Posted on 06/26/2009 7:22:47 AM PDT by bcsco
I was recently given a Blackberry Pearl by a friend who updated to a new Storm. I already have a Palm Centro I upgraded to a couple months ago, but he knew my propensity to mess with "stuff" and I gladly accepted. Perhaps my experience over the past couple days can be helpful to other FReepers.
I've used Palm devices for some years. I've always synced the devices with Microsoft Outlook (2000). No problem. Before ever considering activating the Pearl (no, I don't really need another phone line) I wanted to see how well it interacts with Outlook, and its application base. The phone came with Blackberry's Desktop Manager V. 4.3, and the same version software on the phone itself. Having installed the desktop manager, I was unable to sync. I was given an error message stating I must be connected to the Internet before I could perform my first sync. Huh? I am connected to the Internet. And why should this be necessary when all I want to do is sync my phone with my PC? I went on the Blackberry forum linked (after hours of online searching) and posted a memo (see the topic by jbusse1 dated 6/25).
Come to find out, there is a problem with a registry entry in that and later versions of Blackberry's desktop software that prevents syncing with Outlook. Editing of the registry removes the conflict, but why Blackberry hasn't corrected this problem is beyond me. Anyway, I made the registry correction, and was able to get the desktop sync to go through its routines. BUT! It still wouldn't recognize Outlook as a conduit. I then found out through the same forum that versions of desktop manager 4.3 or above don't conduit to older versions of Outlook. You have to use version 4.2 sp2 or earlier.
So, I had to remove my desktop manager, then download and install the earlier version. Voila! I was now able to sync with Outlook 2000. Problems solved. Well...not really.
I had some other software I'd downloaded and wanted to install, but the desktop manager's Application module wouldn't recognize them. Now what? Well, after more hours of searching, I found that I had to upgrade my phones software to version 4.5 instead of the version 4.3 that was installed. Once I did this and reconnected to Desktop Manager, I could install any applicable software I wanted.
Long story, but I've found that what Palm makes pretty easy, Blackberry makes obstacles. The phone is nice but after this I'm not confident that Blackberry has its act together, and is thinking in terms of its customer base.
I'm sticking with my Centro as far as my smartphone is concerned. If something happens and it goes bad, I can then switch to the Pearl until my contract expires. Until then, I'll use the Pearl as an Mp3 player. It seems to do that pretty well.
Don’t know if this is of interest to you or not. Some rambling about my past few days.
I had a Pearl and just updated to a Storm and never had any of the problems you describe. At that, when I updated to my Storm, it was three clicks and I was done (Outlook sync with redirector, no problems).
Do you think you may have tried to set up with the enterprise service versus the redirector initially which started the process off wrong?
Might be of some interest to some readers here...
iPhone share of U.S. smartphone traffic hits 69%
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2279772/posts
After using the 8830 World edition for a couple of years, I gave up on trying to synch with outlook. And to add more fuel to the fire, the support for MAC is horrible on both Verizon and Blackberry.
I now have the storm and to be honest, I havent tried to synch with the outlook.
I like the functionality of the Storm and the interface is pretty cool, but if Verizon had the iPhone, I would jump all over like I was on fire.
No, The redirector and Desktop Manager was recognizing the phone. I was able to do a backup, and was able to set up sync through Outlook Express, Yahoo or an ASCII file once I installed the earlier version. But I still couldn't get the Outlook conduit recognized until I upgraded the phone's software. If I tried, the applications manager would tell me there was no applicable installer app on the phone (or some such message). I like the little phone (well, except for the default text entry method which after some time I figured out how to circumvent). It's just the desktop manager application that I think leaves a lot to be desired. Are you using newer versions of Outlook? I understand Outlook 2003/2007 sync well with the newer versions of desktop manager. It's just the older versions that are a problem unless the registry is changed (no big deal on that...)
That is probably the difference, I have 2003.
I’m retired, and use my phone (beyond phone calls) for personal stuff and on 9 hours a week of work I do. I wasn’t about to pay the price of an iPhone for that, plus wanted the Palm platform because of software I already had and use. Thus, the Palm Centro was the perfect pick for me.
My diddling with the Blackberry Pearl is just that; diddling. It’s not going to replace anything (well, unless something happens to one of our existing phones). But I thought some would find what I experienced informative.
BTW, my son informed me last week he’s going for the new iPhone in a week or so. I’ll be sure to monitor his experience.
Being retired, I don't use my phone for work except 9 hours a week to track time and some database info. Otherwise, I use it to keep schedule of my Kiwanis meetings, other appointments, and some genealogy stuff I do. That's where my Palm has come in handy all these years (the Centro is my 4th Palm). And that's why I muddle on with the earlier version of Outlook.
But I couldn't pass up the chance to play with the Pearl. Note, I'm not complaining, simply sharing what I discovered thinking it may be of value to some.
Palm may finally be getting their act together...
I have a Blackberry Curve 8830 with Verizon. Other than a few minor features I know are in the Curve and Bold, it works great. I even have an 8GB memory card in it and use it as a really good MP3 player.
Oh, man, sir.
You know that, technologically, I’m up to about 1923.
Yeah, that’s the one my son is looking at.
And probably a lot better off...
I know your deafness, but didn't know whether you had aides to help in telephone use or not. So I figured I'd ping anyway...
I use Blackberry Curve, 3 POP3 email accounts setup online with BB, Verizon as my carrier, Outlook 2007 to sync with Desktop Manager 4.7, and Vista and all works like a charm.
There's the rub. The newer version of Outlook works. But Blackberry isn't supporting older versions. And, no, I'm not going to upgrade my Microsoft Office on my retirement budget. (Nor would I just out of regular principles...). I'd go OpenOffice if they ever get that integrated for calendar, contacts, email etc.
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