Top 5 QWERTY( phones 1 BlackBerry Bold 9790)

Frustrated with the touchscreen keyboard of your handset because it isn't all that accurate? Well, there's always the option for a physical keyboard.
After all, if you're a voracious Facebooker or Twitterer, you really don't want to accidentally send out badly typed posts, which can be hilarious for everyone but you.
However, do note that depending on the handset design, the option of having a physical keyboard usually means a smaller-sized screen. Of course, there are still large touchscreen handsets with slide-out keyboards, which are usually much thicker. Read on to see if any of these QWERTY phones are for you.


1. BlackBerry Bold 9790

The Canada-based company has gone with a narrow form factor for the Bold 9790, which makes it an upgrade of last year's Bold 9780 with a few design tweaks. However, some of the changes have been met with a lukewarm reception. For example, the row of raised buttons under the touchscreen has sparked mixed reactions.


Upside
This is one of the smallest and lightest BlackBerrys we've tried. We like the fact that we are able to slip the phone into a tight jeans pocket and still sit comfortably.
In addition, even though the Bold 9790 weighs a featherlight 105g, it does not feel flimsy.


There's no denying that RIM makes great hardware and this phone doesn't disappoint. Even though the buttons are small, it's easy to type accurately thanks to its raised, ridged edges. (To prove this point, we typed this entire hands-on story using the Bold 9790's keyboard without too many errors.)


A lot of thought has been put into the design, like how the screen and keys curve organically at the sides. It's a breath of fresh air compared with the monolithic blocks of today's smartphones.




Downside
The 2.45-inch LCD touchscreen has a resolution of only 480 x 360 (HVGA). We wish RIM had included a higher-resolution screen, seeing that the Bold range of devices usually caters to a higher-end market, compared with the more mainstream Curve family.


We thought the Bold 9900's (left) screen was quite small, but the 9790's (right) is tiny by comparison. This might deter users from watching videos and doing heavy Web surfing.




The 5-megapixel camera is only able to record VGA videos. Earlier BB 7 OS devices such as the Bold 9900 and Torch 9810 are capable of HD video recording, so it feels like a step backwards for RIM.


The device comes with BB 7 OS which is already available on other BlackBerrys released this year, such as the Bold 9900. However, RIM says that a BB 7.1 OS update is "imminent".


On another note, BBX, RIM's next-generation platform, is due to be released next year. As the new OS will likely not be supported by current devices, users will have to live with the BB 7 OS for the duration of their telco contracts.


Outlook
This is far from the panacea that RIM needs to save its shrinking market share. Perhaps BBX devices that are slated to be released next year may have a better shot at that.


That said, the Bold 9790, which costs an estimated US$515 in Indonesia, could be a good choice for those on a tight budget--such as students--and may also suit those upgrading from a feature phone. The handset may also be worth a look for CrackBerry addicts who are currently looking to upgrade to the BB 7 OS.