Dear Berry,

My story is odd but what do I do if I will never know the answer to
something? Please let me explain. My wife and I went to sleep around our usual time (midnight). I have been checking my Blackberry a bit less because she was really getting irritated about my using it in almost all situations/venues. She was feeling neglected and a bit jealous and I thought this was a bit extreme. She is my wife and I love her and I certainly don't want her to feel this way. The Blackberry (while I'm admittedly obsessed) is just an electronic device. Clearly nothing compare to the love I feel for my wife!

Dear Berry,

I just have a quick question for you, that I know doesn't have an easy answer... Bold or Curve 8900?!?

  - Oh the humanity!!!!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Dear "Oh the humanity!!!!",

Thank you for writing.This is a very difficult question to answer. Both the 8900 and the BOLD are very special devices. However, the BOLD is the "flagship" device from RIM, in my humble opinion. That being said, it is a bit larger than the 8900. Now if you aren't looking for 3G connectivity and you want a new BB that is smaller the 8900 is for you. But I must admit, I'm biased, the device I'm currently using is the BOLD and I love it. I struggled myself with which device to purchase and decided 3G (speed) was essential.

I know whichever device you choose it will make you very happy. After all, a new BB always warms the heart with great fun and anticipation :-)

Let's see what the CrackBerry community has to say.

Enjoy and let us know what you decide.

- Berry

Need some Advice to Help Balance Your BlackBerry and Life? Contact Dear Berry!  

Dear Berry,

I'm having a real problem at home. I don't know if you have read the many requests by leaders of churches to give up our main communication gadget, e.g., Blackberry for Lent. Well my wife decided she would give up hers for the forty days but I gave up my favorite food. Ever since this decision I have been getting nothing but grief from her. We have been arguing and, I believe she resents me for not choosing to give up my Blackberry. Can you help? 

- A Religious Dilemma

Dear Berry,

My life has forever changed and i am looking forward to living the great life. My wife and I have been married for almost four years and she has hated my blackberry for our entire marriage. Up until just over a month ago we had never gotten along when it came to us spending time together due to my phone(girlfriend as she put it) going off or me being on it.  I have tried four the last two years to get her one but never managed to make the sell.  That was until she saw the bold and the new curve.  She was pretty happy to try one out when I surprised her with her very own curve(8320), mainly because I hid her phone.

Now she has the 8900 and she is always coming home with a new accessory, theme, ringtone, and telling me that i need something new for my bold.  Now this may look like she has been turned into a career abuser but I think of it as a outreach program that worked.  The last month has been like winning the lottery or something. She is now a bb spotter, always chatting with people at the grocery store about her colorwared paint job and telling me all of the news that is on crackberry.

Life has truly changed and it is all due to her new love for the berry.  She is a great woman and the love that we share goes far beyond our love for our phones, but I must say that it has been really nice to share the love of the berry with her.  As the title says my life has forever changed. So for all of those addicts out there that has a spouse that is always asking you are always on your bb just do what i did get the one and hide there other phone.

- My Life Has Forever Changed

Dear Berry,

So I'm a kid who loves the BlackBerry phones. I just got to upgrade to a new phone on AT&T and I was thinking of getting the BlackBerry Bold but  I found out that it was so expensive. But I wanted it so bad so I tried to get the money for it but my parents said no to it because they weren't going to get it for me. I then had to upgrade right away to a BlackBerry Curve 8310 which is really good but then I went to the store the other day and saw the Bold on display and I fell in love with it. I wanted the phone so bad but the only thing stopping me was that price. The price was so high and I couldn't ask my parents for the money so I was thinking of saving money up for the phone so I could get it without the plan and just not tell them. I then thought that through and thought it was kind of bad. So I thought of trying to do a contest but I had no chance of winning. I would do anything that anyone would tell me to do just to get the phone. It looks so nice and I really want to get one but I can't figure out how. Please help if you can.

- Needs Money for a New Bold!

Dear Berry,

So which blackberry in your mind is better and why?

Regards,

- Bold vs. Storm

Dear Berry,

I am a young professional female and I'm so excited the Storm is on its way. I have Verizon and I will be purchasing it the day it hits stores, and it will also be my very first BB. A few years ago when I was still in College I contemplated getting a BB because I really thought it was a cool phone that you could do a lot with. But, I then did a reality check that "I am not that important to have a BlackBerry, I don't own a business nor am I professional yet," and none of my friends had one either. So I decided against it and have had regular phones ever since. My most recent phone, the LG Env, is cool for texting but I'm tired of it now.

Then about a year ago all of my friends out of the clear blue got BB's and basically I'm the only one that does not have one. I've seen them go from normal people to BB obsessed, constantly texting, never put the phone down, their eye's don't even leave their BB, Basically their lives revolve around their BB. I feel like an outsider in a way. Anyway, my question is, I'm super excited about finally getting a BB and a touchscreen at that, but how will a BB change my life? for the good or will I become obsessed like the rest of my friends? Does having a BB really change a person? Thank you,

- Excited and Curious

Dear Berry,

The other day I was riding my new expensive hybrid. I say "expensive" because you would think I would want to be extra special careful with it and it would be a priority over my BlackBerry - well I do want to take extra special care of it. I love it!

So I figured out a way to find a front pouch that sits on my handle bars and I can just put my BlackBerry in it. I thought what a great idea then I can check messages and answer calls. One big problem, a call came in and I did as planned....however, I hit the brakes with one hand while answering the BlackBerry with the other hand and almost ended up with major injuries. I don't want to be without my BlackBerry while on my bike and was wondering if you had any suggestions to do both?! Thank you,

- Almost Flattened

Dear Berry,

I am writing to tell you more of a story than asking advice. This is hard for me to understand. Maybe you can explain it to me.

