The BlackBerry 7290 ~ Yes, I am Officially a CrackBerry...
Written: May 29 '06 (Updated May 29 '06)
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Pros: organizes everything, great GPRS, long battery life, great HTML browsing, pushing emails is easy
Cons: not enough detailed instructions included, color resolution/quality could be sharper
The Bottom Line: The BlackBerry 7290 is an addicting device that stores information, browses the net, pushes email (corporate and private) and functions well, but you must learn it.
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| kparsons13's Full Review: BlackBerry 7290 |
~~~Disclaimer: The BlackBerry 7290 is an extremely complicated device to thoroughly go over. This is a long review and I attempted to touch on the most important features that consumers would be looking for.~~~
As a birthday present for myself this year I chose to save up and buy a BlackBerry. I have service through T-Mobile and had been into their store several times to look at the various BlackBerry Models that they offered. I had the option to upgrade my current phone, a Samsung E335, to a BlackBerry at a lower cost than retail with an extension to two years on my contract. I knew this was the route I was going to take, but was unsure about which BlackBerry Model would be affordable and also suit my needs.
After looking over the BlackBerry Models (7290, 7105t, 8700g) online and comparing them to one another, I decided to choose the Blackberry 7290 (BB 7290). Although the BB 8700g was recently introduced into the market to replace the BB 7290, I was told there would still be permanent technical support and a guarantee on the warranty. With my mind at ease, I bought the BB 7290 at $149.99 with a mail in rebate of $50.00 at a T-Mobile retail store. I also knew I had 14 days to try it out and if I wanted a refund by the last day I could bring it back with no problems.
(My BB 7290 is a sleek silver and metallic blue in color rather than the black and silver that is pictured above.)
~What Comes In The Box~
~ BlackBerry 7290
~ Removable and Rechargeable Lithium Cell Battery
~ Domestic and International travel chargers (2 types for International use that will connect to the Domestic easily)
~ BlackBerry Desktop Software (CD ROM)
~ Hands-Free Headset (has a wire connection)
~ Desktop stand made of Sturdy Plastic
~ Plastic Swivel Holster
~ SIM Card to transport all information from your previous phone
~ USB Cable for your computer to charge your BB 7290 while on the go and to back up all information stored daily
~ BB 7290 Welcome Guide
~ BB Wireless Handheld Safety & Product Information Manual
~ BB Software License Agreement & Warranty Booklet
~The Basic Information~
Size ~ 4.5 x 2.9 x 0.9 Inches
Weight ~ 4.9 ounces
Talk Time ~ Up to 4 hours
Standby Time ~ Up to 9 days
Band Frequency ~ 850 MHz,900 MHz,1800 MHz,1900 MHz
Email (Corporate or Personal)
Address Book
Messaging ~ Supports Yahoo!, AOL, and MSN
Alarm Clock
Personal Calender
HTML Web Browser
Bluetooth Wireless Technology
Full QWERTY Keyboard
Color Display
Call Forwarding
Call Waiting
Caller ID
Conference Calling
~The Most Important Features~
The power button for the BB 7290 is located in the middle of the top side. It is flush with the device so you must push it in and hold it for a moment to turn it on. Since the button is practically unnoticeable, you will never have a problem accidentally turning off your BB 7290. Next to the power button is a small Notificaton LED that will blink red when receiving messages.
On the left side of the BB 7290 is an earpiece jack. The earpiece included fits in easily and stays in for comfort when in use. Directly underneath you will find the USB connection port to hook your BB 7290 up to your computer. The USB cable is fair in length and there is a marker with the word "up" to show which direction/side the cable needs to go in. It makes it much easier to plug in rather than trying to figure out which way it needs to go all the time.
On the right side of the BB 7290 is the most important "track wheel" and underneath the "escape button." The track wheel is what maneuvers you around the entire device and clicks in and out by pushing it. You have to use some force when doing so and it doesn't just start clicking on various things when it isn't in use by accident. The escape button is like a back button for a screen but I also found ends your calls as well. You have to hold it in for a moment when ending a call or you will stay connected until the other end hangs up. When closing out a browser or going back to a former Internet Website, the escape button is great.
