I'm soon going to be switching to Verizon because I get a discount from work, and I have to pick out a new phone. I'm unsure of the benefit of having a Blackberry versus something else with a keyboard and email capabilities, such as the env3. I'd like to be able to check my work email (we use Outlook) and browse the web, and I'm not sure which phone will be best for this (or rather, if the enV3 would do what I need it to, since I like the look better than that of the Blackberry). Any opinions/experiences/feedback?

 I have Verizon. I love my Samsung Saga. There is a new phone coming soon. Soon. 

 By new phone do you mean a second samsung saga or something totally different?

 http://phones.verizonwireless.com/motorola/droid/?cmp=OTC-Droid-redirect1

 I don't know how good of a discount you're getting, but last time I looked at getting a blackberry you had to have a data plan in addition to the voice plan. Smartphones are pretty awesome, but I'd hate to pay the extra money every month. Although it would probably be worth it if you use the phone a lot for work or something.

i recommend blackberry anything...i had the curve for a little bit, and i loved it. i really miss it actually.

 I've been with Verizon for a little over two years now.  For the longest time I had a silver enV and now I have a black enV2.  It's a really good phone!  A friend of mine has an enV3 and it's even better!  I'd suggest an enV3 or if you're into touch phones...the enV touch.  I haven't used any of the new blackberry's that Verizon offers but I think the BlackBerry Tour looks great!  You can go to a local Verizon store and play around with the phones before you buy one.  That's what I did back in May before deciding on the enV2.

 i have not used a blackberry - other than casually from a friend for awhile.  i -have- been using smartphones for many years, always upgrading along the palm-os line (my last one was a treo-700).  i really like the os that palm has and the keyboards on the treo were always bigger than the centro for my big-fumbly-hands.

it used-to-be that the big seller with blackberry was instant-email (ie, they had a patent on the push-technology for emails - i could go into more details if you care).  they are also great with outlook - and i like their keyboards.  personally, i find having emails going -bing- all day into my phone annoying so i prefer to only check emails when i want to.  and with other-phones using pull-technology you can have it check every 15 mins anyway. 

i have just this past week (after lusting after the g1 with tmobile for a year or two - im on sprint) finally gotten a google-os powered phone.  i also took this opportunity to change from a keyboard to a touchscreen-typing...  i am still getting used to it - especially with my big clunky fingers...  i might decide to change back to a keyboard very soon if i get too frustrated.

i agree with the others, go to a verizon store and try them out...  if you have already done that and think the env3 is gonna be what you would like - then go for it...  altho, you might triple-check with the actual-reason for having a phone - the phone part (lol - but i am not kidding)...  my friend absolutely loves her smart-phone for everything -except- the phone !!!  i have been very happy with my smartphones -particularly- for their phone capabilities, as well as the other-stuff...

once youve started using the web/email/whatever - then you might be surprised at how addictive some of the other random features will become...  for instance, i never really wanted direction-for-driving; esp if i just pulled up the google-map of the address, but now i am hooked on the little voice telling me where-to-go and adjusting for the gps-current-position...  (my old smartphone did not have gps)

if you -do- a lot of emails on your phone, then spend a fair amount of time typing on the display model...  and opening-closing the lid or whatever...  most of my time is spent actually getting-the-phone out of its case, rather than actively doing something on it...  make sure it is easy to answer (phonewise) and you should be fine...

sorry to be all babbly - bottom line?  it should be fine...

(urp i just googled 'verizon env3 problems' and found this http://forums.verizon.com/t5/Cell-Phone-General-Device/LG-EnV3-Problems-charging-screen-animation-wallpaper/td-p/43225/page/3 from several months ago...  might not be an issue now, but it is always a good idea to google things i guess...)

I have had the old enV for about a year and a half and I am really happy with it... Not sure about the new ones though. I have considered getting a new one, but I suppose I will wait till this one craps out. I am really hard on phones and this one has lasted much longer than the last 10 or so.

OMG, I was seriously thinking about starting an iphone thread this morning to get tips and likes/dislikes since we're getting them next month.  I hope you're okay with me kinda stealing your idea!  (NO ONE REPLY WITH IPHONE STUFF PLEASE.  I'm gonna start my thread.)

Thanks, jellybean!

 I have an ENV2 and love it. No data plan and with its full keyboard it's easy to text. The only problem is the battery seems to last only a few months and putting it in your front pocket leads to plenty of "pocket dialing" even with key lock on.

heathdawg:

 I have an ENV2 and love it. No data plan and with its full keyboard it's easy to text. The only problem is the battery seems to last only a few months and putting it in your front pocket leads to plenty of "pocket dialing" even with key lock on.

 

 

the enV2 is trash. none of the keys on the front of my phone except End work anymore, the front screen is unbearably small and you have to open it to get the full range of options in your menus. the keyboard is the only saving feature other than maybe the size but theres way better phones than LG's. If you're going with Verizon, blackberry's 8900, Tour or a Storm would be my first choices simply because they're made for apps, emails, web browsing etc. plus there's to flip the screen open every time you need to type OR worry about it breaking off when you drop it

I have the Samsung Glyde.  I'm not even sure if they still make new ones, but the first one I had was fucking terrible.  The touch screen was not pressure-sensitve (it read your impulses or something) and NEVER knew what I was trying to touch on the screen.  The reason I got it in the first place was because it's a slider phone instead of a flip phone.

I had it replaced a few months ago and love it now.  It's a pressure-sensitive screen so I could use a stylus if I wanted to (it doesn't come with one though).  The screen has a recalibration system so if it starts to get funky you can always fix it.  I don't have the Internet on mine though (I don't pay for it anyway).  If I access the Net, I get charged.

if u got verizon, get an samsung omnia!

 

 Ahh so many options! To the poster who complained about having to open the enV3 to use all the features, I actually kind of like that about it. I've heard that it can cause issues for buttons to be randomly pushed a lot on phones, so the fact that the important ones are inside (as opposed to exposed like on the Curve) makes it a plus for me. I looked at the enV touch and seriously wanted it, but Verizon's website says that it's not email compatible!!! What's up with that?!?