All articles on this site are by Harry Skevington unless otherwise noted with another byline

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Adesso Slim Touch Desktop
Keyboard (AKB-440UB)


Adesso Slim Touch Bluetooth
Touchpad Mini Keyboard
WKB-4000BB


Adesso SlimTouch Pro
TouchPad keyboard
 WBK-4200UB


AERIAL7 HEADPHONES

Adobe Acrobat 9
Pro Extended


Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0

Adobe PhotoShop Elements 6.0

Adobe Photoshop
 Elements 7


Adobe Premiere
 Elements 7


Adobe PhotoshopElements 8
 And
Adobe Premiere Elements 8


Adobe Photoshop Elements 9
and
premiere Elements 9


Aegis mini 120 Gig
Hard drive by Apricorn


Animoto.com
Free Video Creation


AT&T Impressions
by Samsung SGH-A877


AT&T SYNC by
Samsung SGH-A707


AT&T Blackberry Curve

AT&T Blackjack II
by Samsung


AT&T Nokia Surge
Cell Phone


AT&T Video Share Phones


Audible.com

AverTV Cardbus

AVG Security Internet
Suite Version 8.0


Backup-Pal Backup
 Cell phone Contacts


Blackberry Storm
from Verizon Wireless


Brookstone Earbuds

Buffalo DriveStation
Combo


Canon FS31 Flash Memory Camcorder

Canon PowerShot A495
10 MP digital Camera


CardScan Executive

Casio EX-FC100 10MP
Digital Camera


Casio Exilim Z22 - 7.2 MP
Digital Camera


Casio Exilim EX-Z80
Digital Camera


Casio Exilim 10.1 MP Digital
Camera EX-Z1080


Casio Exilim EX-S10
10.1 MP Digital Camera


Casio Exilim EX-FS10
Hi Speed Digital Camera


Casio EXimim EX-G1
12.1 MP Waterproof
and Shock Resistant
Digital Camera


Casio Exilim EX-H10
12MP Digital 10X Zoom


Casio EX-FH100
10X Digital Camera
Hi-speed & Slow Motion


Casio Exilim Z300
10.1 MP Digital Camera


Casio Exilim EX-Z29
10.1 MP digital Camera


Casio Exilim EX-Z35
12.1 MP Digital Camera


Casio Exilim EX-Z450
12.1 MP Digital Camera


Casio Exilim EX-Z550
Digital Camera


Cingular 3125 Phone

Cingular Blackberry 8800

Clear Harmony Headphones
Ableplanet


CyberDefender
Service Call


Dexim P-Flip iPhone
Power Dock Charger


Dymo LabelWriter
400 Turbo


Digital FOCI
Photo Safe II


DISKGO 1 MINI HD

DiskGO 3.5 DRIVE

Diskeeper Pro Premier
2007


Diskeeper 2010
Professional


DocuPen RC800
Executive Kit


Droid X Motorola Verizon
Android Cell phone


Droid 3 by Motorla
 For Verizon


Duracell PowerSource
Mobile 100


Dymo Discpainter

diskGO 64GB USB
Flash Drive by Edge


Earbud YoY0

ETON Red Cross Radio
FR300


Energizer Energi To Go

Xperio X10 mini pro
Sony Ericsson for ATT


Sony Ericsson Xperia
PLAY 4G Phone


Franklin Speaking
Global Translator
TG-490


Franklin 12 Language
Translator TGA-485


Franklin USB Dictionary
& Thesaurus


Genius Bluetooth Stereo
Headset BT-03A


Genius eFace High-Def
Webcam 2050AF


Genius G-Shot HD-520
Video/Photo Camera


Genius Look 313 WebCam
5 in One


Genius 10 inch Photo
Frame PF-A01


Genius PenSketch
 9by12


Genius SW-T2.1 1800
Speaker System


Griffin Survivor Case
for iPhone


Griffin WindowSeat
HandsFree


Griffin iTrip Auto
HandsFree


Griffin PowerJolt Auto
Charger



H2 Handy Recorder
Samson


i2! Stream Two Pack

iClear Sketch Case
 From Griffin


iHarmonix Platinium
i-Series Headphones


iPhone P-Flip Foldable
Power Dock DEXIM


iStar HDD
Docking Station


iTrip FM for iPod nano
From Griffin


Jaybird HB-200
Bluetooth Stereo Headset


JVC GR-D750
Mini DV Camcorder


Kingston DataTraveler
Mini Thin Thumbdrive


Kingston DataTraveler
150 32 Gig USB Drive


Lenovo IBM ThinkPad

Lenovo IdeaPad
S10-3t Tablet


Lenovo IdeaPad vs a Table
BOTH GOOD depends on needs


Lenovo 22” Wide Monitor
 L220X


Lenovo IdeaPad
Tablet K1


Lenovo THINKPad
 REVISITED


Lenovo Thinkpad
R400


Lenovo ThinkPad
Bluetooth Laser Mouse


LG enV2 Phone For
Verizon Wireless


LG Dare Phone From
Verizon Wireless


LG Decoy Phone
Verizon Wireless


LG Incite Phone
AT&T


LG REVOLUTION
VERIZON


LG Voyager in Titanium
for Verizon Wireless


LG Solar Bluetooth
Car Kit HFB-500


LITE-ON LightScribe
External Drive


Logitech QuickCam
Ultra Vision SE


Logitech X-240 2.1
Speaker System


Love Hate Relationship

Luminex Screen Cleaner
