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stevetaz · 03-22-2008, 11:30 AM

Hiya Chris:

Believe me, I didn't expect to make the jump either, but when someone else pays....

My experience is mixed so far. I went live March 19. I am extremely impressed with the email performance as you might expect. We are working off a BES system and yesterday I noticed emails hit the BB BEFORE they hit my desktop Outlook. Apparently that is due to the fact I use a laptop in a dock at the office and laptops receive email slower due to some kind of mirroring.

I still find myself trying to tap the screen when I want to do something as simple as check the battery level, but of course that won't work. A small thing like checking the actual battery level, not just a looks like about 30% by the icon, seems a little too involved. I am still getting used to the track ball, but I am getting there.

Much of my problems are simply from knowing the Treo inside and out for three years as well as using Palm products since 1988 and now I have to learn a new O/S and language.

One very noticable thing already is the battery life I am seeing. I could not go more than a day on my 650 from the start. I am now on day three and still at 40% left (yes, I figured out how to check).

Another very good difference I see is the stronger signal I am getting with this 8830. I have NEVER seen five bars here at home and I am getting that pretty consistently as well as much improved connections during conversations.

The first day was like a comedy. While I easily figured out how to answer the phone, I wound up accidently muting the first four calls and I couldn't figure out how to unmute. I looked and looked for a button or switch with what looked like a speaker like on the Treo, but I couldn't find it.

Real men don't need manuals, but I admit it. I had to look it up. Son of a gun, there it was on the top of the device, but while now I see the speaker with a line through it, when I first looked at it it looked like a cloud or something stupid like that.

The other problem I had is that every time I would pick up the device or remove it from the holster I would activate the voice dial function by touching the side convenience button. Very sensitive key and in my opinion very poorly placed. It is now deactivated because I can't stop hitting it. I think it should have been shielded a bit or made to require more of a push and click.

I also seem to frequently wind up locking the keyboard, but I haven't figured out what it is I am hitting or how I keep doing that.

My Treo habits really came out the first three calls when I was on the bluetooth headset. While I usually only use the BT in the car, sometimes I will arrive home while still on a call so I would stick the Treo on the holster, walk in the house and finish. After hanging up on two calls I realized the BB has an "off" trigger when you place it in the holster/pouch. I am hoping I can find a better holster that doesn't swallow the whole device.

Built in GPS, password storage program, voice dialing...very impressive so far.

As I said originally, my company pays for everything so here I am and I will make the best of it. I really think it will be okay once I get the basics under my belt. While I miss the Palm, this ain't so bad.....

Oh, I also realized I didn't sign up here for email notification for new postings so of course I had no idea there were updates, but I corrected that now.

SteveTaz

03-22-2008, 11:30 AM	#7 (permalink)
stevetaz Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,132	Hiya Chris: Believe me, I didn't expect to make the jump either, but when someone else pays.... My experience is mixed so far. I went live March 19. I am extremely impressed with the email performance as you might expect. We are working off a BES system and yesterday I noticed emails hit the BB BEFORE they hit my desktop Outlook. Apparently that is due to the fact I use a laptop in a dock at the office and laptops receive email slower due to some kind of mirroring. I still find myself trying to tap the screen when I want to do something as simple as check the battery level, but of course that won't work. A small thing like checking the actual battery level, not just a looks like about 30% by the icon, seems a little too involved. I am still getting used to the track ball, but I am getting there. Much of my problems are simply from knowing the Treo inside and out for three years as well as using Palm products since 1988 and now I have to learn a new O/S and language. One very noticable thing already is the battery life I am seeing. I could not go more than a day on my 650 from the start. I am now on day three and still at 40% left (yes, I figured out how to check). Another very good difference I see is the stronger signal I am getting with this 8830. I have NEVER seen five bars here at home and I am getting that pretty consistently as well as much improved connections during conversations. The first day was like a comedy. While I easily figured out how to answer the phone, I wound up accidently muting the first four calls and I couldn't figure out how to unmute. I looked and looked for a button or switch with what looked like a speaker like on the Treo, but I couldn't find it. Real men don't need manuals, but I admit it. I had to look it up. Son of a gun, there it was on the top of the device, but while now I see the speaker with a line through it, when I first looked at it it looked like a cloud or something stupid like that. The other problem I had is that every time I would pick up the device or remove it from the holster I would activate the voice dial function by touching the side convenience button. Very sensitive key and in my opinion very poorly placed. It is now deactivated because I can't stop hitting it. I think it should have been shielded a bit or made to require more of a push and click. I also seem to frequently wind up locking the keyboard, but I haven't figured out what it is I am hitting or how I keep doing that. My Treo habits really came out the first three calls when I was on the bluetooth headset. While I usually only use the BT in the car, sometimes I will arrive home while still on a call so I would stick the Treo on the holster, walk in the house and finish. After hanging up on two calls I realized the BB has an "off" trigger when you place it in the holster/pouch. I am hoping I can find a better holster that doesn't swallow the whole device. Built in GPS, password storage program, voice dialing...very impressive so far. As I said originally, my company pays for everything so here I am and I will make the best of it. I really think it will be okay once I get the basics under my belt. While I miss the Palm, this ain't so bad..... Oh, I also realized I didn't sign up here for email notification for new postings so of course I had no idea there were updates, but I corrected that now. SteveTaz Last edited by stevetaz; 03-22-2008 at 11:33 AM.