Samsung BlackJack II Smartphone
- Screen Size (Diagonal): 2.4 inch
- Installed Memory: 128 MB
- Operating System: Windows Mobile
- Design: Mobile
- Style: Smartphone
- Network Type: GSM 850 GSM 900 GSM 1800 GSM 1900 GPRS EDGE HSDPA 850 HSDPA 2100 UMTS 2100
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BlackJack II: Sequels aren't always better...
Pros
Great keyboard, more memory, better battery, and GPS.
Cons
Slippery slick body makes it awkward to hold and likely to drop.
Recommended it?
Yes
The Bottom Line:
Questionable body design detracts from what is otherwise a good PDA. I prefer the Blackjack II over the other choices, but I think the original Blackjack is a better phone.
I'm targeting this review to existing Blackjack owners who might be wondering if it is time to upgrade to the Blackjack II, but others may find it helpful too.
I owned the original Blackjack phone for a year and half before it stopped working. I've never liked a phone so much - to me the Blackjack represents the best form factor smartphone on the market. I used it a *lot* to do keep 1 exchange account and 2 pop email accounts under control, cruise the web, make calls in Europe, and listen to my mp3s. The phone's only weak point was poor battery life that was later rectified with an extended battery giveaway from AT&T.
So when my Blackjack finally quit on me, I didn't hesitate to upgrade to the Blackjack 2. A few days with the Blackjack2, and I'm thinking of returning it for the original. Nothing on the Blackjack 2 screams wrong, but the overall number of "minor" problems adds up to an overall disappointing experience.
Here are the misses:
1.The body is slippery and hard to grip. This is a big miss for us road warriors who always have a tad bit of grease from that slice of pizza grabbed while running to make our flight. Blackjack 1 had a rubber-like skin that was great for grip. Blackjack 2 is slick polished plastic that is destined to shoot out of one's hand during a call. (I've just read that the Burgandy model has a textured back - so that might be the model to go with)
2. The phone is a training ground for law enforcement -- this phone retains and displays fingerprints like nothing else. Always has the "smudged" look. Stylish...
3. The jogwheel is a step back from the original Blackjack side mounted wheel. It feels a tad bit loose and unresponsive. The central placement makes it a bit awkward to operate the unit with one hand.
4 . The Blackjack II propietary USB port is not compatible with plugs and cables designed for the original Blackjack. Surprise, Samsung patrons, you get to buy every component again!
5. The battery cover is even harder to open than the orignal blackjack (search google for people complaining about the original battery cover). The sadistic design team that put this together even took away the original battery cover's finger notch. Who doesn't enjoy a challange when your battery needs to be swapped out and you have a conference call in 5 minutes?
6. The port covers feel like they'll break off just as fast as they did with the original Blackjack.
7. Phone gets noticably warm to the touch when used in calls.
Not all of the misses are Samsung's fault. The new Microsoft Windows Mobile 6 OS is still hands down the worst mobile OS I have ever used.
1. Most functions are are at least 3 clicks away. You can't do anything without looking at the screen, meaning this is not a phone you can use while driving.
2. Most applications can't be turned off without using the operating systems task manager. This is like requiring persons to turn off their household appliances from the fusebox.
3. The office mobile suite is nothing more than a glorified document viewer. The suite can't create documents, can't cut & paste, can't spell check. You can edit existing documents and save them - but without a spell checker or basic editing functions, it is pointless.
The Blackjack II is not all tears and jeers either:
1. The slightly larger than the original keyboard makes for a big difference in typing. I *really* like this keyboard.
2. Onboard memory has increased from 64mb to 128mb. You can now install apps into main memory without worry. Also support for microSD cards has increased from 2gb to 4gb cards. The extra 2 gb comes in handy, because occasionally I use my blackjack as an external drive between computers.
3. The slightly faster processor (26O MHZ versus the original 220 mhz) make for a crisper feel to the OS. The lag that comes with opening folders is gone, and the camera starts up much faster.
4. The GPS is pretty good. I have it working with Google Maps and am even thinking of buying software from Garmin (my favorite gps folks) for a few trips in Italy I have to take. Moreover, the chipset grabs the signals quite well - I even get signal inside my house --something my Garmin c340 can't do.
5. The ever so slightly larger screen (2.4 inches versys 2.225) is still bright and sharp as ever. I could view email and web content all day long on it.
6. Speaking of which -- the battery life of the new standard battery is significantly better than the original.
7. Call quality is clear. I'd judge voices to sound a bit warmer that the original blackjack.
8. The camera has resolution has increased from 1.44 to 2mb. Yes the picture quality remains weak. You might think the camera isn't important, but I've found in business meetings that pictures of the white board are handy later on.
9. The email system now displays html formatted email and messages that are truncated because of length limits can be downloaded while you are reading the email. Fantastic!
