11 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
So far, my favorite phone!
Date of Review: Dec 4, 2008
The Bottom Line: If you can get it for $100 or less, you can't go wrong!
Well, I have had my Blackberry Curve 8330 for approximately two weeks and, thus far, it has met or exceeded my expectations. I chose the Curve based on various reviews I have read on many sites. On most sites, it recieves at least 4 out of 5 stars and is considered by Cnet.com to be one of the top 5 smartphones on the market.
I purchased the device at a special Christmas sale at my local wireless provider for $29.00, after signing a 2-year contract. For the price, it is definitely worth it. The only real drawback to owning a Blackberry is the fact that you are forced to purchase the $30-a-month data plan, no matter who your wireless carrier is, but if you need instant access to your e-mail and/or the internet, it is definitely worth it.
First off, the Curve 8330 is designed for multiple messaging formats, which include MMS, SMS, WWW, and, of course, E-Mail. The OS provided is the standard Blackberry handheld software and it also comes preinstalled with Microsoft Windows Media Player and Desktop Media Manager. The Media Manager is very helpful if you are using a Windows-based PC, however I am a Mac user. The data disc that is included does include Mac software, called PocketMac for syncing, but it is a much more scaled-down version than that of the PC. Included in the box is a mini-to-fullsize USB cable and an AC USB wall charger, which will also charge other USB devices.
On a bright note, no matter whether you are running Windows or Mac, Blackberry does offer a very seamless integration with iTunes, which is a big plus for me, considering I store Podcasts, movies and videos, along with all my audio files. The video files must be MPEG-4 or WMV files to play on the Blackberry however. No Quicktime support.
The display is a very nice TFT 320 x 240 pixel screen with 16-bit color support. It has rich, vibrant color and sharp details. Getting around the menus is done by rolling the trackball, located between the Menu and Escape keys under the screen. To select, simply push down on the trackball to "click" your selection.
Blutooth 2.0 is included and there is also a mini-USB jack and a standard headset jack for plugging in earbuds, or a cassette adapter or auxilary jack for playing through your stereo or car audio system. I currently use a Jawbone bluetooth headset, which I have found to sync easily with the Curve. This also becomes an essential for me, because I drive a manual-shift automobile, which make downshifting while hold a phone very difficult. The call quality is very good and very clear, but you do need to hold the speaked directly over your ear. If it moves, if only a tiny bit, it becomes very faint, hence why I use a bluetooth headset. This is not a phone you can hold on your shoulder while doing something else with your hands. I have only experienced one instance where my call was dropped, but the area I was in was a known dead zone for all wireless signals, no matter who the carrier is.
The Curve also incorporates a very nice 2.0 Megapixel camera/camcorder, which Blackberries such as the World Phone do not. The color are a bit on the gray side, but for 2 MP, are surprisingly crisp and clear, as are the video files. The Curve does also allow playback in full-screen mode as well, for stored videos. I do recommend installing a Micro SD card in the interior slot as well. The 96MB that comes installed is nice, but not nearly enough space for me. I have approximately 50 to 60 songs, 5 videos, 5 games(including Guitar Hero Mobile!) and 10 to 15 screen wallpapers and have about 2.5GB left on a 4GB card. The 8330 will accept up to an 8GB card.
According to other specs I have read, the battery is supposed to give approximately 240 hours of standby and 260 minutes of talk time. Thus far, I have talked about 200 minutes on mine and still have about 30% battery power left.
I have found that the download time is a bit sluggish, but that could also be attributed to my carrier's signal strength, being that they are local and not a national network.
I just learned yesterday about how to program a speed dial, which I was used to on my Motorola Razr V3c. It is extremely simple. The Curve allows for speed dial by letter, on the full QWERTY keyboard, so you can store a speed ial number on every letter of the alphabet, except 1, which is reseved for voice mail. You simple hold down a key while in menu mode until it asks if you want to assign a number to that letter. You click "Yes" and it takes you into your Contacts list, where you simply click the trackball on the contact name and "wha-lah!". Then, to dial that number, you hold down that key until the unit dials. Easy!
The dimensions are as follows: 2.4 in. wide x 0.6 in. thick x 4.2 in. tall.
The possibilites are endless in the amount of applications and add-ons that are available for Blackberries. You can visit [url]http://www.blackberrymarketplace.com/[/url] to download games and applications for your Blackberry device.
Overall, I am very happy with my Blackberry Curve 8330 and would readily recommend it to anyone who is looking for a integrated solution of PDA, phone and internet device.
