Negri Electronics Blog

Greetings All:

As this will be my first official post, please allow me to introduce myself.  Dr. Bob, Pocket Geek here in search of the Holy Grail of Gadgets… What is that you might ask?  Join me for a continued sampling of all things electronic and we’ll find it together!

With entry #1 into this arena, I’d like to address something I’ve often heard my compatriots discuss: “Should I move to the iPhone? or, (and oh no, Dear Hearts!), “Should I go back to a Blackberry?!?”   The short answer is: “It’s a buyers market!” Ultimately both devices employ options that are really user specific and task based.  Having a foot in both worlds, let me comment briefly here.

First: RIM has an e-mail M-A-C-H-I-N-E in the blackberry.  Current devices are limited only by the 3M max download size (unless that’s changed with the most recent models) and some have an annoying inability to view a full detail PDF [we’ll cover that in future posts].  Then there’s e-mail: loading parts, pieces, bits and bites, until it has it all.  When it’s finished, your note arrives ready to view.  Sending the same way, just reversing the process. [That's about as technical as we need to be I'd think.] This sounds innocuous but is a supreme asset in low coverage areas.

It handles spreadsheets with ease, allowing for basic entries and updates accordingly.  Use of the Micro SD provides virtually limitless storage options, especially when it’s external [if you shell out for an additional card(s)] Media coverage is device specific with some delivering stellar performance.  My recent experience is with the bold 9000. Brief highlights:  High definition screen, and I mean clear as it’s actually half VGA (480×320).  Micro SD card slot, multiple formats on the music and video; it views and manipulates all attachments with ease.  Call quality is great (can you say Bluetooth headset excellence?) and it has voice dialing.  Photos from this device never ceased to surprise me – they were simply great.  We’ll go into more detail on future posts.

Next:  Apple with a device of the ages…. iPhone {music plays in the background at the mere mention of the name}.  Not having one can make you feel positively 2^nd place when someone near you is using theirs to order dinner for two, valet the car and calculate the tip all while discussing the evening plans with the babysitter in full duplex communication!

In reality, it is certainly a multi-function device with many great features.  I’m using the 32G 3GS version, have loaded approximately 45 apps (over half free, the balance 99 cents less two at 2.99!)  Music and video are very good; photo and video record quality are great.  But, the ability to handle attachments such as Spreadsheets, PDF files, photo’s, etc. is a hidden jewel; words can fall short when describing the use of the pinch zoom and double tap as these functions make it an excellent business tool.  We’ll explore this in future commentaries.

However, it does have an annoying “tic” or two.  You must have a good connection to send or download an e-mail absent any problems.  Something I learned the hard way as a new user.

Delivering a rather direct note, with a photo to illustrate my point, to someone with very little sense of humor [and totally unaware of the previously mentioned condition] I hit send with one purpose in mind: “Keep it direct and to the point”.  Some time later I received a short, but angry, response: “Quit sending me that picture…I get it!!!!”   Yes, with four exclamation points.

My device had sent the same e-mail five times….whoa!!  The recipient found zero comedy in this event, but it cracked me up once I realized what had happened.  Apologies were delivered with heartfelt sorrow and respect…    Downloading can be equally precarious: While traveling I once had the same e-mail pop up, only to disappear when I clicked it, 11 times in a row!  As this was an important note, imagine the frustration; it eventually loaded.  I’ve polled other iPhone users and found this is a systemic problem.  Not necessarily network related, it appears to be a function of how this device performs the task at hand.

Summary:  Know your limits, act accordingly!

Stay tuned for additional commentary (personal & professional) and comparisons.