BlackJack Opinions Needed

[George Ponder]

I'm on the verge of giving up the Treo 680 and the only thing out there that's attracted my attention is the BlackJack.

For those who have one, what don't you like about it? What's your single favorite feature/ability of the Blackjack?

 

[Ron1n]

Battery life is still my bain, but I've gotten into the habit of plugging it in every night (that, and I don't play with it as much as I did when I got it).

3G is probably the best feature (and its form factor...a small phone is a must for me).

 

[dstrauss#IM]

Form factor is awesome, and in 3G areas there is no need for WiFi anymore. It even tethers easily to my IBM x40 for short browsing sessions (short, because you cannot charge and tether at the same time, even when using a USB cable and bluetooth tethering - the tethering does not work until you unplug the cable - got to believe this is a carrier restriction).

If Samsung/Cingular offer a WM6 upgrade (or new model) it will be perfect - otherwise add Docs to Go because even as only a viewer, it is far superior to Picsel, AND you can do light editing if needed.

 

[SPPassion]

I have Treo 750 and Blackjack and I can whole heartdly recommend Blackjack. Only thing I would suggest is to get your hands on Samsung i600 (same as BJ+Wi-Fi). It was launched in spain yesterday and hopefully will come to a store near you soon. If wi-fi is not your thing then go with Blackjack, you won't be sorry for the switch! Your software from Treo 680 will not work on BJ, I guess, you already knew that

 

[Dieter Bohn]

I have Treo 750 and Blackjack and I can whole heartdly recommend Blackjack. Only thing I would suggest is to get your hands on Samsung i600 (same as BJ+Wi-Fi). It was launched in spain yesterday and hopefully will come to a store near you soon. If wi-fi is not your thing then go with Blackjack, you won't be sorry for the switch! Your software from Treo 680 will not work on BJ, I guess, you already knew that

You really like the Blackjack that much better than the 750, eh? I would have thought that for most the combination of better battery life and better OS would offset the 750's greater size. Is there something besides size that makes you recommend the blackjack over the 750?

 

[SPPassion]

You really like the Blackjack that much better than the 750, eh? I would have thought that for most the combination of better battery life and better OS would offset the 750's greater size. Is there something besides size that makes you recommend the blackjack over the 750?

Size is the deicding factor for me. I work in health care industry and can't have heavy phone dangling on my belt clip. Moreover, there is almost nothing that I can't aceive with BJ that I could with Treo 750 (except few medical software that has not been updated for smartphone OS).I am not much into using wi-fi feature so don't miss it too muck. If you do need wifi, look for i600.Battery life is very subjective in my opinion. With my daily average use, at the end of the day, Both Palm Treo and BJ has 15-20% juice left. Moreover, BJ comes with 2 batteries anyway for this purpose. I have cable for cig lighter, so when I am driving over 100-130 miles/day, it charges the battery pretty well to 100%. I do manage my finances, emails, passwords, patient tracking, very vast data base files,listen to music, podcasts, watch videos, read daily news and much more. I don't know about your needs but for mine, I am happy with the light weight. God forbidding, if I broke/lost one, its available for $99 with Cingular contract, not a bad deal for such a sweet device

 

[SPPassion]

I did forget to mention that I have always overclocked the CPU and BJ is no exception. OC to 252-276 range using free OmapClock and you are in business. I have heard people say, overclock kills CPU, in the last 10 years of overclocking, I still have not had a single burn out cpu incident.
I will admit though that CPU could have been better in BJ but with overclocking, its adequate for my needs. Also I do miss Treo's instant on feature. For Smartphones, you have to wait 1-2 minutes in the am while the phone is booting up.

 

[gadgetluva]

I own an 8525, Treo 750, and a Blackjack (I just got this 2 days ago). Overall, the Treo 750 is still my running favorite, but the small size of the blackjack is hard to give up. From a useability standpoint, WM5 PPC is ALOT easier to use. Everything requires less steps, and overall, it's much easier to customize the OS for how you want it (although both Smartphone and PPC OSes are highly customizable, PPC is just easier to do so). However, I do notice that I have about 80% of the functionality of the Treo 750 with the Blackjack. They're both great devices and the 8525 can't hold a candle to either (unless you're talking about the keyboard, which the 8525 has the best of all 3). From a price point, the Blackjack is very attractive and you can probably get it and have a great time with it. For me, I think after I give the Blackjack a good test run, I'm going to use the Treo M-Th/Fr and use the Blackjack on the weekends.

 

[gadgetluva]

I have Treo 750 and Blackjack and I can whole heartdly recommend Blackjack. Only thing I would suggest is to get your hands on Samsung i600 (same as BJ+Wi-Fi). It was launched in spain yesterday and hopefully will come to a store near you soon. If wi-fi is not your thing then go with Blackjack, you won't be sorry for the switch! Your software from Treo 680 will not work on BJ, I guess, you already knew that

The i600 doesn't support US 3G or 850mhz on the GSM/GPRS/EDGE side, so it's not the best choice for most.

 

[George Ponder]

Any word if the BlackJack will be upgraded to WM6?

 

[George Ponder]

I own an 8525, Treo 750, and a Blackjack (I just got this 2 days ago). Overall, the Treo 750 is still my running favorite, but the small size of the blackjack is hard to give up. From a useability standpoint, WM5 PPC is ALOT easier to use. Everything requires less steps, and overall, it's much easier to customize the OS for how you want it (although both Smartphone and PPC OSes are highly customizable, PPC is just easier to do so).

