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Summary: I am now TOTTALY WIRELESS!!!!!
Review: I am so happy with the RIM 950! I am now more productive and never miss an appointment or an E-mail. Great for people on the go.
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Summary: RIM 957 Blackberry, Tops in class
Review: I've had a Blackberry 957 from RIM and Aether Systems for the past 6 months and I have decided that I cannot live without it. The scrollwheel and keyboard are far easier to use than the stylus and grafitti on the Palm and the stylus + screen keypad on PocketPC devices. The Personal Information Management apps are intuitive and get the job done.COVERAGE: If I move through areas with poor coverage, I know the 'always-on' radio will go to work as soon as a strong signal is detected. Occasionally, I also find poor in-building coverage, but I've found ways to deal with this. I work as a corporate trainer, and when I announce breaks, I join the smokers for a walk outside and my 957 begins vibrating like mad. When I'm on a plane, I turn my device off and power it back up when we land. AETHER: My experience with Aether Systems has been extremely positive. I ordered my device through Amazon and received it within two days. It worked out of the box without hassle. In the first week, I made one call to Aether (about a RIM function question) and their support person was friendly and answered my questions immediately. CONCLUSION: Don't buy the Blackberry if you think you'll be receiving every e-mail just moments after the sender presses the enter key. Coverage just isn't there (yet). Just the same, getting e-mail throughout the day when I'm on the road or training in a different state is a great benefit. As for coverage issues, e-mail is usually NOT critically important. Do people use e-mail to contact YOU in an emergency?
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Summary: Rim + WMP = 5 stars!!!!
Review: I originally bought a RIM Device in order to receive my emails on the go. I know the palm pilots can perform virtually the same functions, but the RIM device is just so much more convenient with its constant connectivity and easier to use, streamlined interface. Recently, I downloaded a piece of software for my RIM called WebMessenger Mobile Platform (WMP). This software has increased the functionality of my RIM 10 fold. The WMP enables RIM users to instant message themselves on WebMessenger's network Or on one of the networks on which this messenger is interoperable with( AOL, Yahoo, MSN, and ICQ are the ones I Use).The WMP Is the factor which boosted the RIM up to 5 stars for me( It would have been 4 due to the high price). The best thing about the WMP is that it is free to download and use.
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Summary: I'm a happy convert!!!
Review: I got my RIM 957 a couple weeks ago and I have just fallen in love with the thing. I'd used PalmOS for several years - starting with the original PalmPilot and graduating to PalmIII and PalmVII. I can't say I was unhappy with Palm at all. But neither was I fully satisfied - there was always something missing. The RIM 957, frankly, kicks Palm in the tail - HARD. I have the GoAmerica service which, despite its lukewarm reputation, has been pretty good for me. I can browse most websites, send and receive email with amazing ease, and even use ICQ. I went on vacation to Colorado last week and, sure enough, the area was well covered and I was able to stay in touch. I needed a few days to get acclamated with the non-touch screen using environment. The 957 instead has a full QWERTY keyboard and a trackwheel. It looks a bit intimidating at first, but I'm more used to it now than I ever was with Palm. There are times, admittedly, when I wish I had touch screen. But RIM has done a good job with shortcuts of various kinds and it didn't take me long to figure them out. At first, I was concerned that the RIM wouldn't do all that my Palm did for me. And, granted, there's a lot more software available for the Palm. But I'm pretty satisfied with all it can do and there still is a decent amount of third-party software available. Also, most Palm Query Apps (which allow you quick and easy interfaces to such things as Amazon, eBay, Yellow Pages, and IMDB) that are so popular on the Palm VII can be used on the RIM 957. Additionally, services such as Trancell's email autoresponder make the RIM easy and useful. I would strongly urge you to consider this product as your PDA/wireless web device. Hopefully, RIM will stay up with new technologies (such as a cell phone module, GPS, and other things that Handspring, etal are doing). But even without those things, I'm very happy with the choice I made.
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Summary: essential for business travel
Review: I could not imagine being without it. It enables me to "talk" with my key people when I am on the road (all the time!) and saves hours of email reading when I return to the office. Blackberry helpline people were wonderful while I was setting it up. Also excellent calendar and "rolodex" information storage capability.
