Any of you have or know about the Blackberry Storm or Samsung Omnia?

[WapleSpunK]

Considering getting on when I can renew with Verizon. I want something that will allow me to make appointments in Outlook while on the road, or at least let me sync with outlook. I'll have a data plan. I want to be able to show people my work (photos) when I meet them, in a decent resolution, and be able to browse, etc from anywhere.

I'm not switching from Verizon so I need to stay with what they have and those appear to be the best two choices.

[Morning]

i tried the storm in the store and loathed typing on it

[ThaMan]

I want to be able to show people my work (photos) when I meet them, in a decent resolution, and be able to browse, etc from anywhere.I have a blackberry. I think you expect way too much from a 1.5" screen. Get a laptop. ;)

Browsing on a phone is not the same thing as browsing on the computer.

[Jormagund]

I was really hopeful that the Storm would be the device for me. But both what I read and (limited) experience playing with a display model left me disappointed. In the end I decided I could no longer resist the temptation to jump ship and get an iPhone.

But beyond that device feeling awkward to me, I really resent all of Verizon's proprietary user interfaces. They can take a perfectly awesome gadget and turn it into an awkward, unsatisfying experience.

That said, what I have seen thus far of the Omnia is rather encouraging. A mobile Windows based device with touch screen. That's probably the way I'd go given those two options.

[Freejack]

I read some reviews of the Omnia on behalf of a friend and found the opinions in the reviews to be very mixed. I will say that most of the issues were with Windows Mobile, but I still feel most of the complaints with WinMo can be sidestepped with a good shell (http://beta.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/mobileshell/). I'd just recommend you 1) read through some reviews (search on "samsung omnia review"). 2) Play with one in a store or one a friend has. 3) Go with your gut.

[Jerith|Tony]

I will say that most of the issues were with Windows Mobile, but I still feel most of the complaints with WinMo can be sidestepped with a good shell (http://beta.spbsoftwarehouse.com/products/mobileshell/).


Are you still using the 8525? Are you using that shell on it? Does it work nice on it?

[Freejack]

I switched over to the Fuze in November, and after about fifteen minutes of screwing around with that TouchFlo3D interface, I immediately went back to the Mobile Shell. In terms of ease of use and functionality, there's simply nothing better.

[Vero]

I have the Blackberry curve

I like it and Verizon is the best in our area

does the email, calendar etc...

Its cheap and simple but has all of the features I need.

[WapleSpunK]

I went and looked at both phones today and still have no idea which is better for me.

However, here are some things that I know I want to do and maybe this will help you narrow it down.

1. I want to be able to show potential clients some photos if I'm out and about (a scheduled meeting would have them in my studio or I'd have my laptop). If I just see someone and want to show them some work, I want a good picture. The Storm seemed better here.

2. I want to be able to set up an appointment while on the road or check my calendar. I have an exchange server now and use Outlook. The service I use charges $10/mo more for Blackberry, so that's a big negative. So the Omnia gets the win here.

I'm not really sure what else either phone does better or differently than the other, but those are really my two main needs.

[Freejack]

If you want a photo to look decent, the phone should have the highest possible resolution. Whatever the image is, it'll look smaller on the phone, but it'll also look crisper. I don't know which of those devices has the higher resolution, I'm just saying...

Any phone will let you make an appointment "on the go," you don't need a network connection for that. What it sounds like you're worried about is syncing to your Outlook calendar, but on the road, that isn't a problem. As soon as you get home or to your office you plug the phone into your computer and it'll auto-sync with Outlook there (assuming we're talking a WinMo device, don't know how BB syncing works).

[ThaMan]

Blackberry syncs the same.

I still think, for what you describe, you would be better off getting the cheapest phone you can get, and get an EeePc or something small.

[WapleSpunK]

Any phone will let you make an appointment "on the go," you don't need a network connection for that. What it sounds like you're worried about is syncing to your Outlook calendar, but on the road, that isn't a problem. As soon as you get home or to your office you plug the phone into your computer and it'll auto-sync with Outlook there (assuming we're talking a WinMo device, don't know how BB syncing works).

With a data connection and exchange server I should be able to get email and all that stuff from anywhere and not have to worry about syncing when I get home, right? I'd rather it just happen without me doing anything, that's the whole reason I got the exchange service in the first place.

[WapleSpunK]

I still think, for what you describe, you would be better off getting the cheapest phone you can get, and get an EeePc or something small.

Oh no no no no no. I am definitely not a two-device guy. I couldn't even keep track of a small phone and a PDA before. Plus, I already have one nice laptop so I don't need a second. Plus again, I'm always carrying my camera gear so I don't need yet another device to keep up with. I just want everything on one device.

Remember, I'm not using this when going to clients. When seeing them they'll either come to my studio and view a 24" monitor, or I'll bring my 17" laptop. I only want to show photos on this thing as a last resort if I run into someone at the store and they wonder what I do I can just show them some little sample shots, that's all.

[ThaMan]

With a data connection and exchange server I should be able to get email and all that stuff from anywhere and not have to worry about syncing when I get home, right? I'd rather it just happen without me doing anything, that's the whole reason I got the exchange service in the first place.In order to do that, you will have to have some type of data plan on your phone. I'm not sure if the Blackberry will sync calendar or not with exchange. I know you can get e-mail. I've never set it up with exchange yet.

[Freejack]

I've done email on my phone using the built in email reader to fetch from my Yahoo POP account, but I haven't yet worked it with push email. That may get more complicated and it may involve using your carrier's built in applications for this. I also don't know about calendar events.

[WapleSpunK]

Well, found out that I can upgrade my phone on April 9 so I think I'm just going to get the Samsung at that point. The unlimited data is only $30 since I already have unlimited talk, I won't have to pay the extra $10 for the blackberry via my exchange host, and I'm using apps I already am familiar with via windows. And since there's a 30-day return I'll be able to get all my questions answered.

Thanks for the help.