Unquestionably, the Bold, from Waterloo, Ont.-based Research in Motion, is the new flagship in the BlackBerry family, with precision design, quality engineering and more over-the-top features than its siblings.

RIM's arguably more thorough security and management administration software for corporations is based on an added cost-per-user licence.

Even though the iPhone supports Microsoft Exchange for company e-mails, it still lacks the e-mail tools the BlackBerry offers and is too glitzy and untried for most company IT managers.

I've used the Bold for the past few weeks, at home and while travelling. Here's what I like and what I don't.

What I like w The 480 x 320 pixel screen, half that of a 15-inch computer monitor, is crammed into a brilliant window with almost invisible dots. Pictures and movies look like they're being seen on a miniature HD TV screen, and you can use smaller fonts, cramming more lines on your e-mail view. Only the Telus HTC Touch Diamond screen is sharper.

- The computer-like Internet HTML viewing experience is a big improvement. If your eyesight is good, you can read a full-view web page. One click on the trackball enlarges the view for scrolling around the page, while the cursor automatically senses clickable links and text windows to start typing in. Not as sexy as the iPhone finger sweeping experience, but the next best thing, with a keyboard advantage for typing and dozens of one-key shortcuts.

- It's loaded with GPS, WiFi and the newest Bluetooth version for wireless stereo headphones -- and it's 3.5G-network compatible. Accessing e-mails and websites was twice as fast on Rogers' high-speed network, where available, compared to the older EDGE network.

- It boasts very clean desktop graphics, and its ability to run different programs at the same time now includes simultaneous dual-transfer mode for talking on the phone, opening e-mail, instant messaging, Internet browsing and downloading attachments and videos all at the same time.

- The classy leatherette black back can be replaced with different colours, and the chrome edge adds class and sturdiness.

- The full QWERTY keyboard is the best yet, with larger, more solid keys and just the right pressure when typing.

- The music player has better controls, including a good selection of headphone tone settings, and the sound of the built-in speaker is incredibly spacious. You can shoot movies and the MicroSD memory slot (for up to eight-GB cards) is accessible from the side. It comes with one GB of internal memory -- lots if you just do text stuff.

-It syncs automatically with your iTunes library (unlocked songs only).

- You can finally play YouTube movies on www.m.youtube.com w It organizes information better, with more folders, and my growing list of bookmarks is manageable again.

- A faster processor quickens functions and searches e-mails in less time.

- Third-party programs like the excellent and free Poynt from www.mypoynt.com, work seamlessly with your address list and GPS, adding services from built-in Yellow Page searches or the closest theatre for the movie you want to see, to a map on how to get there.

- BlackBerry Messenger is included for chatting with other BlackBerry users anywhere, regardless of their cellco provider.

- The BlackBerry Desktop program does a good job of organizing and getting media files, especially video, on the Bold.

- Going back to the older Curve felt like switching to a cheap BlackBerry knockoff! What I don't like w It comes loaded with a Documents to Go viewer only for Office files, but you need to fork out $60 for the editable version. Mobile 6 phones can do that out of the box.

- It's still a proprietary operating system with tightly organized phone, e-mail, calendaring and task functions. When used in an office environment your vital information is usually backed up and synchronized at work, but when using it as a single consumer at home, you have to back up your BlackBerry data with the included BlackBerry Desktop program on your PC. The backup file cannot be read unless it goes back in the device. (Hint: In a pinch, after keeping an original copy, changing the last three letters of the backup file from .ipd to .xls lets the file open in Excel. It results in a lot of weird characters, but you can search contacts, notes and e-mail.) IT managers take note: You can open password-protected backup files.

- The Bold has a new version 9x platform, and I found a number of third-party programs for older, 8x BlackBerrys that haven't been upgraded yet.

- The two-megapixel digital camera is too small for the money.

-A case would have been nice.

(published Steve Makris )

Video clarity is amazing. love the new screen

Love this phone