iPhone vs. BlackBerry: Readers strike back

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June 10, 2009, 08:43 AM —  InfoWorld — 

In comparing the RIM BlackBerry Bold to the Apple iPhone 3G, after a month-long test of each, I declared that it was time to bury the Blackberry, as it was mediocre in its signature mail functions and pathetic in next-gen mobile capabilities such as Web browsing and applications. I got many heated replies, such as this one from reader Mortys11 (a comments handle, as with the other names cited): "Who is this guy? He must be on the Apple payroll because any tech writer with half a brain would never claim that the BlackBerry is an inferior e-mail device." (Sorry, I do not work, and have never worked, for Apple. I do use a Mac, but until Vista I had used Windows XP.) Smalpre says, "I would have to declare the writer of this article a completely incompetent nontechnical person that obviously has never had a 'real job' in IT."

[ See what the fuss is all about in InfoWorld's "Deathmatch: BlackBerry verusus iPhone" | Watch our slideshow comparing the iPhone and BlackBerry Bold. ]

If security and compliance is an issue, the iPhone is out of luck
But there were also rational objections, centered around the iPhone's fit, or lack thereof, in an enterprise setting where data security and policy management was essential, such as for regulated companies. Reader Amadc summarizes that sentiment: "I agree the iPhone is excellent and outshines the current RIM offering in many ways but until central management and security are on par with BlackBerry devices, the iPhone will never take hold in the enterprise. The BlackBerry can't be buried, there is nothing to take its place. As much as some would like it to be replaced with the iPhone, it's not feasible right now." Reader MobileAdmin also emphasized the security and management issues critical to many in IT: "BES [BlackBerry Enterprise Server] provides total control and policy to enforce whatever security you want no matter how granular. iPhone has a small subset of Exchange ActiveSync, period. It's like BES circa 2002."

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Comments

Iphone vs. BB

I had the curve and the bold, prior had iphone... HATED BBBOLD.. it was SOO SLOW... plus the memory is soooo little.. I was spoiled with the iPhone and its a shock moving to another phone.. I love the BB OS, but its so slow when running 2-3 applications... especially when pandora is running and trying to browse the web... urgh! IPhone all the way... Apple may rip us off, but their product is so much superior than its competitors right now... oh I bought the Palm PRE.. HATED IT.. SLOW.. cut my hand because the bottom has a sharp ridge.. love the WEBOS look but the phone is freaking slow... Booooo!
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Where Google Chrome security fails: the password
I heard mention that the Chrome OS will have some sort of encryption available a la bitlocker. If it's possible to encrypt personal data using another password or key, then it may have potential for very secure data.... And Ubuntu has an 'encrypt home directory' option, perhaps google should follow suit.
- Dann

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