Not only is the Blackberry Curve 8300 smartphone from RIM both the smallest and lightest Blacberry smartphone, it is also one of the best designs RIM has produced.
Although the phone is only slightly smaller than earlier models, it is far more compact and supposedly 20% lighter, which really makes a difference either in your bag or pocket, enabling it easier to carry it around with you throughout the day. The colour display is truly impressive, and alternative themes come with the phone, and are also available for download from various websites. Similar to the pearl, it is equipped with a trackball rather than a thumbwheel. Compared to the iPod this was far easier than touchscreen, and did not smear the screen! Just looking at it, the Curve really is a beautiful phone.
But if you are one who is unaffected by a phone's outward appearance, you won't be disappointed
by its features. It still retains the QWERTY keyboard, which, if a little smaller than previous models, is still sufficient enough and once mastered, I found it very easy and quick to type e-mails and messages, especially with the addition of the spell-check function that is available in different languages (ideal if you are writing to people from other countries).
E-mails you say? Yes, the Blackberry Curve still maintains one of the key features Blackberry users love: the access to push e-mails. As a new Blackberry user, I found this incredibly easy to figure out, and within minutes, had established my own e-mail address with Blackberry and was receiving e-mails efficiently. When you first set up your Curve, there is a 'Blackberry wizard' which sets up almost every aspect of your Curve to suit your needs, such as setting up an e-mail account, as well as a tour around your very own Blackberry so that you are aware of how it operates.
The Curve comes with RIM's voice dialling application and is a quad-band handset capable of roaming to most countries, which again proves vital for business and personal use. The digital camera, unfortunately is only 2MP but it still is useful, and synchronising with your computer is both easy and efficient. It is all done through a USB chord and the installation of Blackberry Desktop Manager which comes with your Blackberry on a CD. Images from the camer aapplication can be sent straight to contacts either as an e-mail or MMS. Perhaps to make up for the camera, there is an enhanced media player for audio and video, and again there is the option of managing files between both your computer and your Blackberry.
There are many applications usually pre-installed on the Blackberry, such as Blackberry maps (an improved edition), a Facebook application which allows you to access your Facebook instantly, Myspace, MSN messenger, Yahoo Messenger and furthermore, the option to install others (a lot of them are free, such as Google maps, Google Talk, etc it is just a case of searching for them) to customise your Blacberry.
What is truly great about the Blackberry is the ability to make it your own. Downloading and installing applications is extremely easy, and from many sources, cheap. There are programs which can enable the Blackberry to download attachments from your e-mails and edit them (in a 'notepad' type of fashion), and the MicroSD card slot allows users to expand on the 64MB internal memory.
Perhaps one of the greatest applications on Blackberry, which comes with the phone from the start, is its very own messaging service, which, through the Pins of other Blackberry users, provides you with the opportunity of sending messages to fellow Blackberry users (providing they are on your 'contact' list on the application; it isn't difficult to add people) throughout the world, and doesn't cost anything either. It also tells you if the person has read your message, and if your message has been delivered.
RIM have really succeeded in creating an instrument that works perfectly as a phone and e-mail device, and the elegant finish of the phone, heightens RIM's efforts. I thoroughly recommend this phone! A joy to have!
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Advantages: Email push, landscape screen, tons of features, QWERTY keyboard + + + Disadvantages: None really, keys a bit small if you have large hands.
idlehippy 15.07.2007 (15.07.2007)
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Review of BlackBerry Curve 8300
Advantages: large screen, good colours, good features, great reception, good standby time Disadvantages: heavy, screen not completely sealed by dust, body work scratched easily
alysmac44 26.08.2008 (26.08.2008)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of BlackBerry Curve 8300
Sep 24th, 2008
very helpful by (100%):
