Home > Consumer Reviews > RIM 950 Blackberry Internet Edition Wireless Handheld

01-22-2002 Update: Still love it. Internet Edition. Regular Duracell AA Battery lasts a minimum of 10 days, and up to 3 weeks. Note: you CAN choose your preferred "reply-to" email address [at least with Earthlink].

This review is prompted by several comments here about battery life. My RIM 950 Internet Edition arrived just prior to the national WTC debacle. First, I installed the supplied (Duracell) AA battery and allowed time [5-6 hours max] for it to recharge the internal li-ion battery; that back-up internal battery is what ensures that data will not be lost if the AA battery drains. Immediately following that initial charging, I used the "status" command, under "Options", to determine that battery strength was then at 86%. During the week of September 10th, I pulled, quite literally, hundreds of web pages into the device, via the free trancell.com service; I was assisting a friend, who had a loved one on floor 94 in the first tower struck, to locate pertinent information. I also exchanged much more e-mail than would ordinarily be the case: my cell phone did not work at the time, and land-line phones [Connecticut] were also of little use during the heat of the crisis; but the RIM worked fine throughout. Let me be clear here-- that Web-concentrated researching was virtually round the clock until Friday morning, when I had read enough to understand precisely where the plane struck [between floors 91 and 96], and its implications.

Note that prior to purchasing the device, I researched it thoroughly for about 2 months, both here at Amazon.com and at the message boards at rimroad.com, as well as throughout the Net generally. Thus, I understood that employing certain steps would prolong the 950's battery life. Accordingly, I made it a point to keep the device upright at virtually all times, as opposed to laying it down on a desk or the like; and, set the auto-off feature to turn off on weekdays between 2 and 7 a.m., and weekends between midnight and 10 a.m. Despite my profoundly heavy usage during week one, the battery initially installed had dipped only to 33% by the 7th day of use. Nonetheless, I started out with a new battery on that day 7. During the 2nd week, each day I received at least 3 selected news headline packages, each of which typically involved my follow-up requests for about 5 or so full-text articles. I also exchanged, on average, about 30 emails daily. By day #14, that 2nd battery was at 52% strength.

In short, I now see that folks were correct at rating battery life at 1-2 weeks, on average, for the "950". To the contrary, the 850 [which uses a different network] is well-known to be a battery hog, typically offering only 2-3 days of battery life, regardless of battery conservation attempts.

...I continue to use my Casio E125 for PIM-related data, although the RIM has this feature as well. However, I did import my Outlook contacts into the RIM's address book; thankfully, that too proved to be a no-fuss, no-sweat procedure. I use the RIM for virtually all e-mail tasks these days, and also to secure- automatically- daily updates of particular web pages, news, stock quotes, instant messaging, etc,-- all such services being free offerings from various 3rd parties [see rimroad.com "General" board for details]. I remain pleasantly mystified by the sheer intuitiveness of the device. Indeed, I seldom use my notebook [desktop replacement] for email anymore, and I've noticed that when it comes to "surfing the web", I'm more inclined to employ the RIM-- it's simply easier and quicker, all the way around, thanks to the stripped down plain text involved.

My primary pre-purchase concerns focused on coverage and battery life. Now, my singular regret is that I didn't learn about or purchase this device earlier. The battery life is incredibly good, and in-house coverage puts my cell phone to shame. In terms of comparative signal strength in-house, my cell typically hovers between 2-3 bars; the RIM, 4-5. You need only 2-bar strength to transmit via the RIM. Try a conversation with a 2-bar strength cell phone, and you'll quickly develop the ability to create multi-syllabic cuss words! In closing, while I fervently believe that everyone has a right to voice an opinion, I do wish the "it's great/lousy" remarks were coupled with the FACTUAL DETAILS giving rise to the conclusions stated. I've tried to do so here, so you'll better understand why I recommend, withOUT reservation, that you grab the 950, yesterday!

I bought one of these on [the web] for SUBSTANTIALLY less ...than new, and I am quite pleased. But I would feel burned if I had bought this new, as even basic service is [dollar amount] a month. The service providers should do like the cell phone companies do and get you hooked for free or dirt cheap. For all I know, that's how I got this one; it was in sealed packaging with Motient (a national provider) all over the box.