I was just out of town and taking a tour on a trolley. A guy came to a screeching halt almost hitting our trolley head-on. Not only was he speeding like crazy, he was wearing a neck brace and yes, typing on his Blackberry. Some people obviously NEVER learn. I don't object to the Blackberry as a productive and/or even a fun device. However, people like this can seriously hurt others. It's become like drinking and driving. Can you understand this person or others who are similar? It seems to me extremely selfish!!!

Thanks,

- Confused

Dear Berry,

My boyfriend and I are both fairly technical and LOVE new and shiny electronic toys. We spend as much time with our BBs as we do with each other, if not more. But something happened....

We decided together that we wouldn't take our BBs to a funeral we had to attend yesterday. In addition, we decided we wouldn't take our BBs to a formal dinner with high level political officials.
Well I kept my side of the bargain and he not only brought his BB to both events but tried to sneak and use it. I figured it out and then he was on it more than he was off it.

The funeral was very important and the political dinner had implications that could be positive for my career. I needed to make an excellent impression and I needed his support. The worst part is that he's not really sorry and thinks I should understand. See why I need your advice. Thank you,

- HELP!!

Dear Berry,

Ok so I love blackberries I'll admit it. I had the pearl first day out then I went to WM with the Treo750 and came running back to the 8700 then the curve then I bought a spare 7290 then a spare 7130 and now I have the 8820. So is this an addiction? I only use the 8820 but I sometimes get an itch for the wheel and I flip back to the 7130 or 7290. I justify this by saying I don't wanna drop or lose my 8820 when I play sports or go to a bar, do you buy that or am I just obsessed with these things? And is there any chance that I can get the ball and the wheel even if its not functional on the berry 9xxx?

- Fond of the Crack(berry)

Dear Berry,

My main issue won't surprise you. My second one might! I am of course obsessed with my BB Curve. I LOVE it! I can't put it down. When I go out with friends to dinner I try to be polite and not keep it on the table and "openly" check it however, I keep it in my lap and find myself constantly looking for the red blinking light. Then I find it next to impossible to not check what has come in. So yes, clearly I am addicted and I know.

Well, now I find myself addicted to Crackberry.com. It started innocently enough when I stumbled upon your site a couple of months ago. I found myself checking it daily, even posting some questions (I'm new to forums) and making connections. However, for the last month the site is constantly up on whatever computer I am in front of. If I'm at work or at home. I have the BB version. I check threads constantly. Even at friend's homes (although I tell them I need to check something for work)! I am constantly looking for what's new in the forums, the contests, the blogs and even in the store. Everything!

Dear Berry,

We were on our way to CA for a romantic weekend - finally got away from our 5 kids - and in the airport before boarding the plane and my wife's BB was accidentally stepped on and it really was almost smashed. The person who stepped on it put her heel through the screen. My wife FREAKED OUT!! I mean, I felt badly for her and did try to calm her down and let her know we could deal with it when we got home or possibly in CA (trip was only a week)!!!! Well CA had a different network so that did us no good. My wife obsessed ALL week about this. I wanted to go back home. We fought and it was a terrible vacation. What do you think?This has to be a joke or something. My husband used to disappear into the bathroom with his newspaper - ok - bad enough - lots of people do it. We had 1 child then so not such a burden. However, now he disappears into the bathroom with his NEW BlackBerry, which seems to be NEW every couple of months. I know of course because of the shear time he spends in there (no he is not sick in any way) and also it's funny, later that same evening he will show me these new fun things he learned on his BlackBerry (like I can't put 2+2 together - ha!). The issue is that we have 4 children now and one is under two years old. He is either at work or in the bathroom with his BlackBerry. Not helping me as you can see. How do I throw this thing out the window before I kick him out on the porch?

- Frustrated in Atlanta

Dear Berry,

This has to be a joke or something. My husband used to disappear into the bathroom with his newspaper - ok - bad enough - lots of people do it. We had 1 child then so not such a burden. However, now he disappears into the bathroom with his NEW BlackBerry, which seems to be NEW every couple of months. I know of course because of the shear time he spends in there (no he is not sick in any way) and also it's funny, later that same evening he will show me these new fun things he learned on his BlackBerry (like I can't put 2+2 together - ha!). The issue is that we have 4 children now and one is under two years old. He is either at work or in the bathroom with his BlackBerry. Not helping me as you can see. How do I throw this thing out the window before I kick him out on the porch?

- "Pulling out my Hair" in Texas

Dear Berry,

I am having a terrible time sleeping because of my BB. I know this sounds absurd however, I have tried to turn it off at bedtime and no luck. I just turn it on again watching for the red light. Insomnia has never been my problem but since my BB, I find things to do on it during the night. Aside from checking email constantly, I play games, look at the apps, change settings, etc. The light sometimes wakes my husband so I have now taken to going under the covers!! This has become a problem clearly, aside from the fact that work the next day is exhausting. Help!

- Very sleepy in Seattle

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Dear "Sleepy in Seattle",

Well.....I'm sorry to say this has become a problem. Interfering with your much needed sleep and then work will eventually just get worse. You need to interrupt this pattern immediately!!! PLEASE - leave your BB in another room when you go to sleep. Give yourself a cut-off time. Treat this like a withdrawal of any addiction. Sleep must not be compromised if possible, certainly not for a BB, and just think how refreshed you will be to use your BB during the day if you're not exhausted from lack of sleep. And it might also save on an argument or two with the hubby!! Much luck!

- Best, Berry

Need some Advice to Help Balance Your BlackBerry and Life? Contact Dear Berry!