Unlike the BB 7105t where the microphone is under the #5 key, the BB 7290's is located at the bottom of the device. It makes it much clearer for people to hear you when you have it up to your face. Since it has Bluetooth Wireless Technology I rarely ever see people using it that way but rather have the Bluetooth Headset for convenience.
The screen itself is 2 1/4" in width and 1 1/2" in height. The color resolution is not as nice as the BB 7105t which seems much sharper, however it does the job. It does support 65,000 colors however which makes for a picture for example coming out the same as if it was on your monitor.
The lower half of the BB 7290 is the Full QWERTY Keyboard. If you are used to typing on a computer keyboard, you will have no problem using the 33 keys to reply to an email using your thumbs. It sounds as if it would take a long time but surprisingly once you get used to it, (didn't take me very long but a couple of days) it is very easy.
Lastly, there is in the lower right hand corner a small circular button for the backlight. You have two options here and one is obviously brighter than the other. If you adjust to the less bright screen, you will not use your battery life as quickly. It only takes a quick touch to light up the screen and then a second to make it seem as if it glowing in the dark.
~Setting Up Your Desktop Manager~
The BB Software that is included is very self explanatory. You load it onto your computer and it has three icons. The Application Loader, Back Up and Restore, and Intellisync. Since I do not use Microsoft Outlook or Lotus I did not need to use the Intellisync Functions. For loading applications, you can do that through your Browser on the BB 7290 and there were not any on my desktop that I needed to add. The Back Up and Restore is the most useful out of the three. When you open up the Desktop Manager for the BB each day, it will remind you to Back Up your device. I always do and throw the one from the previous day away. If you should ever need to wipe out your BB 7290 or have a malfunction, it will restore what was last saved on your device.
~Personal Thoughts~
When I brought my BB 7290 home, I was under the impression that the Instruction Manual would enable me to understand this new foreign device. I would soon discover that I was very wrong. The BB 7290 is more than just complex to me and I consider myself to be intelligent enough to understand today's technology for the most part. However I found myself at a loss after reading the Welcome Manual included in the box it came in. I knew that there were many icons on my screen and no idea which one did what.
The best advice that I could take on was to just sit and discover what the BB 7290 was all about. There were 23 icons to learn about. T-Mobile had recommended that I visit BB's website and they had a "101" Lesson that I could watch. If you have dial-up on your computer, this may not be the best route to go. It is like watching a video broken down into several chapters. The 101 Lesson did help me understand my device better.
The icons that are listed on the screen are pretty self-explanatory once you know what they are. For example, a picture of an envelope is for your email or the picture of the Rolodex is the address book. You can get to each icon by scrolling with your track wheel until you land on the one you want. By clicking in the track wheel the icon is selected and you move from there.
The date and time is shown at the top of your screen with the time being more prominent. To the left upper hand corner is the life of the battery. If you have it hooked up to your charger or your USB cable, you will see a lightening bolt icon to show that it is charging. On the opposite side of the screen is your GPRS which has 5 bars. I normally get about 3 or 4 at home which is great and when I am out and about it is usually always 5. There has not been a time when I didn't receive my email or phone calls due to lack of GPRS even when I have been hiking in the mountains. The quad band network can be used in North America, Asia and Europe and from my brother's advice, the BB does well. He travels quite a bit and has not had any problems.
The screen is large enough to read easily. You can change the size of font if you need it larger or smaller. You can even set it to italics which is how mine is currently set up. I don't have the best eye sight and without my glasses I am able to see the screen easily to type out emails or read incoming messages.
The track wheel works very easily. It scrolls quickly and when you push it in to select you do need to use some force. I haven't accidentally called someone or opened up an email by mistake. You can also lock the device if you choose when you are on the go. For some women, I have seen them carry the BB 7290 in their purse. I carry mine on my pocket in the swivel plastic holster. Regardless of the way you travel with it, you can lock it so you aren't dialing Japan while thumbing through your purse for lipstick. It also automatically locks when you place it in the holster and covers the entire device from scratches, scrapes or acccidental contact.
