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03-19-2010, 07:38 PM
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#1
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Thumbs Must Hurt
Join Date: Feb 2008
Model: 8100
PIN: N/A
Carrier: FIDO
Posts: 83
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Given the option, would you recommend the 8520/8530 and buy it again today?
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Hey everyone!
My situation is that I am not currently on a Blackberry plan, just using a regular Windows "smart" phone for the moment. My carrier (Fido) has the Curve 8520, and seeing as I am a 5 year subscriber on a grandfathered plan, they're offering me a better retention plan that the other companies here can't match. I would be saving roughly $10-20/month for a 3-year contract. Unfortunately, all of the other companies here in Canada have the Bold 9700, which is the phone I would really like.
I'm a little hesitant about going with the Curve. I used to be in the industry just as a brand ambassador. Last year I was promoting the Bold 9000 and really wanted one, this year I'd love to pick up the 9700 but not at the added cost of switching providers and starting fresh on a more expensive monthly basis. Maybe some of you can tell me about your experiences with the 8520, if you would recommend it or even buy it again today, and why or why not?
I'd appreciate it! Thanks in advance folks!
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03-19-2010, 10:41 PM
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#2
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Thumbs Must Hurt
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: CA
Model: 8100
OS: 4.idunno
Carrier: T-Mobile USA
Posts: 113
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It really comes down to what you're going to be doing with your phone and if you're going to be traveling a lot.
From what I've seen, the biggest deciding factor is if you want 3G speeds and if you'll be traveling a lot.
If you don't mind, a few more details might make it easier to help you but from my standpoint, the 8520 is more than enough phone than I need it for but a lot of the features have saved me at one point or another.
Just pm me if you need more details.
__________________
-Wuzzer
9530 v5.0.0.419-took a dive into oil...
8520 v5.0.0.681-in the box
8100 - 4.5.0.188-out of retirement? lol
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03-22-2010, 12:46 PM
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#3
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Thumbs Must Hurt
Join Date: Aug 2008
Model: 8530
PIN: N/A
Carrier: US Cellular
Posts: 50
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I have had my 8530 for just over a month, and I love it!! (I had a 8330, which I loved, too)
Phone, email, facebook, address book, calendar, syncing to my Mac through DM for Mac, everything works very, very good!
There's some things that I wish were different, but I think that is across the board with RIM, like the calendar syncing with the same categories/colors as my iCal.
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03-22-2010, 06:49 PM
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#4
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Knows Where the Search Button Is
Join Date: Mar 2010
Model: 8530
PIN: N/A
Carrier: Verizon Wireless
Posts: 33
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I just got my 8530, I like it a lot. Don't get wrong there are some things that I would have changed about it but it's mostly nit picky stuff. All in all it's a great phone, and I would buy it/recommend it to people.
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03-22-2010, 09:43 PM
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#5
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Thumbs Must Hurt
Join Date: Feb 2010
Model: 8530
PIN: N/A
Carrier: SPRINT
Posts: 65
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Yep.
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04-01-2010, 09:58 PM
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#6
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Talking BlackBerry Encyclopedia
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Southwest Missouri
Model: 8530
OS: 5.0.0.508
PIN: <Status<Options
Carrier: Verizon
Posts: 219
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Picked up my 8530 about 2 weeks ago and love it, upgraded from a Pearl 8130.
Some downsides worth noting...
1. Maybe it's just because I upgraded from a Pearl, but the keys seem really small on the 8530 and I often find myself hitting multiple letters when trying to text. My overall texting speed was cut in half compared to my speed with the Pearl. Guess I just have to get used to this new key layout.
2. No flash for camera / no light for video. It is beyond me why RIM would not include this feature. In my opinion, this is the biggest downside.
3. Send/End/Menu/Back keys are flush with the screen and are terrible finger-print spots. You barely touch them and they'll smudge really bad, I'm constantly cleaning that area otherwise it looks like crap.
4. Battery door is held in place by a pressure-clip, rather than a button-clip. I'm a guy, my fingernails are really short...I have to sometimes use my pocket-knife to open the battery door. A bit of a nuisance, but otherwise it works fine.
5. From Verizon this thing comes bloated with software that is completely useless to me. I spent the first hour of ownership deleting stuff. Not sure how that is with other carriers. I didn't really have to delete anything since there's plenty of onboard space, I'm just used to the limited space of the Pearl, still need to break myself of that habit of deleting everything I don't absolutely need in order to keep space for messages and such.
I would definitely recommend the 8530, especially due to the trackpad which is completely awesome. Just keep the above downsides in mind when making the final decision. If I would have known about those prior to the purchase, I still would have went home with the 8530. I was completely sold on that trackpad, it's too bad the Flip didn't have one.
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04-01-2010, 10:06 PM
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#7
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Thumbs Must Hurt
Join Date: Feb 2010
Model: 8530
PIN: N/A
Carrier: SPRINT
Posts: 65
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I wish more of these type phones would come without a camera. Most are useless anyway.
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04-08-2010, 07:54 AM
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#8
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Knows Where the Search Button Is
Join Date: Aug 2009
Model: 8330
PIN: N/A
Carrier: Sprint
Posts: 17
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As I have said on other threads, the build quality of the 8530 vs the 8330 leaves much to be desired. I do like the upgraded features on the 8530, which I'm sure could have been done on the 8330 platform, but I'm not impressed with the look and feel of the 8530; the battery door is one area which shows what cost cutting can do...very poor design, loose on models I held at Best Buy, and easily nicked and scratched when you want to open the door. When using the keyboard, you can feel the battery door moving.
