android vs. blackberry

I'm angry with verizon. I could go on and on about that, but I'm gonna skip that.

My blackberry is over two years old and verizon desperately wants me to get a new phone (and lock me in to another two years).  And my bb has been getting sick at times.

I'm hooked on the email in the blackberry.  Plus, the idea of having the camera/video built in has been a great value.  Although I need higher quality video and pictures. 

After a long chat with verizon tech support, it would seem that I abuse my blackberry by not regularly synching it and deleting stuff from it.  Frankly, it sounds like the insides of a blackberry is a lot like how 386 computers could get by the 640k barrier with goofy memory dancing stuff.  So it sounds like the blackberry memory management is something that I would need to learn and nurture and take care of and ....  that sort of thing just doesn't seem to make my priority list.  I kinda wish I could hand my phone over to "the phone whisperer" once a month and then my phone would be happy and all would be well. 

The tech support guy suggested that my next phone be an android.  He said that the android memory management is much smarter and will tolerate my abuse far better.  BBs apparently need you to learn a little about how a BB works or else they will eventually get sick and then you need to call tech support. 

I learned I needed to "sync" my BB or else it would get constipated.  I then learned that "sync" is synonymous with "delete".  I thought I was doing the "sync", but then all of my files were no longer on my phone.  Which is not what I wanted.  After all of my files were gone, the BB seemed to work much better.  Fortunately, I had copied all of my files off of the BB about five minutes earlier, so nothing was lost. 

I should also mention that one of the things I like about my blackberry is that I bought the "tether" stuff.  Whenever I need internet and I have cell service, I can plug my laptop into my blackberry and I have free internet.  Unlimited.  And the speed isn't too bad.  Since I live in the country, and I travel a lot to very remote places, having a "plan B" internet is important.  Does android have anything like that?

A final note:  I need the little keyboard.  I am a giant guy with giant hands that have giant fingers.  I can get a bb keyboard to work fine.  But the iphone pseudo-keyboard is horribly frustrating.

If my current BB ran fine, I would probably not bother getting  new phone.  I just don't feel like learning a new contraption.  On the other hand, I have a feeling that in the next couple of months I'll have no choice - this phone will die and I will have moments to line up a new phone.  So I should have an idea of what I'm probably going to get. 

Oh, and I feel I should stick with verizon, because of the many rural places I have travelled, verizon works, and the others don't.

Anybody have any suggestions for me?

Android OS is a bit better than BB, by design (latest tech) and age, your right you do need to upgrade even if you stick with BB.  And plan on adding extra memory with an memory card.  It's just a good idea for heavy users.

And yes tethering is available, and yes several models running the android OS have keyboards - you'll just have to shop.  I like the slide outs.  I saw one when researching a droid for my daughter for Christmas.  Since your into version and will be buying a contract you should get the phone for free -

Check out the Motorola Droid Pro
Highlights

    * 3.1" Touch Screen With Virtual QWERTY Keyboard and Physical QWERTY Keyboard
    * Enhanced Enterprise Features- Global Address Lookup in Email and Remote Wipe On Device
    * Blockbuster Mobile App For Downloading Full-length Movies They Same Day They Are Avaiable On DVD
    * Made For Business - Full Push Corporate Email With Corporate-level Security and Unified Calendar

Google: free android phone with contract and keyboard

Merry Christmas Paul

I'm on Verizon because both places I live, they are the only option for a national service - ATT just isn't there.

My sis is also a Verizon BB user, and when I announced my relief at the iPhone coming to Verizon, here's what she had to say -

"...interested in two others when my Blackberry contract is up. One is the HTC Droid Incredible because it got CNet Editor's Choice Award, and when you watch the on-line review you can see why -- it's blazingly fast, and speed counts. Also interested in the Motorola Droid 2 just because I'm finding it hard to think about giving up a physical keyboard. Both are with Verizon. We will see. One thing is for sure, since I've had my Blackberry, I have no intention of giving up my smartphone, they're just too convenient! "

I've heard that the Verizon iPhone will include their MiFi.

FWIW

I've never had a BB, but I recently switched from iOS (iPhone) to Android, and I'm loving the added power and features that Android offers.

Incidentally, when I made that switch I also switched from AT&T to prepaid via Virgin Mobile.  I went from paying $75/mo for 400 min and unlimited data to paying $25/mo for 300 min and unlimited data.  Service is spottier than Verizon, but so was AT&T, and it picks up Wi-fi with no problems.  I use Google Voice for 80% of my calls so I rarely use half of my minutes. 

Good luck with your research!

I owned the droid for all of two hours and then went back and got the BB.

BTW -- I had to pay an extra $35 restocking fee on the droid. 

There were several things that drove me nuts about the droid, but the biggest thing was that I could not get the touch screen to work with me.  It was utterly maddening.

paul wheaton wrote:
I owned the droid for all of two hours and then went back and got the BB.

BTW -- I had to pay an extra $35 restocking fee on the droid. 

There were several things that drove me nuts about the droid, but the biggest thing was that I could not get the touch screen to work with me.  It was utterly maddening.

Did you use the Droid or Droid2?  I have a Samsung Intercept and I've never had any issues with my touchscreen but it's not quite as fluid as my old iPhone.  Sorry you had a bad experience.

I picked up a hemroid from Verizon last fall. So far it works well. I like it because I can take a picture of a product for sale and upload it in  few minutes.
Couldn't you get a new phone and not a 2 yr contract if you are already on a contract?