by iFrogs


MagicCables From
Data Drive Thru


MagicJack
Phone Line


McAfee Internet Security

My New iPad 2

 My New Mac
Lion Edition


MoGo Talk XD2
Case and Bluetooth Headset
Package


Muvee Reveal

NETGEAR Travel Router

OPEN IT!
CUTTER TOOL


OtterBox iPod
Cases


OtterBox Cases HTC ERIS
Commuter Impact


Otterbox Defender
iPhone Case


Panasonic PV-GS31

Panda Security

Pantech Matrix Pro
For AT&T


Pictureal

PictureITPostage.com

Pinnacle Studio Ultimate 11

Plustek Mobile Office D28
Corporate


Plustek OptiCard 821

Plustek Smartoffice
Pl1530 ADF Scanner


PowerDVD v7 Max

Proshow Gold

PUROSOL CLEANERS

RCA JETSTREAM
MP3 Player


REBIT EXTERNAL
Backup Appliance


REBIT 500 GIG EXTERNAL
Backup Appliance


NEW 2010
REBIT BACKUP
APPLIANCE


RoboForm

RoboForm Pro
2010


RoboForm 7

SAITEK

S. beat MP3 Swiss Knife

SandiskSansa Clip
MP3 Player


Sansa Clip 8GB
MP3 Player


SanDisk Mobile Ultra
& Card Reader


Sandisk Sansa Fuze
Mp3 Player


Sandisk Sansa
slotMusic Player


Sennheiser CX300

Sansung NV10
 Digital Camera


Samsung L77
Digital Camera


Samsung L830
Digital Camera


Samsung SL202
Digital Camera


Samsung Behold Touch
Phone For T-Mobile


Samsung Captivate
phone for AT&T


SANSUNG FASCINATE
PHONE FOR AT&T


Samsung Focus Windows 7
Phone for At&T


SAMSUNG GALAXY TAB
FOR T-Mobile


Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1

Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1
For Verizon


Samsung Glyde SCH-u940
Touch Phone


Samsung SGH-339 Cell Phone
For T-Mobile


Samsung Intercept Android
Phone for Sprint


Samsung InFuse Smartphone
 for AT&T


Samsung Memoir Phone
For T-Mobile SGH-t929


Samsung Moment
Android Phone
For Sprint


Samsung Jack Phone
for AT&T


SAMSUNG GOOGLE
NEXUS S SMARTPHONE


Samsung Sunburst
SGH-A697 for AT&T


SanDisk Storage Cards
and Imagemate Multi Reader


Simply Audiobooks

Sleek Cell Phone Universal
Signal Booster by Wilson


SPRINT ACE PHONE
FROM SAMSUNG


StealthSurfer

SurroundX Portable
Speaker System


Super Talent 8GB
USB Flash Drive


Targus PR700 Easy
Roller Notebook Case


Targus WiFi Scanner
ACW20US


Targus Wireless
Laser Mouse


The Tornado
USB FILE TRANSFER


TruLink Wireless USB to VGA
 with integrated audio Kit
by Cables To Go

 
TuneJuice Universal
Charge by Griffin


Verbatim Store “n” Go
12 GB USB hard drive


Verizon Wireless

Verizon Wireless
 THE Blitz from PCD


Verizon Wireless
HTC Droid ERIS


Verizon Wireless
Motorola DEVOUR
Android


Verizon Wireless
Droid Pro by Motorola


Verizon Wireless FlipShot
by Samsung


Verizon Wireless
HTC DROID Incredible


ATT Wireless
Inspire 4G by HTC


Verizon Wireless
ThunderBolt by HTC


Verizon Wireless
Intrigue by Nokia


Verizon Wireless
Ozone by HTC


Victorinox
Swiss Flash 8GB


VideoStudio 10 Plus

Warranty Thoughts

WebEasy Pro 6.0

Western Digital
My Passport Elite 320 Gig


Western Digital
My Book Studio Edition II


WikiReader

Windows 7
Beta Test


Windows 7 Media Center

Windows 7
Release Candidate


YURBUDS Earphones

XPERIA X10 Phone
Sony Ericsson AT&T


ZONET USB Firewire
 

 

AT&T Blackberry Curve

October 1 2007

AT&T Blackberry Curve 8300
Harry Tries Again
I know; I said Blackberry’s are not for me at the end of my review of the 8800. However, when the chance came to check out the AT&T Blackberry Curve, I thought why not. I was very impressed with the 8800 but was all thumbs, so to speak, when it came to communicating with others by text messaging on the QUERTY keyboard. Must be arthritis setting in because my thumbs felt like they were in a torture chamber during that first test period. I now hold the Curve in one hand and poke at the keys with one finger of the other when using it. That is the way I type. I never use my thumbs. A couple of fingers on each hand seem to get the job done on the computer keyboard so why not use just one on the QWERTY keyboard of a Blackberry. It also helps that the daughter living in Phoenix pushed me to do more instant messaging. She also taught me some short cuts. I did much better with the curve.