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04-08-2010, 10:15 AM
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#9
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Thumbs Must Hurt
Join Date: Feb 2010
Model: 8530
PIN: N/A
Carrier: SPRINT
Posts: 65
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Capt Jack Sparrow
... the battery door is one area which shows what cost cutting can do...very poor design, loose on models I held at Best Buy, and easily nicked and scratched when you want to open the door. When using the keyboard, you can feel the battery door moving.
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I have a Seidio case so that's N/A for me.
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04-08-2010, 02:28 PM
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#10
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BlackBerry Extraordinaire
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: British Columbia
Model: 8520
OS: 5.0.0.509
PIN: N/A
Carrier: Rogers
Posts: 2,021
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My battery door isn't loose, but it does come off easily when I pull up in the indented area. It's never popped or fallen off on it's own. As well as I've never knicked or scratched it. And I've gone since Nov without getting a case for it (I know, bad, waiting for it to come in)
Your personal experience may not be someone else's, keep that in mind. Display models may be loose from all the wear and tear of random people grubbing on them. I use mine daily and have not experienced what you are talking about.
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I come in last, but just in time for breakfast.
Keep it through, Keep it through, forever blue.
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04-09-2010, 11:02 AM
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#11
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Knows Where the Search Button Is
Join Date: Apr 2010
Model: 8520
PIN: N/A
Carrier: T-Mobile
Posts: 16
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No.
I'd opt for a smartphone with a larger screen, or perhaps a sidekick style.
I can't type terribly fast on the dedicated keyboard -- it'd be more useful for me to have a larger screen to more easily see my calendar & web stuff.
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04-10-2010, 07:01 AM
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#12
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Knows Where the Search Button Is
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Solin, Croatia
Model: 9000
OS: 6.0.0.668
PIN: 256b6370
Carrier: T-mobile Croatia
Posts: 40
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Same here,
I'm not a longtime blackberry user, in fact the first one is this, 8520, but I can only say good things about him, enough memory space for programs ( 256mb ), very fast user interface, keyboard is superb ( IMO even better than 9000 but I'm just nitpicking ), battery life is expected ( 2 days most ).
Everything works fine, but as someone mentioned, flash is missing ( not for the photos, but for the light that some of us require sometimes ).
OS 4.6 was fine, but 5.0 is faster ( a lot less loading watches... ), prettier, more functional, and it's able to deliver font size 6 and 5, which is a nice addon.
as mr. expatCanuck said, keyboard is small, but I've at least got used to it quite quickly.
Also, about build quality, only thing I could complain is the glittering finish on it, it just atracts all the fingerprints ( especially battery door ), but nothing major ( like battery seal scrambling around while typing ).
Hope it helps...
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04-10-2010, 08:58 AM
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#13
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Thumbs Must Hurt
Join Date: Feb 2010
Model: 8530
PIN: N/A
Carrier: SPRINT
Posts: 65
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There seems to be an overwhelming opinion that the 8520/30 is an entry-level BB. Sure the display resolution is lower than some others, but what features is it missing that makes it entry-level compared to the others? I really ain't seeing it...
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04-10-2010, 12:15 PM
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#14
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Knows Where the Search Button Is
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Solin, Croatia
Model: 9000
OS: 6.0.0.668
PIN: 256b6370
Carrier: T-mobile Croatia
Posts: 40
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Greetings,
I assume that is because it has, as you mentioned, lower screen resolution, and overall quality is cheaper ( not cheap, just cheaper ! ), but I have no objections to that. I'ts rubber and plastic, no metalic parts, no metalic buttons, everything is well designed and combined, just not as exotic as, lets say, 9000.
Also, no LED flash, shitty camera ( if anyone uses it often, than any blackberry is not what you need... ), no 3g, no GPS.
But, as I say, for 90% of people, this is as good as it gets, because ( at least for me ), I don't see any pluses I would acomplish by getting that extras (accept for a higher resolution screen ).
As you can see, I'm speaking only my opinions because blackberry is so customizable it is impossible to say in general, almost nothing ; ).
Last edited by bagio007; 04-10-2010 at 12:16 PM..
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04-14-2010, 04:37 AM
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#15
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New Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Model: 8530
PIN: N/A
Carrier: Bell
Posts: 7
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Longtime PDA user, used to be an early adopter. Just went to BB 8530 3 months ago. Very satisfied, convenient PIM, comms and data handling, fun media side, GPS works great, rock-solid. Easy cross-grading my old data for various apps. Only downside for me: no flash with the camera (wish I had gone with a 9700).
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04-14-2010, 06:17 AM
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#16
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Thumbs Must Hurt
Join Date: Feb 2010
Model: 8530
PIN: N/A
Carrier: SPRINT
Posts: 65
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My 8530 has 3G and GPS...
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04-17-2010, 12:07 PM
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#17
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New Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Model: 8530
PIN: N/A
Carrier: Verizon
Posts: 1
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Only real complaint I have going from a 8330 to a 8530 is the lack of camera flash / video light. Everything else great. But the camera is now pretty much useless indoors. Also use GPS daily - BBmaps tied into Bing searchs is seemless transition.
Last edited by lancecannon; 04-17-2010 at 12:08 PM..
Reason: forgot info
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04-22-2010, 04:33 PM
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#18
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Knows Where the Search Button Is
Join Date: May 2009
Model: 8530
PIN: N/A
Carrier: Verizon
Posts: 43
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If given the opportunity, I would go back to the 8330. Great phone.
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04-24-2010, 02:59 AM
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#19
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Talking BlackBerry Encyclopedia
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Southwest Missouri
Model: 8530
OS: 5.0.0.508
PIN: <Status<Options
Carrier: Verizon
Posts: 219
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bagio007
no 3g, no GPS.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by RUFFSTUFF
My 8530 has 3G and GPS...
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My Verizon 8530 has both as well.
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