Blackberry Curve 8900: First Hand Review

I have been intending to review my Curve for quite some time now. So, in a fit of sleeplessness, let me take a shot at it.

1. Build

I am a rough user of my phone. Hence, I prefer a sturdy phone. I am a little disappointed with the build qaulity of 8900. More so because I my previous phones have been a prehistoric Nokia 5110, the Nokia 1110 and a Motorola W2** .

The black panel on top of the screen ( with Blackberry written on it) seems like a prime candidate for pooping out. Similarly, the battery door is a little loose. I miss the perfection seen in Apple products.

2. Style

Style is consciously understated. I am not a great fan of the chrome detailing. But, the keypad and the Blackberry logo on the batter door make it look relatively good as compared to the otherwise geometry box designs of a lot of smart phones.

3. Trackball

The trackball is very handy specially for browsing through long emails, internet and arduously long Blackberry menus. The sensitivity (horizontal and vertical sensitivities can be set separately) can be controlled very accurately. I absolutely love the trackball!

4. Screen

The screen is comfortably large and adequately bright. I have had no trouble in reading text in any ambient light setting (bright sunlight included). However, the viewing angle is pretty less. But, then if you don't plan to put the phone on a stand and play movies for folks at home, not a deal breaker.

5. Apps

Ubertwitter is an excellent app for Twitter. I tried the official twitter app for blackberry but it just sucks. Google Maps work like a song and has saved me couple of times. However, the app store is not at all extensive especially if you are looking at India specific content.

6. UI

I love the clean text based UI. Once you are one level deep into any application/folder, the options are displayed as a list of text. No icons, no 'extra-fittings'. Small features like selecting menu times by pressing the key with which the menu item begins make it very pleasurable to use the device.

7. Connectivity

I use Airtel's 899 plan and I have got excellent connectivity through their EDGE platform. Push email is lightening fast. I often get my mails on the Blackberry before I see them on a browser.

However, Curve 8900 doesn't have 3G. I didn't see that as a big problem but do give it a thought if you planning to buy one.

8. Processor/Memory

If I am not wrong it has a 400-500 MHz ARM processor and 256 MB of device memory. For most purposes, it provides lightening speeds. However, Google Maps is pretty slow and so are any rich media applications (like games etc.). It could have done with a little more memory as well. Apps can only be installed on the device and I have used up 4/5ths of my device memory already :(

9. OS

I use 4.6 OS and it is very stable and mostly catches exceptions and handles them. However, it routinely forces a boot on the moneycontrol.com page.

10. Emails

Its a pleasure using Blackberry for reading, drafting and sending emails. You have to use one to completely appreciate this. But, once you do try it, trust me email will never be the same again! 

Curve 8900 retails for about Rs 18,500. I love it, despite all the minor issues, because of the trackball, ease of use and emails and Ubertwitter. If you are planning to buy a smart phone and you are not into bling, buy a berry! 

HBS 2+2: Ding

Given that the HBS 2+2 application dead line is fast approaching, I get a couple of emails every day asking for advice. This post is to clarify that I got dinged (rejected) without an interview.

However, I did put in a lot of effort (and very little money ;) ) into my app. If you do not mind taking advice from some one who didn't get in, be my guest. I shall be able to work with only 1-2 more applicants.

Anti-Climactic P.S: I am joining IIM Bangalore's Class of 2012

Conformity

Is conformity such a bad thing?

It is true that without Edison, the light bulb would not have existed. But isn't it also true that without the huge  army of workers at GE (who conformed to office timings, worked in cubicles), the light bulb would have never reached you.

I used to be irritated (when I was still a believer, before this happened) but, now am amused by how intelligent people see conformity as being a sign of fear of unknown rather than the confidence of excelling at the known.

Email Etiquette

I am appalled by most of the emails I receive during the day. I was fortunate to be under the tutelage of Chinmay, Abhilash and other great folks at the Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, BITS Pilani  who taught me how to write good emails. I am going to list down a few pointers. All of them are very basic. But, a great email is about sticking to basics.

