Gapple (Google/Apple) vs. MicroBerry (Microsoft/BlackBerry)? Which tech duo would you go with today?

If you limit the choice to Gapple or MicroBerry, I would still have to go with MicroBerry for business environments . . . However, you definitely left out the very real option of MicroDroid (Microsoft - HTC Droid).

For general users (non-business) the Google Apple blend works great. The issue is the limitations I see in Enterprise-level integration with cloud-based applications (and the inherent security limitations) i.e. you are completely dependent on the service provider to provide your front line security. That's not a situation I would care to be in . . .

On the otherhand, I can see the limitations of MicroBerry. The MicroDroid option seems to fit the bill. Business friendly, but application rich. This seems to be the direction of the future and I've had the opportunity to play with the Droid. It gives me the connectivity I seek, but doesn't limit me to one carrier choice i.e. ATT . . . What can I say, I like my Verizon.

Phill

Brent,

Great question, and my answer comes from experience, not just theory. I lived MicroBerry, followed by Gapple and the answer is.... Droigle. Droid/Google is what I am using now. As a small business, which is what I am now, I am using Google Apps, including hosted mail. Apple does not have push notifications, and the email is not native thus, it is either browser based or iPhone mail based, neither works that well for me.

My Droid phone does not quite have the user experience as an iPhone, but there is a balance and I am happy thus far! Oh, it does pretty well with that other use of the device....talking!

Mitch - mjayliebs

Neither. Having lived through various combinations of all of these products with my own company and my customers, I wouldn't do either of those. I'd go with the iPhone and Apple products and apps, and whichever cloud service sounds appealing for the specific company (Dropbox, SugarSync, Box.net, etc).

The Google apps are appealing for many people with simple needs, but I've been unable to fit our company's needs into their apps. There are simply too many limitations to online applications, particularly their spreadsheet. The advantage of being online and always accessible can be met by services like the ones I noted above, so there's no reason to restrict yourself to limited apps just to get cloud storage and easy sharing.

After many years as an MS PDA/phone user, I learned first-hand the constant battle that users have with those devices. The reboots needed regularly, the apps that don't quite work seamlessly or predictably, the occasional bizarre 0x8000xxxx errors that don't help you troubleshoot issues. The iPhone has erased all that for us and our customers. The Blackberry was famous for push mail, but everyone has that now. Our Blackberry customers have defected to the iPhone rather quickly.

I had a long time to research all possibilities regarding my mobile choice and decided to go with Android. Apple didn't fit my need because of the AT&T service and the non-multi--task. Blackberry and Windows were out because neither one of them fit my cloud based needs. So Android was my ultimate choice and I am very very happy I went with them over the others. My only con for Android is that I would really like my current phone a Motorola CLIQ to have the new Android Froyo so that I could take advantage of all the cool new stuff Froyo has to offer.

I am a big fan of SaaS so I think I would go with a hosted Outlook solution and let someone else worry about the weaknesses of Microsoft. I do not hear good things in the UK about the Google apps so prefer a tried and tested product managed by someone else.

As for Blackberry, it may seem heresy but I really really don't like it and would go Windows or Android every time,

I'm going to throw in a very different experience. i HATE HATE HATE my experience with Apple. If you have any problems, or need a quick answer to something you can't figure out, they will NOT help you on the phone - you must go down there with an appointment..... next week. They are arrogant, and only know a slice, so you need another appointment with someone else to do something else... next week.

Unless you have no need for their support, and you know your product will work well (i.e. you don't need their support - and my MACbook Pro came with internal/structural issues that necessitate me leaving the computer with them), I wouldn't go near Apple if you gave me one.

Just saying :)

I would go with MicroBerry for two reasons. First, I am still uncomfortable with cloud based desktop computing. I have had the network at my company crash at least 4 times in the past year and our ISP service disrupted several times also. The only way I was able to work was because I had copies of key files on my laptop that I could work on because the applications i needed were also on my laptop. Second, I travel a lot and I do a lot of work offline in airports and planes.

