paprof
Junior member
Posts: 93
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« on: July 21, 2009, 10:55:02 PM » |
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Anyone have any strong preferences on smartphones? I have been using a Blackberry for about four years, and it's time to upgrade. (Just FYI, I sync it with my Mac desktop and MacBook Pro for calendars and address books. It's still a bit clunky, but doable.) I have thought about the iPhone, but am not completely convinced. I hesitate because Blackberry push email is a godsend and I tend to think that typing on a screen will not work too well. The email alone helps me to handle so many minor issues quickly. In my Dean position, I regularly get about 100+ emails/day. On the other hand, the connectivity with my Mac is appealing. Just curious about anyone else's experiences
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larryc
Hu hatin'
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 17,572
Eschew the hu.
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« Reply #1 on: July 22, 2009, 12:08:30 AM » |
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I moved from a not-very-good Windows Mobile phone (an HTC 8125) to an iPhone last fall. I had a lot of doubts about the iPhone, especially about typing on the touch screen.
All in all I am pretty happy with the device. The typing is better than I thought, you can do 30 words a minute with some practice. And the many added functions (some via apps) really extend the usefulness of the device. On any given day I listen to podcasts, get driving directions, take geotagged photos, play some games, watch videos, do Google searches by talking into the phone, and post on the CHE Forums.
It still pisses me off that I can't use an external bluetooth keyboard to type into the phone--it really would be a laptop replacement for short trips if I could do that. And for $70/month I damned well ougt to be able to tether my laptop for internet connectivity--but I can't. Still, I like it quite well.
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science_expat
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« Reply #2 on: July 22, 2009, 06:01:06 AM » |
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I love my iPhone. You can set it up to push email although I don't because it uses up the battery fairly quickly. I haven't had any trouble with typing on the screen and with the new operating system (or the new phone) you can now use the keypad from a landscape rather than portrait position.
I honestly don't know how I functioned without it.
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Professor of Something Scarily Scientific Sounding
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prof_tournesol
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« Reply #3 on: July 24, 2009, 10:55:17 AM » |
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I agree about the iPhone, and the new landscape keyboard is a blessing for people (like me) with large fingers. I find I use it more than my laptop for anything other than serious writing. If you're already on a MacBook you'll find it really seamless
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daniel_von_flanagan
<redacted>
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 8,983
Works all day. Posts all night. Needs sleep.
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« Reply #5 on: July 26, 2009, 12:10:15 AM » |
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The best advice I can give to any university administrator is to make sure that, whatever smartphone you get, it is smarter than your immediate superior.
Unfortunately, this is often not as difficult as one might think. - DvF
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The U.S. Education Department is establishing a new national research center to study colleges' ability to successfully educate the country's growing numbers of academically underprepared administrators.
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southerntransplant
Generally overcaffeinated
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 6,855
Am I on YOUR curriculum committee too?
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« Reply #6 on: July 26, 2009, 04:07:56 PM » |
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Huh. I'm looking for a smartphone and have a contract with Verizon. This might be a better option than opening a business account with AT&T to get the iPhone. |
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"Interestingly, many fans find that Seger looks increasingly more like the cereal brand character Captain Crunch as he ages." - Wikipedia entry on Bob Seger.
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paprof
Junior member
Posts: 93
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« Reply #7 on: July 28, 2009, 12:39:57 AM » |
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I have looked around, and am not convinced that the iPhone meets my needs for administration. It lacks push email, in particular. I have looked at the various cell phone carriers and am convinced that T-Mobile has the least expensive plans. I am willing to forgoe complete connectivity in favor of price.
So, I am back to my Blackberry. Considering that T-Mobile doesn't have a replacement for the BB 8900, I am likely to just go with that.
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science_expat
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« Reply #8 on: July 28, 2009, 09:42:36 AM » |
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I have looked around, and am not convinced that the iPhone meets my needs for administration. It lacks push email, in particular.
No it doesn't. At least not if you use Microsoft Exchange and set up your email that way. |
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Professor of Something Scarily Scientific Sounding
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jackiewetmore
New member
Posts: 2
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« Reply #9 on: August 05, 2009, 11:49:52 PM » |
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As currently I cannot use the iphone with T-mobile, any other suggestions? What phones other than the iphone do you have that you love? I really want my phone to be my planner, calendar, and mp3. A high quality camera would be nice, too. Any suggestions?
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southerntransplant
Generally overcaffeinated
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 6,855
Am I on YOUR curriculum committee too?
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« Reply #10 on: August 06, 2009, 07:27:57 AM » |
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As currently I cannot use the iphone with T-mobile, any other suggestions? What phones other than the iphone do you have that you love? I really want my phone to be my planner, calendar, and mp3. A high quality camera would be nice, too. Any suggestions?
Doesn't T-Mobile have the Palm Pre? |
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"Interestingly, many fans find that Seger looks increasingly more like the cereal brand character Captain Crunch as he ages." - Wikipedia entry on Bob Seger.
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cogscientist
Headologist Extraordinaire
Senior member
Posts: 305
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« Reply #11 on: August 07, 2009, 04:22:14 AM » |
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[Hope I'm not about to hijack the thread. I'll start a new one if required.]
I'm stepping up as director of a research institute next month, and I've decided to go for the iPhone. Is there any application you have found especially useful as an administrator/scientist?
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Not posting much ever since I've been lured to the Dark Side
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simplesimon
Junior member
Posts: 93
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« Reply #12 on: August 07, 2009, 01:22:22 PM » |
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I have had many cell phones over the years, but the iPhone is my first smartphone. The ability to link my work email account to my phone is invaluable. This does not require any particular application—nor is this feature limited to the iPhone (the Blackberry has offered it for years)--but it makes life so much easier.
I, too, would be curious to know if there are iPhone apps out there administrators find especially useful.
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jon_margerumleys
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« Reply #13 on: August 07, 2009, 03:33:24 PM » |
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I, too, would be curious to know if there are iPhone apps out there administrators find especially useful.
Not an app per se, but if your campus uses an Exchange serve to share calendars, have your IT people figure out how to link it to the iPhone calendar. It takes a little bit of configuring, but is worth it. On a related note, be sure to link to your campus directory. I've got contact info for all 3,000+ employees at my fingertips. Jon |
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southerntransplant
Generally overcaffeinated
Distinguished Senior Member
Posts: 6,855
Am I on YOUR curriculum committee too?
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« Reply #14 on: August 07, 2009, 04:07:39 PM » |
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I, too, would be curious to know if there are iPhone apps out there administrators find especially useful.
Not an app per se, but if your campus uses an Exchange serve to share calendars, have your IT people figure out how to link it to the iPhone calendar. It takes a little bit of configuring, but is worth it. On a related note, be sure to link to your campus directory. I've got contact info for all 3,000+ employees at my fingertips. Jon Your university might have an app for the iPhone already - the one for our university has campus news, sports, videos and a directory. |
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"Interestingly, many fans find that Seger looks increasingly more like the cereal brand character Captain Crunch as he ages." - Wikipedia entry on Bob Seger.
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