BlackBerry Wireless Handheld 950 (handheld, AT&T)

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CNET Editors' Review

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The good: Interface is clean, quick, and intuitive.

The bad: Must purchase as part of an ISP package.

The bottom line: Remarkably easy to use, this pager is a tiny godsend for simple wireless messaging and scheduling.

Review: The RIM 950 Wireless Handheld and its BlackBerry service have become a favorite pet of the e-executive because they are so well designed. The tiny handheld device does just e-mail and scheduling chores. Still, as a slim, trim, and easy-to-use e-mail pager, we loved it because of the highly intuitive controls. We just wish our review unit, packaged with the Internet Edition service, had the features of the Exchange Edition.The RIM 950 Wireless Handheld and its BlackBerry service have become a favorite pet of the e-executive because they are so well designed. The tiny handheld device does just e-mail ... Expand full review

The RIM 950 Wireless Handheld and its BlackBerry service have become a favorite pet of the e-executive because they are so well designed. The tiny handheld device does just e-mail and scheduling chores. Still, as a slim, trim, and easy-to-use e-mail pager, we loved it because of the highly intuitive controls. We just wish our review unit, packaged with the Internet Edition service, had the features of the Exchange Edition.The RIM 950 Wireless Handheld and its BlackBerry service have become a favorite pet of the e-executive because they are so well designed. The tiny handheld device does just e-mail and scheduling chores. Still, as a slim, trim, and easy-to-use e-mail pager, we loved it because of the highly intuitive controls. We just wish our review unit, packaged with the Internet Edition service, had the features of the Exchange Edition.

Like the back of your hand
There are a number of subtle details that make the RIM 950 such a good wireless e-mail solution. The user interface is fabulous; it closely mimics the workings of a desktop e-mail program. The scroll wheel and the well-placed keys make for easy navigation, and the miniature keyboard is remarkably easy to type on. There aren't 10 million options within one screen; it's very clear which functions are accessible from a given screen. Perhaps the only downside is that the paint job on the keys will start to wear off long before the device stops ticking.

The 950 comes with 2MB of memory and a whole bunch of applications, including a full mailbox system with an address book, a calendar, an alarm, a calculator, and a memo pad. A cradle and the BlackBerry desktop manager software allow for synchronization of address books, messages, and organizer data between PC and pager.

Folks who want Web information such as stock quotes and movie listings can load either the same PocketGenie software from WolfeTech that's found on the Motorola PageWriter 2000X, or a slightly different service from GoAmerica. Beware that there are additional fees for these services. Hide Review

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