Customer Reviews

RIM 950 Blackberry Internet Edition Wireless Handheld

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

01-22-2002 Update: Still love it. Internet Edition. Regular Duracell AA Battery lasts a minimum of 10 days, and up to 3 weeks. Note: you CAN choose your preferred "reply-to" email address [at least with Earthlink].

This review is prompted by several comments here about battery life. My RIM 950 Internet Edition arrived just prior to the national WTC debacle. First, I installed the supplied (Duracell) AA battery and allowed time [5-6 hours max] for it to recharge the internal li-ion battery; that back-up internal battery is what ensures that data will not be lost if the AA battery drains. Immediately following that initial charging, I used the "status" command, under "Options", to determine that battery strength was then at 86%. During the week of September 10th, I pulled, quite literally, hundreds of web pages into the device, via the free trancell.com service; I was assisting a friend, who had a loved one on floor 94 in the first tower struck, to locate pertinent information. I also exchanged much more e-mail than would ordinarily be the case: my cell phone did not work at the time, and land-line phones [Connecticut] were also of little use during the heat of the crisis; but the RIM worked fine throughout. Let me be clear here-- that Web-concentrated researching was virtually round the clock until Friday morning, when I had read enough to understand precisely where the plane struck [between floors 91 and 96], and its implications.

Note that prior to purchasing the device, I researched it thoroughly for about 2 months, both here at Amazon.com and at the message boards at rimroad.com, as well as throughout the Net generally. Thus, I understood that employing certain steps would prolong the 950's battery life. Accordingly, I made it a point to keep the device upright at virtually all times, as opposed to laying it down on a desk or the like; and, set the auto-off feature to turn off on weekdays between 2 and 7 a.m., and weekends between midnight and 10 a.m. Despite my profoundly heavy usage during week one, the battery initially installed had dipped only to 33% by the 7th day of use. Nonetheless, I started out with a new battery on that day 7. During the 2nd week, each day I received at least 3 selected news headline packages, each of which typically involved my follow-up requests for about 5 or so full-text articles. I also exchanged, on average, about 30 emails daily. By day #14, that 2nd battery was at 52% strength.

In short, I now see that folks were correct at rating battery life at 1-2 weeks, on average, for the "950". To the contrary, the 850 [which uses a different network] is well-known to be a battery hog, typically offering only 2-3 days of battery life, regardless of battery conservation attempts.

...I continue to use my Casio E125 for PIM-related data, although the RIM has this feature as well. However, I did import my Outlook contacts into the RIM's address book; thankfully, that too proved to be a no-fuss, no-sweat procedure. I use the RIM for virtually all e-mail tasks these days, and also to secure- automatically- daily updates of particular web pages, news, stock quotes, instant messaging, etc,-- all such services being free offerings from various 3rd parties [see rimroad.com "General" board for details]. I remain pleasantly mystified by the sheer intuitiveness of the device. Indeed, I seldom use my notebook [desktop replacement] for email anymore, and I've noticed that when it comes to "surfing the web", I'm more inclined to employ the RIM-- it's simply easier and quicker, all the way around, thanks to the stripped down plain text involved.

My primary pre-purchase concerns focused on coverage and battery life. Now, my singular regret is that I didn't learn about or purchase this device earlier. The battery life is incredibly good, and in-house coverage puts my cell phone to shame. In terms of comparative signal strength in-house, my cell typically hovers between 2-3 bars; the RIM, 4-5. You need only 2-bar strength to transmit via the RIM. Try a conversation with a 2-bar strength cell phone, and you'll quickly develop the ability to create multi-syllabic cuss words! In closing, while I fervently believe that everyone has a right to voice an opinion, I do wish the "it's great/lousy" remarks were coupled with the FACTUAL DETAILS giving rise to the conclusions stated. I've tried to do so here, so you'll better understand why I recommend, withOUT reservation, that you grab the 950, yesterday!

I bought one of these on [the web] for SUBSTANTIALLY less ...than new, and I am quite pleased. But I would feel burned if I had bought this new, as even basic service is [dollar amount] a month. The service providers should do like the cell phone companies do and get you hooked for free or dirt cheap. For all I know, that's how I got this one; it was in sealed packaging with Motient (a national provider) all over the box.

I imagine most people get this through work, so someone has already configured everything. But I'll be the one to state the obvious: you buy the thing. You contact the service provider, none of whom seem to care to make this at all easy, and motient actually had me call a number and give my email over the phone to a guy who didn't identify the company at first. This did not inspire confidence, but otherwise they have been top notch. Then you send "register now" message that is preloaded. you will get a message back saying that your device is recognized. Now you're ready to go.
Next, I would send an email to your desktop account (hotmail, etc.) From that email, you can determine what your blackberry email adress is. I have no idea why they don't make this step less convoluted; again, I guess with business users, everything is pre-configured. Your blackberry address is like any other email adress, and can respond to any email address, not just other blackberries. I tested from desktop to bb and back over and over; it took at most 10 minutes to go through, slower for bb to desktop. I was most awe-stricken when I put in a fax number with area code and the thing printed my message. Now I just need to figure out how this function would be of any use to me. Anyway, it was included with basic service.

...The BB on rimroad is much more honest re: coverage and support than any company trying to sell the same to you. The last two are "I can't believe they're free" portals to headlines, weather, fed ex tracking, etc that you can receive via mail. Makes you realize how helpful the web/net/email could be once we get bored with graphics and Java. Beware the headline updates on cnn.com/msnbc.com if you have basic service. You get giant headers and trailers for very little trade off in info. There goes your monthly 150 kb.

