Treo Vs. Blackberry
May 28 2007

Answers:

From: Jeremy Wilson (Jeremy@JBWilsonLawGroup.com)
Monday, May 28, 2007 2:55 PM

I would highly recommend a “superphone”.

I had a Treo 750 for about 3 months and now have a Blackberry. I prefer the Treo for its ease of use. The pointer system of the Treo works better for me than the track wheel for the Blackberry. Perhaps I’m used to the Window’s operating system, but I like the option of opening Word and Excel docs on my Treo. That may be a feature on the Blackberry, but not the one I have. The track wheel on the Blackberry isn’t as comfortable to use and the software isn’t a user friendly. I will be moving back to the Treo soon.

From: Steven G. Tyler (stevengt@bellatlantic.net)
Monday, May 28, 2007 4:00 PM

I far prefer the Treo, and specifically any model Treo with the Palm operating system, which are much easier to use than the MS versions. I currently have the Treo 650, and have in the past used a RIM 950, a predecessor to the Blackberry, and have been using PDAs since the PalmPilot Professional (and cellphones since the Sprint Spectrum days!), and for my money the Palm OS and the Treo form factor are a great combination, with literally thousands of useful apps available for the download.

From: Howard Alderman (halderman@levingann.com)
Monday, May 28, 2007 4:27 PM

I had the Samsung and just last year converted to the Q. I find that the battery life is better than expected. If I plan on heavy use during the day without the ability to plug into AC or my laptop (it will charge through USB), I will use the extended life battery. I keep my entire diary, contact list, etc. synced with my laptop. While on the golf course, I keep track of strokes, putts, etc., all without any problem regarding battery life.

The largest drawback (until recently) was encountered when attempting to spell a name in a voice mail directory. Previously, unless you could remember a,b&c were associated with the "2" key, d,e&f with "3", etc. attempting to spell a person's last name to leave a vmm was impossible. I've recently acquired a download that puts the 2-9 keys at the top of the screen, each with the associated letters necessary for dialing.

One of my partners just purchased the Treo 750W (Windows mobile) and it is very nice, with more bells and whistles than I need.


From: Neil Tyra (halderman@levingann.com)
Monday, May 28, 2007 4:40 PM

I have the Treo (Cingular). Can't live without it. Sending you this message from the bar at the airport. But I will trade it in the second the iPhone from Apple becomes available for the principal reason you will have the full internet at your disposal and all Widget software. Your mileage may vary.

From: Rahemoon Halfmann (rhlaw5@comcast.net)
Monday, May 28, 2007 5:00 PM

I waited for my Verizon contract to end so that I could get a Treo, but I ended up with a Blackberry. With the Blackberry I could get a much more reasonably priced deal when I am traveling overseas, and the second reason was the short battery life of the newer Treo.

The one good thing about the tracking wheel of the Blackberry is that I could navigate it with one hand, whereas with the pointer two hands are needed.

From: John J. Bascietto (john@johnbaslaw.com)
Monday, May 28, 2007 6:12 PM

I was also waiting for the Apple iPhone. My expectation is that the
iPhone is coming onto the market in June. That is waht the promotion
was a few months ago. Has anyone heard anything different?

Although I am sending this frm my new MacBook Pro, I have been
suffering for lack of a superphone. If the iPhone doesn't come onto
the market as promised, I'll probably get the Treo very soon.


From: P. Maheridis (attorney@maheridis.com)
Monday, May 28, 2007 6:13 PM

In the past I had the Treo 650 with Sprint, and the Q and Blackberry 8703e with Verizon (my current phone). Hands down, the Blackberry has been the best. You will likely read in other reviews of Blackberrys that they "just work." The choice depends on your needs for the device. If email is your primary concern, I would recommend the Blackberry. It is a very stable device, and does email better than any other device, in my opinion. I will likely never stray from Blackberry. Hope this helps.