• Subject : Keep the subject short and to the point. It should attract (not GRAB) the receiver's attention.
• Salutation: Hi is perfect for most of the people. Otherwise stick to Mr or Ms . Mr Rachit makes no grammatical sense.
• Body:
• Introduce yourself very briefly. I personally appreciate hyperlinks rather than long descriptions 
• Get to the point quickly and think of making your point like a flowchart.
• Finish off with what you want the receiver to do
• Signature :Include your mobile number and may be a link to something that will help the receiver know you better

Here are some tips about formatting

• Divide your mail into paragraphs. I am a fan of small paragraphs.
  
• Press the Enter key twice. Go easy on the eyes.
• Never use SMS lingo unless you are my wingie
• Capitalize and punctuate properly

Some random tips

• Its good manners to introduce the person you CCed the mail to.
• PFA = Please find attached. Expand the three letters and read aloud what follows.
  
• Cut down on words. Break down long sentences. Use Active Voice (not Active Voice should be used). Here's a true example which inspired me to write this post.

XYZ,

A conference has been arranged with ABC at 2 PM to 2 30 PM today (5th March'10) where we will be briefed about the project and its expectations from us. We need to book a room for the same and will need your help as we do not have access to the same.

XYZ


We have a conference with ABC (2-2 30 PM, 5th Mar). ABC will brief us about the project and what he expects from us. Please book a room for the conference. We do not have access to the room booking app.

The guide cannot be complete without mentioning spell check and a quick read-aloud before you hit send!

And if you use descriptive names like one of my friends does (eg "ABCD-I am too cool" or "GFD-Dont-Reply-To-Her" in your address book) be cautious ;)

Essaying your life

I can't count the number of opportunities (read conferences, summits and masters programs) I have not applied to because they ask for multiple essays! Most recent is the MiM program of LBS which asked for not one not two but 6 essays! 

The anathema is partly because of the drudgery (and subsequent ding) I underwent for the HBS 2+2 application. The other part is questions like what are your career goals/where do you see yourself 5 years down the line/tell us how you fit the role of xyz etc. 

I am sick of marketing myself. Indian B Schools had a more objective way of (yes, critics of IIMs/CAT bite me) screening applicants. But alas, I had to write a SOP for my lone IIM call too! Thankfully, by not asking for a resume, the adcom gave me enough content to write about!

Before leaving obvious comments, rethink! I know the merits of screening applicants through essays. I still hate them. They make me feel like a 1st year trying to act cool and score brownie points in front of seniors. :P

Updates

It has been quite some time since I blogged. So, here is a quick update of what I have been up to:

• Living life to the hilt in Bangalore
• Joined the BITSAA International's Fund Raising team
• Working for/with the National Social Entrepreneurship Forum 
• Did badly in Quant in CAT 2009 and got no calls despite a 99.77 percentile
• Revived my twitter account @rachitchandra

There is a review of my new phone coming up very soon! Till then catch me on Twitter.

PS: I changed my number to +91 99800 44553.

Who the Indian?

The Raj Thackerays, Gurungs and KCRs of the country make me rethink the concept of a nation (or of a similar unit of administration). Nationalism, for most of us, peaks during a T20 match (which,by the way, is too often these days) or during incidents like 26/11 (which I believe is more of a conditioned response than a true nationalistic feeling).

Rest of the times, do we really care about our Indian-ness? Who is an Indian anyway? Being born on Indian soil is a flimsy ground. A country as populous as India has no uniting thread. Thats scary.

I, myself, adore the concept of being an Indian. But, in a few years we'll need more logic and less emotion when we define how we divide ourselves into countries, states and cities. It would make our maps clearer and lives simpler. Amen!

Übermensch

I am too inexperienced in philosophy to appreciate Nietzsche. However, whenever I read his works, I can relate to them; not as a body of thought but at a more atomic and practical level.

As I hastily try to finish and selectively forget a chapter in my life, the following lines [Text Courtesy: Project Gutenberg] struck a chord:

The Superman is the meaning of the earth. Let your will say: The Superman SHALL BE the meaning of the earth!

And here ended the first discourse of Zarathustra, which is also called "The Prologue": for at this point the shouting and mirth of the multitude interrupted him. "Give us this last man, O Zarathustra,"—they called out—"make us into these last men! Then will we make thee a present of the Superman!" And all the people exulted and smacked their lips. Zarathustra, however, turned sad ...

Nietzsche also says that God has died and we all desire for the Superman to live. I wish he is wrong about it.

But, the mirth of the multitude, more so today, proves that Nietzsche is right.