BlackBerry Curve 8900 Reviewed; Has me Thinking
Lately, I’ve been feeling dissatisfied by my first-gen iPhone. I can’t put my finger on the malaise, though. Maybe it’s due to having the same phone for over 18 months now. I still like the user interface immensely, but I’m slowly starting to search around for a new handset. Just testing the waters, as they say.
I often get e-mails telling me that I should switch to a RIM device. Oh, you readers know who you are, so I won’t call you out by name. 
All joking aside, I appreciate that feedback and opinion. And maybe some of you got to me: I just read Gizmodo’s first-impressions of the BlackBerry Curve 8900. Note: I didn’t scan it through RSS, like I often do as the result of time constraints. Nope, I really read it. (Twice, in fact!) Enough for me to start outlining my thought process on if it, or another BlackBerry, is in my future.
For starters, my current phone account is on AT&T’s network and due to Barb’s iPhone, I’m unlikely to change carriers. The 8900 is coming first to T-Mobile, although Giz has had an AT&T-branded model since October of last year.
I like the impressions I’ve read about the keyboard and the screen. In fact, the 480×360 display seems to be a killer feature, but I worry about the physical smallness of it. I’m fairly used to the larger display on my iPhone at this point. The lack of 3G is almost a deal-breaker for me as well. No, I don’t have 3G on my current iPhone, but at this point any upgrade for me should have the fast wireless WAN connectivity.
The Bold might be a better option for me since it addresses the 3G concern and is already available on AT&T’s network. Om loves his Bold, although he’s already chomping at the bit to switch to the 8900. I’ll have to dig deeper into the web browsing experience since I use my current handset with the web very often. In fact, web surfing is probably the number one activity on my iPhone. Too bad there’s not a mobile version of Wakoopa to tell me for sure!
E-mail is certainly important as well, and RIM devices traditionally excel at that. I’m getting by OK with my iPhone and two Gmail accounts for now. A better experience here would be nice, but it’s not the sole driver for a new handset for me. I’m still going to kick the idea of a BlackBerry around. As nice as the 8900 looks, the lack of 3G is hard for me to overlook.
Slideout keyboard
The other play here is to wait for the Palm Pre, of course. With the Mozilla-based WebKit browser and 3G connectivity, my number one need would likely be met very well. It too offers a large screen but adds the convenience of a slide-out keyboard; something I truly appreciated on my old Verizon XV6700 device.
Would I switch to Sprint simply to use the Pre? Perhaps. I’m expecting that we’ll hear more about GSM versions of the Pre at Mobile World Congress next month. That may give me more time to think about my plans while I wait for AT&T to get the Pre. I believe that Sprint has a 90-day exclusive on the Pre, and since I liked what I saw in the Pre at CES, I can definitely wait it out. Decisions, decisions. 
Be sure to check out the hands-on over at Giz if you’re even remotely interested in the BlackBerry Curve 8900. It looks like a contender, depending on your needs of course.
Go with the Bold. 3G is great for simultaneous data and voice. EDGE is so 2007.
the Pre’s browser is WebKit, not Gecko
Melissa has plans to upgrade her original Curve to this. (Engadget Mobile seems to really like it.) If one of these gigs hit out at that far, far away facility I’ll probably switch to Sprint for unlimited everything $99 plan. Meaning my next phone may be the Palm Pre.
It’s not shiny and new so I can see some malaise setting in, but it’s just a tool and if it works for you why replace it? I’ve had the same phone for over 3 years.
Kevin, yes ATT does have the 8900s on hand. And they have had them for awhile. They were “supposed” to release this a little bit before Christmas, but held off it; No fault in their decisions there considering the recent releases with the Bold (November) and the Curve 8320 (December).
Also, there has been speculation that ATT has been limiting its EDGE service in areas in favor trying to increase its 3G services. Users have been complaining that services have “decreased” in some areas. IF TRUE, you may not see the 8900s at all. But you may in fact see the Magnum or 9220. Which is basically 3G version of 8900 with TOUCH. If ATT wants to push its 3G services, they could easily skip the 8900 for the 9220 (btw..it may be called the 93xx). It rumored to be announced at WES 2009 with a release date 2HCY09.
So, seeing that you are tied to ATT, and are “… unlikely to change carriers” you can probably wait it out a bit for the Magnum. I think you might still see the 8900, pending on the number of days (30? 45?) TMobile has on the exclusive selling rights on the 8900. Of course no 3G though.
Shoot, too many browser rendering engines on the brain. Thanks for the correction Jack; fixing the oversight now!
I’ve used the Bold since launch in Canada and found the 8900’s construction a little too light, something all the old Curve suffered from. Yeah, it’s sleek and good looking, but keys crack so much more easily – I know two people up here who have had hairline fractures between the two middle soft keys. The new Curve might catch the eye, but the Bold remains more dependable for me.
I bet you’ve covered this already, but what’s wrong with Sprint? I have ATT in Los Angeles now and am very pleased that the Pre is coming to Sprint so I have a reason to try out its coverage (and cheaper plans). ATT’s coverage has been massively disappointing for me, like when I’m sitting in my parked car outside my apartnemtn, talking to someone, not moving, and the connection cuts in and out. It’s ridiculous.
Kevin, you should really take a look at Upcoming and currently released Nokia devices. Take a gander at the new Nokia N97, as well as the Nokia E71. Both are great phones. The E71 is out right now, which I own, and is fantastic to use to check email, RSS feeds, ect. The N97 won’t be out for a few more months, however I highly recommend it, and I have actually set a pre-order on mobileplanet.com (expansys). Check into it, I’m sure you won’t be dissapointed!
“What’s wrong with Sprint?” I never said anything is wrong with it. In fact, it’s the only major U.S. carrier that I don’t have personal experience with. The only reason I may stay with AT&T is because my wife likes her iPhone. AT&T’s service is actually very good where I live, so there’s no issue there for me. When traveling however, I have seen terrible signal issues.
Al, I agree that both Nokia devices, but I’m not as effective in that OS; that’s more important to me than more features. Different strokes for different folks.
I have a question about this quote:
“I believe that Sprint has a 90-day exclusive on the Pre, and since I liked what I saw in the Pre at CES, I can definitely wait it out. ”
Where did you hear about Sprints 90-day exclusive on the Pre? I haven’t heard that. All I have heard is Sprint is the exclusive carrier and the GSM version is for Europe. I haven’t heard anything about a 90 day period and possibly going to ATT.
I have had a few generations of blackberries. They are fantastic at messaging whether it’s email, im, twitter etc.
Their biggest weakness though is the browser. It’s just awful even on recent models like the bold or the new 8350I.
I have an android dev phone that’s unlocked with an att sim. No 3g on att with it but it’s an interesting device. I still prefer my blackberry but over time I’m finding I spend more time with G1. The browser is much much better.
I dislike the winmo devices. Apple is too restrictive and I fear Palm won’t have the money to stick it out.
Chris, your facts are correct. We’ll know more at MWC next month but I wasn’t precluding the option of getting an unlocked GSM version to use on AT&T’s network. Historically, I don’t think Palm devices have been “exclusive” on Sprint for more than 3 or 6 months. That could change with the Pre of course, but my gut says no. Exclusivity might mean forever or it might mean: you can only get it from Sprint at launch and we’ll allow it on other U.S. carriers later.