From: Hyman K. Cohen(hycohen.law@juno.com)
Tuesday, May 29, 2007 12:24 AM

Adele:
My input on the subject will not be to compare the Blackberry with the Treo inasmuch as all of my experience is with a Blackberry. However, here are a few thoughts for your consideration.
1. The initial cost of the equipment. I have researched Amazon.com and noted that it is possible to acquire a Blackberry at no cost, with a subscription for service, whereas there is a cost associated with the acquisition of a Treo, even with a subscription for service.
2. Strongly consider the carrier you anticipate using and compare plans because you will find a disparity in rates available.
3. Research the availability of service in the areas where you plan to utilize the instrument. Here in the mid-Atlantic region most of the carriers are viable; however if you travel to less populated areas you may encounter difficulties with service which will be very disheartening.
4. My Blackberry utilizes a SIM card, which I find to be a very valuable feature. It not only enables the opportunity to switch phones by inserting the card in my spare phone(s), but a SIM card provides an even bigger advantage for international travelers -- simply take your phone with you and buy a local SIM card with minutes. For example, a traveler from the U.S. staying in the U.K. can purchase a SIM card across the pond. Now the phone can be used to call throughout England without paying international roaming charges from the carrier back home.
Mike Morin (mikemorin@msn.com)
Tuesday, May 29, 2007 5:05 AM
Is there a Blackberry that will link to PC Law? I have changed firms and need a new phone that is a "smart phone." Unfortunately, I am not a smart phone user. Verizon indicates that I am limited to something that uses MS as the operating system. Although I now use Verizon, that can change if necessary.

From: Joseph C. Hangarter (jch@charlescountylaw.com)
Tuesday, May 29, 2007 10:22 AM

You're bumming me out here Mike. Does this mean Verizon is not going to sell the Treo with Palm software anymore? I would not mind moving to a Windows based Treo when my current one dies, but Amicus Attorney only has a link for Palm. If you try to link it to Windows, you have to link to Outlook first and then to the Windows PDA. I have tried to link Amicus to Outlook before and thinking about it makes me break out into a cold sweat!

From: Mike Morin (mikemorin@msn.com)
Tue 5/29/2007 10:56 AM

Verizon will continue to sell the Treo with Palm. I have been told that it will not work with PC Law and that I needed a Windows based smart phone. I am still trying to distinguish between facts and rumors. Someone answered that PC Law will now work with Palm software.

Eventually, there will be fourth year of law school to get us all up to speed on the technology requirements of the practice of law.

From: Timothy J. Mummert (timothy@mummertlaw.com)
Tuesday, May 29, 2007 11:07 AM

I have had 2 blackberries: the first was Blackberry 7290 and the second is the Blackberry 8700c. I would recommend the Blackberry 8700 over the 7290. The original blackberry used cheaper microphones and speakers. They have changed them on the new model correcting the problem. The 8700 also has a speaker phone which the 7290 did not. The 8700 has a faster internet connection. Also, with a usb cable and additional service from your cell phone carrier, you can plug the phone into your computer and use the phone's connection for internet on your computer. I also prefer the track wheel over the stylus.

I considered the Treo, but had to special order a model with a camera phone. I ended up with the Blackberry instead. Blackberry is now giving 1 couple free of its enterprise solution that is a plug-in for Outlook. When I enter an appointment into my Blackberry, it automatically updates back at the office. This is a nice feature while I am in Court.

My brother has the Treo though his company. I am not sure if it is the windows or palm treo, but it crashes a lot.

From: Peter Kirsh (pkirsh@KirshTitle.com)
Tuesday, May 29, 2007 1:29 PM

I have the Treo 700 with the MS Windows platform. Although I like the phone, the Windows platform is absolutely horrible. This thing crashes more than my 4 year old on his bicycle. I reboot (remove the battery) at least twice a day. To make matters worse, this is the second one I've had. Verizon replaced my first one free because of all the problems. This one is no better. The only reason I still have it is because I don't have the 2 hours needed to drive to the Verizon store, wait to be waited on, and then wait for them to test it. I like Verizon, I like the phone, but the software is lousy.

