I am T-Mobile Sidekick II user since October 2004, my productivity with pager has become weaken, lose my motivation caused by problems on carrier signal and email outrage. It is time for me to get new pager which fit my needs. I have been keeping an eye of narrow choices for two devices: Apple iPhone [specs] and Blackberry Curve 8330 [specs]. Those two are one of most critical decision for my time in one month before. I am digging out the information about two devices making the right choice to pick one out of two devices:
Price (As of May 2008)
Curve 8330: $599.99 MSRP
Apple iPhone: $399 for 8 GB, $499 for 16 GB
iPhone and Curve includes two-year activation agreement, plus activation fee, appx $40. If you order Curve 8330 through www.sprintrelay.com, you could get mail-in rebate to save $499.99 (final pay: $100). Rumors flying around here that AT&T might provide $200 after rebate for iPhone, still unofficial.
Monthly Data-Only (As of May 2008)
Curve 8330: $29.99
Apple iPhone: $40.00 (for TAP disability only)
Curve 8330 cost annually $359.88, compare to iPhone's $480 for TAP customers with disabilities only. That's $120.12 huge difference. For iPhone, you need to get $40 TAP data plan instead $60, you need to check with doctor for a note to prove that you're deaf customer.
Reference via: deafmac.org
Display
Curve 8330: 2.2 inches 320-by-240 pixel resolution, 65K Color
Apple iPhone: 3.5-inch (diagonal) widescreen, 480-by-320-pixel resolution at 163 ppi
iPhone is eye-candy big screen and slick interface perspective over Curve 8330, make me drooling. The reason why I like Apple.
Internal & Expandable Capacity
Curve 8330: 96 MB Flash memory, microSD card
Apple iPhone: 8GB or 16GB flash drive, no exandable
For Curve, you need to purchase microSD or microSDHC flash card for addition of applications and data storage, available in capacities from 64MB to 8GB. The cost? $59.99 is the highest point for microSDHC 8GB flash card, according pricewatch.com (May 16, 2008)
Data Input / Navigation
Curve 8330: Trackball, QWERTY keyboard, several buttons
Apple iPhone: one button, touch-screen display few buttons
My simple favor: I want a keypad that's easier and faster. The troubling part: QWERTY keypad interface on iPhone touch-screen display, you are required to have a visual on keypad display to type due communication needs for Deaf to type on touch-screen. I believe inputting the physical keypad on Curve is more productive and speedier WPM than iPhone. Using physical keypad for communications such as Instant Messaging and email, handles like a champ. I must admit that I drive and text a lot, but could lead to higher risk to involved into automobile accident.
Media Output
Curve 8330: 2MP camera with flash, Video Recording
Apple iPhone: 2MP Camera, Possible Video Recording
Apple iPhone is more likely to include video recording, if they provided by third-party applications or firmware updates in future. I expect both devices for stand-still image have much less quality than my current line of Canon digital cameras.
Reference via: Engadget
Notification
Curve 8330: Vibrate mode, LED indicator, MP3 & Polyphonic/MIDI ringtones
Apple iPhone: Vibrate mode, ringtones
Curve has more vibration options/customizable for different applications like ring tones over iPhone, however iPhone lacks the limited options. Notification is my top priority to receive new message coming in.
Reference via: deafmac.org
Wireless Networking/Data
Curve 8330: Dual-band 800/1900 Mhz CDMA2000 1X Ev-DO networks, Bluetooth 2.0, GPS
Apple iPhone: Wi-Fi (802.11b/g), EDGE, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR
Curve 8330 model does not support Wi-Fi. 3G, it lacks the downloading timing content in web browser in Curve. I believe next-generation of iPhone will include 3G and GPS. Signal over my local area is the extreme important for me to keep me busy. The browser is awfully slow loading on both devices.
Application Software
iPhone and Curve 8330 have dozens list of applications included, also can download 1st-party and 3rd-party applications to boost my productivity. My favorite sync application, Google Calendar and 'Remember the Milk' supports both and could be very productive my organize tasks.
Conclusion
I spend most of time playing around with iPhone demonstration at Apple store local area and gotten word-of-mouth from my deaf friends about Curve 8330. As I know there will be an announcement for next generation of iPhone at Apple conference on June 9th 2008, and Blackberry Bold 9000 coming out in summer by first AT&T provider.
Also I have read the reviewers opinions (1) and (2) about Curve 8330 vs iPhone. I have no choice to wait - I decide to purse deaf-friendly, finance reason after getting rid of my suffering T-Mobile Sidekick II. I'm leaning toward the Blackberry Curve 8330.
Also I am in luck here - my good deaf friend in our local area will purchase second generation of iPhone, I could get more taste on this to learn its advantages and disadvantages. Also when my two-year contract expires in 2010 for Curve, I could come back to check out improving future generations of iPhone. Speaking of technology life cycle.
