Reviewing the Benefits and Disadvantages of the Blackberry Pearl and Curve

There are two major devices when it comes to Blackberry: the 8100 Pearl series and the 8300 Curve series. After using these phones for almost three years, I have come across many wonderful features as well as a few downsides. As with any product, results vary from consumer to consumer, but it is always nice to have some insight from someone else before you commit to buying a particular product.

The Blackberry 8100 Pearl - Free - $349.99 (depending on carrier)

I bought a Blackberry Pearl after being fed up with my existing slider phone. I was done using phones that flipped, slid, twisted, or otherwise transformed. More moving parts means more opportunity for failure (that's a whole other article!).

From the moment I turned it on, I was amazed with the capabilities of the phone. Not only did it allow me to see a text message in it's entirety, it had an intelligent layout in regards to it's menus and navigation. The call quality was average, but nothing that I was ever disappointed in.

Some of the positives the Pearl possess are:

The ever-so-popular track ball. This is an example of simple ingenuity that has opened the full internet (or at least that which is mobile friendly) to the handheld device world.

The smart Qwerty keyboard that allows for normal typing, but in a compact and efficient design. After a few quick text messages, it was very easy for me to blow through messages one after another.

The 1.3 megapixel camera that takes pictures that look decent after uploaded to social media sites. This little phone features digital zoom as well as neat templates for taking self portraits or funny pictures of other people

It also has a built-in media player that can play back MP3s, MPEG4 video files, WMV files, and more.

It fits nicely in a front pocket or small purse.

Some of the disadvantages to this handset are:

The condensed Qwerty keyboard. While it makes for fast typing, it could be a disadvantage to someone that has larger fingers.

The screen size is decent, but there are phones that have bigger displays.

After time, the call, menu, return, and end buttons begin to feel weak.

I found that it was easy to drop due to its size and shape.

The Blackberry 8300 Curve - $49.00 - $449.00 (depending on carrier)

The Curve is a considerable step up both in terms of usability and functionality. It has a larger display, video capabilities, as well as a full Qwerty keyboard. The phone also has built-in Wi-Fi, so you can access the internet and not use your cell service in some areas. The larger size helped the phone stay in your hand and not slip, though it didn't fit quite as nicely in a front pocket. I found that I typically would store mine in my back pocket instead, and just remember to take it out before I sat on it.

Some of the positives of the Curve are:

The larger display. You can view pictures and videos with ease on it.

The media player is nice, and you can plug in headphones to the device.

The quality of the camera is a little better then the Pearl (2 megapixels)

The full keyboard. It took some getting used to the small keys, but after a little use, it was second nature.

Some of the disadvantages of the Curve are:

The trackball. It tends to get dust and other fine particles (pocket lint) inside, making the entire ball difficult to use sometimes. A little vigorous rolling helps work it out, though.

The operating system seemed to freeze every so often. Not enough to be completely frustrated by it, but often enough that I noticed it was a recurring issue.

Sometimes after opening the Address Book and finding a contact to call, the Address Book would close on it's own. This was frustrating.

All in all, these devices are great for the person that needs to be accessible in an efficient manner. Phone calls, text, email, and the internet make it a very usable handset that does offer many benefits over the competition. I would recommend the Curve over the Pearl simply for the keyboard and larger display. These are two features that would be greatly missed if one were to opt for the Pearl instead.