Review: Blackberry Storm

Dave,

I'm seriously considering purchasing a blackberry storm, but there are a few issues I am curious about. If you store a soundclip on the microSD card, are you able to set it as a ringtone for calls and messages?

Thanks Good!! .75 should be out anytime now!

I just got my Storm yesterday. So far I'm likin it! I don't notice a "lag". I also do not have it 'loaded' with programs to slow it down... Whats this I hear about an update? I'll check back in it about 1-2weeks and give you an update on my experiences with it....

I haven't tried the Storm yet, but I'm pretty content that no device will match my iPhone for its convergence. That and the fact my work uses Exchange makes the Storm fall short. Still, I can't wait to play with it.

No issues, eh? Is that why RIM is planning a set of OS updates not even a week of the device being put to market?

http://www.boygeniusreport.com/2008/11/26/story-or-no-story-the-verizon-blackberry-storm-os-has-issues/

Just to put my two cents in.
My wife and I was at the Verizon store last weekend and we did try the Storm for about 20 minutes.
I am a Geek , but my wife is not.

I thought that the click screen keyboard was good, but I can't see what I am typing on the screen.
I need to see what I am trying.
I like the letters to pop up like the Iphone.

I use to have a Treo and now have a HTC Touch and
install a keyboard call PCM keyword it works just like a IPhone keyboard.


My wife try the Storm and had troubles navigating around the Storm.
She said that it's not as easy to use as the IPhone and put it down.
She also said, If she had problem navigating with the Iphone she can away hit the home button.
I know there is a learning curve, but she the type that don't want to learn.

People were in the store to look and try, but did not buy.

My epinion is that it is not a IPhone or a G1 killer, but It will sell to the Geek's.

I guess we won't see Jerry on the podcast anytime soon ;-))

"If you don't think owners who actually use the device day-to-day and formulate a consensus along with reviews who all say the same thing, you might as well skip even Mobility Today, since there is nothing "verifiable" in Dave's review. A 15-20 minute video is not verifiable of anything. Did Dave mention how many applications he had running? Did you know that the so-called "users" are even terminating and uninstalling several applications that are usually RAM resident just to increase performance? Of course not, Phys because obviously, every poster on the internet that doesn't provide a KPMG-audited evidence document isn't worth a dime to you."

Give me a break JN, of course Dave could be fudging the numbers, or totally clueless to a resident software load issue. If that is what you believe then why not just say that to his face. Otherwise you are just wasting time with the meaningless banter and you consider as I do that his video is verifiable proof of the performance. I have trust that Dave was not fudging the numbers with the device and that he knows about resident software load issues. Are you kidding me, I can load down any system with the right software, that is the same accross the board for all devices, and not at the source of the issue.

It's not that an audited evidence is absolutely required, but it is desired over non-audited evidence. The point is that there are too many variables to continuously draw finite conclusions from a consensus of reviewers or owners. The most reliable thing that one of my knowledge and background can draw from said consensus is that the issue warrants further investigation. For me to just accept that information alone is a needless appeal to authority fallacy coupled with an argument from consensus fallacy that I will not participate in. Your welcome to continue doing that, it is your choice, that's just not how I roll.

Phys couldnt have said it better..

To sum, if you don't like the Storm, you should not get it. I am not sure that I will be able to use it as effectively and desirably as with the WM platform, so I am still on the fence about that.

"Why bother reading or viewing any reviews at all? Don't bother since it seems you're solely hell bent on going on the opinion of a single individual and your short time "playing" with a device."

Jerry, you are incorrect. I am not hell bent on anything except avoiding unverifiable information. I have so far had personal experience (you know that ability to observe, troubleshoot and basically analyze technology that comes with being a published experimental physics researcher, 24 years of technological use experience and 9 years of owning and working as a technology manager and consultant for small business from varying industries ranging from medical to construction and law, to name a few.) with two devices with the afforementioned ROMs at the Verizon store near me. I have had the ability to read about and WATCH the performace of the device that Dave had for review. Finally, thus far, there is a HUGE lack of video evidence supporting this alleged lag claim. (Contrary to your claim, plenty of people go to video to demonstrate problems with devices. At the very least the very same reviewers making the claims have the capacity to do so.)

Regarding what Dave said about not knowing what the Verizon store did to the device. I can find out more about what the store did to the device than I can about what a reviewer has done to the device since I have physical access to the device, and can at least check to see what programs have or have not been installed and are running or not running in the background. So, regarding verifiability, walking into a store to use a demo is more verfiable than listening to a review alone.

"Phys was the individual basing his assumption that there was no lag issues on his short time in the store."

Fortunately, I do not stop there as I have mentioned above, due diligence requires compiling as much verifiable evidence as possible before comming up with a conclusion.

