 |
|
|
| RIM BlackBerry 8820 (T-Mobile) |
| Full review » Video » Scoreboard » Features » Gallery » |
_it00.jpg) The BlackBerry 8820 on T-Mobile gets it right when it comes to Wi-Fi, and we definitely like the HotSpot @Home service. We'd like to see plenty more improvements to the aging BlackBerry UI, including a nicer looking calendar and more productivity apps, but we think some business customers will find the UMA capabilities useful, and perhaps even cost-cutting. We could lament the lack of good multimedia options, but there is always the BlackBerry Curve and the Pearl for that. The 8820 might be the priciest of the bunch, but it also might offer the right mix of features for BlackBerry fans. Release: March 2008. Price: $350.
Pros: T-Mobile HotSpot @Home UMA calling. Great call quality and battery life.
Cons: Aging interface. Out-of-date browser. Needs better Office tools and prettier calendar.
| Poor |
Mediocre |
60%
GOOD |
Very good |
Excellent |
|
|
| RIM BlackBerry 8820 (AT&T) |
| Full review » Video » Scoreboard » Features » Gallery » |
_it00.jpg) The BlackBerry 8820 is certainly a welcome update, but we'd be hesitant about paying more for the Wi-Fi privilege. For messaging, the BlackBerry does a nice job using the slower EDGE network. If you're really interested in faster Web browsing, the RIM's browser on the BlackBerry is not the best choice. Perhaps if the phone had enhanced calling options, like UMA, we could see the purpose of Wi-Fi, but there were other improvements to the BlackBerry interface, scheduling and productivity tools that we would have liked to see first. Release: September 2007. Price: $350.
Pros: Classy look of the BlackBerry 8800, now with Wi-Fi. Great call quality, excellent battery life.
Cons: Wi-Fi doesn't help much. Aging interface. Faster cellular networking would have been nicer.
| Poor |
Mediocre |
59%
GOOD |
Very good |
Excellent |
|
|
| RIM BlackBerry Pearl 8130 (Sprint) |
| Full review » Video » Scoreboard » Features » Gallery » |
_it00.jpg) Well, this certainly isn't the best Pearl of the bunch. Though Sprint's Pearl does show signs of improvement over the first-generation GSM models, it has a few problems that would keep us from choosing it over other models. Most importantly, it was sluggish, and perhaps even buggy. Some Web pages refused to load at all, with no error or warning from the BlackBerry. Dealing with Sprint's music player was a real hassle, and diminished the added value of having the Sprint Music Store on board. Don't get us wrong, we liked the improvements, like the slight graphical upgrade and the ports for a 3.5mm headphone jack and a microSDHC card. But the same can be found elsewhere, without the problems. Release: November 2007. Price: $200.
Pros: Interface just a bit prettier. Very good call quality. Great scheduling options
Cons: Sluggish phone. Web pages load slowly, GPS tracks slowly, music playlist populates slowly.
| Poor |
Mediocre |
70%
GOOD |
Very good |
Excellent |
|
|
| RIM BlackBerry 8830 |
| Full review » Scoreboard » Features » Gallery » |
 In many ways, Verizon Wireless has users backed into a corner with the BlackBerry 8830. For world travelers who need a 3G BlackBerry at home and e-mail abroad, the 8830 is the only option on any network. Business users won't be disappointed by the device's e-mail and scheduling prowess, it is a BlackBerry, after all, but considering this phone represents the current pinnacle of BlackBerry devices, we expected more. Besides our old complaints about the BlackBerry interface, we would have liked better battery life, some useful productivity apps, and a better Web browsing experience. The lack of GPS is disappointing, and we think business travelers would have appreciated a better music experience. If you are deciding between the 8800 and this phone, we think the 8830's better tethered modem support and faster Web browsing, on Opera perhaps, makes it the better choice. Still, it's a close call, and GPS fans might prefer the 8800, even with slower EDGE networking, to the 8830. Release: May 2007. Price: $50.
Pros: 3G networking for tethered modem support. Global calling and e-mail. Trackball makes navigating easier.
Cons: Interface needs polishing. Battery life suffers with 3G. Multimedia experience is poor. No GPS.
| Poor |
Mediocre |
58%
GOOD |
Very good |
Excellent |
|
|
| RIM Blackberry Curve |
| Full review » Scoreboard » Features » Gallery » |
 It's no wonder that in the weeks leading up to the iPhone's release, we're seeing a new category of "consumer" or "multimedia" smartphone peek its head out of the earth to look for its shadow. The Curve aims to bring the BlackBerry line to a more general audience, and to accomplish this RIM has improved the media player and, well, that's about it. Aside from our lousy experience with the Roxio software, the inclusion of a 3.5mm headphone jack and stereo Bluetooth means that this could be a decent music phone. Otherwise, the Curve is still a BlackBerry, which is good for calls, e-mail, and other hardcore smartphone functions. Still, the aging interface and the heavily textual menus might scare away folks who don't want to nitpick onscreen font sizes, or adjust network settings. Excellent battery life deserves high praise, but every BlackBerry has excellent battery life. We're not sure if this is the one to win over the masses. Release: May 2007. Price: $100.
Pros: Excellent call handling. Push e-mail is business class for consumers. BlackBerry phones have the best battery life of any device.
Cons: No popular IM clients. Ugly calendar. Disappointing music app, with abysmal transfer software. Slow EDGE networking.
| Poor |
Mediocre |
64%
GOOD |
Very good |
Excellent |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Archive