I’ve mentioned before that I’ve been cheating on my Blackberry Curve 8900 with an HTC Legend. I am a huge fan of Android powered handsets. From Motrola’s Milestone, FLIPOUT, and DEXT to the Legend – I’ve played with enough Android mobiles to know that Android is brilliant enough to even make a handset with many failings seem buy-able, even if just for the app market.
So, it might seem a bit odd that I just use my upgrade to get a (white) Blackberry Bold 9700. If I’m so turned on by Android, why would I settle for a handset with less-fun apps that does’t even have a touchscreen?
Let me explain.
I use a Blackberry because my life and my career depends on my email. You can preach to me all you want about the iPhone’s “push email” capabilities, but when it comes to email, NOTHING can compete with a Blackberry.
Yes, my (Vodofone) Legend can deliver my email to me almost as fast as my (T-mobile) Bold, but once it’s with me, I find that the Blackberry allows me to respond quicker, and more accurately. To be fair, a full QWERTY keyboard can help with this, but even the way the Blackberry suggests contact name and functions when composing an email is just more efficient and simple than it is on my Legend, and on any other handsets I've tried.
If you cannot be away from your email inbox while you're out and about, and you need to be able to send long or detailed responses to business contacts on the go, Blackberry is the clear choice and at the moment, I’m finding the Bold 9700 to be the best Blackberry I have ever used.
Why? In short – it has the silent and sexy trackpad that we saw introduced with the Curve 8520, and the equally quiety QWERTY keyboard. Yes, that’s right, a keyboard that doesn't make a clicky noise, and a trackpad that has killed off the annoyed EERRAAAH EERRRAAAH noise of the trackball that we all grew accustomed to after the Pearl.
With the introduction of Blackberry 6 and the Blackberry Torch 9800, I feel that Blackberry are really upping their game to compete with the iPhone and Android handsets on the market. Blackberry 6 has Universal Search, and the Torch 9800 features a 5mpx camera, multi-touch, and even has a new feature where your social and RSS feeds are pushed to the same place.
However, even with the introduction of the Torch, I’m worried that a Blackberry will never be as sexy and or as fun as an Android powered handset – specifically one created by HTC.
I suppose this is why I’m still having an open relationship with my Blackberry. Simply put, the HTC helps make up for the fun the Blackberry lacks. It's my exciting, 'droid powered bit on the side.
I am hoping that the Torch will force me to settle down with just one handset, but until I get my paws on one and try it out properly, I’ll never know. We'll have to see. And until then I'll have to play nice with my Blackberry and keep my Android mistress on the side to keep me satisfied. (Let's just hope they never find out about each other. Robot vs Fruit? I don't think it would turn out so well.)
The bottom line is that if email on your mobile is your number one priority - stick with Blackberry, like I do. If you're less concerned with email, and care more about quality photos, a slick and intuitive interface and stellar apps - go with an HTC. And if you like blurry photos and hype, buy an iPhone.
Image © Cate Sevilla for BitchBuzz.com