Review: Maxis BlackBerry Storm Smartphone

Filed in: Gadgets, Reviews — May 20th, 2009

It’s my honor to be invited by Maxis to the BlackBerry Storm Preview. I got a chance to play BlackBerry Storm in my hands and it’s the 1st time I touched a BlackBerry phone. Is BlackBerry Storm for you?

Review BlackBerry Storm

BlackBerry Storm Smartphone

The BlackBerry Storm has a big display like Apple iPhone. The size is just nice to fit in my palm. It is heavier (155 grams) than my Nokia N95 but I like the sturdy-feeling of the phone. The display automatically changes to landscape when you rotate it.

The touch screen of Storm is “clickable”. You “touch” to select a menu on the display, then “press” to confirm/execute it. This is the world’s first “clickable” touch screen, which you can’t get on other touch screen phone.

I like the display clicking but it also means I will leave more noticeable fingerprints on it.

BlackBerry Storm SmartphoneBlackBerry Storm Smartphone

The video playback on Storm is smooth. Volume is loud enough. It has a standard 3.5mm headphone jack for your own headset.

BlackBerry Storm Smartphone Bug?!Somehow, I crashed the media player while testing it. The media player buttons just refused to get away from the bottom of the screen. The crew had to reset the device to get it work properly again.

BlackBerry Storm has 3.5G, bluetooth, GPS but does NOT support WiFi. That surprised me and feeling disappointed.

BlackBerry Storm has a 3.2 megapixels camera with auto flash, auto focus, 2X digital zoom. Here is the sample image taken using Storm’s build-in camera (click for full size) and received by MMS:

BlackBerry Storm Smartphone image test

Like an iPhone, BlackBerry smartphone is supported by many 3rd party applications. Instant Messaging, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, YouTube, etc. You name it.

You might want to get the Unlimited Maxis BlackBerry Internet Service Packages at RM120/month to download those applications and enjoy 24/7 Internet connection on your BlackBerry.

The price of MAXIS BlackBerry Storm is RM2,199.

Is BlackBerry Storm for you?

If you want a touch screen smartphone to work on your office emails and view/edit documents, while still able to IM with your friends on MSN, Yahoo, Facebook, etc, and play some games… BlackBerry Storm might be the one.

Will I get a BlackBerry Storm?

Personally, I am not a fan of touch screen smartphone. I am used to one-hand-sms-typing. Tapping is fun but not time efficient. Well, maybe I just need more practices.

I don’t feel like connecting to Internet all-the-time. It will trap me in the infinite loop of mail checking emails, blog comments moderating, facebook and twitter status updating, etc. And, spending 100 bucks more for a unlimited data package is not wise for me.

Plus, the price tag of RM2000+ is too expensive for me. I will only spend RM1000+ for a mobile phone. (Apple iPhone 2009 might be an exception.)

If you ask me to pick a BlackBerry phone, it will be the BlackBerry Bold. Full QWERTY keyboard, GPS, WiFi, etc at RM1400+

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  • http://inicholas.net/ Nicholas

    i don’t like the storm because no qwerty. blackberry curve with wifi and 3g camera will be a perfect smartphone because it’s smaller than curve. there’s no perfect blackberry yet, although 3g cam is not neccessary, i wonder why they dont want add into it.

  • http://inicholas.net/ Nicholas

    i don’t like the storm because no qwerty. blackberry curve with wifi and 3g camera will be a perfect smartphone because it’s smaller than curve. there’s no perfect blackberry yet, although 3g cam is not neccessary, i wonder why they dont want add into it.

  • http://inicholas.net Nicholas

    i don’t like the storm because no qwerty. blackberry curve with wifi and 3g camera will be a perfect smartphone because it’s smaller than curve. there’s no perfect blackberry yet, although 3g cam is not neccessary, i wonder why they dont want add into it.

  • http://selinap.com/ Selinap

    For RM2000+, I would rather buy a netbook.

  • http://selinap.com/ Selinap

    For RM2000+, I would rather buy a netbook.

  • http://selinap.com Selinap

    For RM2000+, I would rather buy a netbook.

  • http://www.jialat.com/ jialat

    I like the size, but the photo quality seems not impressive……

  • http://www.jialat.com/ jialat

    I like the size, but the photo quality seems not impressive……

  • http://www.jialat.com jialat

    I like the size, but the photo quality seems not impressive……

  • http://amanz.my/ aman

    wow, so expensive…i rather buy an iPhone.. =)

  • http://amanz.my/ aman

    wow, so expensive…i rather buy an iPhone.. =)

  • http://amanz.my aman

    wow, so expensive…i rather buy an iPhone.. =)

  • http://karpedia.com/ Cars

    wow the phone looks pretty good. not sure whether it is practical though judging from the price. but i’m sure all other smarphone users might want to get one though

  • http://karpedia.com/ Cars

    wow the phone looks pretty good. not sure whether it is practical though judging from the price. but i’m sure all other smarphone users might want to get one though

  • http://www.myddnetwork.com/ myddnetwork

    I have read some reports that claim that Blackberry Storm has a better performance than iPhone… but it is really strange for me that it doesn’t support Wi-Fi.

