RIM Wireless Handhelds 957 BlackBerry Internet Edition - 386 RAM: 512 KB - ROM: 5 MB

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Product Details

• ASIN: B00004WGTA
• Item model number: 957 BlackBerry Internet Edition
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (28 customer reviews)

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

Cons:

• 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

Product Description
RIM Wireless Handhelds include the most advanced wireless technology allowing you to send and receive e-mail from the palm of your hand. Creating and retrieving information is amazingly simple using the optimized keyboard, thumb-operated trackwheel, easy-to-read backlit screen and intuitive menu-driven interface. With RIM Wireless Handhelds you don't need to retrieve your e-mail. Your e-mail finds you. No dialing-in. No initiating connections. No antennas to rise. No effort required. The handhelds are designed to remain on and continuously connected to the wireless network, allowing you to be discreetly notified as new e-mail arrives. Now you can easily stay in touch with your colleagues and clients while you're on the go.BlackBerry Internet Edition is designed to allow leading service providers to offer an end-to-end wireless e-mail solution with single mailbox integration. The BlackBerry solution includes a choice of powerful RIM Wireless Handhelds with integrated e-mail/organizer software, PC docking cradle, PC synchronization software and affordable airtime. BlackBerry allows mobile users to access their e-mail and personal organizer wherever they go.

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Customer Reviews

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, September 29, 2000

By A Customer

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, September 28, 2000

By A Customer

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!, April 13, 2002

By	T. Tom (SF Bay Area, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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!