- Size (LWH): 4.6 inches, 3.1 inches, 0.7 inches
- Weight: 5.28 ounces
Product Details
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Product Description
Amazon.com Review
Research in Motion's BlackBerry wireless handheld has been one of the most talked-about handhelds on the market recently--and the press coverage it received due to it being the communication gadgets of choice for Al Gore's presidential campaign certainly didn't hurt. But thanks to its full-function organizer, synchronization with many popular desktop PIMs (personal information managers), thumb-operated QWERTY keyboard, and, of course, wireless e-mail, the RIM 957 BlackBerry is more than just hype.
You won't receive instant wireless gratification right out of the box--you'll need to juice up the internal rechargeable battery via the docking cradle (AC adapter included). Also, the activation process requires you to first register online and wait three to five business days for a confirmation e-mail.
The biggest challenges we faced, thanks to years of Palm usage, were the keyboard and the trackwheel controller. There's no need for a stylus with the RIM 957--all text input is performed using the minikeyboard. At first we were all thumbs, but we got the hang of it after a day's usage and could type away--even hitting the ALT keys (which cover numbers and symbols)--like a pro. And for longer e-mail messages, the RIM 957 is certainly easier and quicker than writing Graffiti characters with the Palm stylus.
And instead of tapping screen icons to access functions or scroll through a screen (the RIM 957's screen is not touch sensitive), you use the trackwheel on the right side of the device. Just roll to a desired item and press it in to select it; this is also how you access menu items when in a list, such as the address book. To return to the previous screen (or get out of the menu), simply press the Escape key below the trackwheel.
We easily synchronized the device with our Outlook contacts, to-do lists, and calendar. The RIM 957's desktop software includes Intellisync, which can synchronize the device with Microsoft Outlook and Schedule+, GroupWise, Lotus Organizer and Notes, Symantec ACT!, Goldmine, and Netscape.
Once out on the road, e-mailing was a breeze--we maximized our time by sending messages back to our office from New York taxis and while waiting for a delayed flight. With the device on, e-mail was received automatically, and we were notified with a simple tone. You can also set the device to vibrate, which is helpful when the RIM 957 is stored in the included belt-clip case.
The RIM 957 does have some shortcomings. There's no Web browsing, and you won't be able to use applications developed for the Palm OS, the predominant handheld platform. Also, you will have to work with your company's system administrator or your ISP to receive messages from your company or other e-mail account. Finally, if you are in a rural area, you might not get any connection, as the monthly wireless service (provided through Aether Systems) is primarily focused on larger metropolitan areas.
That said, if you're a modern-day road warrior who needs to be connected to e-mail at all times, the RIM 957 offers all the tools of a personal organizer without the hassle of having to jack into a modem or cell phone to get online. --Agen Schmitz
Pros:
- Wireless e-mail as easy as paging
- Typing long messages with built-in keyboard is easier than writing using Palm Graffiti
- Full-function organizer and easy synchronization with desktop PIMs
- Not compatible with Palm OS applications
- Most rural areas won't receive service--be sure to check Aether Systems for availability in your area
- Won't automatically connect to your company e-mail account
Amazon.com Product Description
The RIM 957 Blackberry Internet Edition Wireless Handheld offers a complete wireless e-mail and personal organizer solution for the mobile professional. Compose e-mail messages using the built-in keyboard, then send and receive e-mail via the embedded wireless modem. Integrate e-mail sent from the RIM handheld device with your primary desktop e-mail account. The RIM 957 also comes with a full-featured organizer, allowing you to keep track of your contacts, schedule, and to-do lists. You can then synchronize this data with such desktop PIMs as Microsoft Outlook, Lotus Organizer and Notes, Symantec ACT!, and GroupWise.
About the size of a Palm device, the RIM 957's screen has a sharp LCD screen with 15 to 19 lines of viewable text. The main menu features intuitive icons and menus that are accessed with a thumb-operated trackwheel. The device has 5 MB of flash memory (plus 512 KB SRAM) and operates on a 32-bit Intel386 processor. It runs on an internal lithium-ion battery that recharges through the docking cradle.
The RIM 957 Blackberry comes with a docking cradle, a belt-clip slipcase, Blackberry Desktop Manager software, and a Blackberry installation and user's guide.
