Mar 25th, 2007
BlackBerry 8800: The Pearl’s bigger brother sports a full-size keyboard and an exceptional built-in GPS system
If the Pearl is the sleek sports car of BlackBerrys, then the new 8800 from Cingular ($299 with two-year contract) is the Escalade in the line, a beefier model complete with a full-sized keyboard and bigger display. RIM has even decked out this device with a GPS system, enabling the 8800 to double as a navigator using the included TeleNav software (if you pay an extra $9.99 per month). Add it all up and you have a full-sized, fully-loaded smart phone with just a few minor flaws.
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It may sport the same silky-smooth trackball for navigation and chrome accents on the sides, but there’s no mistaking the 8800 for its smaller brother. This dark metallic blue device weighs 1.5 ounces heavier than the Pearl (4.7 versus 3.2) and is noticeably wider (2.6 inches versus 2 inches). At the same time, the 8800 is a tiny bit thinner than the Pearl (0.55 versus 0.57 inches). The bottom line is that you’ll notice when the 8800 is in your pocket, but it’s certainly less bulky than the Treo 750.
