Verizon is tempting me with a blackberry storm. I've had my current Motorola for 3 or 4 years, I forget, and it's not bad. The camera is lousy. A plumber who I'm doing a job with (jeez, I'm almost a general in this one) used his iPhone to take some pictures of an exposed lateral line and his pics were better than the ones on my digital camera, to say nothing of my Moto!

I'm developing owner's manual fatigue -- the need to study up on every new device for a few days, and that's a lot of why I've stayed with this Moto V710, which has even survived being dropped partially in water a couple times, although I thought I'd lost it for a while both times.

I've had no experience with either the Blackberry or the iPhone other than what I mentioned. Any of you guys have good reasons why I should go with one or the other? I'm not married to Verizon so I could go with an iPhone if it came down to it.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

I have an iPhone, which I'm using at this moment to write this response. Nice phone, hard to beat the apps, but efficient texting requires a bit of a learning curve due to the touchscreen keyboard. I've been using it for about two weeks, and am texting reasonably well. You're a carpenter, right? I would strongly recommend some type of protective case, as while the phone is beautifully put together, I have doubts that it can handle being dropped onto a hard surface.

How is AT&T service in your area? It seems not quite as good as Verizon in some metro areas in the Northeast.

I've got an iPod touch (an iPhone minus the phone part and camera). The learning curve was almost zero. Very easy and intuitive. Typing is not great but bearable. Certainly better than trying to type anything with just a number pad and having to hit the "def" key three times fast enough to get the "f" then wait long enough to hit it twice fast enough to get the "e" then wait long enough to hit it twice fast enough again to get another "e".... You know what I mean! On the iPod, the ease of getting e-mail, using various apps (there's a free bubble level app!), and the versatility can't be beat. I can't vouch for the phone and its camera, but everyone I know who has one likes it or loves it. I'm a long time Verizon customer with a family plan, otherwise I'd switch to ATT for the phone.

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1987 W201 190D

Like PaulC said cellular reception in your area is first, its pointless the get a phone with poor service. Once you figure that out list prioritize your needs each phone has its pro's and con's and decide from that list. For me the only service that is good in my area is Tmobile, so I chose the Android g1, I use my phone for email over phone and working for a bank there are many needed security features that is needed on the phone and email client so the g1 fit my needs, Blackberry is not an option because we are not using Blackberry Exchange Server yet.

iPhones are awesome and are very good business phones but I don't think its the best phone for a person in your line of work, Blackberrys are more rugged and have supreme battery life.

If you like a cool toy, get the iphone. If you're totally into emails and texts, get the blackberry.

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

Do you have a real desire to replace your current cell phone, other than to get a better camera?

Blackberry Bold FTW

i like my blackberry curve 8351i. it can do a lot of the stuff an iphone can do, but it has a real keyboard wich i like

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1984 300SD Orient Red/ Palomino
1989 560SEC
2016 Mazda 6 6 speed manual
1995 Ford F-150 reg cab 4.9 5speed manual

iPhone........the Blackberry proponents are similiar to the Mac users. Some sort of cult following/deal. -Not that there's anything wrong with that.

Okay, in your line of work, while the iPhone seems like a delicate piece of hardware, it really isn't. For starters, mine has gone through a double cycle in the washing machine, then dried in the dryer for an hour. I **** myself and thought it was busted for good. Let it drying for two days and behold, it works perfectly. I actually dropped it out of it's case today on cement and it works fine (scratched of course, but works perfect!).

Like PaulC said, you seriously CAN'T beat the apps on the iPhone, just how those commercials say, there is an app for everything, literally. Lol. If anyone is going to complain about it not having MMS, software 3.0 comes out in a few days and I have the beta on mine. Been sending MMS's no problem, and tethering. .

I have two friends that have BB Storms, I know youre thinking about the Storm but personally, having used the Storm permanently strayed me away from the BB brand. Way too laggy. Don't know if the Bold is any better.

If you've got good AT&T service in your area, I 100% recommend an iPhone, you won't regret it!!!

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2007 BMW 328XI

i have my bb with nextel. it is slow and the service sucks, but i would reccomend verizon

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1984 300SD Orient Red/ Palomino
1989 560SEC
2016 Mazda 6 6 speed manual
1995 Ford F-150 reg cab 4.9 5speed manual

It's starting to act up now and then. Some of the stuff has broken off, like the little plastic flap over the headphone jack. No big deal, except the other day, I had no audio with speakerphone but the head set would work. I gently rummaged around in it upside down with a paper clip, straightened out, and something must have fallen out cause the audio came back. You know how when you put in the headphone jack, the speakerphone function goes off? Who knows but I'm afraid it's going to go south one of these days. I've dropped it more than once.

edit: I'll have to hand it to Moto, however, all three of my phones (not a player in this field) have been Motos (first one a Star Tak - beam me up Scotty) and this one is way better quality than the first two, which weren't that bad. This one is solid. Might well last me for another year of two but I want to do my research ahead of time.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

My plumber buddy keeps his iPhone in his fanny pack, which he hangs up away from the action when it gets hairy, and I've not gotten into those.

Good point on the service. I'll need to research that. Verizon's coverage is pretty good.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

Good advice from all of you and I appreciate that, especially considering what a smart a$$ I can often be with many of you.

In Daffy Duck voice, I'm juthed dithpicable!

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K

The iPhone with T-Mobile works great for me. The new model of iPhone will be released this June is very likely to be officially offered with T-Mobile.