Blackberry Curve 8330 vs. LG Env2

[fwacct4]

As of now, I will only be doing calls and texting on either phone.

For those who might have experience with either or both, I'm wondering if the Blackberry is excellent enough on just the calling and texting to put it above and beyond the Env2.

Thanks.

 

[zerocool84]

If you're only going to be doing calls and texting, the curve does them fine and well. Also I'm not a fan of hinges cus if you drop it, I'm sure they're not that tuff. The env2 does have better battery life than the curve.

 

[randomlinh]

I've dropped my en2 a few times, it's pretty good. not as tank like as the original env.

But, if you're just going to text and call, why are you going to waste your money on a data plan?

 

[shortylickens]

Amazingly, I do have plenty of experience with both.
I had the Env2 for about 3 weeks. But I never made a review for it. I did a review for the phone I replaced it with, the Voyager.
Env2 is nice but ultimately I dont think you'll be happy with it. Relatively poor battery life for one thing. Also, that tiny external screen and mediocre internal screen might seem OK now, but eventually you will want more, even if its just a texting phone. Also, it has been known to get system errors and need to be replaced. The Voyager is even worse. And after about 3 days I got tired of flipping it open all the time. Trust me, damn near anytime you wanna do ANYTHING with it, you'll be flipping the Env2 open. It gets irritating after a while.
Voice quality is also below average. The battery I had didnt seem to last very long, even when not in use. I never did feel like spending the extra money for a bigger one. However, I have been told that newer versions with better quality parts and later firmware improved on this.
Along those lines: Its a relatively old phone and the Env3, Env Touch, Neon and Xenon are all replacing it and they are all much better devices, whether you intend to talk or text.

I HIGHLY recommend the Blackberry Curve to anyone, even folks who dont think they need that much phone. Everything is superior on it, and you wont be flipping it open all the time. Much easier to get extended batteries and the default battery is far better compared to most phones. And believe me, you wont just use it for texting when you see how nice it is. You'll wanna do other stuff too, I promise.
The only downside to a Curve is the unit price and monthly plan. You will certainly spend more money on it, but overall you'll be much happier.

 

[hanoverphist]

i just warrantied my daughters enV2 twice in 3 weeks. the buttons were crap on the front side, and the original was only 6 months old. 1 going bad i can blame my girl for beating it up... another going bad in a week was total crap. we will see how the enV3 does, since they replaced the last one to the 3. the BB i have no idea, but i cant see getting a BB if all youre going to do is text and make calls. kind of a waste of tech IMO.

 

[Cobalt]

Friends don't let friends buy LG phones.

 

[Oil]

Do you want a data plan? The BB's need one IIRC

 

[waqyum]

Originally posted by: cobalt
Friends don't let friends buy LG phones.

What is wrong with LG phones?
I am a proud owner of LG Viewty from 2 years.It is one of the best camera phones.

---

You are a lame ass SEO spammer. You and your sig link are out of here.

Harvey
Senior AnandTech Moderator

 

[bonkers325]

a blackberry will cost you an extra $30/mo for the required BIS data plan. get an env2/3 or env touch, but i agree with shorty in that flipping open an env is very very annoying.

 

[shortylickens]

If you want something like a Blackberry, but dont wanna pay the extra money each month, get one of those Motos or Nokias that look like a Blackberry. Flipping sucks, and I promise you will get tired of it.

http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=2039
Actually, the buttons on that one look small and annoying. Skip it.
http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/zoom.php?p=2096&g=1
Sliders are much less annoying than clamshells of any type, and the keys on this look easy to find and press.
http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=1281
This one has good reviews around the web.

http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=1659
The Nokia E series is well known as a good alternative to a Blackberry. And the E71 has been getting great reviews.
http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=1916

 

[fwacct4]

Originally posted by: shortylickens
If you want something like a Blackberry, but dont wanna pay the extra money each month, get one of those Motos or Nokias that look like a Blackberry. Flipping sucks, and I promise you will get tired of it.

http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=2039
Actually, the buttons on that one look small and annoying. Skip it.
http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/zoom.php?p=2096&g=1
Sliders are much less annoying than clamshells of any type, and the keys on this look easy to find and press.
http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=1281
This one has good reviews around the web.

http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=1659
The Nokia E series is well known as a good alternative to a Blackberry. And the E71 has been getting great reviews.
http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=1916

Hey these are great suggestions. I personally love clamshells (ie LG VX8300) because I ALWAYS get the screen cracked with non-clamshells, but with QWERTY keyboard phones, I would imagine the annoyance factor is greater.

