Samsung BlackJack i607 Smartphone

Reviews: Electronics

Digital Cameras | PDAs | Communications

Author:
Editor:
Sponsor:
Published:

Anthony Fiti
Kurtis
Samsung
May. 7, 2007

<< Previous

Next >>

First Looks

The Samsung Blackjack weighs in a petite 3.5 oz and is 4.4" tall, 2.3" wide and 1/2" thick according to Samsung's specifications. It is most certainly thin and light. It is actually lighter than my regular cellphone, a non-smartphone Samsung D807. That said, I would have been skeptical of a flimsy slider phone (speaking about the D807) because I'd rather have the slider mechanism over-engineered than under-engineered.

The display is a 2.2" QVGA (320x240) 65,000 color LCD, with two brightness modes. The first is the brightest setting, which is active when you are pushing buttons. The phone quickly switches to a slightly dimmer mode after about 10 seconds of no buttons being pushed, along with turning off the backlights for the input keys. Another 10 seconds after that the display will shut off to save battery power.

The phone has a QWERTY input keyboard, with most keys being dual-input keys (press for the letter or hold for the symbol). One odd thing about the layout is that the numbers are separated by a key. The keys are spaced evenly, though I still found myself pushing two keys at once.

Between the keys and the display are the navigational buttons. The set of eight buttons are divided into two rows with a circular navigation and confirmation button in the middle. The middle navigation button has four directional inputs as well as a center "OK" button. To the left are the dial/speakerphone button as well as the home key and one softkey. The right has the hang-up/lock button and the back key and the other softkey.

One problem with the navigational buttons is that there is no space between the keys, and often I found myself pushing the hang-up or call button on the bottom row when I meant to push they key in the top row. (Ed: I also found myself pushing the hang-up and call buttons when using the central navigation button.)

On the back of the phone there is a small bump for the camera and speaker portion of the phone. The back of the phone also has a slightly rubbery texture to it, which is nice because it makes the phone easier to grip than a regular plastic shell. The left side has the dual use port for the power that also functions as the port for the USB computer connection cable. Above the port is the volume rocker switch. The right side has the slot for the SD Micro card, the scroll/click wheel and a button for back and clear (it also doubles as the camera button if you hold it down).

<< Previous

Page 2 of 5

Next >>

Page 1: Introduction, What's Inside & Advertised Capabilities
Page 2: First Looks
Page 3: Phone, Contacts and Calendar
Page 4: Email, IM and Internet
Page 5: Camera, Music and Conclusion

Subscribe to Communications [more info]

Add Comment

7 User Comments

1 - Posted by Max Slowik on May 7, 2007 - 8:48 pm

"When you dial numbers, they are shown on the screen at a large size, which is good for older folks who may not have the best vision (my parents always complain about this fact – how the cellphones have small numbers displayed when you’re dialing)."

It's amazing that our parents were ever able to use phones /without/ displays /at all/ ;P

2 - Posted by aireiq on May 9, 2007 - 2:06 pm

Aren't all data plans spendy? Or are you saying that the one you reviewed is worse than many/most/all others?

3 - Posted by handrail on May 9, 2007 - 3:06 pm

i think most data plans are rather spendy. let's hope the iPhone's (presumed) popularity will spawn other similar products that jumpstart the popularity of EDGE and HSDPA and bring the cost down.

4 - Posted by Kurtis on May 9, 2007 - 3:49 pm

He was referring to all data plans. It's a problem with all smartphones. The data plans are ridiculously expensive for the casual user. Certainly a small and worthwhile investment for business but for the average Joe it's just a bit on the expensive side.

5 - Posted by aireiq on May 9, 2007 - 10:07 pm

@Kurtis

Thanks for clarification. I thought for a second there it was specific to the smartphone TTL reviewed (What? The BlackJakc plans are even more expensive?).

Thought it was "[TTL's] biggest complaint" as mentioned in the intro.

Thanks again.

6 - Posted by Kurtis on May 9, 2007 - 10:19 pm

Anthony's biggest complaints were battery life (with the standard battery, he didn't have an extended one to test), and the expensive data plans for smart phones.

7 - Posted by Max Slowik on May 10, 2007 - 2:12 am

Oh, I totally get that impression too:

I thought the complaint was the cost of the plan, too, since the battery life thing would seem to have been solved by the mfg.

Add Comment

To add a comment without being a member, you may omit the password field, but you must enter your name (or nickname) along with your comment. * Denotes required fields.