$$ unlocked.
Decisions, decisions.. :sad:
shabouya !
New member
I used to have the iPhone 3G and I sold it. I'm neither a gamer nor a social "bunny". What I disliked about the iPhone 3G (dunno if things have changed since OS 3x) was many calls going directly to VM and the poor battery life. Another thing what I disliked about the iPhone is it sucked data like a spunge. Blackberry compresses their data. With the iPhone, I had a tonne of [free] useful apps none of which were games. I still go to iTunes and update my apps
schase10353
New member
I got it the week after the 3GS came out in a trade for a stupid N97 so it's one week less than as old as it can possibly be. People in Manhattan pay crazy prices.. I've seen new-ish AT&T-locked 32GB 3GSes go for $600 on CL so I think an unlocked one in mint condition should go pretty fast..