As if to underscore the importance of the standard QWERTY-style
keyboard, RIM has produced a line of Blackberry smartphones that not
only feature a touch-screen that is quite capable in its own right, but
also a real keyboard, instead of trying to share a touchscreen with a
keyboard.
The Blackberry Bold 9780, a mid-range smartphone that offers users a
line of Research In Motion (RIM) - produced or backed applications that
are tested quite thoroughly, is also a particularly useful piece of
smartphone equipment because of the QWERTY-style keyboard.
No, it isn't the type of keyboard that you can use to touch-type a long
email, story or memo, but it is the style of keyboard that, like the
clamshell Sanyo and Samsung's with which we are very familiar, make it
far easier to thumb messages. With touch-screen-based keyboards, you
either end up squishing the daylights out of your screen as it begins to
lose its sensitivity or you use a stylus which can also slow things
down.
A real-keyboard, on the other hand, is there. It is meant to take the
abuse handed out to a keyboard and it is surprisingly quick.
That the 9780 has this type of keyboard illustrates that at least one
major manufacturer believes in the future of the keyboard and its
utility. Further, since it is actually a smartphone, the Blackberry Bold
9780, has quite a bunch of applications that have been approved for use
with the newer RIM Operating Systems such as 6.0. RIM standard for
Research in Motion and they manufacturer the Bold.
The Bold has a number of features, including talk time that approaches
six hours or better, if you aren't tied into a charger with the right
interface/charger cable. If you are, then the state of your battery is
the limit.
The 9790 is meant to work with both quad-band services in the 800 to
2100 MHz bands. Those services include the GSM, EDGE, GPRS, HSPDA and
the like. No, it won't work with CDMA devices, but then again, like its
more expensive cousins, it also offers not only standard wireless
service, but also WiFi service.
Acting in standard phone or text mode, the 9780 is quite a smart device
and when you add the 5 MP rearward facing camera and its automatic
capability, you find you have a very good device on your hands. However,
when you add in WiFi capability you have just doubled the utility of
the device as it not only can deliver your messages and calls via
standard cell means, but you can also use WiFi to get your messages
through. Indeed, if your home network understands Bluetooth, you will be
able to not only use the Bluetooth capability of the high-contrast,
color, you will be able to interface Bluetooth service capability across
your home network. It is a nice feature that not only gives you
reasonable range with the Bluetooth, but you can also use it to help
stream sound and other featured apps.
At 4.3 by 0.6 by 2.3 inches and 4.3 ounces, it is a lightweight
smartphone with a lot going for it. It is true the keyboard may seem
superfluous at first, but give it a chance and you'll see that it really
does grow on you.
