Rim Tour 9630 Smartphone
- Screen Size (Diagonal): 2.44 inch
- Installed Memory: 256 MB
- Operating System: BlackBerry OS
- Connectivity: Bluetooth
- Performance: Quad Band
- Design: Mobile
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BlackBerry Tour Terrific Text, Web Tool - Phone is so-so
Pros
A well-designed tool that made me feel productive, not stupid, right away.
Cons
Phone call sound quality is surprisingly poor, but not a deal-breaker.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
Highly recommended for professionals who NEED to expedite e-mail replies, manage several accounts, and be able to access, read, and really use websites on the go.
I traded in my trusty EnV after two years for a new BlackBerry Tour, and overall, it's a terrific tool for me.
Because a cell phone, especially a smart phone, is a pretty personal item, I've tried to summarize some of the Tour's features as I've found them in day-to-day use, in hopes these will be helpful as you consider a phone purchase.
In general, the Tour is built for how humans live. For example, when I lock the keyboard (using a one-touch button on top edge of the Tour) and toss it in my purse, when it rings I can answer the call without unlocking the keypad first. Also, unlike some other phones, you only have to press two buttons to frame a picture, a third press and you've got the shot - a darn sight quicker than with many camera phones.
I also love the Tour because it had a short learning curve so I felt productive right away. While my old EnV just barely qualified as a "smart phone," I found the Tour very easy to navigate and use effectively, right out of the box.
A Few Key Features & Benefits
QWERTY keyboard - nice because it's easily accessible with no flip/turn slide required, unlike the Droid, my old EnV, and many new models. Also, the keys are raised and big enough for me to enjoy fast and accurate typing. However, users with large hands will probably need a bigger keypad.
Intuitive Programming/Setup - I set up my three e-mail accounts within minutes without reading anything other than the on-screen instructions, and everything worked the first time.
Speedy (on the Verizon network) - my e-mails pop up instantly, and after opening more than 30 links embedded in e-mails that I've received, I've only had to wait more than a minute for ONE of those links to open. Not bad.
Significant Drawback: Sound Quality
The audio quality of calls is significantly worse than my old EnV, in fact, significantly worse than most cell phones I've used. I've had callers describe it as tinny, "far away" and "scratchy" and on my end, I've noticed an echo and annoying break-ups in conversations, like I miss a syllable or two as my caller is talking. Having had Verizon for 6+ years, I'm pretty sure it's not the network, it's the hardware.
Notable, Worth Considering
-You can load and play iTunes on the Tour-You can set up 5-7 separate e-mail accounts to receive messages on the Tour
-The 3-megapixel camera is easy to use, produces decent quality pictures that are easy to save/send/delete/do with what you want. Also takes video (quality is just passable)
-The Tour offers NO touch-screen features
-Initial battery charge takes a couple of hours, at least; after that, battery life is quite good, at least as good as the specifications promise, and better in my usage/experience.
Because a cell phone, especially a smart phone, is a pretty personal item, I've tried to summarize some of the Tour's features as I've found them in day-to-day use, in hopes these will be helpful as you consider a phone purchase.
In general, the Tour is built for how humans live. For example, when I lock the keyboard (using a one-touch button on top edge of the Tour) and toss it in my purse, when it rings I can answer the call without unlocking the keypad first. Also, unlike some other phones, you only have to press two buttons to frame a picture, a third press and you've got the shot - a darn sight quicker than with many camera phones.
I also love the Tour because it had a short learning curve so I felt productive right away. While my old EnV just barely qualified as a "smart phone," I found the Tour very easy to navigate and use effectively, right out of the box.
A Few Key Features & Benefits
QWERTY keyboard - nice because it's easily accessible with no flip/turn slide required, unlike the Droid, my old EnV, and many new models. Also, the keys are raised and big enough for me to enjoy fast and accurate typing. However, users with large hands will probably need a bigger keypad.
Intuitive Programming/Setup - I set up my three e-mail accounts within minutes without reading anything other than the on-screen instructions, and everything worked the first time.
Speedy (on the Verizon network) - my e-mails pop up instantly, and after opening more than 30 links embedded in e-mails that I've received, I've only had to wait more than a minute for ONE of those links to open. Not bad.
Significant Drawback: Sound Quality
The audio quality of calls is significantly worse than my old EnV, in fact, significantly worse than most cell phones I've used. I've had callers describe it as tinny, "far away" and "scratchy" and on my end, I've noticed an echo and annoying break-ups in conversations, like I miss a syllable or two as my caller is talking. Having had Verizon for 6+ years, I'm pretty sure it's not the network, it's the hardware.
Notable, Worth Considering
-You can load and play iTunes on the Tour-You can set up 5-7 separate e-mail accounts to receive messages on the Tour
-The 3-megapixel camera is easy to use, produces decent quality pictures that are easy to save/send/delete/do with what you want. Also takes video (quality is just passable)
-The Tour offers NO touch-screen features
-Initial battery charge takes a couple of hours, at least; after that, battery life is quite good, at least as good as the specifications promise, and better in my usage/experience.