Wow, hard one to answer! I've been a Microsoft and/or Blackberry devotee for over a decade. But Google and Apple have those wonderfully slick and useful apps and devices. For now, it's gonna be MicroBerry for me but that's only because of our history. Now if I could get an iPad for free.....

I think the advantages of cloud based services allow an enterprise to utilize best of breed technologies in a more cost effective manner to meet the needs of the organization. My preference is Google mail for the Enterprise and Android for my mobile devices. The Android platform just has a tighter integration into their Gmail environment that allows for seamless integration of contacts between your PC and Mobile devices (as an example).
For productivity apps such as Office, I still believe that you need to work with best of breed technologies and should continue to use Microsoft's Office solution. You can still utilize Google for your document sharing needs, but the apps in Microsoft's Office solutions are simply more mature and more widely utilized (hence easier to transition for new employees)

I've read a lot of interesting comments here. But there is an option that seems to have been overlooked.

How about your preferred version of Linux+cloud+Droid (I guess that would be something horrible, like Lincloid)

I'm a few years from having to make this choice but I see a lot of advantages.I'm a firm believer in open source and the collaboration and community that it involves.

Linux has become much more mainstream and easy to use. There are distributions like Ubuntu that make Windows look difficult to use even if you've been on Windows for years.

We've recently seen the appearance of some cloud offerings that are fully integrated into the Linux distribution. No headaches and dead simple to use with the very useful concept of access anywhere that comes with a cloud.

Finally, I can't really weigh in on the mobile platform since I've never used an iPhone, Windows Mobile or Android (always been on BBerry.) I simply went with Android to keep in line with the open source concept (Google did open source it, right?)

As Brent already mentioned, a few years ago it would have been a no-brainer. I'm happy to see the increase in choice that we now have.

I guess I need to start evaluating this now so I'm ready when I decide to start up my biz in a few years...

Cheers
Eric

Right now MicroBerry works well, but 1 or 2 years(?) later Gapple much better than MicroBerry!

I think MicroBerry(Microsoft & Blackberry) would be good for using Right Now. Because MicroBerry works well for current job and office environment such as MS office and outlook with push mail service etc.

But this shall be changed into the google apps. as time goes by owing to it is almost free or it costs less than .

I corrected some typos.

I have been a Microberry users for ever! Our organization used Rim pagers back in the 90's and I don't think I ever thought there would be another challenger worth its wait in the desktop office category against Microsoft. So this is personal for me.

But, I have to say that I would go with Gapple now....Oh god, close your ears Mr. Gates. The tool suite being offered these days by Google, Apple and even Zoho make the functions of Office look withered, over priced and plain old boring. I need my apps to be accessible from desktop and mobile today and MS Office is just not that candidate.

As for the phone, I am currently using a Blackberry 9000 Bold whos contract is up in 14 days. I am moving off this old school faithful and going for an HTC Droid or and iPhone. Have not decided which yet, but I am sure that the Blackberry is being kicked to the curb.

John (ColderICE)
http://www.ColderICE.com

I think it depends on the organization need;
1 If the company:
Running on low budget
Looking for a strategic investment (5 - 7 years)
Willing to compromise upon quality and functionality

G-App can serve them well, otherwise M-Bla

Wow! There are so many interesting answers here! Thanks everyone for your perspectives and contributions.

I do not even have to think about it, I'm a Gapple guy all the way. With a company named www.nimble.com you think I could be a MicroBerry Guy? I believe that Gapple is the future. Microsoft/BlackBerry are so IBM/1984...

That being said nobody get's fired for buying IBM and if you are selling into Corporate America you need to be aware of and support the existing infrastructure so you cannot ignore the Exchange/BlackBerry protocols.

1984 Apple's Macintosh Commercial - http://ht.ly/1UJ9F
Bill gates as the Borg - http://ht.ly/1UJaJ

ps. Just bought the HTC Android EVO 4G and I am running side by side with my iPhone for 30 days...

Best,

Jon Ferrara
www.nimble.com