Summary:
It comes down to this. The Blackjack's body really detracts from the overall experience of the phone -- it feels cheap and slippery. I know I'm going to drop this unless I get a wrap around case (which defeats the low profile). I recommend not buying a Blackjack II until you've had a chance to handle one in person. If you can get past the body, the rest of the Blackjack II experience is just fine, although not revolutionarily different from the original Blackjack. Existing Blackjack owners have no reason to upgrade to this phone unless their phone is really at its end.
I owned the original Blackjack phone for a year and half before it stopped working. I've never liked a phone so much - to me the Blackjack represents the best form factor smartphone on the market. I used it a *lot* to do keep 1 exchange account and 2 pop email accounts under control, cruise the web, make calls in Europe, and listen to my mp3s. The phone's only weak point was poor battery life that was later rectified with an extended battery giveaway from AT&T.
So when my Blackjack finally quit on me, I didn't hesitate to upgrade to the Blackjack 2. A few days with the Blackjack2, and I'm thinking of returning it for the original. Nothing on the Blackjack 2 screams wrong, but the overall number of "minor" problems adds up to an overall disappointing experience.
Here are the misses:
1.The body is slippery and hard to grip. This is a big miss for us road warriors who always have a tad bit of grease from that slice of pizza grabbed while running to make our flight. Blackjack 1 had a rubber-like skin that was great for grip. Blackjack 2 is slick polished plastic that is destined to shoot out of one's hand during a call. (I've just read that the Burgandy model has a textured back - so that might be the model to go with)
2. The phone is a training ground for law enforcement -- this phone retains and displays fingerprints like nothing else. Always has the "smudged" look. Stylish...
3. The jogwheel is a step back from the original Blackjack side mounted wheel. It feels a tad bit loose and unresponsive. The central placement makes it a bit awkward to operate the unit with one hand.
4 . The Blackjack II propietary USB port is not compatible with plugs and cables designed for the original Blackjack. Surprise, Samsung patrons, you get to buy every component again!
5. The battery cover is even harder to open than the orignal blackjack (search google for people complaining about the original battery cover). The sadistic design team that put this together even took away the original battery cover's finger notch. Who doesn't enjoy a challange when your battery needs to be swapped out and you have a conference call in 5 minutes?
6. The port covers feel like they'll break off just as fast as they did with the original Blackjack.
7. Phone gets noticably warm to the touch when used in calls.
Not all of the misses are Samsung's fault. The new Microsoft Windows Mobile 6 OS is still hands down the worst mobile OS I have ever used.
1. Most functions are are at least 3 clicks away. You can't do anything without looking at the screen, meaning this is not a phone you can use while driving.
2. Most applications can't be turned off without using the operating systems task manager. This is like requiring persons to turn off their household appliances from the fusebox.
3. The office mobile suite is nothing more than a glorified document viewer. The suite can't create documents, can't cut & paste, can't spell check. You can edit existing documents and save them - but without a spell checker or basic editing functions, it is pointless.
The Blackjack II is not all tears and jeers either:
1. The slightly larger than the original keyboard makes for a big difference in typing. I *really* like this keyboard.
2. Onboard memory has increased from 64mb to 128mb. You can now install apps into main memory without worry. Also support for microSD cards has increased from 2gb to 4gb cards. The extra 2 gb comes in handy, because occasionally I use my blackjack as an external drive between computers.
3. The slightly faster processor (26O MHZ versus the original 220 mhz) make for a crisper feel to the OS. The lag that comes with opening folders is gone, and the camera starts up much faster.
4. The GPS is pretty good. I have it working with Google Maps and am even thinking of buying software from Garmin (my favorite gps folks) for a few trips in Italy I have to take. Moreover, the chipset grabs the signals quite well - I even get signal inside my house --something my Garmin c340 can't do.
5. The ever so slightly larger screen (2.4 inches versys 2.225) is still bright and sharp as ever. I could view email and web content all day long on it.
6. Speaking of which -- the battery life of the new standard battery is significantly better than the original.
7. Call quality is clear. I'd judge voices to sound a bit warmer that the original blackjack.
8. The camera has resolution has increased from 1.44 to 2mb. Yes the picture quality remains weak. You might think the camera isn't important, but I've found in business meetings that pictures of the white board are handy later on.
9. The email system now displays html formatted email and messages that are truncated because of length limits can be downloaded while you are reading the email. Fantastic!
Summary:
It comes down to this. The Blackjack's body really detracts from the overall experience of the phone -- it feels cheap and slippery. I know I'm going to drop this unless I get a wrap around case (which defeats the low profile). I recommend not buying a Blackjack II until you've had a chance to handle one in person. If you can get past the body, the rest of the Blackjack II experience is just fine, although not revolutionarily different from the original Blackjack. Existing Blackjack owners have no reason to upgrade to this phone unless their phone is really at its end.