Rating: 
Summary: Aether service failure
Review: I bought the RIM device from Aether through E-Trade based on great recommendations seen here. I have had two major problems with the device since receiving it. First, after receiving the device, there were operating system errors and I could not use the Neomar web browser. I sent the device to Aether via FedEx at my expense since Aether would not pay. I was told by Aether that it would be sent back to me by FedEx within 2-3 days. After a week I called Aether to see where my device was. They showed no record of receiving it. I gave them the FedEx tracking number and only then did they find it. I had the device back two days later. When I turned it on, the e-mail functions did not work. I called Aether to find out why. They didn't activate my e-mail account. They activated my account but now I can only receive e-mail, but not send. After talking to Aether almost every day for the last two weeks I told Aether I wanted to cancel, return the device and be refunded for the monthly service. They had to refer it to management to cancel for technical reasons. After waiting another three days, they now want me to send the device back in (again, at my expense) so they can test the device to see if it's a problem with the device or the network. So, I guess I'll be without the device for at least another week, while Aether tries to figure it out. Second, the signal received is not a very strong signal. Before ordering the device, I checked the signal strength on Aether's webiste for the zip codes where I work and where I live. Aether said that the signal strength for both zip codes was excellent, even in buildings. Perfect, right? The device shows up to 5 bars for the signal strength, I think -- I've only briefly seen a third bar. In talking to Aether support for the above problem, I was told that 4 and 5 bars is considered excellent signal strength. Since receiving the device I have taken the device everywhere within the building where I work. The signal strength range was consistently between no signal and 1 bar. This is excellent signal strenth? In all fairness to Aether, when I parked on the roof (fourth floor) of the garage, I did get a third bar. I guess I could always walk 5 minutes to my car, drive up to the fourth floor of the garage, and sit in my car to enjoy this wonderful technology. Aether blames the weak signal on Cingular. But the last time I checked, I haven't paid Cingular for their signal -- I'm paying Aether. I bought this because I need wireless internet and e-mail access. I'm not waiting for Aether to figure this out. I'll give anyone a second chance and let them fix their mistakes. But I won't tolerate their failure to accept responsibility for their mistakes. This is a lot of money to spend on something that doesn't work. It's too bad that the service providers are so limited. And as was the case with AOL a few years ago, the service provided by the biggest player is among the worst. I will be getting a cell phone that can provide the service Aether agreed to provide but has failed. At least on my cell phone, I consistently get a true 'excellent' signal strength from that, even in the elevator in my building.
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Summary: Blackberry 957 is a wonderful tool for the road warrior!
Review: I purchased my Blackberry 957 about a month ago. Having a tool for mobile email plus the usual "Palm-type" functions has been wonderful. Unlike the Palm VII, the email comes via push, not pull (you don't have to check in to see if you have email - it arrives automatically and signals you either by beep, by vibration, or by combination of the two, as you choose.) I found it easy to set up, easy to use. Don't be put off by the very small keyboard. If you're writing emails of a couple of hundred words or less, you shouldn't find it to be a problem. The basic functions of scheduling, to do lists, memos, etc.. work well and easily. Ergonomic factors are GREAT. Synchronization with Microsoft Outlook has been seamless. Great tool for the road warrior. Bill Parr
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Summary: The form factor is the key
Review: I've used Windows CE, PocketPC, Palm M100, and Palm VII, but I use my Blackberry constantly. I'll keep this review short and to the point. For me, the most important features are address book, calendar, and synching with Outlook. The Blackberry does all that very well. What really convinced me to make this my primary device was the fact that I can easily wear it in the belt holder so the Blackberry is always right there. And the screen is still big enough to glance at your weekly calendar and read anentire contact record at once. For me, the Blackberry is the perfect balance between small size and big screen. The wireless features are useful as well. I use the wireless email as a pager and the wireless web browser to check things like movie times when I am out. You wouldn't want to surf the web, but there are useful tasks that you can do like check your stocks, etc.
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Summary: Terrific product.
Review: 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.
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Summary: Your competitive edge
Review: I am in the computer consulting business and this unit saves me big amounts of time. Many clients now consider an email to be the functional equivalent of a phone call. So if you are on the road all the time it is not longer acceptable to let their email messages to you languish in your inbox until you get to the office. I've used a RIM 950 for about 4 years. Very very seldom have any trouble with the wireless provider (which I think for the 950/957 is BellSouth aka Cingular). You may wonder what the difference is between using a PDA like the Palm VIIx and the RIM pager. The biggest difference is the RIM 950 does "store and forward" messaging. You can write and reply to email when not within radio coverage. As soon as you move back within the coverage area your messages are sent/received. Very slick! Products like the Palm VIIx require that you MANUALLY initiate the email process --- a VERY difficult trick while driving. I've also used the PalmVIIx and found the web browsing to be more of a novelty than a "must have". I tend to prefer to get all my news off a true web browser and not snippits of info from the small screen. The things that you should think about when purchasing the RIM pagers: a) Your return email address -- most of these will assign you an email address that is "burned" into the pager. The problem with this is you'll have business associates start to use this as your permanent email. Think about attaching an auto-note to the end of every wireless email notifying people to keep using your permanent email. b) POP access to your wireless email. It is VERY desirable to be able to check your wireless email when not in radio coverage. This may happen if you are at a client office in the middle of nowhere. It is nice to be able to log in via the web and check email messages. c) Saved copies of outgoing email -- most of the units will let you automatically forward a bcc: of the email you send out from the wireless. Very handy for keeping a record of what you discuss with a client. To summarize - I couldn't be more pleased with my RIM device. The typing is not as akward as you might think (you'll get used to it). The signal coverage is great (I travel primarily CT,MA,RI,NY) -- and helped tremendously by the "store and forward" natured of the device. I've gone through a couple of these with bad screens (my fault - I've either leaned on the glass or dropped them) -- but that usuall only happens after about a year of use. Highly recommended.
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