Blackberry Bold vs. iPhone
May 7th, 2009 | By Rex Gradeless | Category: Attorney Gadgets, Featured, Lead Article
There is much debate over which smartphone works better- Blackberry devices or the iPhone?
Which device would you buy?
Which is more appropriate in the legal profession?
The real answer probably depends on your own individualized needs. For example, if you want to have a better email client then Blackberry may be the way to go. On the other hand, if you want to have more applications and a nifty touchscreen, you may want to try the iPhone.
Maybe you want real buttons to push…go with the Blackberry…and the pros and cons go back and forth forever!
Testing both phones for yourself, before you buy, is probably the most prudent way to determine which device, if any, is right for you.
Do you have a preference?
Below are two comparisons [sent to me by a friend who clearly favors the Bold]!
Do you have any advice on which one I should try? Please help!
Submit your comments below!
| Device: | Blackberry Bold 9000
|
iPhone 3G
|
Winner | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size: | 4.5 x 2.6 x 0.55 in. | 4.5 x 2.4 x 0.48 in | Tie | About the same. |
| Weight: | 4.7 ounces | 4.7 ounces | Tie | Same. |
| Display: | 2.5 in, 420×320 pixels, 65,000 colors (TFT) | 3.5 in, 480×320 pixels, 163 ppi Touch screen | Bold | More colors, same resolution, smaller screen, better display goes to Bold. |
| OS & Platform: | Blackberry OS v4.6 | iPhone OS v2.1 | Tie | User preference. |
| Network: | Tri-band HSDPA (850/1900/2100MHz), Quad-Band GPRS/EDGE (800/850/1800/1900MHz) | Tri-band HSDPA (850/1900/2100MHz), Quad-Band GPRS/EDGE (800/850/1800/1900MHz) | Tie | Both are 3G. |
| Talk Time: | 5 hrs and 13 days of standby | 5.5 hrs and 12.5 days of standby | Bold | There’s no way my iPhone can stay on for 12.5 days. |
| Device Messaging: | Blackberry Messenger (PIN) | No | Bold | No default messenger client. |
| Text Input: | Full QWERTY Keyboard | Touch-screen QWERTY | Bold | Actual will always win over “fake” buttons. |
| Camera: | 2 megapixels; 5x digital zoom | 2 megapixels (no zoom) | Bold | No camera settings. |
| Video Recording: | Video Recording | No | Bold | An essential feature. |
| GPS: | Built-in A-GPS, w/ Blackberry Maps | A-GPS | Bold | Comes with Navigation Program; Bold wins. |
| Bluetooth: | 2.0 | 2.0 (locked) | Bold | Locked bluetooth; Bold wins. |
| Stereo Bluetooth: | Yes | No | Bold | |
| Bluetooth Tethering: | Yes | No | Bold | |
| Wi-Fi: | 802.11 a/b/g | 802.11 b/g | Bold | Bold wins; Can connect to more networks. |
| Memory: | 1GB of On-board | 8GB or 16GB non-removable memory | iPhone | iPhone doesn’t give the 8 or 16. They take away abt 500 MB for operating system. |
| Expandable Memory: | Yes (Optional 16GB microSD/SDHC) | No | Bold | Unlimited amount of memory for Bold. |
| Processor: | 624MHz Marvell Tavor | 620MHz ARM | Bold | Faster Processor |
| MMS: | Yes | No | Bold | A no “duh” feature. |
| Copy and Paste: | Yes | No | Bold | Another standard feature essential to smart phones. |
| Voice Command: | Yes | No | Bold | Very useful while driving. |
| Consumer PUSH: | Blackberry Internet Service | MobileMe | Tie | User preference. |
| 3.5mm Audio Jack: | Yes | Maybe (only 3G) | Bold | iPhone 2.5G has recessed headset jack. Design flaw; Bold wins. |
| Sound Profiles: | Yes | No | Bold | iPhone only has loud and silent; Bold wins |
| SMS Character Count: | Yes | No | Bold | HUGE flaw w/ iPhone SMS. Class action law suit anyone? |
| Call Time: | Yes | No | Bold | A standard feature that’s been on phones for 10 years. |
| E-mail Features: | Yes | No | Bold | iPhone can’t “mark all read/unread”. Horrible reliability. |
| Camera Settings: | Yes | No | Bold | iPhone has no camera settings what-so-ever; Bold wins. |
| Applications: | Yes | Yes | iPhone | Bold comes w/ games, iPhone has more games, but have to pay for them. |
| Cellular Video: | Yes | No | Bold | Service from AT&T |
| YouTube: | Yes | Yes | iPhone | YouTube is pretty cool on the iPhone. |
| Accelerometer: | No | Yes | iPhone | iPhone wins this category cause the bold deosn’t have one. |
| Results: | Bold: 23 | iPhone: 4 | Which phone would you buy? |
*Side Note: both Blackberry and iPhone users can view this post in thier respective devices becasue there is a “mobile” version of SocialMediaLawStudent.com!!
UPDATE: Lawyers and Smartphones on the Kennedy-Mighell Report can be found here.
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Rex – clearly the BlackBerry is a lawyer’s mobile tool of choice. I’ve heard feedback from a number of lawyers (both senior partners and associates) who can’t imagine giving up the ‘concrete keyboard’ feel of a BlackBerry. The iPhone is an equally great device but most ppl find the screen to small and the touch-screen board too awkward, I think the iPhone (in its current state) is geared for consumers, creatives, die-hard Mac fans and the like. BlackBerry simply dominates the corporate market. BTW – the charts above make for a compelling argument over the Bold. Cheers Autom
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admin
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May 7th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
What about the iPhone J.D.? – http://www.iphonejd.com/ Seems like a great resource for those lawyers using iPhones.
