Plemix

While other makers are busy landing stabs on the iPhone by making thin, keyboard-less smartphones, RIM continues to focus on the business sector. The Blackberry 9000 bold is possibly the best Blackberry ever made with a lot of new, bold features including GPS, high-resolution 480 x 320 screen and HSDPA. Is bolder always better? For this new Blackberry at least, the answer is a firm yes.

Inside the box: the phone, a battery and a charger, a data cable, a handsfree, a 3 adapter, a CD-ROM, and a user guide. The package comes with a decent leather case as well.



The Bold has a new interface! The icons may look simple but the graphic conveys the functions well enough. The overall operation is very smooth and pleasing.



The keyboard is the lifeblood of every Blackberry. The Bold 9000 has a nicely designed keyboard with ample separation between the keys. With the Bold, you don’t have to worry about pressing the wrong keys or missing a letter – the keyboard is a gem.



The phone has 4 board keys for quickly accessing the usual functions. The trackball allows you to move in 4 directions and it is meant to make one-hand operation easier. Since the trackball is smaller and more sensitive than the typical 4-way D-pads, you may need some time to get used to it.



Speaking for myself only, I don’t like leather, at least not on the phones. Leather may have a luxurious feeling but the pits and gaps here and there trap dust pretty effectively. That being said, I must say the leather finish really puts the Bold (and probably the user) apart from the rest of the competition. It looks nice, it feels nice, and it is certainly nicer in your peers’ eyes.



The Bold is never meant for secret agents. Apart from the loud, always-enabled camera shutter sound, the 2MP camera has a blindingly bright flash. Photo quality is good with little noise and some sharpness. There is no front camera for 3G video call.



I am glad to see that the Bold uses the standard 3.5mm and mini-USB jack. With these standard ports you have a higher chance of scavenging/robbing a data cable or a handsfree from your colleagues than the non-standard counterparts.



The phone is just 14mm thick so it does not feel bulky in your hand. The corners are rounded and the shape was designed to fit in your hand. Well done, Blackberry!



The Bold is one impressive device. Business executives who are always “on the run” will like the smooth operation and high-speed HSDPA connection. The bright, high-resolution screen and the usable keyboard make the phone perfect for sending messages. I would recommend you to check out the review of iPAQ 912c (a Windows Mobile phone) as well to see which is better for you.

# posted by plemix @ 3:33 AM