Blackberry Bold 9000
Below is my original review of the BB 9000. I loved this device. Blackberry was my original smartphone and I was hooked from the first device on. Based on my previous Blackberries, the Bold was a huge improvement. The scroll wheel was replaced by the trackball in a previous model and that carried on to the Bold. The trackball in the Bold was more stable than it's counterpart; making reviewing emails and SMS messages a breeze.
What made the Bold great...
Trackball: Improved over the 8820, which I owned prior to the Bold, the trackball was smooth and responsive. Unlike the 8820, it never stuck and did not need to be replaced. It was that reason that had me purchasing he Bold in the first place.
Blackberry Services:
Nothing beats Blackberry's push services. They are the industry standard. Despite past connection blackouts, their services remain the go to for businesses. It is probably the reason they are still around today given their unfortunate slide in the industry.
The Latest:
Unfortunately, Blackberry is on the market. The obvious choice for a buyout (Microsoft) has already purchased Nokia's hardware and services division. They have also committed to licensing patents from Nokia so a buyout of BB seems unlikely, though they are rumored to be keeping an interested eye on BB. Though I have an Android phone now, this is still a sad moment for me. My first pager was a RIM device. My first smartphone was a RIM device, so to see their demise will be a somber moment for me. Hopefully they transform themselves the way IBM did when they got out of the manufacturing business.
-Edmund
RIM Blackberry Bold 9000
I must say that I did not believe that RIM could top my 8820, but I have been pleasantly surprised. The Blackberry Bold has a lighter feel than it's predecessor, although its specs put it at .07 oz heavier (Click here for full specs:Full Blackberry Bold Specs). The standout on this device, however is its wonderful screen. Bright, amazing colors, video and pictures look amazing! The 2MP camera with its LED flash is functional and will give you very nice pictures for a phone. If you want amazing editorial pictures, buy a camera. Nothing worse than idiots complaining about the picture/video quality of a cell phone. The Bold comes with what has been standard for some time now (3G, World Phone capability, GPS, WiFi, removable storage-unless you have an iPhone-ha!) and RIM's push technology. Improved Office file viewing/editing gives added functionality and versatility. Although no phone/PDA is perfect, the Blackberry bold gets pretty close. Wonderful tools, plus the improvement to the RIM staples, coupled with the vibrant display makes this phone a must have.
My rating: 3.75/5.0