Rogers BlackBerry 8300 — Final Impressions

Posted
by
Kyle McInnes
on May 4, 2007, at 3:41 PM
in News and Reviews
.
Comments: 17 responses
17 Comments

BlackBerry 8300

More words from our man on the inside, “RogersDude69″. As the title implies, this will probably be his final post. Click the more link to read scattered but in-depth analysis about RIM’s newest device.

Hey guys. First of all, thanks for all the comments to my posts. It’s good to see people are as interested in the Curve as they are — they really should be, it’s a great device.

Hardware Thoughts

After spending more time with the 8300, I really have to say that it’s possibly one of the most well-constructed BlackBerrys to come out in awhile. Overall, it’s more solid and not as flimsy as the Pearl or BlackBerry 8800 (which you can feel shifting around in your hand if you squeeze hard enough). The rubberized sides are a big, big plus, offering better protection and it won’t flake off like the cheap metallic paint found on other BBs.

8300_6.jpg

I didn’t mention this yesterday, but the soft keys around the trackball are rounded and angled, which makes them more comfortable to use than those on the BlackBerry 8800. The screen also seems brighter to me than the 8800, which also improves the colours that are displayed — they’re a lot more vibrant.

BlackBerry 8300 Keys

I do have some problems with the device, however. Like the Pearl, the slot for the MicroSD card is underneath the battery, which is kind of a pain. The BlackBerry 8800 fixed this, but I think RIM had to sacrifice this small bit of functionality for size. Another bother is the fact that — once again, like the Pearl — the speaker is behind the back of the case, so get ready to bust out your drills!

Software Thoughts

First thing’s first: the spellchecker is great! About time! Other than that, there are a few changes to the OS that I didn’t mention yesterday. The “Turn Wireless Off” icon is now “Manage Connections”, from which you can turn Bluetooth, or wireless data on and off without affecting your cell coverage.

Bluetooth is also no longer crippled like on previous RIM devices. You can now Bluetooth files (images, mp3s, etc.) from your desktop! I’ll send you guys a little how to.

Final Thoughts

This is a great device that hits a nice sweet spot for RIM. It’s the perfect consumer BlackBerry, and features enough to appease the enterprise crowd (as long as they don’t mind a camera). What I don’t understand is why people keep bitching about a lack of Wi-Fi and GPS. Consumers don’t need that in a BlackBerry: they need better multimedia functionality in a sleek device with a full-QWERTY keypad. The BlackBerry Curve delivers.

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  • CRuss

    Thanks for the inside info. Does anyone have any info on the replacement/upgrade for the pearl. I’m a happy 7130e user and I just love the keyboard. Why did they have to go to that squishy keyboard on the pearl? If they come out with a “reduced keyboard” version of the 8300 I would have one in a second. So any word out there?

  • CRuss

    Thanks for the inside info. Does anyone have any info on the replacement/upgrade for the pearl. I’m a happy 7130e user and I just love the keyboard. Why did they have to go to that squishy keyboard on the pearl? If they come out with a “reduced keyboard” version of the 8300 I would have one in a second. So any word out there?

  • Icepak

    I am really looking forward to this device. Any word on a release date for T-mobile USA? My only concern for this device is that it might be too bulky after using the Pearl. The 8700 is too fat for me but the 8800 seems a tolerable size.

  • Icepak

    I am really looking forward to this device. Any word on a release date for T-mobile USA? My only concern for this device is that it might be too bulky after using the Pearl. The 8700 is too fat for me but the 8800 seems a tolerable size.

  • George

    Are you saying you can now selectively choose to turn off mail while still being able to dial and answer phone calls? Or vice-versa?

  • George

    Are you saying you can now selectively choose to turn off mail while still being able to dial and answer phone calls? Or vice-versa?

  • Pete

    Hmmm …. where’s the numlock and caps lock keys?

  • Pete

    Hmmm …. where’s the numlock and caps lock keys?

  • Blocq

    Lower left and lower right. I believe…

  • Blocq

    Lower left and lower right. I believe…

  • happyhands

    Hi!

    I am a happy man who try a 8300 and i agree all in the articel. and it works great whit bluethoot headset for mediaplayer. Big thanks tom RIM / Blackberry for a very good work. keep on going.

  • happyhands

    Hi!

    I am a happy man who try a 8300 and i agree all in the articel. and it works great whit bluethoot headset for mediaplayer. Big thanks tom RIM / Blackberry for a very good work. keep on going.

  • happyhands

    Hi!

    I am a happy man who try a 8300 and i agree all in the articel. and it works great whit bluethoot headset for mediaplayer. Big thanks tom RIM / Blackberry for a very good work. keep on going.

  • Dr D

    Hey all, I have the Pearl since the 2nd week of Dec. It has been great, except for some minor exceptions. It was my first BlackBerry and more than exceeded most of my expectations. What I found faulty with the Pearl is as follows : 1- the rear cover falls off easily in your hand while on a call or in your pocket. 2- the camera is of the lowest quality I have ever experienced in a cell phone. 3- blue tooth use is limited to what can be sent, cannot even send pics. Then just this Sunday night the flash for the camera decided to turn on while the phone was not in use and nothing I did would turn it off, including flashing the opperating system as per blackberry’s recomendation. But Blackberry exchanged the cell immediately without hesitation which is something I cannot say most other manufacturers would do.
    The keyboard is nice compared to standard cell phones but the keys are awkward enough that if not careful as you type you tend to hit more than one key at a time and my fingers are not large.
    I will be purchasing either of the two new models that Blackberry has, the 8300 Curve or the 8800. So far from what I have read the Curve seems to be the best option for someone who does not use a Blackberry to its fullest (since I do not use it for major file sharing/net access etc)

    If anyone has any suggestions I am all ears/eyes lol

  • Dr D

    Hey all, I have the Pearl since the 2nd week of Dec. It has been great, except for some minor exceptions. It was my first BlackBerry and more than exceeded most of my expectations. What I found faulty with the Pearl is as follows : 1- the rear cover falls off easily in your hand while on a call or in your pocket. 2- the camera is of the lowest quality I have ever experienced in a cell phone. 3- blue tooth use is limited to what can be sent, cannot even send pics. Then just this Sunday night the flash for the camera decided to turn on while the phone was not in use and nothing I did would turn it off, including flashing the opperating system as per blackberry’s recomendation. But Blackberry exchanged the cell immediately without hesitation which is something I cannot say most other manufacturers would do.
    The keyboard is nice compared to standard cell phones but the keys are awkward enough that if not careful as you type you tend to hit more than one key at a time and my fingers are not large.
    I will be purchasing either of the two new models that Blackberry has, the 8300 Curve or the 8800. So far from what I have read the Curve seems to be the best option for someone who does not use a Blackberry to its fullest (since I do not use it for major file sharing/net access etc)

    If anyone has any suggestions I am all ears/eyes lol

  • nikky

    hey guys~ i been searching thru numerous sites trying to find the release date.. does anyone have a clue?

  • nikky

    hey guys~ i been searching thru numerous sites trying to find the release date.. does anyone have a clue?