A quality smart-phone, essential to stay connected. (Blackberry Bold 9000)

Member Name: alistair_g

Product:	Blackberry Bold 9000
Date:	26/09/09 (28 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Robust & wide range of features.

Disadvantages: Poor battery life.

A friend recommended this phone to me, and I was quite interested as I had purchased smart phones previously, although this was the first phone I purchased that wasn't a Nokia.

I don't use this phone for business, it's entirely for personal use, and I would feel entirely disconnected without it! I don't believe this age you need to have a Blackberry for business, especially if you like to be connected to the wider world!

The really positive is that it allows instant access to social networks, the web (and not just the wap) and has the push-email capability. It has wifi and bluetooth connectivity for connecting with friends. There is an application store so you can download lots useful applications, some free, some charge.

The phone is perhaps a little chunky in comparison to some other phone models, but does come with a great holster, which increases the bulkiness, or a small rubber case. The phone is quite robust, I'm quite careless with phones, but this one when dropped hasn't been damaged.
This phone has a 2mp camera, I believe this isn't the best camera in terms of phones, but then again you can use your digital camera! There is a wide range of features in the phone, like music player. But no radio support. The phone can open email attachments like office documents, but still can't open .pdf files, which is a little frustrating.

The keyboard is clear, and well lit, and the buttons are well laid out, and easy to use. The phone is good looking, and has a good quality screen. The text size is adjustable, and menus can be customized, for example high contrast if you need that!

This phone for me has a couple of downfalls. Firstly, battery life. I use this phone continuously, and the battery will become depleted quite quickly. I do charge this phone every night, and if going away, you will always need to remember the charger! Secondly, the trackball can stop working occasionally. If it becomes dirty, it becomes unresponsive, and it is quite annoying to get working again. Finally, the signal seems to cut out quite frequently, and doesn't return quickly, but that is quite possibly the network that I am with, and not the phone itself.

Overall I've had this phone for approximately 12months and it is the first phone that I haven't become bored with quite quickly, which I think is an important feature as you will be using this phone on a daily basis! If you were to get this phone, it would probably be best to get a spare battery and keep it charged just in case.

Summary: The first phone I haven't got bored of!

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