    Anyway, I am still waiting for phones with Google Android in my country. Meanwhile, I am still using my simple LG cell phone with FM radio :-) Really I am not needing a smartphone… it is really expensive in my country.

  • http://www.myddnetwork.com/ myddnetwork

    I have read some reports that claim that Blackberry Storm has a better performance than iPhone… but it is really strange for me that it doesn’t support Wi-Fi.

    Anyway, I am still waiting for phones with Google Android in my country. Meanwhile, I am still using my simple LG cell phone with FM radio :-) Really I am not needing a smartphone… it is really expensive in my country.

  • http://www.myddnetwork.com myddnetwork

    I have read some reports that claim that Blackberry Storm has a better performance than iPhone… but it is really strange for me that it doesn’t support Wi-Fi.

    Anyway, I am still waiting for phones with Google Android in my country. Meanwhile, I am still using my simple LG cell phone with FM radio :-) Really I am not needing a smartphone… it is really expensive in my country.

  • http://www.jkdennislim.com/ Dennis Lim

    Recently come across the package offer by different telcom promotion packages. Notice that there are offer for the Iphone package, BlackBerry package and also the Digi RM0.99 package. However, I think the price of the phone come with the package is kind of not worth because when include in the subscription fees and actually you will need to pay more than what you expect.

    If anyone here will like to buy a PDA phone then i think i can suggest HTC Touch Pro. Which is think the features in it is more practical.

  • http://www.jkdennislim.com Dennis Lim

    Recently come across the package offer by different telcom promotion packages. Notice that there are offer for the Iphone package, BlackBerry package and also the Digi RM0.99 package. However, I think the price of the phone come with the package is kind of not worth because when include in the subscription fees and actually you will need to pay more than what you expect.

    If anyone here will like to buy a PDA phone then i think i can suggest HTC Touch Pro. Which is think the features in it is more practical.

  • http://www.geckoandfly.com/ dannyarcher

    How about Nokia 5800? it has almost everything the other phone offers and the price tag is reasonably cheap.

    -Wifi
    -FM Radio
    -Carl Zeiss 3.2 Camera
    -Bluetooth
    -8GB memory card

    With 3rd party software, you can turn it into a torch light with its LED flash light.

  • http://www.geckoandfly.com/ dannyarcher

    How about Nokia 5800? it has almost everything the other phone offers and the price tag is reasonably cheap.

    -Wifi
    -FM Radio
    -Carl Zeiss 3.2 Camera
    -Bluetooth
    -8GB memory card

    With 3rd party software, you can turn it into a torch light with its LED flash light.

  • http://www.geckoandfly.com dannyarcher

    How about Nokia 5800? it has almost everything the other phone offers and the price tag is reasonably cheap.

    -Wifi
    -FM Radio
    -Carl Zeiss 3.2 Camera
    -Bluetooth
    -8GB memory card

    With 3rd party software, you can turn it into a torch light with its LED flash light.

  • http://www.malpf.com/ mtsen.com

    I think you miss ONE VERY IMPORTANT feature, touching the screen is JUST LIKE touching a button – thats the whole selling point for storm isn’t it ?

    and you are the type who like button ( me too ) and storm is the one that can start change our perception of screen …

  • http://www.malpf.com/ mtsen.com

    I think you miss ONE VERY IMPORTANT feature, touching the screen is JUST LIKE touching a button – thats the whole selling point for storm isn’t it ?

    and you are the type who like button ( me too ) and storm is the one that can start change our perception of screen …

  • http://www.malpf.com mtsen.com

    I think you miss ONE VERY IMPORTANT feature, touching the screen is JUST LIKE touching a button – thats the whole selling point for storm isn’t it ?

    and you are the type who like button ( me too ) and storm is the one that can start change our perception of screen …

  • http://www.skyistheline.com/ skyrule

    I just bought Blackberry Storm Today after being provoke by the salesgirl at Celcom Bluecube when I’m paying for my Celcom Bill. They got promotion now, Blackberry Storm today for 1399 with celcom exec 250. 12 month contract. Cheaper than Iphone…

  • http://www.skyistheline.com/ skyrule

    I just bought Blackberry Storm Today after being provoke by the salesgirl at Celcom Bluecube when I’m paying for my Celcom Bill. They got promotion now, Blackberry Storm today for 1399 with celcom exec 250. 12 month contract. Cheaper than Iphone…

  • http://www.skyistheline.com skyrule

    I just bought Blackberry Storm Today after being provoke by the salesgirl at Celcom Bluecube when I’m paying for my Celcom Bill. They got promotion now, Blackberry Storm today for 1399 with celcom exec 250. 12 month contract. Cheaper than Iphone…

  • http://www.persiaran.com/ Weilian

    My colleague showed me his newly bought Nokia 5800 and I helped him to configure static ip for his internet connection. It worked. Really love the phone. Got GPS somemore.