"Wow, what a joke. I did go to a Verizon store this weekend and I personally didn't like the device. So much for your statement. Look who's talking about not having "verifiable" evidence."

Interesting that you bring this up now instead of before. I mean why would you not tell of your experience with the device being so laggy like so many others have stated about the demo devices in the store? Tell me Jerry, you may not have liked the device, but was it laggy? Did you find that the touch interface was NOT kinetic?

Here's the funny thing Jerry, it is true that Dave was the first to call the Diamond on its TouchFlo 3D sluggishness and then it wound up being that HTC released ROMs to address just that, which confirms Dave's original assessment which was completely contrary to what EVERYONE else was claiming at the time.

Now the same thing is happening (in the opposite direction). Isn't it feasible that Dave's assessment is yet again correct, considering the other evidence as well?

To be clear, I am not now, nor have I ever, claimed that EVERY Storm device is without lag. I am simply stating that there is definitely verifiable evidence of Storm devices that are NOT laggy. There may be some devices out there with terd ROMs on them causing some lag, however, to me this is a moot point. Why? Because BlackBerry is known to put out updates like there is no tomorrow for people to download and resolve issues on their devices. This I know from my clients and all the updates that I have done for them.

To sum, if you don't like the Storm, you should not get it. I am not sure that I will be able to use it as effectively and desirably as with the WM platform, so I am still on the fence about that. This of course has nothing to do with laggyness, as I do not see this being an issue for most people who take the time to learn how to use the device as it was designed. If you like the Storm, I say go get it, after learning how to use it you will more likely than not love it. I concur with Dave's review.

You don't have to agree, but there it is.

David,

I am not in any way shape or form saying you are experiencing lag. I actually enjoyed your review and found it informative. However, to completely ignore what other reviewers in addition to what is being said in the Blackberry community is just being ignorant.

You know, people thought you were nuts when you claimed that your Diamond took a year just to turn on. Many people who's opinion I have come to respect over the years who were Diamond owners claimed that they did not have that issue.

In addition to the "lag" issue, I have heard also from reviewers and owners that the the touch OS seems more like a afterthought on an otherwise nice piece of hardware. For example, scrolling is not Kinetic as many touch devices now support. There are other items too. Check out Brandon Miniman's final review over at PocketNow as an example right off the top of my head.

As a reviewer, you gave a objective review of your experience on your one device. However, as a BB owner. However I would encourage people viewing your review to check out the experiences of others who are dedicated to the platform in places like Crackberry before making a decision if this is the "killer device" form them. Armed with that knowledge, in addition to the various reviews (both good and bad), and personal experience should dictate a purchase.

Jerry you cant tell someone they are wrong about their own experiences. I am telling you I dont have lag. If you feel so strong why not pickup a device and write a review on your blog? Its easy to sit at your computer and critique other peoples views and thoughts.

"As Physboy said walking into a store for 5 minutes and playing with a phone that you have no clue what was done with it is no way to review a device"

Phys was the individual basing his assumption that there was no lag issues on his short time in the store. All I said was that I was in the store, tried it, and didn't like it.

So Dave, please explain to me why every review I have read (including CNET - which you quoted), mentions some sort of lag? Why then do individuals who have owned other Blackberry's post their experience and mention lag?

This is just like when you said your Diamond lagged in ways that no one else was experiencing. Do you remember? Remember the guys at HoFo mentioning that they did not experience the same issues as you were with your Diamond?

Jerry

I think you are way off base. I have now been using the Storm for over two weeks. This has been my primary device without using the iPhone. I speak as a previous owner of a Curve that used it for almost a year as my primary phone. I am not what you call a non blackberry user in any sense of the word. I do have some questions for you.


Why in the world would I not mention lag if I had it? I have absolutely no reason not to mention it.

If I had lag why am I contemplating switching to Verizon?

As Physboy said walking into a store for 5 minutes and playing with a phone that you have no clue what was done with it is no way to review a device. Also I don't recall you being a previous Blackberry owner so if anything you are speaking by personal preference as not experience.

Phys,

Why bother reading or viewing any reviews at all? Don't bother since it seems you're solely hell bent on going on the opinion of a single individual and your short time "playing" with a device.

"c.) No disrespect to you JN, but this goes to show that you choose unverifiable information over verifiable information. It is a good thing that you do not publish peer reviewed research. You would be eaten alive in no time with all the logical fallacies you hold so dearly as verifiable evidence. For craps sake, you did not even go to your local Verizon store to see for yourself. Really, is it that hard for you to do ANYTHING verifiable?"

Wow, what a joke. I did go to a Verizon store this weekend and I personally didn't like the device. So much for your statement. Look who's talking about not having "verifiable" evidence.