The color is decent but as I stated previously not as good as the BB 7105t. However I am pleased with the pictures and the HTML Browsing over the Internet. You cannot use the BB 7290 as a camera which I miss sometimes from my old phone. However I can receive pictures and use them as a standby screen or wall paper. It comes with some standard photographs already included of landscapes, settings, or a flower if you want to use what is currently on the device.
The Full QWERTY Keyboard is a life saver. I can't imagine sharing buttons for letters like on the BB 7105t. The buttons press in easily and do not make any tone sounds unless you configure the BB 7290 to do so. Each button lights up well under either adjustment light setting. When not lit up, they have a silver tone to them. The numbers that are shared for calling people have the number with a dark grey background and the letter underneath with the silver background. I have found though that once adding all my contacts in my address book, I rarely dial. However dialing is not difficult if needed. For typing out emails it is quick and easy once you remember where all the letters are. There are simple short cuts such as the BB knows when the word is "can't" and not "cant" or you can hold down a letter a second and it will automatically capitalize. My other half who has much larger hands than I do finds it easy to use with his large thumbs compared to mine. He is actually buying one in a couple of week because he likes mine so much. So regardless of thumb size or hand size, the BB 7290 will be comfortable to use.
Setting up your email to push to your BB 7290 is simple depending on which email source you use. The 101 Lesson will explain in detail how to do this from your desktop or your device. I chose to set up mine on my desktop. You can have up to 10 email accounts and I currently have five. I have not had any problems receiving or sending emails. However if you are using the BB 7290 as a phone you won't receive your emails until after you hang up. (The time will reflect that moment and not the actual time it was sent to you if you have been on the phone for a while.) You can delete Emails on your handheld or both handheld and mailbox. You can also forward emails or mark them unopened.
If you have Gmail, there is some configuration for filters to go through. I have spoken to RIM (Research In Motion) who are the manufacturers of the BB 7290 regarding Gmail. Since Gmail is still BETA, the BB 7290 has a problem connecting properly to it. You can set it up to POP or filter but you may run into problems. I did for a while until I figured out the proper way to set it up which isn't clear through the BB website or in any manuals. I use MSN, Yahoo, AOL as some of my other email accounts and have no issues with them at all.
If your company has Corporate BB set up, then you will have "Enterprise Email" which is a completely different set up. The BB website will teach you how to go about setting that up and I wouldn't be able to comment on that since I don't use the feature.
You can compose mail at any time whether you have GPRS or not. You cannot send it without a GPRS signal, but you can put an email in draft. If you are writing one and a phone call comes in, the BB 7290 will go right back to it when you end the call. You can save emails permanently or up to a certain amount of days before they are deleted.
The Instant Messaging works great and you can leave it up at all times if you want through Yahoo! for example. I have used it several times and found it easy to communicate and there was not a delay in receiving or sending out messages. TEXT Messaging is easy as well and is listed as SMS on the BB which confused me initially.
The Address Book is quite handy with being able to add more than just one email account, a home/web page, work and home addresses, special notes, etc. I use the calender every day to add in appointments or remember important things. About 15 minutes before the time hits, you get an alarm to sound off to remind you. I also use the Memo Pad for things like my Grocery List.
I use more than one Browser on my BB 7290. I added one on for some websites that are not supported by the BB Browser that is included when you buy it. They both work great. It will remember former links and you can bookmark pages/sites like you would on your desk top. I can look at ESPN.Com or NFL.Com and get the same screen I would if I was on my computer with a longer length of course. I can save pictures off of websites though as long as they are jpegs or gifs. The speed of downloading a website is actually quite quick when compared to an older computer. For such a small device I was surprised how easily it downloaded information on websites and how EP for example looked the same to me.
When it comes to attachments, I can open up Excel, Word, and Powerpoint. I haven't had any other type of attachments come through. The BB 7290 will automatically highlight links in emails if you want to look at something on the Internet. It is simple to access.
