There are 1 reviews of the Blackberry 8830.
From a non-business need for email/phone, this phone fits the bill.
Ok by now you've read most of the reviews other sites about the size, features functions etc.. etc... But for the average user?
Comes in silver -- nope wasnt really thrilled about that, but found a nice night time photo that makes the phone look cool.
Accessories -- I upgraded from a BB7130 and its night/day with the software update. Since it was an upgrade for me saved some money because the car charger and battery charger fit this phone. So have a charger for home and one for work. By the way.. It comes with a really decent case
Email -- Set up two accounts once a school OWA account and a .mac account, really easy to do, and mail comes in really quick. (Verizon quoted me their expectation was within 3-4 min delivery from time sent -- that is pretty accurate)
Surfin the Web - Coming from a 7130 to 8830 is huge update in firmware software. Mind you its still a mobile phone, but depending sites you vist the look is nearly same as actually being online. Speed is relatively quick for pages to load.
Calendar - Ok Have to admit phone did lose a few points here (speaking from mac viewpoint). Did checkout a couple '3rd party' tools gcal and pocketmac, but just wasn't happy or sure based on reviews. Couldnt synch student OWA and ical (way wanted to) to the device.
However.... There's a couple of solutions here that do work. You can use Google calendar and add/view events, but at this time no editing. The other option is to use Yahoo calendar, and for my needs that works fine. With yahoo you can add/delete off the mobile, and it synchs just fine no problems. Course if your on-line it synch just as fine to your device. So fear not there are options..
Camera - Lost a couple of points here. Yeah it be nice to have, but hey not the end of the world. Maybe next go round?
Media - Really not an issue or concern for me here. Yeah pic viewing here its really clear from emails received w/atachments. But for most part have no intentions of adding music or video to phone.
World Travel - Well other than going over the Mississippi or Potomac rivers won't be flying overseas anytime soon. Sooo email/phone features not an issue.
Use as a modem - Now haven't tried this feature yet, and maybe down the road.
Motorola Q - Yeah did look and debated BB or Q. BB was just the better features and latest BB on verizon line. Size/Weight its really about the same.
Phone Call Quality - Really well. Bonus points here for BB w/their voice recognition software. Add the bluetooth device $49.(?) from motorola and you're hands free..
Screen - New feature from BB you can move the icons around the order you want. Mind you the top row is always on display so you have your fav on top. The remaining icons are hidden and you can move them around as well.
BB Maps - I actually deleted this one from my device because I have a garmin 550 device (another nice toy) so dont have a need for this application.
Cover/Memory Disk - Lost points here for the cover, little clunky and tricky to remove. The disk fits just above the battery and a little tricky to insert.
Overall Performance? - Yes 4
Speed and call quality is fine and what expected. Web (firmware) clarity/speed huge upgrade coming from a 7130, especially from tru-type to full QWERTY, and the key pad is illuminated.
For the 'average' user yes this phone is more than enough for what you need and light. Perhaps it could be a '5' if decide to go the modem route, but for now 4+.
Sorry for the long review, but for those folks on the bubble should I or shouldn't I hope this helps. Please keep in mind go to help you decide read the online reviews (lot out there 50/50 no matter what phone u'r looking at); but do your homework and then go to the Verizon or Cingular store and play with the phone. Then come back do a little more research, call you provider and ask questions (you be surprise to hear some of the geeky techqie stuff u learn) and go back to the store and play with the device. Yeah do it as often as you need to, remember most important...
YOUR the consumer, and customer -- YOUR ultimately paying the price for services -- so get the device you want and need.
Course.. have fun w/it...
