Review: BlackBerry Pearl

Form Basics Extras Video Wrap Up Discuss

It is difficult to remember that the Pearl is RIM's first attempt at a phone with modern media features. Other manufacturers have been making cameraphones and media players for so long that most have pretty solid software by now. But instead of trying to compete with what others offer today, RIM appears to be competing with what most phones offered years ago - not just in terms of media applications, but across all their software.

The Pearl is a fantastic piece of hardware, and for Blackberry users it is a serious upgrade in size and style over whatever previous models they own. But new users who are into trying out a Blackberry because of the sleek form may want to look at smartphones from other manufacturers if you're going to do more than read your email and make phone calls. Most modern smartphones have more user friendly software and can run some sort of push email client that would make reading email just as user friendly as the Blackberry.