Well, I do indeed have a Curve, and am on it right now.

You are talking two different things:

Email is the bread and butter and I don't think anything is better.

Internet: It is indeed 3G type speed and is every bit as fast as my very high end Palm was. One downfall is some apps don't work, including flashplayer.

I will say I LOVE the simplistic functionality. Everything makes really common sense but mostly because it is all so simple. The best example I have is, any phone number in an email or website can be automatically called or even added to the address book. The interface almost reminds me of UNIX for whatever reason.

It took me a couple of weeks to get used to it, but I really really like this phone :up:

 

If you want "real internet" look no further than Apple iPhone.

 

I had both a bold and an iphone. Surfing the net on a blackberry was ridiculous. I dont' know if they changed this, but on the bold you had to go to a mobile site, or if you visit a normal site it went through a server to be rendered. It was obnoxious.

 

On the Blackberry tour, flip pearl, and storm javascript is enabled (Go to the web page, click the button that looks like a bunch of dots and scroll down to options. then hit refresh). You only need to do that once and it stays enabled. I truthfully don't know if the Bold has that option though I would assume it does. This will give you a real web page as opposed to the mobile version. It may slow down the speed a bit depending on which cell carrier's network youre on. I dont believe the curve has that capability.

As far as email goes...I get my email on my blackberry faster then I get it on my pc. Its not really close either. Because blackberry has their own servers designed for billions of emails a day its pretty much the ultimate email device right now. I say that as a fact not as someone who works for Verizon Wireless.

 

I have the same javascript enabler on my Bold Matt

Haven't experienced the other internet issues.

 

Yeah, the Tour and Storm, I know, have improved built-in browsers over earlier models such as the Curve (although I'm not sure on the new Curve, 8520). You can also install 3rd party browsers such as Opera, which many BlackBerry users rave about. I have used it and it does give a browsing experience more like that on a PC. There are some other browsers being developed that will help this as well as. IMO the primary issue with mobile browsers on the BB that makes it so different that a true browser experience is the lack of any browser that implements Flash (thus no Flash animation).

I can also vouch for my BB (I've got the Tour) getting email faster than on my PC.

 

Ive used opera as well and its a great app. As far as flash I can still watch youtube and check yahoo fantasy baseball/football/basketball/hockey on mine so thats all I really cared about :pointlol:

 

You have your personal VZW sales rep at your service :up:

There is a plan for 450minutes/unlimited data (email and web) for 69.99 ($40 for the minutes, $30 for the data). This includes any kind of POP3, IMAP or web based email (aol, yahoo, Gmail, optonline,Verizon.net, MSN, etc). If you need the email to go through a private server like an enterprise or exchange server the data is $45. If this is the case there's a plan for $79.99 that includes both and comes out $5 cheaper. Texting they have a $5 plan for 250 messages or for $10 you get unlimited to/from Verizon users and 500 for outside Verizon. For $20 its unlimited to anyone on any service in the U.S. and select the plan for 99.99.

If you need more minutes go with the 900 for $20 more. With that plan you get a feature called Friends and Family which gives you 5 numbers outside VZW you get to speak to unlimited any time of day. You can manage those on verizonwireless.com as well as edit those any time you want.

All those plan include:
Nights and weekends free after 9PM
Free long distance and roaming within the US, Hawaii, Alaska
Free Verizon cell to Verizon cell calling anytime of day.

If you need more help let me know. I'll just put in for the overtime :pointlol:

 

Which one did you end up with Jen?

Remember the BLACKBERRY button does everything a right mouse click does X100.

 

Yeah. I LOVE my curve.

One thing I would STRONGLY suggest is getting a memory card. One drawback is the BB doesn't have lots of on-board memory. A card is a cheap easy fix.

 

Exactly. If you wanna keep any pics and/or music you will want a card

Also, two spaces will automatically place a period and if you hold a key down it will capitalize :up:

EDIT: keep in mind you can attach pics to contacts in your address book

 

Yeah, will have to get used to the qwerty keyboard. Its MUCH better than a touchscreen IMO. Have had both, and this is much easier

 

Copy and paste is all done with the blackberry key, which is just to the left of the rollerball.

If you find a phonenumber online or in an email, you can click anywhere in the number, hit the blackberry button and either save the number to address book or call it right away

 

Without the memry card the curve only holds about 10-15pics and wont do video. Sorry if that sounds like the salesman in me, thats what I do. But if you want to use those features a lot and store music on that phone you kinda need it. The video time expands to roughly an hour or so with a two gig chip.

Yea, its the dots. :wink2:

 

Also don't forget about the pin function on Blackberries. It is an IM which allows you to text message with other blackberry users. On my plan at least, it does not count against your text rates.

PS good call on the Curve. I have the Pearl and I really do not like the keyboard. Just too cheap to change right now.

 

The pearl is my least favorite BB. If you are having that much trouble with the curve type out your questions and I can try and walk you through it or the Verizon stores in NY offer something called a device specialist. Dont know if its offered in Philly but if it is make an appointment :up:

 

I tell people that if you are going to use it predominantly as a phone then the Pearl is fine. But if you do any significant amount of email work, then the key board on the Pearl really sucks. The Pearl really is not a good "work" phone. But as I said, I am too cheap to get a new phone right now.

I had high hopes for the Storm, but was underwhelmed. I have avoided IPhone because of AT&T.
One smartphone that may pull me away from the blackberries is the new Palm Pre. I have only got to mess with one once, but seems very cool.