 

[fwacct4]

Originally posted by: bonkers325
a blackberry will cost you an extra $30/mo for the required BIS data plan. get an env2/3 or env touch, but i agree with shorty in that flipping open an env is very very annoying.

This is the reason I'm not going to go with a Blackberry.

 

[Jeff7181]

I have the 8330 on Sprint... actually, I just got it. I've had it for all of 8 hours now. I decided to pick it up even though the Tour is coming out this weekend... if I decide I want the Tour instead I have 30 days to return the 8330 but I didn't see anything so compelling about the Tour that I wanted it over the 8330.

That aside, the Curve is pretty damn durable. We use them at work for corporate people and when we get damaged ones back, they're REALLY damaged... like someone dropped one while on their 3rd floor balcony and it bounced off the edge or a dog got ahold of it and chewed the shit out of it because it kept making noise and vibrating - both true stories.

So far I like the phone... the keyboard is almost too small for me to use efficiently (I make the occasional type-o) and I have moderate sized hands/fingers for a 6 foot tall dude.

 

[magreen]

Originally posted by: shortylickens
If you want something like a Blackberry, but dont wanna pay the extra money each month, get one of those Motos or Nokias that look like a Blackberry. Flipping sucks, and I promise you will get tired of it.

http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=2039
Actually, the buttons on that one look small and annoying. Skip it.
http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/zoom.php?p=2096&g=1
Sliders are much less annoying than clamshells of any type, and the keys on this look easy to find and press.
http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=1281
This one has good reviews around the web.

http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=1659
The Nokia E series is well known as a good alternative to a Blackberry. And the E71 has been getting great reviews.
http://www.phonescoop.com/phones/phone.php?p=1916

Hey shorty, which one of these would you recommend for best mirroring/improving upon the personal organizer address book/calendar/notepad/tasks features of a blackberry? I'm looking to toss my data plan on my verizon wireless account, and may be ditching my blackberry. thanks.

 

[shortylickens]

I just had a nokia E71 recently from AT&T. It was nice for a lot of things. The calender and address book are top notch. I think many Blackberry fans would be OK with it. BUT, the keypad is pretty damn small and annoying. I recommend you go to an AT&T store and try one for yourself. I liked it but eventually turned it in for a Blackberry Curve 8900. While I prefer the Nokia S60 interface and the build quality of the E71, overall the Blackberry was easier to use, especially the keyboard.

As for the others, I've never had them so cant comment. You would need to check out some reviews or go try them yourself at the store. If you are nice to them they will take one out of the box and slip in the battery for you. The fake units on the wall arent good enough to be sure.

 

[magreen]

Originally posted by: shortylickens
I just had a nokia E71 recently from AT&T. It was nice for a lot of things. The calender and address book are top notch. I think many Blackberry fans would be OK with it. BUT, the keypad is pretty damn small and annoying. I recommend you go to an AT&T store and try one for yourself. I liked it but eventually turned it in for a Blackberry Curve 8900. While I prefer the Nokia S60 interface and the build quality of the E71, overall the Blackberry was easier to use, especially the keyboard.

As for the others, I've never had them so cant comment. You would need to check out some reviews or go try them yourself at the store. If you are nice to them they will take one out of the box and slip in the battery for you. The fake units on the wall arent good enough to be sure.

Ok, thanks for the advice. The question now is whether Verizon wireless would let me get a nokia E71, and whether they'd let me have it without buying a data plan.

let me see what I can dig up

 

[shortylickens]

Dont bother. The only version of the E71 is GSM. Verizon is CDMA. You CAN NOT use it. Its not even an option.
What IS an option, is looking for an unlocked nokia E series thats also CDMA. Let me dig around and see if I can help you.

EDIT:
Also, Verizon is probably the most restrictive of the major carriers. They dont like it when you bring your own phone to use on their service.