The Blackberry Curve is much like the 8800 but I found the keyboard to be much easier to use. The look is silver sleek rather than mostly somber black. The edges are more curvaceous than previous models. Overall it is very good to look at.


In the box

Blackberry Curve 8300
USB Cable & travel charger
Hands free 3.5 mm Stereo Headset
Lithium-Ion Battery
C-Rom with Blackberry Desktop Software media manager
Getting started Guide
Quick Start Guide

When doing research for this review I checked the Blackberry website and found one of the best online tutorials I have ever seen. This learning experience gave me a much better understanding of the Blackberry culture overall and the Curve specifically. There is a short Blackberry video included on the Curve so take a look if you decide to go for one.

I will not list the many business features already mentioned in my 8800 review or on the AT&T website. Blackberrys are well known as business friendly. My interest is in the things added or improved with the addition of the Curve to the line. First it has a 2 Mega Pixel camera with flash (a great move) and a 5X zoom. It takes very acceptable photos. Unfortunately there is no video recording as yet. I have included several shots here as well as uploaded most of them to my Flickr site. I was quite happy with the camera improvements.

 I copied and played several videos created with the Logitech WEBCAM. Reproduction was perfect. Video downloaded from the web looked quite good. The screen has great color. The screen seems bigger and can be adjusted for brightness.

I truly appreciate the addition of an email spell checker as my ability to spell is almost non-existent. The ability to easily access Yahoo!® Messenger, AOL® Instant Messenger, & Windows Live(TM) Messenger is a forward move for those who need access to these IM services.

The Curve comes with media management software created by Roxio fo media transfers can be done to and from the phone and a PC using a USB cable. This worked very well.

I set up the Curve’s Bluetooth to link with my Genius Bluetooth stereo headset BT-03A. I heard fine stereo sound and was able to answer the phone by pushing the pause button on the headset. Easily linked the Lenoveo Notebook with the Blackberry Curve using Bluetooth and then used the notebook as an external speaker system. I know this is a stretch but I forgot myself. I also was able to transfer files from the Lenovo notebook to the Blackberry during this test.

I connected the Curve, using its 3.5 mm jack, to the Logitech Stereo Speaker System X-240 and had some great background music while working on this article. I like the 3.5 MM head phone jack as I test many headsets that require this standard jack.

When I attempted to import music to the Blackberry Curve I received messages that stated it would only accept my previously purchased music that was not under DMA protection. I had no problem copying my non-protected or CD ripped music. The music player seemed to sound and perform better that the 8800. The Media Player has been updated.

TelNav was slow to respond but worked well when I requested travel directions. I did find it difficult to navigate around the large map of the USA. I ended up in the Atlantic Ocean many miles from shore several times while trying to get to Florida so I could look at Key West. This was a 30 day free trial version. With the Blackberry it cost 9.99 per month if you subscribe and uses about 30 DATA KBs per route on your AT&T plan. It did do a great job on a routing from Key West to where we used to live in South Carolina.

Memory Card
The phone has 64 MB of internal memory. I used a 1 Gig memory card for photos, imported videos, and Music. There was still plenty of room for business files on the card. I understand you can use a 2 Gig and larger cards but I did not test that.The BlackBerry Curve is rated for 4 hours of talk time and as long as 17 days of standby time.

Amazingly I found the Blackberry Curve so easy to use that I could find myself ecstatic while owning one. It seems RIM is keeping their business customers happy while expanding their fun stuff to make the rest of us believers. The ability to access the Internet, do instant messages (one finger at a time) and have all the other features at my finger tip makes the AT&T Blackberry Curve 8300 a very enticing phone. Unfortunately the purchase price of the Curve (List price is $499.00 but it is $199.00 with a new 2 year AT&T contract and a $100.00 rebate card) and the added monthly cost for those options is more than I feel comfortable paying just to expand my hobby. If I were in a business situation or just loaded with money I would snap one up in an instant.

Harry Skevington has been involved with electronics since 1981. He has taught, written for, and provided support to, computer users since 1985. Information that will help consumers with buying decisions is more important than ever due to the current convergence of computers and other consumer products .

Harry attends CES (Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas on assignment as a working press writer each year to find and write about emerging technology that seems to fit the needs of his readers.

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