BlackBerry Curve 8900

I've owned my Blackberry curve for around 5-months and before I go into any depth with this review, I'd like to announce its had no problems since purchase. So despite what many people say about these phones, here’s one persons positive opinion of their reliability. Do bare in mind though, that I have kept my phone in its protective pouch when not in use to preserve its exterior.

A clear and precise high resolution screen makes for clear text and image quality which improves usability. The software on the phone and its operating system (as a smart phone) are fantastic to utilise. Menus are simple to understand (with the use of symbols to represent main pathways) and actual applications and features are designed with the user firmly in mind. As for external hardware, an impressive QWERTY keyboard makes for quick typing (I estimate 80% the speed of regular keyboard typing despite the loss in size), and a comfortable circular curser ball allows easy navigation of the phone. The only issue with this is a tendency (I have heard) for the ball to stick – but after 5-months it has never done this for me.

The buttons feel strong and rigid, whilst only needing a light to moderate
press for operation. The curser ball is sturdy and gives off a soft vibration
when used to navigate through pages which is nice.
As for weight and back panel feel, the phone is 5/5 in these areas.
However, as with all phones there is that noticeable plastic feel to the
majority of its exterior components – this is to be expected!

Software features include the obvious calculator, calendar and camera usages, as well as the more prestigious email and internet facilities which the phone is praised in when it comes to business usability.However, this business feel should not put off the everyday-users (like me) as Blackberry have made sure all newer models are applicable and comfortable to anyone from school children to their parents.Features such as the games section and everything under the media tab (which includes music, video, ring tones, picture and voice notes) have been designed to cover Blackberry’s new market initiative - EVERYONE.

Some people might be confused as to why I included two separate headings, Features and Applications when to most they mean practically the same thing. What I mean by Applications (Apps) is the downloadable content (programs) most commonly aligned with the Iphone, which allow the user to customise what their phone can achieve. There are thousands of Apps available (a small percentage of the Iphone’s, but still plenty) which include programs such as Google Maps and internet banking to help peoples individual needs in conflicting areas.
Applications combined with the internet essentially make your phone equal in power to a desktop PC or laptop, without the battery life. Do bare in mind though that battery life on this phone is excellent for a smart phone.

The phone doesn’t include 3G technology unless you add it in with your contract, and so mine uses GPRS to access the internet away from Wi-Fi (air-born internet connection). My complaints about GPRS are that to watch any kind of video you need crystal clear connection. Accessing web pages, 5/5. Accessing email accounts, MSN, internet banking etc, 5/5. But videos do not stream well and should be avoided. Signal on Orange is fine for my area (the Nottinghamshire region), but this could change where you are, obviously.

As mentioned before, the phones high resolution screen and bright luminous colour display really impress people new to the technology. It really is excellent and something you’ll be amazed by each time you unlock the phone (at least for the first few days!). Similarly, sound quality is really good, calls are clear, music is clear and ring tones are LOUD and clear.

Altogether, the only real nag I have about this is the video streaming, but then again if you’re going to be using it for that then get the 3G or another 3G capable smart phone, because they will be so much better for that.
Other than that though, I’m so glad I purchased my Blackberry, because even without the raged about touch-screen technology, this phones capabilities and traits outweigh anything I’ve seen.