If you don't think owners who actually use the device day-to-day and formulate a consensus along with reviews who all say the same thing, you might as well skip even Mobility Today, since there is nothing "verifiable" in Dave's review. A 15-20 minute video is not verifiable of anything. Did Dave mention how many applications he had running? Did you know that the so-called "users" are even terminating and uninstalling several applications that are usually RAM resident just to increase performance? Of course not, Phys because obviously, every poster on the internet that doesn't provide a KPMG-audited evidence document isn't worth a dime to you.

"No disrespect Phys, but I would take the consensus of people who own the device over your time in a Verizon store."

a.) None taken, but that is because either you don't know any better, or you are just ignoring all of the other evidence out there in favor of biased informants. Owning a device and writing reviews does not qualify one as technically competent. I have to say that I take my experience coupled with lack of verifiable claims of lag and Dave's video over your consensus.

b.) Now who is being condescending.

c.) No disrespect to you JN, but this goes to show that you choose unverifiable information over verifiable information. It is a good thing that you do not publish peer reviewed research. You would be eaten alive in no time with all the logical fallacies you hold so dearly as verifiable evidence. For craps sake, you did not even go to your local Verizon store to see for yourself. Really, is it that hard for you to do ANYTHING verifiable?

"I don't doubt Dave likes his particular device that he received from Verizon."

Dave may really like his device, but unless you think that he manipulated the video so that there appeared to be no lag on the device, then I challenge you to show us all the time stamps of when the device in the video that he made is showing lag. You know the old saying, put up or...

"As for vids,not everyone has the time nor inclination to create and post video."

Try telling that to the slew of owners who posted videos of the issues with the Diamond and the iPhone.

"However, every review I have read thusfar mentions the word lag."

Again with the argument from consensus fallacy. If it was up to you back in the day you would have sided with the models of the world being flat and the Earth being the center of the Solar System because the MAJORITY of the people who were experienced with living on the Earth felt that way too. Feel free to join the post Gallilean millenium and dispense with the mentality which has done nothing more than a huge disservice to humankind over the years.

No disrespect Phys, but I would take the consensus of people who own the device over your time in a Verizon store.

As for vids,not everyone has the time nor inclination to create and post video.

As for consensus, not only do owners point out the various areas where the device seems laggy (read Crackberry forums), but several well known reviewers have said the same thing. Personally I don't think it's a load crap because even with the lag, the owener consensus is that they like the device but it needs work. Kind of like the Diamond, eh?

I don't doubt Dave likes his particular device that he received from Verizon. However, every review I have read thusfar mentions the word lag.

According to BB, the Storm does support Exchange through BES like all the other BB devices.

I totally found no observable lag in the two demo devices that I examined at the Verizon store near me. They both had .61 ROMs.

This whole thing with arguments from consensus is rediculous. Just because alot of people think something is true, does not make it true. There really needs to be some verifiable evidence. Where are all the videos showing all this lag that everyone is claiming? (Not including claims about rotational lag, as you can not verify that someone is rotating the device properly through video without device orientation reference points.)

The way google maps was implemented is not compatible for the Storm. According to CNet Google is working on a fix..

If the GPS was locked like you are saying why does blakberry maps work fine?

The phone is not as locked down as you are assuming Jerry.

Didn't you say below GPS is not locked? Why then can't Google use it?

JNGold clearly stated in the video it was using triangulation due to a mod that will be applied to GoogleMaps by Google PER CNet

Dave,

Are you saying that Google Maps is using GPS? Once again, most owners are saying that GPS is currently not being used by the application. Your lock is via cell tower triangulation.

http://forums.crackberry.com/f86/who-else-deleted-blackberry-maps-replaced-google-maps-101007/

I tried out the Storm yesterday. I was not too impressed with the way you have to type. You really have to press the screen in to get it to type. I would be really worried about that if I had one.

If I write 1000 to 1500 text messages a months, and 400 to 500 emails a month, I'm going to estimate that I will be pressing that screen in over 200,000 times a month. Which means that in a 5 month period, I would have pressed that screen in about 1,000,000 times. Give or take a couple of 100,000 clicks.

I don't know how durable that little click button behind the screen will be.

I also had a hard time with pressing the wrong letters sometimes. This was in landscape mode. I kept trying to press the R key and always wound up entering a T. Very frustrating. I swore my thumb was right over the R.

I was tempted to switch over to Verizon for this device, until I played around with it today.

David,
Thank you for this lengthy review. I appreciate all of your comments and a few concerns. I don't have AT&T coverage at my home so I wont get the iPhone. Verizon works well for my family and myself. I have been following all the hype/info/etc regarding the Storm for the last 2 months. I was concerned until after I watched your reviews. I realize no phone will have it all and there will undoubtedly be problems with the Storm. Hope not though!!!. So, based on your review I decided to get the Storm. I went to my verizon store at 10:05am on 11/21/08. The store only had 30 BB Storms. They sold out of them by 9:30am. So I ordered one and it should be in my hands on Monday 11/24/08. As ALWAYS, thanks for ALL of YOUR reviews. It is greatly appreciated.....

