Before 2009 rolls in, Verizon gave us an early Christmas gift: our very own Apple iPhone killer, the Blackberry Storm. Armed with features that are sure to rival the elegant Apple contender, Blackberry Storm promises its users a grand time with added features, a sleeker, darker externality and a flexible memory.
The Blackberry Storm measures at a petite 4.4 inches by 2.4 inches and is .55 of an inch thick. If you wish to compare the dimensions of the Blackberry Storm, it can be situated somewhere between the iPhone and the Android. Like most mobile phones, the usual navigation controls are located centrally, including controls for the ringing volume, screen lock and the standard controls for calling.
Priced inexpensively at $199, the Blackberry Storm is definitely a beauty with its ample screen and its high resolution (480 x 360). This figure is actually higher than most Smartphones, and allows users to use and view a variety of applications. The Blackberry Storm is also an efficient multi-tasker, able to execute multiple applications at once.
The new Blackberry Storm which was just released online by Verizon last November 21, comes with a renewable two year contract, which can cover all needs: data, voice and SMS. The SIM card that comes with the Blackberry Storm is locked-in with the unit for 50 days.
Picture-Perfect Performance
Though the Apple iPhone has an obviously larger screen, it is notable that the Blackberry Storm has a higher resolution. Employing a relatively new ClickThrough technology, the Blackberry Storm is the Smartphone for people who are used to using the vintage mouse or the notebook touchpad. You actually have to apply pressure to select and activate objects on the screen.
The Blackberry Storm would be a boon for people who have already been using the older Blackberry models, but for those who are more used to light tapping than clicking, such as those who are used to the Apple iPhone, expect to have a bit of a learning curve when you first handle the Blackberry Storm.
Menus, Menus and More Menus
Since the Blackberry Storm is still a Blackberry unit, there are certain features that would be best left to the older control interface than with the newer ClickThrough technology.
Blackberry models are known for a lot of menus and submenus, which could get tiring if you use the screen to select. The vintage jog dial would still be more appropriate for the kind of menus that the Blackberry Storm has.
Though the Blackberry Storm is capable of running multiple applications at once, the performance is a bit slower than one would expect. For example, automatic switching (which is dependent on the position of the phone) takes a few seconds before it kicks in. Even scrolling through the menus can be painfully slow sometimes, taking more than a few seconds to complete.
If you are used to the lightning-quick response of notebooks with Word Processors, you might be a bit disappointed with the Blackberry Storm because there would be times that even the letter and words onscreen have a hard time catching up with nimble, typing fingers.