Important note to customers: The RIM 957 Blackberry Wireless Handheld requires a $39.95 monthly wireless service through Aether Systems. An activation guide with details is included in the box. Should you have questions or need assistance regarding service details, contact Aether Systems by email at moreinfo@myaetherbb.com or by phone at 866-815-2701.
Customer Reviews
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
64 of 66 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Best PDA device in the market,
By A Customer
This review is from: BlackBerry Wireless Handhelds 957 BlackBerry Internet Edition - 386 RAM: 512 KB - ROM: 5 MB (Wireless Phone Accessory)
I have had a 957 Blackberry for about 5 months, and it has changed the way that I stay connected. No more dialing in to get e-mails, no more Palm mail synchronization woes. With a Blackberry you are connected 24x7 and if you purchase the optional MS Exchange server software you don't ever have to worry about leaving your computer on to forward messages from your desktop.The small thumb keyboard took a while to get used to, but after a couple of weeks, I can safely say I was able to type messages and notes faster than on my Palm. The small trackwheel is intuitive and easy to use, and the 5MB of RAM have proven to be more than sufficient for several weeks worth of mail, notes, address book, etc. I also purchased GoAmerica's web service and although it can sometimes take a few seconds to access, it is well integrated with the rest of the functionality of the Blackberry and offers extensive web coverage. The screen for the 957 is large enough for email and web browsing, and it's also well lit with a back light for "night" reading. My only complaint is the lack of coverage on non-large metropolitan areas--RIM has little to do with this, but one gets so used to the full time connectivity and reliability of this device that it is frustrating to travel somewhere and find yourself out of reach. I strongly recommend this product.
62 of 72 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Nice but limited,
By A Customer
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: BlackBerry Wireless Handhelds 957 BlackBerry Internet Edition - 386 RAM: 512 KB - ROM: 5 MB (Wireless Phone Accessory)
My company ordered one of these after reading an article about BlackBerry in The New York Times (9/21/2000). It's a beautiful piece of technology. Unfortunately, it looks like we'll be returning it, for two reasons. First, we use AOL for business email and we only found out belatedly that AOL does not support BlackBerry at this time. We had called BlackBerry before buying the machine, and a customer service rep assured us that AOL and CompuServe and were supported. AOL confirmed to us that this is not the case. Second, BlackBerry's wireless partner, Aether Systems, has very limited coverage outside of major coastal cities and some cities like Chicago. Large portions of the country, especially the so-called "flyover" states, are not covered.We're probably going to go with a Palm. Check out the BlackBerry VERY carefully before investing your money.
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderfully enabling piece of technology!,
By
This review is from: BlackBerry Wireless Handhelds 957 BlackBerry Internet Edition - 386 RAM: 512 KB - ROM: 5 MB (Wireless Phone Accessory)
I like to refer to devices that help people to communicate with each other as 'enabling' devices. The Blackberry is one such device and it does a great job at it. It's worth it's weight in gold and then some!The RIM 957 just works well, period. It does what it's supposed to and does it well. And it doesn't try to do everything. For instance, it's not really a good subsitute for a PDA. It's address book is more useful to store emails and the calendar does not compare to Palm's. I had previously tried the Palm i705 and had a terrible time with it, despite the fact that it includes other non wireless PDA functionality. The Palm service coverage kept dropping out and it was not reliable. The Blackberry on the other hand is wonderfully reliable and proven. It has a better screen than the i705, and has a built-in small QWERTY keyboard that is a joy to use. It's quick to type on and all functions are very user intuitive-a great design. It's difficult to put a monetary value on something that enables me to be in email contact all the time wherever I am. The unit is like a pager and stays on all the time and I can read and write emails with ease. I also opted for the web browsing option through my service provider and although it can really only browse WML (WAP) websites, the screen holds a lot of text and it is quite useful for both emailing and browsing. The way the Blackberry service works, is that you forward your home email to your Blackberry email address. Most ISPs support this, and you can even opt to also have the emails left on your ISPs server so that they are also downloaded to your home computer. When you use the Blackberry to send or respond to an email, it is setup so that emails come from your home email address. In this way, people do not even know that I am using a wireless device to send them email! Now I don't have to be tied to my home or office computer to be in contact. In fact, I find myself not turning on my home computer as much. It's really cool to be able to do email without a computer. I got mine through Earthlink, ... Granted, the device is a bit expensive but more so is the service. To me it's totally worth it and is still less then my monthly cable TV bill, yet is so much more useful!
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