From: Jonathan Bromberg (jrbromberg@brsglaw.com)
Tuesday, May 29, 2007 6:05 PM

I have had my Treo 650 for 2 years and it has worked flawlessly for 20 months (the first 4 months had some rocky roads until software, hardware, etc. calmed down and became stable). I synchronize daily with Timmatters without any problem whatsoever. While I don't use it, there is a TimeSlips module that allows for entry of data into the Treo and then synchronization with Timeslips on the desktop. I use several very useful pieces of add-on software that work quite well including Tarascon (a continually updated PDR that is excellent for finding out about medications, side-effect, doses, costs, etc), Google Maps (finding out where I am when I get lost); Avantgo for daily downloads of various newspapers; Loan and amortization calculators; VoiceDialer (to dial anyone in my entire Timematters list of contacts, which now stands at 2,919 entries), and various programs (Luach and the Weekly Aliyot that synchronize my calendar with all Jewish holidays, etc.)
I use Cingular (I guess now AT&T) and have mixed feelings about the service but it seems ok. I subscribe to the unlimited data/web service and my only gripe is the slow speed of internet connection. I am told that the newer 680 (through Cingular) as well as the 700 series have a much higher speed data connection.
I know nothing about the Blackberry primarily because I started with Palm 15 years ago and kept moving up until they merged the Palm with the phone in the Treo (though I waited for the release of the 650 before making the plunge).
Now that I have fulfilled my two year contract commitment, I will also look into a replacement. For the moment, I am inclined to lean towards the Palm platform rather than the windows platform but I can be convinced to change (so long as I can continue to get the great synchronization with TimeMatters & Timeslips and so long as I can continue to use Tarascon (or equivalent).

From: Daryl Price (dwprice@hotmail.com)
Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2007 1:55 PM

I made the plunge and got my smartphone about five or so months ago. I opted for the Treo 650 and I love it. I have never had a problem with my Treo 650 nor a crash despite extensive use of the phone, organizer, camera, video, messaging and web.

From: Christopher McKenna (McKennaLegal@aol.com)
Thursday, May 31, 2007 5:50 PM

Strongly agree. The Windows OS is horrible. I not sure about Palm OS. Bottom line for me is that Blackberry synchs perfectly with Outlook. So if I send an e-mail from my BBerry, it shows up on the Oulook "sent items" folder on my PC and server.

I could not find any other application that did that.

From: Celeste Campbell (celeste@theccampbellgroup.com)
Friday, June 01, 2007 2:56 AM

Given that vacation season is upon us, I'd like to expand Hy's point 4 with respect to using your wireless phone in Europe. While virtually all wireless phones allow one to easily change the SIM card, each wireless phone is manufactured to a standard (e.g., CDMA, TDMA, GSM), and can communicate only with wireless networks that use the same standard.

There are different standards for wireless networks in use throughout the world. You can successfully use your phone abroad only if that phone's standard is the same as the network standard in your destination. Before you travel, check with your phone's manufacturer or your wireless carrier to determine whether you can use your phone at your ultimate destination. Nonetheless, just because you are using your phone, you will not automatically receive calls placed to your US phone number (you used to be able to ask AT&T wireless to forward US calls to your phone when you were carrying it in Europe, but I don't know whether that service is still available from AT&T, or whether it is offered by any other carrier.)

If your phone can't be used at your destination, or if you don't want to worry about carrying your own phone, call the hotel at your destination and ask the concierge or business center to set forth the local options for wireless phone service (e.g., wireless phone rental, purchase of disposable phone with prepaid minutes).

Then again, a few years ago I took a vacation to the Gobi desert (amongst other remote places in PRC)and one of the greatest benefits of the trip was that the firm could not contact me by phone, fax, or even carrier pigeon. If carrier camel delivery existed, that might have worked...