When people ask me about the iPhone vs. the BlackBerry, I tell them that for my usage I prefer the BlackBerry - except for the browser. The MobiSafari browser in the iPhone is the biggest game changer on the device.
The newest beta of Opera Mini 4 is nowhere near as elegant a browsing experience as the iPhone browser, but it’s a night and day difference from the standard BlackBerry browser and it’s great to see the pan and zoom 
full browser 
interface coming to other mobile browsers.
A couple of weeks ago I needed to forward an e-mail while I was out with only my BlackBerry. Since the BlackBerry’s IMAP implementation generally sucks, I had to use the browser and webmail in order to find the e-mail and forward it.
This process would have been a whole lot easier1 with Opera Mini than it was with the built-in BlackBerry browser.
- Yes, it also would have been easier with real IMAP, which the iPhone has. [back]
Popularity: 15% [?]
Geof F. Morris adds this Comment:
That iPhone keyboard really is the only holding you back, isn’t it? You’re struggling with the browser, you’re struggling with the mail-sending capabilities, you’re struggling with the SIM card-related bugginess.
October 14th, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Alex adds this Comment:
There are a couple of features on the BlackBerry that I need/prefer to the iPhone; wouldn’t surprise me if the keyboard is the only issue once Apple opens things up to 3rd party apps officially though. Perhaps the details would make a good follow-up post.
October 14th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
Brian Warren adds this Comment:
I had no idea that IMAP on the Blackberry was so lousy. People rave and rave about how great email is on the Blackberry (and, honestly, I believe it), but I had no idea it was so dependent on Blackberry’s web services to be good.
I agree that Mobile Safari is the real game changer. Just friday I was scootering to a little get together with some friends and was using Google Maps on the iPhone as my directions. Well, Google Maps was wrong, so I had to jump on the web to get the name and address of the place. It was so simple and easy, that I didn’t realize it at the time what a complex operation I was doing and how I would have hated the experience with my Treo - even with Opera mini.
October 14th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
ryan adds this Comment:
thanks for the heads up on opera mini. using the browser on my curve is torture!
ryan
October 14th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
Geof F. Morris adds this Comment:
Yep, very much interested in knowing what’s holding you back.
October 15th, 2007 at 2:12 pm
Why I Don’t Use My iPhone (as a Phone) | alexking.org adds this Pingback:
[…] Morris asks a good question on my previous post discussing mobile browsers: That iPhone keyboard really is the only holding you […]
October 15th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
basstech adds this Comment:
I’ve been using Opera 4 beta on my BB for a while and I love it. The only problem I have with it is copying the web address of the page you’re on. I can’t figure out how to do it. You can look at the page properties and see the address, but I can’t figure out how to copy it.
I usually end up firing up the Blackberry Browser and googling the page so I can copy the address.
October 17th, 2007 at 5:13 pm
Shareb adds this Comment:
That is great
October 18th, 2007 at 7:00 am