BLACKBERRY USER GOING GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY

     The smart phone has become an essential part of daily living for anyone in the technological business field and also extremely desirable for the tech savvy online social gurus. Keeping up with daily emails and sharing announcements and media with friends has been made easier through these fancy gadgets. For the longest time, Blackberry had set the stage for the industry standard telecommunication device; however, as the technological field continues to evolve, competitors such as Google or iPhone have become dominant players and we have just begun to see the possibilities. I have recently updated my handheld device from a Blackberry Pearl to the G1 with Google technology and thus far, I have been impressed. While I am sure that the G1 offers a much more versatile and user friendly experience when surfing the web and sharing media, there is still an indecision that I have in whether or not the G1 fits the role of the business aspects that I find most useful in my personal daily experiences.  This may be due to the outdated model of Blackberry that I was using but for the sake of a reputable comparison, I must base the comparison on the devices that I have experienced.  My decision not to update to a newer Blackberry was due to the undeniable reputation that Google has at being one of the leading technology companies and the iPhone was not an option through my carrier (T-Mobile).

     The Android operating system and navigation seems to work nicely with the G1 and the ability to open multiple windows while viewing the entire page on each is a remarkable attribute. When browsing the web on the Blackberry device, I was often scrolling past links in which the content behind the link was unclear. With the G1 you are able to view the entire page by either scrolling up and down or left to right, viewing the images that correspond to the links and reading the attributed tags. The web pages are not limited in activity on the G1 so that every link and option is available, as if you are visiting the webpage from a laptop computer. It is almost like having a pocketsize laptop computer that can be accessed from anywhere as long as you are in satellite range. As a con to this convenience, the battery life seems to dwindle quickly when browsing the web but the same can be said for the Blackberry when using the internet features regularly. The only recommendation that I would have to make in regards to the power is the placement of the plug. If you are able to plug in while browsing, the cord is inserted on the side (when the screen is open to access keyboard) of the phone and gets in the way of your right hand that is used to scroll.

     The size and portability is useful; however, the Blackberry Pearl does provide a much sleeker and more comfortable size and shape when transporting the device in your pocket. Although the keyboard is not as nicely laid out on the Blackberry Pearl, the ability to type one handed easily on the Blackberry is also an attribute that can be missed since. The majority of time that I am using the phone, I am on the move and possibly multitasking; I may not have two hands available to respond quickly to an email. When typing on the G1, I have not yet mastered the keyboard one handed and I think it will be impossible to enter punctuations, such as the semi-colon, without holding tab with the other hand. This can be an issue if I have an email that requires prompt response and my hands are full but we can take the good with the bad and improvise as needed.

     Sound quality is another area that lacks with the G1 compared to the Blackberry with both ringtone and speaker function due to the speaker being on the backside of the phone. Setting the phone facedown should aid in not missing calls but holding the phone backwards while in speaker mode still seems unpractical if the dial pad is required. Both will be habits that will take some getting used to. Video is definitely a plus on the G1. The media browsing is much more enjoyable due to the screen size and with the YouTube application that comes already installed on the phone, the media sharing experience is outstanding.

     Messaging on the Blackberry has always been a great advantage but as the new technologies continue to evolve through Google, I think that fun and work can all be tied into the G1. With the Google technology moving at such a fast pace the Blackberry will trail behind. More research and experience may sway my opinion in the future but for now, I will stick with the G1 and wait until either T-Mobile carries the Storm or the service issues become exorbitant enough for me to choose another carrier.