Smartphone Thoughts: From the Perspective of a Pocket PC Veteran - Samsung�s Blackjack SmartPhone Reviewed

The Samsung Blackjack


Figure 1: The Blackjack. The sleek and sophisticated lines attract a lot of attention. Click on the image for a larger view.

The Blackjack can best be described as a wide but thin candy bar style phone with an alphanumeric keyboard. Most earlier Windows SmartPhones were either candy bar style or flip phones with numeric keypads. While such designs continue to be available and improved, it seems that alphanumeric keyboards are all the rage with recent SmartPhone designs. Phones such as the Motorola Q, the T-Mobile Dash and the Treo 750v have similar designs to the Blackjack, while other designs like the HTC Vox feature a keyboard that slides out.


Figure 2: Dimensions of the 3 devices.

As you can see from the dimensions, the Blackjack is longer than the Razr, nearly as long as the N560. Of course, that�s with the Razr folded� it�s significantly longer when its cover is opened. As for width, the Blackjack is close to the Razr, with both being somewhat narrower than the Loox. The Blackjack is the thinnest of the three, although all three are within .05 inches of each other. The Blackjack is lightweight, being very close to the Razr, while the N560 is more than half again as heavy.


Figure 3: A comparison from the front. Click on the image for a larger view.


Figure 4: A comparison from the side. Click on the image for a larger view.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the comparative sizes of the 3 devices. As you�d expect, the Blackjack falls between the Razr and the N560 in size. The screens on both of the phones are smaller than on the N560, with the Razr�s screen at 2.2 in. and the Blackjack�s screen at 2.3 in. However, the Blackjack�s screen is higher resolution than the Razr�s, 320 x 240 pixels vs. 176 x 220. Given that a larger screen is a traditional advantage of the PDA, it�s no surprise that the N560 has a much larger screen at 3.5 in. and 640 x 480 pixels. Relatively few Pocket PCs have the Loox�s VGA resolution; most share the 320 x 240 resolution with the Blackjack, albeit with a 3.5 in. or larger screen.