30 days with the Blackberry Bold

November 26 2008

My first month with the Bold is approaching, and I thought it a good time to reflect on whether I still feel the same about this new device.

In short, it just keeps getting better.  

The Bold continues to inspire device-lust, which surprised me -- a whole cluster of people checking it out on a flight to LAX, sideways glances when I'm using it at dinner.  I did not realize style-wise that it was distinct enough from earlier Blackberries to get noticed in that way, but I think it's such a clean look that it grabs attention.  The screen is so easy to read...a huge plus.

Functionally, I've been super-impressed.  It's been a bit hard to get used to some of the navigation -- I still haven't figured out how to "tab" forward in a browser screen (use the trackball instead) -- but everything works and works really well.  The browser is fantastic and fast...on 3G, sometimes it is faster than wifi.  Setup and configuration stuff is all easy easy.... switching wifi, bluetooth, speakerphone etc. all are real smooth.  Having data mode while using voice (on 3G) is a huge new benefit.  

Battery life is pretty good.  There have been a couple of days where it has run down surprisingly fast, and other days where it seems to be going forever.  I don't leave Bluetooth on all the time (though the one night I did, the battery gauge barely moved), so I think it's 3G that is more of a factor.  Phone call quality is great, though I had a bunch of dropped calls when I was on Vodafone in Australia (Telstra did quite alright though).  The included wired headphone/earbud is good quality (the plug is larger size than the Pearl's though), and I figured out the little side drawer for adding a MicroSD card (which was a piece of cake to do).  I also have dropped the phone a couple of times, since I'm a klutz...it has handled each drop quite gracefully.  Vowe explained to me that RIM designs the back cover to deliberately flip away in a drop...something about kinetic energy.  Indeed that happened both times...but for now I bought a rubberized case to offset my klutziness and put a scratch guard on the display.  

I haven't added a slew of applications, yet.  I loaded up Lotus Sametime, Twitter, and Facebook.  I find myself using the browser-based version of Facebook but the latest TwitterBerry is really good.  App installs are super-easy and I know I'll be doing more of them.

The camera is a bit slow and grainy, but that's about the only absolute negative I can find with this phone.  I have really enjoyed making the switch to the full keyboard (though getting re-trained from the Pearl's dual tap or T9 on prior phones has occasionally been a conscious effort) and find navigating very easy.

So, to sum up, Blackberry has really outdone themselves as far as a business device with the Bold.  I know the Storm has come out since, but I'm not on Verizon and given my international travel, not sure it would make sense to be there.  The Bold is my choice, especially as even more of the Lotus story comes to fruition on the Blackberry device.  Good stuff and recommended.

Ed Brill | Highland Park, IL USA Category:  Blackberry Bold  Add/View Comments [15]

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  1. 1  Darren http://www.dadams.co.uk | 11/26/2008 3:33:15 PM

    I've been using a Bold for a week but now it has to go back to RIM. I can't complain, they told us it was just until we did the customer event (yesterday), and the lady from RIM explained they were in short supply. Judging by the number of people I've seen using them on the train and around London I can believe it.

    It is a seriously classy device, especially the screen quality. Right now I'm comparing it to my 8800 (which goes out of service tomorrow when I switch network) and the 8310 (received today, goes live tomorrow)... it's like comparing HD t.v. to something from the early '90s. I will carry on dropping shameless hints to my RIM contacts.

    By the way, in case anyone says "Adams, you cheapskate, just go and buy one"... it's £400 ($612 at today's rate).

  1. 2  Keith Brooks http://www.vanessabrooks.com | 11/26/2008 4:22:54 PM

    Ed, don't forget the Quickr and Connections apps from RIM as well.

    DAZ, you can get one here much cheaper, if noting sooner at Lotusphere just walkinto a shop and buy one, I have seen them for $399.

  1. 3  Darren http://www.dadams.co.uk | 11/26/2008 5:08:52 PM

    Hey Keith... to be honest I am a cheapskate, and my #1 scenario is getting one for free. After all, I'll be showing it to so many customers, it's in RIM's interest ;o)

  1. 4  Karl-Henry Martinsson http://www.bleedyellow.com/blogs/texasswede/ | 11/26/2008 5:23:35 PM

    One thing I am curious about when it comes to Wi-Fi is how that part works overseas. If you go to say Australia (or in my case Sweden), and connect through a local (free) hotspot, is that totally free? Or does AT&T charge some kind of roaming fee even for wireless?

