For a year now I have been using a Blackberry (Bold 9000). Meanwhile, I have become accustomed to so many functions that I do not want to miss the device anymore. In the following report I would like to tell you concrete experiences of a positive and negative nature. However, this cannot be comprehensive, the device is much too complex for that.
More than a phone
In fact, you can also make phone calls with the Blackberry. This works as with any other mobile phone, but already the supplied hands-free device differs. The headset has headphones for both ears, the sound is brilliant and my interlocutors have never addressed me for lack of comprehensibility. Only with the plastic plugs, which are pulled over the headphones, I sometimes have problems – because they quickly get stuck in the earcup. It is dialed via a phone book, which – in my case – synchronizes with my computer phone book in the workplace.
This brings me to the main strength of Blackberry: it synchronizes reliably and quickly with email accounts, schedules and address books.
As soon as an email arrives at my professional address, it will be sent as a copy to the Blackberry. There I can read, answer, forward, archive or delete them – this is carried out simultaneously in my mailbox, so that both pages are always up to date. This works extremely smoothly, I am enthusiastic about this function. Opening file attachments in PDF or Office format is also not a big challenge, but tables on the relatively small screen can only be read to a limited extent.
By the way, answer mails. The keyboard of the Blackberry is „somewhat“ ok. The buttons are already quite small and can be pressed just so accurately. But for short e-mails or texts it is enough.
Managing addresses brilliantly
I think it’s great that my Blackberry is a super address collecting device. Whatever data I add to a name – this information is then also available on my computer. I particularly like this: Stop with the parallel mobile phone address books, which cause problems with every model change.
Photos and videos
Clear weakness. The photos are not in great quality, the video function is primitive. The only plus point – the files can be forwarded directly as an e-mail attachment without much effort.
Internet on the go
I usually use the built-in Internet browser to see a few news sites like Spiegel.de on the train or the S-Bahn. Or to search for information in between in wikipedia. Or to research the departure times of trains. All this works perfectly well. However, you also reach its limits here in view of the display size. The Blackberry receives the network either with 2G or 3G. Where WLan is available, he can also register in it.
Programmable additional keys
I think it is good that the device has several freely programmable additional buttons on the side, which can be used, for example, to start programs. So I can create new notes and appointments with the push of a button – I find that very convenient.
Control and design
Visually, the Blackberry looks pretty nice, I think. Fasting, black with a shiny surface. Functional, just. I have already complained about the buttons. A track ball, which can also be used as a mouse by pressing, serves as the central control element. I was initially positively surprised by this. But with increasing dust, which the mobile use brings with it, the part stopped more and more often and then I realized how much I depend on it. But as the grain of dust came, it eventually disappeared again.
Technical data
I spare you and me the copy & paste of the long tables. Just click on „Technical data“ in the tab in the review overview.
My conclusion
You have to consider whether you actually want to be available around the clock everywhere for emails, calls and SMS. Because it actually tempts to take even more work into private life. If the red light-emitting diode flashes the input of a new message, then I am also quickly tempted to look up immediately. This is the downside of my Blackberry. Otherwise, the device is great and works fine.
Conclusion: a very good multimedia phone