  • http://www.persiaran.com/ Weilian

    My colleague showed me his newly bought Nokia 5800 and I helped him to configure static ip for his internet connection. It worked. Really love the phone. Got GPS somemore.

  • http://www.persiaran.com Weilian

    My colleague showed me his newly bought Nokia 5800 and I helped him to configure static ip for his internet connection. It worked. Really love the phone. Got GPS somemore.

  • LcF

    @mtsen.com: I think I didn’t miss the important clickable screen feature of the Storm in the article. However, you still can’t blind type on Storm because the screen is flat.

    @skyrule: I think you must met a very beautiful salesgirl huh? ;)

    @Weilian: ya, Nokia’s smartphone is nice. Try E71 next time.

  • LcF

    @mtsen.com: I think I didn’t miss the important clickable screen feature of the Storm in the article. However, you still can’t blind type on Storm because the screen is flat.

    @skyrule: I think you must met a very beautiful salesgirl huh? ;)

    @Weilian: ya, Nokia’s smartphone is nice. Try E71 next time.

  • LcF

    @mtsen.com: I think I didn’t miss the important clickable screen feature of the Storm in the article. However, you still can’t blind type on Storm because the screen is flat.

    @skyrule: I think you must met a very beautiful salesgirl huh? ;)

    @Weilian: ya, Nokia’s smartphone is nice. Try E71 next time.

  • http://trace-ability.blogspot.com/ Marco

    I receive 30-50 calls on my mobile phone during work days, if the calls on desktop phone are counted in, it could breaks 100 calls per day.

    A normal cell phone with camera will do, if I get myself a blackberry, I will then flooded with all the emails that expecting instant attention.

    Don’t mind to get one of this phone when I move to another level where involve lesser in operations.

  • http://trace-ability.blogspot.com/ Marco

    I receive 30-50 calls on my mobile phone during work days, if the calls on desktop phone are counted in, it could breaks 100 calls per day.

    A normal cell phone with camera will do, if I get myself a blackberry, I will then flooded with all the emails that expecting instant attention.

    Don’t mind to get one of this phone when I move to another level where involve lesser in operations.

  • http://trace-ability.blogspot.com Marco

    I receive 30-50 calls on my mobile phone during work days, if the calls on desktop phone are counted in, it could breaks 100 calls per day.

    A normal cell phone with camera will do, if I get myself a blackberry, I will then flooded with all the emails that expecting instant attention.

    Don’t mind to get one of this phone when I move to another level where involve lesser in operations.

  • http://www.hanep.org/ Hanep

    i prefer to go for iphone.. or e75..
    im using LG touch phone but still hav no problem of fast texting :-)

  • http://www.hanep.org/ Hanep

    i prefer to go for iphone.. or e75..
    im using LG touch phone but still hav no problem of fast texting :-)

  • http://www.hanep.org Hanep

    i prefer to go for iphone.. or e75..
    im using LG touch phone but still hav no problem of fast texting :-)

  • http://www.automagazined.com/ Automagazined’

    It’s not my type of phone of course. Would rather prefer Samsung Omnia

  • http://www.automagazined.com/ Automagazined’

    It’s not my type of phone of course. Would rather prefer Samsung Omnia

  • http://www.automagazined.com Automagazined’

    It’s not my type of phone of course. Would rather prefer Samsung Omnia

  • http://AhTim.com/ AhTim

    Honest review. I prefer Apple iPhone than this bulky BlackBerry.

  • http://AhTim.com AhTim

    Honest review. I prefer Apple iPhone than this bulky BlackBerry.

  • http://abrablog.com/ abrablog

    might be i will take one instead of iphone..

  • http://abrablog.com/ abrablog

    might be i will take one instead of iphone..

  • http://abrablog.com abrablog

    might be i will take one instead of iphone..

  • http://redirect.alexa.com/redirect?www.bestbuyidea.com Altis Lo (Beaulife)

    The design and all the features are very enticing to me, but definitely not the price tag… I rather spend RM2k+ for a notebook, just like Selinap. Nevertheless, this is a great design with busy people in mind.

  • http://redirect.alexa.com/redirect?www.bestbuyidea.com Altis Lo (Beaulife)

    The design and all the features are very enticing to me, but definitely not the price tag… I rather spend RM2k+ for a notebook, just like Selinap. Nevertheless, this is a great design with busy people in mind.

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