TheStreet.com Reviews The BlackBerry Storm

by Robb Dunewood on October 18, 2008 · 23 comments

Remember that dude from TheStreet.com, Gary Krakow, that made a video about how disappointed he was in the BlackBerrys build quality? Well, he has gotten his hands on the BlackBerry Storm and done a review.

[Via BlackBerry News]

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  • bluehorseshoe

    Now that I’ve pretty much decided to get one, keyboard or not…I’m getting very anxious to see this device in action. While the Bold looks interesting, I can’t go backwards on the service when it comes to work and reliability.

  • Thought

    I’m feeling more and more like bhs above…

    VZW service rocks…and the more I see and read of this device in leaks and otherwise, the more I think that maybe…just maybe…RIM has pulled it off. Maybe…just maybe…they’ve come up with a really great idea for how to make a virtual keyboard work well.

    If the device lives up to what we’ve read so far, VZW will sell a ton of these….maybe not as much as the iPhone, but still a whole lot.

  • http://www.aqua-painters.com calgary painters

    Seeing as this phone is 1900/800 CDMA, 1900/1800/900/850 GSM and 2100 UMTS you can literally use this phone anywhere around the world.

  • Matthew A

    Did he say wifi? Is that a mistake. . I have heard that there is no wifi. . . . Don’t get my hopes up like that!

  • http://www.espressoreport.com Richard Ward

    Wi-Fi would be a deal maker for sure.

    One of the things normal CDMA BlackBerries get are the “GPS” and not the “Wireless..” Just ask your friends on AT&T.

  • Thought

    For those wanting WiFi, pls keep in mind this will use EVDO-Rev A, which will offer WiFi like speeds, only everywhere on the network.

    I know some will disagree, but w/ EVDO Rev A, WiFi becomes rather useless.

  • bluehorseshoe

    Not to mention how wifi will drain the battery.

  • onoshedidnt

    RIM Could Rot With the Economy
    http://blog.wired.com/business/2008/10/rim-rots-with-t.html

    PS those of us with service providers which allow wifi in our well designed smartphones understand that wifi DOES NOT “drain the battery” we understand wifi speed is faster than any 3G technology, and with wifi it’s cheaper for the consumer and when available takes some load off the cellular network.

  • onoshedidnt

    IF there is no wifi in the BB Storm this is verizon crippling yet again, there is no reason to make excuses and bury it as a non-issue, smartphones have wifi.

  • bluehorseshoe

    Ah…hellno.

    Obviously you have never been in the technology field. Wifi puts a certain amount of drain on the battery. Why do you think they do tests with wifi on and wifi off? You run a signal, you run a drain on the battery. Doesn’t matter what kind of signal, except that certain signals work harder, especially with the materials built around them. And you won’t always get wifi along route 66 either…

    The only thing crippled is your knowledge.

  • Thought

    As for the utility of WiFi: I’ve had the iPhone 2.5G and iPhone 3G, and in both cases rarely used the WiFi. It wasn’t that ubiquitous, and when it was around, it usually required that I pay for it.

    Now with the iPhone 3G there is zero need for WiFi, because the 3G signal is almost as fast.

    I can imagine with EVDO-Rev A, which is a 3.5G technology, that WiFi is really not needed. Not to mention, it’s so nice to just use a signal that’s everywhere. And with VZW, their signal is better than with ATT on the iPhone.

    As 3G technology continues to evolve and get faster and faster, and of course once it reaches 4G stage, I think WiFi will become a thing of the past on smartphones.

  • Norman R.

    I agree with both of you guys. The Flip definitely costs too much and all the hype right now is about the Storm and the Bold.

  • onoshedidnt

    “certain signals work harder” (and put more drain on the battery) which is why wifi, when available both costs less and uses less battery life than using the cellular signal. This has nothing to do with peoples perceptions of which providers signal is better and yet has everything to do with trying to justify why RIM has yet again caved to service provider wishes and left wifi off it’s flagship device. (Which Rim trying to put against the smartphone of smartphones the iPhone which is a handheld computer)

    Seems “The only thing crippled is” the knowledge.” that there is no way to out iPhone the iPhone. PS neither the Storm (nor any device) can evolve as signal technology gets faster and faster the device needs to be built for which is current. The point remains wifi is faster than any 3G out there and wifi is less taxing to battery life than any 3G out there. RIM dropped the ball when it didn’t include wifi on it’s flagship model and there is no excusing that.

  • onoshedidnt

    As for you bluehorseshoe, funny when anyone disagrees with you you turn things personal and call people hellno. Whats the matter do you think your opinion is the only opinion which can be shared here?

    “The point remains wifi is faster than any 3G out there and wifi is less taxing to battery life than any 3G out there. RIM dropped the ball when it didn’t include wifi on it’s flagship model and there is no excusing that.

  • bluehorseshoe

    Welcome back hellno.

  • jay jay

    Okay everyone, the “Storm” IS the iPhone killer. I have clients using the iphone (I’m a cell phone retailer), and they all say the same thing. The keyboard on the iphone3G, is useless. The other remark is that you can’t remove the b attery! I sell all PDA’s under the sun and NO ONE has yet to built a proven system of software and email and “pin” messaging, as RIM has! The returns on every other PDA is markeable! We get tired of sending everything in for service. Too delicately built is the main problem, but not for Blackberry. Wi-Fi? No one cares, because as someone else pointed out…you have to get someone’s unsecured signal (which is happening less and less) or you pay,AND evdo rev.A is faster and better anyway. If you complain how much gasoline a Mercedes consumes, you can’t afford it! Same with PDA’s. I can’t begin to tell you that RIM does most everything well. That’s why 99.9 % of people who buy them don’t have anything to complain about. The “Storm” is coming, and all other PDA manufactures better have Rainsuits and start practicing safe cell!