How much difference is there in the WM on the 750 and the WM on the Blackjack?

It's my understanding the BlackJack doesn't have Pocket Office but does have a viewer instead (look but no edit?). Do you still have to open a control panel to shut programs down that are running in the background or when you exit a program, it shuts down completely?

What's the advantages of the WM version on the Treo? Asides from the Pocket Office, is there any glaring advantage to the Treo's software? Basically asked, what can the Treo do that the BlackJack can't?

 

[gadgetluva]

WM5 for PPC is just easier to customize, and there are a lot more 3rd party programs for it. Those are the biggest differences for me. Overall, the method that the two devices operate are about the same.

 

[George Ponder]

Gadget.... when you say WM5 for PPC you are referring to the Treo verison, right?

 

[burnsaa]

Ya the treo runs the ppc version and the one main thing that makes me enjoy the treo more than the BJ is the touch screen. I got the BJ for my wife and whenever I'm messing with it I find myself trying to touch the screen. Its helpfull in many ways for instance browsing the net is alot easier instead of scrolling up and down on the page trying to select a certain link you just tap it with your thumb nail. Also the treo with SPB mobile shell cant be beat on the blackjack I find myself searching through menu after menu trying to get to places where as on the treo its just a few short clicks away. But as for the form factor the BJ with the extended battery cant be beat I love it and cant wait for treo to get some xtra thin touchscreens in the future. If anyone knows of a program like spb mobile shell for the BJ let me know as I am dying to get one. Also the BJ has a better Nintendo emulator available than the treo does thats one plus.

 

[gadgetluva]

I'll be working on a review this weekend (hopefully) comparing the 3 Cingular devices. Look out for it.

 

[davistld01#WP]

I had the choice between the Blackjack and the Treo 680 for my first dive into the smartphone pool. Obviously...I chose the Treo.

I even had them both at the same time to choose from, so that made my decision easier. For me...the WM5 was not comfortable at all. Just feel more comfy with the Palm OS. The smaller screen (although beautiful) and cramped quasi-qwerty keypad were turn-offs to me too, compared to the Treo. Plus, I wanted a phone with LOTS of support from experienced users since I had no idea what I was doing, and knew I would be somewhat intimidated by the technology and steep learning curve...so the Treo won that comparison too, since there is very little of that for the Blackjack. It's slowly coming...but ain't there yet.

I will say, in the Blackjack's favor...I really prefer the form, especially with the extended battery & cover in place compared to the Treo. Purely as a mobile phone, I feel the BlackJack is superior as well. Great incoming call-quality and volume, good reception & signal-capture as well. The Treo is a good phone as well...it's just the BlackJack is a little better.

But...overall, I pick the Treo. I know you are having issues with yours Coppertop...and I really wish you would try another 680. But you seem to be leaning toward the WM devices. Oh well...

 

[George Ponder]

I had the opportunity to test drive a 750 for a couple of days and had forgotten how complex WM can be. I don't know if it's lazy or not but I like the simplicity of Palm OS.

WM is well suited for some but it exceeds my needs by miles. I'm going to stick with the 680 and if need be, replace it with a new one. The stability issues are my main concern and I really get tired of soft resets, especially when I need to make a call now.

Hopefully, Palm will issue a update soon that will address the 680's quircks.

 

[gadgetluva]

I find it humorous that the simpler device (680) has more bugs and stability issues than the more complex/powerful WM Treo.

In any case, i dont think that WM is vastly more complex than POS; yes, it is more complex but not as much as some people say. Its just that people get used to a certain device, use it for a few days, and then give up on it or make the adamant decision that the new os isnt for them. I've gone back and forth between WM and POS devices and each time i switch i feel that the new device is complex because its just unfamiliar.

One thing that i will say is that the perceived complexity probably arises from the fact that WM is more customizable; getting it the way you want can be a daunting task especially for users accustomed to the POS.

 

[George Ponder]

I find it humorous that the simpler device (680) has more bugs and stability issues than the more complex/powerful WM Treo.

In any case, i dont think that WM is vastly more complex than POS; yes, it is more complex but not as much as some people say. Its just that people get used to a certain device, use it for a few days, and then give up on it or make the adamant decision that the new os isnt for them. I've gone back and forth between WM and POS devices and each time i switch i feel that the new device is complex because its just unfamiliar.

One thing that i will say is that the perceived complexity probably arises from the fact that WM is more customizable; getting it the way you want can be a daunting task especially for users accustomed to the POS.

I've used Windows Mobile products before from the days of PocketPC to current versions of WM. I've also used Palm products dating back to the Palm Pilot Personal. It's not an issue of being unfamiliar but realizing which fits my needs the best.

I agree that the more straight-forward Palm OS Treo should be more stable and if anything, the more complex, customizable, WM should be the one with the headaches. It is more customizable but also more complex in navigating. I've never understood why WM programs can't be shut down completely when you exit them. I've had more problems with programs running in the background.

I may end up giving WM another try after WM6 gets out but for now, I'll stick with Palm. Curious... when WM6 is released, will it be a free upgrade for the 750?

 

[gadgetluva]

I don't shut down programs when I exit them (I don't use any 3rd party programs at least that always shut it down), and I never have an issue with stability. The only time I experience any slowdowns is if I have a very graphic intensive website that is loaded in PIE that is sucking away memory. At that point I'll shut down PIE to free up RAM. I've actually noticed that my device runs quicker when I let WM manage memory. Of course, YMMV.