The BB 7290 can be set to vibrate, ring, phone only, quiet or default. I always turn it to quiet when I go to bed so it still gets incoming emails and phone calls that can be forwarded to voicemail. When it is on "loud" I wouldn't say the ring is that noticeable unless you have your headset on. However it will vibrate 2-3 times before it starts ringing. When I am in motion, like walking to my car, I may not feel the vibration but then will hear the BB ring and know I am getting in a phone call or email. The ring is different for each feature. You cannot download music files onto the BB 7290 unless they are MIDI. So don't expect to listen to any music come playing out or to have any fancy ring tones. There are some technical ways around it which are explained in the websites listed below but it is an extremely tedious process. For a handheld device, most people like myself, are not concerned with having The Black Eyed Peas alert them to a phone call.
~Recommendation~
When it comes to the BB 7290, there is obviously many different areas to cover. I couldn't begin to dive into every subject or this review would become a book. However I tried to touch on some of the features I would want to know about before buying this device. I have to say that it is confusing initially but after a few days of getting to know the BB 7290, it no longer gives you a headache. It will seem overwhelming and frustrating at times when you are learning how to use the device but once you know that feature, you won't forget it either.
People that own BBs are known as "CrackBerrys" because of the addiction to these devices. Once you get to learn everything that the BB 7290 can do, it is addicting to be honest. You get used to accessing your email whenever or where ever you want. You get used to browsing the Internet and have it come in with clarity and HTML style. The keyboard is an easy feature to use. There are many tips, tricks and short cuts that eventually you can learn after having your BB 7290 a week. There are also other applications that you may find on the Internet to download such as Google Maps.
I have found that the BB 7290 was an excellent choice as a handheld device and cell phone. It fits all of my needs and once I learned how to use it, I am satisfied. There is a lot of technical support through RIM, T-Mobile, and websites that help you get to know the BB 7290 inside and out. However you won't find all the answers in your Welcome Guide.
There are many different features that make the BB 7290 unique. For the price, I believe I received my money's worth and then some. When you are on the go or need something to help organize your life, this is a great piece of equipment. It is light in weight and I often forget that I have it clipped to my pants/skirts. Although it may seem wide compared to the BB 7105t, I would much rather have a Full QWERTY Keyboard to work with when sending emails.
I did have complaints that my ear piece that came with it sounded like I was traveling through a tunnel. I decided to change to a Bluetooth Headset and haven't had issues since.
Overall if RIM worked on putting together a better Instruction Manual and more detailed website, I would have been a happier customer initially. However through my own investigation, I was able to discover the many aspects of the BB 7290. Since those few days have passed my issues have disappeared.
The BB 7290 is a wise choice for pushing emails from various accounts, using as a cell phone, organizing your work, keeping together your contacts and browsing the Internet. It isn't a bad deal for only $99.99 and you will never want to bring it back once you have the hang of it. I am now a "CrackBerry."
~Accessories (through T-Mobile)~
~ Leather Case ($19.99)
~ Rechargeable Lithium Ion Battery ($29.99)
~ Vehicle and Travel Charger All In One ($29.99)
~ Bluetooth Headset (ranging from $59.99 to $109.99)
You can also find accessories at the BlackBerry Website listed below. However I have found that the main website is more expensive to order from.
~Helpful Websites and Links~
~ http://www.blackberry.com
~ http://www.blackberryforums.com
~ http://www.blackberryforums.com/showthread.php?p=34233 (Shows a Glossary of Terms for BB)
~ http://www.blackberry.com/knowledgecenterpublic/livelink.exe/fetch/2000/customview.html?func=llworkspace (Technological Knowledge Center through RIM/BB)
Thank you to Howard_Creech for adding this product to the database!
Thanks for Reading!
kparsons13
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 99.99
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kparsons13
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Member: ~Kimberly~
Location: Sunny Arizona
Reviews written: 635
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Looking forward to a Great 2010 and Writing on EP again!
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