  • onoshedidnt

    bluehorseshoe – wrong again

    jay jay –
    The keyboard on the iphone3G, is very functional and when is the last time you had to remove the “b attery” on a iPhone? “b attery” life on the iPhone is more than sufficient, with 3G and wifi turned on. With wifi you also could get signal from your secure corporate network and not have to rely on slower cellular technology, lack of options are never excused away by “who cares” So no the other smartphone manufactures have little to fear when it comes to RIM, it’s really the other way around.

  • bluehorseshoe

    Welcome anyway…

  • bluehorseshoe

    So Apple reports that they beat RIM in sales…6.9 million iPhones vs. 6.1 million BlackBerry’s. Interesting…RIM didn’t launch any new devices last quarter, while Apple did (the much anticipated 3G version). I guess Jobs likes to leave out the ‘obvious’.

    Duh.

  • jayC.

    I need to get a new phone ASAP and I want the Storm, but I can’t wait until November because I need this for business now. Is Verizon taking preorders for this phone? Would they allow me to use an older Verizon phone on the same line until the Storm was released?

    Any ideas?

  • Storm

    Make sure to check the review at http://www.blackberrystormreview.net

  • Lolok

    onoshedidnt: The reason why removable batteries would be a good thing is because whathappens if your battery dies and you have no way of charging it or if in some way the battery just craps out all of a sudden? You’re screwed. Having the ability to replace a battery solves that problem. Considering the iPhone battery life apparently isn’t too long (judging by sites), replaceable battery would be a rather good idea.

    The keyboard on the iPhone? Correct me if I am wrong, but isn’t it unable to use the full QWERTY keyboard while doing TEXT msgs and only usable during web browsing? That’s what I thought i heard. If that is true, then no. The keyboard ISNT very functional.

    Wi-fi not being on the Storm isn’t that big of a deal when they have other ways of browsing the web. I dont see the big deal in wi-fi when a non-wifi web browsing experience suits my needs perfectly.

    You want to talk about ‘no excusing’ things? Take a look at your beloved iPhone. The iPhone lacks: a FLASH for the CAMERA, a video recorder, ability to use full QWERTY keyboard for texting (I believe), no PICTURE MESSAGING. Seriously, no wi-fi isn’t a bigger deal than the iPhone not having those things when the Storm offers other ways to browse the web. Someone said that Storm offers EVDO Rev A, which offers wi-fi like speeds apparently, if that is true, then there’s no point in having wi-fi. Wifi also DOES drain battery life, regardless of what you may think. Maybe not by a significant amount, but it does. If you really think it doesn’t, provide some concrete info saying otherwise, even though a couple of people here already said the EVDO Rev A makes the wi-fi useless, or similar to that.

    And please do provide examples of wi-fi for the iPhone being cheaper than a 3G network for the Verizon phone. I personally don’t feel like looking for the information and feel you could actually be of some use and provide some info.

    Really, ohno, you’re just a fanboy. Even if the Storm DID have wi-fi, you’d find something to complain about, and you wouldn’t switch from the iPhone to the Storm anyways. Stop trying to spew bullshit to people just because you’re for some reason angry at the Storm, or because you are an overly fanboyed iPhone user. Nothing against the iPhone. It’s a nice phone. Not my cup of tea since I dont feel like switching to ATT just for an iPod with a phone attatched, but it’s a nice phone. I just hate fanboys like you that refuse to let down your stubbornness and rant about how Phone A sucks because of this and how your phone is awesome because of that.

  • NP3

    Reality Check … EVDO Rev A is NOT 802.11g at 54mbs on any day.
    ATT offers free wifi for iPhone users in any Starbucks … FREE.
    Why always rely on the cellular network when your web, video download, audio download, and file download speeds will be much more enjoyable. I have been a Verizon customer for 11+ years …
    I must say Verizon has the BEST phone service I have ever enjoyed.
    However, I am a pda user … I typically purchase pdas with wifi capability becuase 3g really ISN’T EveryWhere, plus there exists voip apps that save some $$$ when I use wifi.
    Now that 3g is more the reality, Verizon has deliberately and intentionaly limited both the sale of pdas with wifi as well as a more enjoyable user experience with such phones. I believe that Verizon’s data user policy is incredibly limiting … just read their fine print.
    I believe that Verizon views voip features as competitive …. and …
    that may be a valid concern, but folks will stay with Verizon if they supply the devices that people want, instead, Verizon plays on people’s ignorance regarding the term “BROADBAND”.

    I switched this year to ATT … not because they have a superior phone (talk) experience … they do not (I still drop some calls) … Verizon is still the best … I switched because the iPhone 3g (while it does not have cut-n-paste) has a better functional user experience with synergy of both software and hardware …. AND offers wifi on a device that is designed to advance the quality of the user experience. I have set up folks access to their Exchange Servers on their iPhone … they are impressed with their experience accessing their corporate data.

    Hope you find this perspective helpful.

    Regards NP3

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