Wireless coverage from motient is a little better than my Sprint Nokia, which is to say not great. It does better in windowless rooms; it seems to have the biggest problem with cinderblock. If I did depend on this for my job, I would be very, very disappointed.
As a Pda, I like it more than my palm, as I can enter things more quickly and work it one handed. Harder to read, however. But again, I am hardly a power user of my palm, which stays home by the phone more often than not.

I've used both the Palm VII and the Motorola TimePort, and the BlackBerry 950 is far better and more convenient for 2-way messaging than either. Compared to the TimePort, the BlackBerry is smaller, lighter, and has a much more elegant user interface. For example: it will receive any length message, it allows you to type a subject line, it allows you to set the return email address to be your regular email address, and it allows you to add the sender of an incoming email to your address book on the BlackBerry with one click. The little thumbwheel to traverse menus and select items from menus is great. I also like the fact that the BlackBerry runs on regular penlight batteries, compared to the Motorola which has a proprietary battery and requires that you keep the charger with you. The biggest advantage compared to the Palm VII is that the BlackBerry is always on.

What a great way to stay in touch ! Now with everyone getting hooked on the internet it is fast becoming a main solution for communication.. and now that is totally accessible anywhere, anytime. Rim's pager is compact, lightweight and easy to figure out. There is no connecting or dialing up, its always connected and has great coverage. Also you can hook it up with your home or business pc to stay in touch with whats going on at work when you are not in the office. It's a discreet way of keeping up to the minute, whether its stock quotes, an important meeting, or a change in plans, it will all be available in your hand. Wireless instant email, with complete messages typed on a full keyboard, no more miscommunication from incomplete messages or late responses. The keyboard is easy to get a hang of you would be surprised how fast I can type on it! It's an ideal way too keep on top of your email to avoid overflowing inboxes and keep track of whats important during your busy day. Also all this wonderful technology runs on a single AA battery for weeks, no need for charging or scrambling for batteries and there is also a backlit screen for use in dark. I am so pleased with my pager and it just makes life alot easier for me and the people I need to keep in touch with. They can always reach me day or night and I can always be sure my message has been recieved. A great product and I look forward to many more great things from Research In Motion, keep up the good work!

I've been using mobile communications for a while and have found RIM makes a great product. But the service offered with the product leaves some to be desired. Specifically, the BellSouth Wireless service that supports the product isn't all that great. From what I've learned, coverage is spotty, unreliable, and not that broad. I have found one network that supports the RIM device that provides great coverage. It's a company called MOTIENT and the service is eLink (it uses the RIM device too). MOTIENT has a larger network (the largest in the country) with better coverage, even in buildings! So, take some advice and check out the competition first before you buy. I did and couldn't be happier with the service offered by Motient. After all, the device is nothing without a network to support it!

I have both the RIM 950 & 850 inter@ctive pagers. I have the RIM 850 to be more useful. The RIM-950 runs on the "BellSouth Wireless Data Network" (BSWD) and the RIM-850 runs on the "Motient" network. The Motient network is a lot better in my opinion. BSWD is not available everywhere yet. I am better off using my RIM-850 than my RIM-950. I will be glad when Amazon starts offering the RIM-850.

I love my RIM 950 Blackberry now that I have one. I had heard about them from everyone, and even seen one in a movie, so I finally caved and got one. This little tiny thing is amazing, and with all the things it can do. I might as well toss my pager away as we speak. It's about the size of a pager (maybe a little bigger) but it makes you feel as if it is a pager.

That's probably one of the main things I like about the Blackberry. It's sheer size helps it get carried anywhere you need it. It even fits into a shirt pocket. I hate carrying things on my belt (it'll probably look dumb anyway), so I just have it in my pocket. The keyboard is also fairly original and it's 100% easier to use than handwriting recognition by far, and since the blackberry doesn't have a touch screen, all the browsing is done by a control wheel which is actually easier than it looks when you try it. I wish the backlight was brighter, though. It would help a lot.

I'm not sure I want to purchase service yet, so I just use it for it's scheduler, and the other things such as Address Book, Memopad, Tasks (also know as To Do list), Calender, Calculator, and the Alarm (very useful). All of these things come in handy for someone who constantly forgets things, and that's exactly why I finally got one. It saved me for sure. For instance, just yesterday I was getting two of my relatives addresses, and I didn't have any paper (it was at a party) and so I whipped out my Blackberry and jotted it down into the Address Book.

I have only one complaint. It eats up batteries like there's no tomorrow if you turn it off. It's better to leave it on if you're reading my review and you're planning to get one. Surprisingly, it actually keeps a really good battery time life if you leave it on. I was flabbergasted when I figured this out. It's great how it only needs one AA battery to do everything it does. A great PDA which I recommend to any business person who doesn't always want to lug around a lap top.

but now I want one too. Its *SO* much more reliable than a cell phone. When I NEED to reach him, I can reach him. He loves it too.

The battery (AA) in the Blackberry 950 will last for weeks even without shutting it off and even with lots of daily usage.

This thing saved my life. I am chronically disorganized (always writing things down on slips of paper and losing them, forgetting appointments, and such). Well, now I have it all in one place and it nags me enough so I can't forget anything! I love these things.

The only reason I held back and gave it 4 stars instead of five is because it eats so many batteries I might have to get a second job soon just to keep it supplied. I have to replace the battery every 2 days or so, that seems to be an awful lot.

But the other functions more than make up for the battery-eating capacity! Don't let that deter you (plus you can always use the docking cradle and use A/C power when you're not on the go (not really often enough in my life for the docking cradle to be very useful though!)