RIM's Sweet New BlackBerry

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The 8700 even has a smart way of dealing with PowerPoint slides -- it displays the slide and then the text contained in the slide right below it.

E-MAIL EASE.

I tested the e-mail features primarily by creating an auto-forward rule on my personal and work mail directly to the device. But the faster wireless network enables some really cool "push" features, if you like using Microsoft Outlook, IBM's (IBM) Lotus Domino, or Novell's (NOVL) GroupWise.

Here's how it works. The majority of BlackBerry devotees are corporate workers and professionals who use the device for mobile access to e-mail and other important types of data, such as calendar items and contacts. But so-called push e-mail eliminates the need to synch the device with the laptop or forward your e-mail. Users have real-time, simultaneous access to e-mail and other pieces of data from their organizer at work. When they receive an e-mail, it shows up on the BlackBerry at nearly the same time that it appears on the corporate desktop. Sometimes it even appears on the BlackBerry sooner.

The BlackBerry software integrates quite nicely with the Microsoft Outlook program used at BusinessWeek. But you'll need to adjust to a new interface. Outlook and other popular e-mail programs have separate boxes for incoming mail, sent messages, drafts, and the like. For the sake of efficiency, BlackBerry dumps all these messages into a single box, which can be quickly scrolled with the flywheel on the right side of the device.

USEFUL AND FUN.

The system works flawlessly, although it would be nice if BlackBerry added a reading pane to give readers the option to see the first few lines of messages without opening them. The trade-off: users wouldn't be able to see as many subject lines at once.

The BlackBerry 8700c does a fine job of reading attachments. It makes reading Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint slides, and Word documents a snap. And they downloaded quickly, thanks to the relatively speedy Cingular EDGE network. The documents looked good, thanks to the improved screen.

The review device also came loaded with some useful applications. The Quotestream Wireless service can be used to check stock quotes and other financial data. The 8700c came loaded with several games, including the Texas Hold 'em King 2, Bass Assassin, and the classic Brick Breaker. A new feature called "AskMeNow" lets you use the Internet to obtain an answer to almost any question.

GET THE PICTURE.

The BlackBerry 8700c has improved the phone as well. Users no longer need a headset to make a phone call, as they did with earlier PDA-style BlackBerry models. Thanks to the slimmer profile, it doesn't feel like you are holding a brick to your ear when you make a phone call. These are basic, but important and welcome changes that callers will appreciate. Moreover, voice quality was excellent, and RIM's designers added strategically located buttons -- just above the keyboard -- to make calls and end them.

Although many, including RIM Co-CEO Jim Balsillie, disagree with me on this point, I believe there's one thing missing: a camera. I've long dismissed the wireless-phone camera feature as a fad. But since I've had one on my Motorola wireless phone, I've come to appreciate it.

Now that the BlackBerry can so readily display pictures on its bright, gorgeous screen, I'd encourage RIM to build one or two models that at least match Palm's (PALM) Treo family of smart phones as an optional feature. Adding a camera, I think, would widen its appeal outside of its usual pinstripe-wearing demographic.

With Steve Rosenbush in New York

Hesseldahl is a writer for BusinessWeek Online in New York