RIM's BlackBerry

RIM's BlackBerry
Research In Motion's BlackBerry devices use a fairly expensive BlackBerry Enterprise Server to synchronize e-mail and calendar items with major enterprise-collaboration environments such as Microsoft Exchange (Outlook) and Lotus Domino (Notes). BlackBerry devices can wirelessly send and receive e-mail, and a growing number of the models also double as cell phones.

Unlike most Palm and Windows Mobile devices, Blackberry PDAs use thumb keyboards and jog-wheel navigation.

Whatever your choice, try to kick the tires before you buy. Check to see how well you can read the screen with the backlight off--or outside on a sunny day. If the unit has a keyboard, try it out for size. Make sure the buttons are reasonably comfortable and solid. Fiddle with the navigation--how easy is it to do what you want to do?

If you're looking for a cell phone and a PDA, you should consider a PDA/phone so that you don't end up lugging around two separate devices. If you tend to be on the road a lot and need to check your e-mail regularly, you might also consider models that offer Internet access--through a built-in cell-phone modem, a Bluetooth connection to a cell phone, or built-in 802.11b or 802.11g Wi-Fi.

from http://tech.msn.com/products/article.aspx?cp-documentid=2746114&page=3