Travel Technology - Blackberry 7290 good for PDA newbie?

So, I've resisted the whole Blackberry/Treo thing for awhile mostly because I'm self-employed right now and didn't want to shell out the dough for one.

Now, however, I'm traveling more than I have in the past and find myself wishing I could check email or browse some low-key websites while I sit on a tarmac in bad weather or am on the shuttle bus to the airport. Plus, Cingular is having a pretty decent deal for the Blackberry 7290 - $100.

The question I have is whether or not this can just replace my current phone (Nokia 7210 which is really old and dying a slow death). Is the voice quality decent enough? I know it's a little bulky, but I think I can put up with that.

Thanks for any insight!

I don't know about the phone, but I'm sure the sale is because noone wants to buy a Blackberry these days, due to the lawsuit (http://news.com.com/Bye-bye%2C+BlackBerry/2100-1047_3-6042308.html?tag=nefd.lede) that's been heating up recently. You may want to hold off buying one of these.

I don't know about the phone, but I'm sure the sale is because noone wants to buy a Blackberry these days, due to the lawsuit (http://news.com.com/Bye-bye%2C+BlackBerry/2100-1047_3-6042308.html?tag=nefd.lede) that's been heating up recently. You may want to hold off buying one of these.

Blackberry isn't going anywhere. Those that are holding off on buying one are fools.

For some damn reason with my IMAP server I only get the messages I haven't read in Thunderbird :confused: . Any way to have blackberry get all of my messages? This isn't POP, so there isn't a "leave message on server" option - IMAP leaves it on the server, they're just marked as read.

I have one of these for work. The email system rocks... its a 'push' rather than 'pull' system with our exchange server and I find it very useful for doing email/quick websites on the go.

The one bad thing... voice quality SUCKS. We all carry a seperate corporate Nextel phone simply because the 7290 earpiece is so bad. Now, some of us lately have been experimenting with the Bluetooth headsets to see if we can get back to using just one unit but as it stands I dont recommend the 7290 for regular cell usage... but if you can take always using a headset then the 7290 could be for you

For some damn reason with my IMAP server I only get the messages I haven't read in Thunderbird :confused: . Any way to have blackberry get all of my messages? This isn't POP, so there isn't a "leave message on server" option - IMAP leaves it on the server, they're just marked as read.

I've found that you can usually run any IMAP inbox as POP, that is, tell the device/software that it is a POP mailserver instead of IMAP and it should be able to retrieve any mail.

I have one of these for work. The email system rocks <snip> The one bad thing... voice quality SUCKS. <snip> I dont recommend the 7290 for regular cell usage... but if you can take always using a headset then the 7290 could be for you

Agreed. It ain't a decent cell phone.

My company is now moving to the 8700C model. A definite improvement (although not any better then mediocre as a phone).

Blackberry isn't going anywhere. Those that are holding off on buying one are fools.

Scott, I tend to agree with you but know little about the topic. Do you have any articles on the subject I can read that will make me feel better?

BTW, I went with the purcahse anyway, so I'm in for the long-haul. This is just for my own sanity. I love it already, although some of the phone functions need getting used to.

Scott, I tend to agree with you but know little about the topic. Do you have any articles on the subject I can read that will make me feel better?

BTW, I went with the purcahse anyway, so I'm in for the long-haul. This is just for my own sanity. I love it already, although some of the phone functions need getting used to.

The most recent developments are here:

http://money.cnn.com/2006/02/24/technology/blackberry/index.htm?cnn=yes

It is pretty simple; Rim is a multi-billion dollar firm, and there is no way they'll let themselves get shut down by a NTP. NTP's patents have already been dumped.

RIM has 2 options; play bluff and end up having to implement the workaround solution they already have installed on all their devices OR pay up. Installing the workaround probably won't happen, because that means NTP will be getting nothing out of this.

It simply isn't in NTP's best interests to shut RIM down, they want money and the current battle is about whether NTP gets a couple of million, or a billion.