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Great review! I think you’ve just convinced me to ditch my iPhone 3G for a Bold.
The Bold is great, except the fact that it’s also hella boring. The screen is way too small and App World sucks because it only can be installed on internal memory. Oh well, enjoy your amazing and secure push email, right? :p
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admin
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May 7th, 2009 at 3:04 pm
Some more objective posts:
Here’s a guest post from “The Mac Lawyer’s” on the issue.
Also from two other lawyers:
iPhone vs. Blackberry: iPhone By Jeff Richardson
iPhone vs. Blackberry Storm: Blackberry Storm By Lee Rosen
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Most of these things will switch from “Bold wins” to “iPhone wins” when the 3.0 software is released in June.
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admin
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May 7th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
That may be true. I hear Bold is coming out with flash player before the iPhone. Is that true? I think its called Skyfire.
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Hmm. Let’s find every feature of the Bold that the iPhone doesn’t currently have, pin them against each other, and call it a review!
Display is def a matter of preference if you’d really like to get into it – I personally like a larger screen.
Why do I need a messenger service? I have text, email and countless available and free applications that allow me to use any other messenger service (in est google talk, facebook chat, jabber, aim, msn messenger, etc. – the messenger services that aren’t exclusive to the 25 other Blackberry Messenger users in the world).
How many sound profiles do you need? The volume button is unmistakable, as is the sound on/off switch.
OS definitely is not synonymous with UI – funny how that was left out of the equation. Hmm.
And ditto on Mr. T’s post. I would love to see this chart refreshed with the OS 3.0 update. Then we’ll talk smart.
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admin
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May 7th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
I would be happy to see a pro iPhone chart on the issue. I would post it here as well!
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I’ve actually been considering the Samsung Omnia instead. Seems like a solid phone with a great camera, a touchscreen but unfortunately its got Win Mobile. Any thoughts on it from the peanut gallery?
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admin
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May 7th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
Review Here.
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Definitely iPhone! the applications tips the scale…
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I’ve really been pondering these things as well. I think that with the 3.0 software release that the scales will start tipping towards the iPhone again.
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Both phones are definitely top of the line but I have got used to the Blackberry Push Email. I think that would tip the scale in the favor of the storm for me.
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As a previous owner of the Blackberry and a current owner of the iPhone, in my opinion the iPhone wins hands down. It’s not even a close competition. I’ve had the iPhone for over a year now and can’t imagine life/work without it — and I’m not even a Mac fan. That said, I’m going to have to disagree that the Blackberry is the “lawyer’s mobile tool of choice.” I know many lawyers that have made the switch and it only takes them a day of using the iPhone to realize what they’ve been missing.
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Great site! I am loving it!! Will come back again – taking your feeds also, Thanks.
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This will helpful for those guys who are confused whether they have to buy Blackberry 900 or iphone.This blog provided great knowledge about their features.
Neil Jones
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Well,
The pro and cons of both systems may be differentiated according to need. For each devices seperate fans , sclaes can be even or completely different… The truth is;
An iphone can never make the same impression like a Blackberry Bod to a client when he/she glances it on the table during a bargaining procedure. ( At the end, we are using all the features of those phones but moreover, they are a kind of social -technological- bussiness statue )
Bold is for sophisticated personalities…iphone is for players…
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If the iPhone is for die-hard Mac fans, how many in the legal profession are also likely to be sporting a MacBook Pro? Agreed, the Blackberry has a solid keyboard, but by all accounts, the iPhone interface is simply a matter of getting used to it. As with any new technology (Blackberry, iPhone, TV remote…) you have to spend time learning.
By the way, as a Blackberry fan and Mac devotee, there is no doubt in my mind, that an iPhone will increase my productivity and help me enjoy my over-priced Canadian phone plan more.
And as a designer, my Blackberry does scream ‘old fart’, even if it is an 8800.
Bottom line: horses for courses.
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My English is poor, but I find this post is great and look forward to reading more from you in the future.
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I agree, the new iphone 3GS will be awesome! the resolution will be 480 (same as BOLD) and the 3.0 software will kick major butt! There are so many more options now with the new 3GS and i myself am awaiting my arrival rt now today as we speak. I have been a dedicated blackberry user for years and currently have the BOLD. Problem is, you only have half a screen for viewing or reading on the BOLD and zooming in makes trying to read take forever without the whole article fitting. The new landscape keyboard on the iphone 3GS is said to be as easy as the BOLD (for those fatter fingers).
I can’t wait to try it!
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I use and favor the BlacBerry.
My favorite features on BlackBerry are the itenerary/schedule, the note pad, and the task list–all w/individual reminders and other deadline management-type options that I know you could use for case management backup, etc.
And I like to push hard buttons, so that was a factor, although I would like to try touch screen technology; I think it’s solid now. Black Berry Storm? Yes!
If your work includes sending/receiving and working with large media files and applications, I think the iPhone may be a better option for you. And iPhone definitely has more apps to choos from. Tantalizing. I may defect, lol.
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[...] 2. Blackberry Bold vs. iPhone [...]
[...] As info – both interviews were given on the Blackberry Bold. [...]
Una comparison muy bien. Me gusta el blackberry bold más, porque el tiene mas opciones con batterias y accessoiras.
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I favor the Blackberry. They are releasing a new phone, called the HTC HD2 which is promosing!
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