I imagine most people get this through work, so someone has already configured everything. But I'll be the one to state the obvious: you buy the thing. You contact the service provider, none of whom seem to care to make this at all easy, and motient actually had me call a number and give my email over the phone to a guy who didn't identify the company at first. This did not inspire confidence, but otherwise they have been top notch. Then you send "register now" message that is preloaded. you will get a message back saying that your device is recognized. Now you're ready to go.
Next, I would send an email to your desktop account (hotmail, etc.) From that email, you can determine what your blackberry email adress is. I have no idea why they don't make this step less convoluted; again, I guess with business users, everything is pre-configured. Your blackberry address is like any other email adress, and can respond to any email address, not just other blackberries. I tested from desktop to bb and back over and over; it took at most 10 minutes to go through, slower for bb to desktop. I was most awe-stricken when I put in a fax number with area code and the thing printed my message. Now I just need to figure out how this function would be of any use to me. Anyway, it was included with basic service.

...The BB on rimroad is much more honest re: coverage and support than any company trying to sell the same to you. The last two are "I can't believe they're free" portals to headlines, weather, fed ex tracking, etc that you can receive via mail. Makes you realize how helpful the web/net/email could be once we get bored with graphics and Java. Beware the headline updates on cnn.com/msnbc.com if you have basic service. You get giant headers and trailers for very little trade off in info. There goes your monthly 150 kb.

Wireless coverage from motient is a little better than my Sprint Nokia, which is to say not great. It does better in windowless rooms; it seems to have the biggest problem with cinderblock. If I did depend on this for my job, I would be very, very disappointed.
As a Pda, I like it more than my palm, as I can enter things more quickly and work it one handed. Harder to read, however. But again, I am hardly a power user of my palm, which stays home by the phone more often than not.

I've used both the Palm VII and the Motorola TimePort, and the BlackBerry 950 is far better and more convenient for 2-way messaging than either. Compared to the TimePort, the BlackBerry is smaller, lighter, and has a much more elegant user interface. For example: it will receive any length message, it allows you to type a subject line, it allows you to set the return email address to be your regular email address, and it allows you to add the sender of an incoming email to your address book on the BlackBerry with one click. The little thumbwheel to traverse menus and select items from menus is great. I also like the fact that the BlackBerry runs on regular penlight batteries, compared to the Motorola which has a proprietary battery and requires that you keep the charger with you. The biggest advantage compared to the Palm VII is that the BlackBerry is always on.

What a great way to stay in touch ! Now with everyone getting hooked on the internet it is fast becoming a main solution for communication.. and now that is totally accessible anywhere, anytime. Rim's pager is compact, lightweight and easy to figure out. There is no connecting or dialing up, its always connected and has great coverage. Also you can hook it up with your home or business pc to stay in touch with whats going on at work when you are not in the office. It's a discreet way of keeping up to the minute, whether its stock quotes, an important meeting, or a change in plans, it will all be available in your hand. Wireless instant email, with complete messages typed on a full keyboard, no more miscommunication from incomplete messages or late responses. The keyboard is easy to get a hang of you would be surprised how fast I can type on it! It's an ideal way too keep on top of your email to avoid overflowing inboxes and keep track of whats important during your busy day. Also all this wonderful technology runs on a single AA battery for weeks, no need for charging or scrambling for batteries and there is also a backlit screen for use in dark. I am so pleased with my pager and it just makes life alot easier for me and the people I need to keep in touch with. They can always reach me day or night and I can always be sure my message has been recieved. A great product and I look forward to many more great things from Research In Motion, keep up the good work!

I've been using mobile communications for a while and have found RIM makes a great product. But the service offered with the product leaves some to be desired. Specifically, the BellSouth Wireless service that supports the product isn't all that great. From what I've learned, coverage is spotty, unreliable, and not that broad. I have found one network that supports the RIM device that provides great coverage. It's a company called MOTIENT and the service is eLink (it uses the RIM device too). MOTIENT has a larger network (the largest in the country) with better coverage, even in buildings! So, take some advice and check out the competition first before you buy. I did and couldn't be happier with the service offered by Motient. After all, the device is nothing without a network to support it!