• RIM BlackBerry 7290 Handset

    The RIM BlackBerry 7290 combines a mobile phone with email support, wireless web surfing, Personal Information Management (PIM) and other goodies. It weighs only 4.9 ounces and measures 4.5 by 2.9 by 0.9 inches, small enough to fit into a shirt pocket.

    Here's a rundown of a few pros and cons:

    Keyboard

    The 7290 has a full QWERTY keyboard with keys spaced far enough a part that it should be easy to hit the key you want without also pushing the key next to it. The keyboard is backlit in dim light so that you'll be able to type in the dark. This does drain the battery after a while though.

    Display

    The 7290 features a slightly smaller display than previous models. While many BlackBerry devices can display 4 icons in a row, the 7920 can only display three. The display itself is shar and bold at 240x160 pixels with support for over 65,000 colors. The display can be backlit in dark places though users note this produces a muted appearance.

    Email

    The BlackBerry 7290 delivers messages in real time, a definite plus.

    Address Book

    The address book is limited only by the available memory. You can store up to 8 phone numbers and two postal addresses with each contact, but only one email address.

    PIM

    The 7290 works as a PDA by managing your personal information beyond the address book. It includes a calendar, task list, memo pad, and alarm clock.

    Memory

    The RIM Blackberry 7290 comes with 32MB of flash memory and 4MB of SRAM as well as a SIM card for extra storage space. Unfortunately, it lacks an expansion slot.

    Connectability

    It is not possible to connect the BlackBerry 7290 to your Bluetooth computer to synchronize. This is a definite drawback.

    Phone

    As a mobile phone, the BlackBerry 7290 isn't the greatest. It lacks speakerphone capability which would have been a smart add on. You'll have to use the included wired headset. And it doesn't support voice dialing which would have been quite helpful with a headset. However, the BlackBerry 7290 is a Bluetooth device and can be paired with a Bluetooth headset to create a wireless connection and allow you to talk in style. Of course, that will add another $50 to $100 to the whole system. Users report that the sound quality and volume are marginal and that the belt holster is difficult to use, causing them to accidentally mute or disconnect when taking the device out of the holster.

    Other

    The BlackBerry 7290 comes with 32 polyphonic ring tones and can be set to vibrate mode.

    Price

    The RIM BlackBerry 7290 costs about $250 to $300.