That's a step in the right direction. Here's what they replied back to me when I questioned the 8130 having the GPS disabled. I guess it was all BS so maybe they will do the right thing and release firmware for the 8130 that re-enables the built-in GPS. Of course, with their BS response below, I guess with the Storm they NO LONGER "value the security and privacy of our subscriber data and user information". ;-)

Verizon's customer service response:
The BlackBerry 8130's GPS chip is used to provide the handset's location to emergency responders when placing 911 calls. It does not provide any user accessible functionality such as location information for directions, mapping or any other application.

At Verizon Wireless we value the security and privacy of our subscriber data and user information and we have taken this into account in the development of our location based services offerings. To alleviate concerns regarding access to data by malicious applications and misuse of location information, Verizon Wireless' location based services utilize a solution that requires each location request to be authenticated and accepted prior to a user's location being obtained through the network and used by authorized applications.

Verizon Wireless does not provide support for the BlackBerry Maps application or 3rd party software that would be required to make full use of the 8130's GPS capabilities. As a result, the 8130's GPS functionality has not been enabled so that we are able to provide a standardized level of functionality and support for our advanced devices. Verizon Wireless supports Assisted GPS (AGPS) rather than stand-alone GPS like some others use. AGPS uses the Verizon Wireless Network to provide more accurate, faster location information, in addition to better navigation performance indoors and in dense urban areas.

Geek no its not crippled it is definitely unlocked. Google Maps is getting a fix so it can run on the Storm

Verizon has crippled the built-in RIM GPS device and you were required to pay $9.99/mo for VZ Navigator to enable the built-in GPS. You could use an external GPS (not with VZ Nav but with other GPS apps). What about the Storm? Seems folks are reporting either it's crippled on the Storm or it isn't. Can't seem to find anything official and the posts from folks about their discussions with Verizon reps is of course all contradictory.

If you don't have VZNav enabled, can you use BBMaps or download Google Maps and does it find the GPS and allow the app to use it? And if it works, is your phone "special" vs what a consumer would get at the store?

David

Not a problem for me Jerry and RIM already told me an update will be up on Monday :)..

People generally liking the device....but most do have a common complaint...lag.

http://forums.crackberry.com/f86/official-poll-loving-hating-storm-99404/

Looks like Blackberry has some work to do.

Lol.. Omnia!! Phys it does.

Hey Dave, now that you are on Verizon, you will be able to review the Samsung Omnia i900 soon ;-))

I tell ya, so far, I am liking what I am seeing. Dave, do they have global clipboard for copy/paste?

Thanks everyone so far for your comments keep em coming.

Excellent and thorough review. I appreciate the fact that you give opinions; even if I don't agree with all of them it is nice to have something to think about.

I live in an area that does not have Verizon so this is probably the closest I will get to the Storm for awhile!

JBGold - they already have. Vodaphone in the UK is selling the device - it's probably only a matter of time before Verizons deal expires. In the meantime the 9530 will be available that has both GSM and CDMA etc onboard.

Finally a review that coincides with my experience. I was beginning to think I was the only person that liked the device.

Thanks.

Maybe not a killer device after all:

http://apple20.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/11/20/blackberry-storm-the-reviews-are-in/

John understood .. I think if they jammed 6 radios 5+1 for wifi it would definitely sacrifice the reception.. Just my .02..

Thanks for the nice comment!

Thanks Dave. Well worth the time it takes to watch it. I would note that as you stated lack of WiFi is not an issue but only if you operate primarily in areas the VZM has good coverage. If not, the lack of WiFi can be an issue especially if you are often in a weak VZM reception area (e.g. your residence).

Dave,

Even if you set "full page" I betcha the browser will still attempt to render the mobile version of the site. Can you verify?

Phys,

Check out Engadget's review also. They delve pretty deeply into the "feel" of the OS. Interesting how they mention the touch component was added as more as an afterthought...obviously to maintain backwards compatibility.

JNGold thanks! Yes you do have that option of seeing the full page. I had it setup as column.. Sorry

You did not do a comparison to the 3G iPhone. What is your pick between those two devices?

Nice review Dave. This is starting to look like a killer device. I am sure some issues will arise as you start to use it on a day-to-day basis. I wasn't that impressed with the browser as it seemed to render the mobile versions of sites rather than "the real internet". I wonder if there is a hack or setting to allow the browser to render full sites.

Too bad, though it's only for Verizon. I wonder when (if) RIM will get this over to the GSM world.

WOW What a great job !! The video review was FANTASTIC. I am downloading the podcast about the Storm and great tips!!! Thanks guys you by far beat everyones review!

I want one. Nice video Dave!