Review: BlackBerry Curve 8900
By David Flynn | smh.com.au | 10 April
BlackBerry Curve 8900
BlackBerry Curve 8900
Price: $929
Rating: 4.5
http://au.blackberry.com/
The newest BlackBerry smartphone reminds us of Doctor Who's TARDIS. Like that phone booth that doubles as a time machine, the Curve 8900 magically packs much more into its slim black-and-silver chassis than would seem possible from the outside.
Doubly so, given that the 1.3cm profile makes this the thinnest BlackBerry ever. That waifish waistline, allied to a compact size and mere 110-gram weight, ensures the Curve 8900 slips into any pocket or purse and sits snug in your hand.
You certainly don't expect such a small smartphone to sport such a crisp and almost overwhelmingly bright screen. And given that the Curve 8900 connects only to the slow GSM mobile network rather than the super-fast 3G band, it's astounding to see how quickly it downloads emails and weighty attachments.
We noticed only minimal differences compared with the 3G-enabled Bold 9000, the Curve's brawny big brother (and from which the 8900 inherits its sleek new styling).
This is a testament to the efficient way the BlackBerry compresses emails. Browsing the web requires a little more patience, although using handy programs like Google Maps - which works a treat with the Curve's inbuilt GPS receiver - and the free WorldMate travel tool were quite nimble. While 3G delivers greater raw speed, the GSM network has far wider coverage, with most of Australia tucked under its wing.
GSM phones also require less power, which makes for longer battery life.
You should easily get two call-packed days out of the Curve 8900 before it needs recharging, as long as you're not using the 8900's Wi-Fi radio to tap into the office wireless network.
The Curve 8900's keyboard is a delight, although it's noisier and "clickier" than we'd like and the small inset buttons may not be compatible with large, fat fingers.
New software lets you open and even edit Office documents sent as email attachments, including Excel spreadsheets and PowerPoint presentations, along with viewing PDF documents and, of course, photos.
During the daily commute the Curve can play MP3 music, videos and podcasts, including tracks downloaded from iTunes or Windows Media Player on your PC. Overall, the Curve 8900 remains one of the best business smartphones you can buy. It's currently available only on the Vodafone network to the carrier's corporate customers.
First published by Smh.com.au on April 10 2009
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