    Logically they shouldn't, but you never know.

  1. 5  Dag Kvello http://twitter.com/dkvello | 11/27/2008 12:22:19 AM

    Now, the "sideways glances at dinner" isn't envy. Its Your wife's evil eye saying "What?! Can't you leave that thing alone for one second? Not even when we're eating dinner?"

  1. 6  Volker Weber http://vowe.net/about | 11/27/2008 2:17:43 AM

    I second that assessment. The Bold is the Über-Blackberry. It runs rings around the Storm as far as I can see it.

    One caveat regarding the body. It is not as sturdy as it looks. Basically all the materials lie. What looks like glass is plastic, what looks like metal is plastic, and what looks like leather is plastic. Mine still looks pretty good, no scratches at all. But I have seen one with a dented frame.

    The software needs upgrading from the very first shipment. Yours is good enough already, but I am currently on .194 which seems to be yet another improvement.

    Darren is right about the screen. The Curve 2 (8900) shares the same resolution and it is the one reason to upgrade from the 83x0. I would however go all the way to the Bold, if only for 3G and the faster camera.

    Ed, the larger headphones plug lets you use better headsets, like your Bose NC set.

    Apps to check out are Viigo, Google Mobile App (and from there Google Mail, Maps), TwitterBerry. That goes for all BlackBerrys.

  1. 7  Volker Weber http://vowe.net/about | 11/27/2008 2:19:23 AM

    Karl-Henry, BlackBerry over Wi-Fi is free where Wi-Fi is free.

  1. 8  Darren http://www.dadams.co.uk | 11/27/2008 2:22:33 AM

    @6 - ah yes, I was caught out by the headphone socket, and got the right one just in time to give the whole lot back :o( However, just checked the 8310, that has the same socket, larger than the 8800's.

  1. 9  Volker Weber http://vowe.net/about | 11/27/2008 5:34:55 AM

    The 8300 was the first BB I came across with a 3.5mm socket. The 8800 was the last one without. Now all new ones have them, including the 8120.

    There is a general trend towards the larger socket, because there is a high demand for standard Hi-Fi sockets. Apple changed the iPhone body (from 3.5mm recessed to standard 3.5mm). Nokia even put the larger socket into the latest Eseries, but not the E71.

    At the same time miniUSB (BB9000) is being replaced by microUSB (BB8900).

  1. 10  John Head http://www.johndavidhead.com | 11/27/2008 11:40:42 AM

    @4 the wifi is just used for data, but it is free anywhere. Voice never goes over wifi unless you use a VIOP app.

    I agree with Ed and Volker, the device is amazing. The apps I use heavily (besides Facebook, Twitterberry, and the google apps) are the AP news app (love it), Myspace (way better than the facebook app), IM+, and the professional version of Documents to Go, which somes with PDF to Go. I wrote a presentation on my bb - just outline mode but it was great.

    This is the first device where I feel I do not need a laptop in meetings. Now, if I can find a way to take notes and get the into OneNote ...

  1. 11  David Via  | 12/1/2008 10:47:00 AM

    I'm about 3 weeks into my Bold experience and echo all the great things everyone else has offered.

    The best surprise for me though is that I was able to get it to work as a tethered modem via Bluetooth from my MacBook. A huge plus for me - never was able get that to work with my 8100.

    ...and since the Bold is 3G that effectively means I don't need my Aircard any more. An extremely useful trick that makes even iPhone users a jealous.

  1. 12  Volker Weber http://vowe.net/about | 12/2/2008 4:40:31 PM

    David, Bluetooth is fine with basic 3G (UMTS) but not at 3.5G (HSPA) where it becomes the bottleneck.

  1. 13  Dennis Sullivan  | 12/3/2008 2:05:01 PM

    I have to agree with Ed that the Bold is a tremendous device but I had RIM/T-Mobile come by yesterday and saw the Curve 8900 and was very impressed, form factor makes the bold feel like a laptop and at a glance seems to have all the functionality of the Bold, given the choice I will give up my Bold for the new Curve.

  1. 14  Volker Weber http://vowe.net/about | 12/4/2008 4:11:58 AM

    Dennis, the 8900 does not have 3G. And an extremely slow camera.