Blackberry 8830 Review - Design and Cosmetics
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The design of the 8830 is almost identical to its predecessor, the 8800. The main difference, in terms of looks, is the shiny silver finish of the 8830 compared to the black finish of the 8800. The 8830 is a bit larger than the Blackberry Curve model. The overall dimensions of the 8830 are 2.6 x 0.6 x 4.5 inches and it weighs in at 4.7 ounces with the battery. Overall, the size is good, although the larger size of the 8830 can make phone calls a bit uncomfortable until you get used to the added bulk.
The 8830 sports a full 35-key QWERTY keyboard on the front of the device. I have heard about complaints that people have with this keyboard, saying that the keyboard is a bit "mushy" and the keys are too close together. These complaints are justifiable, because there is no spacing between the keys, which may make it tough for people with larger hands to use it effectively. Blackberry models of the past have had some small spacing between keys which make them easier to use.
The display on the 8830 is a TFT 2.5 inch screen which is capable of 65,000 colors. The resolution of the display is just fine at 320 x 240 pixels. The screen's back-lighting and the device's keys automatically adjust according to the lighting conditions.
Just below the screen is the trackball navigator which was new in the 8800 model. The older Blackberry models had a scroll navigator along the side of the device, while this one is located in a more convenient position between the keyboard and the display. The 4-way trackball works well, and the sensitivity can be adjusted to the user's liking.
Along the right side of the device, you can find the volume controls. The
other side of the device sports the 2.5 mm headphone jack, the mini USB port, and a user-adjustable key. The user-adjustable key comes from the factory with voice dialing assigned to it, but you can change it to your liking.
The 8830 also offers a location for a micro SD card, although it is in a
very inconvenient place on the phone. The slot for the micro SD card is located behind the battery cover, so it isn't very easily accessed.
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