Comparing the Apple iPhone to the Blackberry 8350i

Are you thinking of buying an Apple iPhone or RIM Blackberry? Do you wonder which one is more user friendly? Maybe I might shed some light here to help with your decision. I recently bought an Apple iPhone - primarily as a back up for when my cable goes out - which seems to happen more often than not these days. My husband also recently received a new Blackberry 8350i at work. We both love the Apple iPhone. However, the Blackberry is more disappointing and here is why.

iPhone

Overall comparison between an iPhone and Blackberry is that the iPhone is much more user friendly. For the iPhone, if you know how to use a computer you can pretty much operate it without much instruction.

One of the first things you notice about the iPhone is that it operates very much like a personal computer only easier because it has a touch screen. With the iPhone if you want to activate something on the screen you take your finger and touch it.

The iPhone has a screen area that is twice the size of the Blackberry. This is important when it comes to looking at pictures.

The iPhone has a touch screen that you use as an on-screen keyboard with much larger keys. With the iPhone you are also able to expand the size of the screen display so that it is easier to read and touch.

For dialing, a number pad pops up and you touch the number you want.

The iPhone allows you just touch the menu item you want to activate. It also comes with a ton of software applications (apps) that are in a word, "amazing." - many of those "apps" are free. An example is one of my banks -USAA provides a free app. Their app allows you to deposit a check directly into your account by taking a picture of the check. Then there's a free app that if you are lost there's a GPS form that allows you to see your travel in real time on a map.

One other big difference between the two devices is the price. The iPhone is more expensive and comes in prices based on the memory sizes available - however, it's worth it.

Blackberry 8350i

Instead of a touch screen like the iPhone, the Blackberry uses a track ball and operates very much like the old track balls on a computer, very slow and frustrating. With the Blackberry you push the track ball in to activate it then scroll the ball until the cursor is over the item to activate then push the trackball in again.

Both devices are about the same overall size and weight. However, the Blackberry has a permanent fixed mini keyboard with tiny key buttons. If you have big fingers or short finger nails you might want use a pencil (eraser end) to push the keyboard buttons. The keyboard is a tiny version of a computer keyboard, however; the number keys are incorporated into the keyboard such that some keys have both a letter and number. In order to use a number key, like in a texted message, you have to first push the "alt" key each time before pressing the number key. The iPhone allows you to push the "alt" key once for numbers or letters.

The instruction book for the Blackberry is very detailed and reminds me like learning a new language.

With the Blackberry after you press the menu key you then have to scroll thru the menu items till you get to the one you want to use, then; press the track ball.

Similarities of Both

Both devices are able to connect to your home computer for transferring information and data using a USB cable, however; the connectors to each device are different. Both devices have many apps. However, the Blackberry has over 3000 and the iphone about 100,000 - giving another clear choice for the Apple iPhone

Both devices have cameras, ear phone jacks, and external audio volume controls. And both have internet capability however, the Blackberry's usage is very cumbersome due to using the track ball for scrolling through a web page. Connection to the Internet might depend on your service which in our case we have AT&T for the iPhone and Verizon for the Blackberry. That said, our iPhone connection is much faster and robust than the Blackberry.

For us, it is a hands down win that the iPhone beats the Blackberry 8350i. As new types of handheld devices come to the market, such as Google's Android phone, prices for these devices will be coming down. So make sure you shop around for the best deal.