Comments on: Pearl or 8800: What Blackberry 4U

By: T K

T K — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 04:55:39 +0000

guys blackberry was so uncool desing wise. Now the pearl is a total different story. I always got around checking my emails otherwise but now picked up a pearl. Got it for a months and love it. Finally a sleek design.

By: Brad Barrish

Brad Barrish — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 19:19:26 +0000

I just picked up the 8800. I was using an 8700 for a while. The keyboard took some getting used to, but I’m fine with it now. I use the GPS often and even Bluetooth and have been VERY happy with the battery life. I don’t miss the camera or having WiFi at all.

By: Michael Air

Michael Air — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 10:22:36 +0000

I had a Treo and a E61 before my pearl - I was convinced I needed a qwerty phone as well as 3G, wifi etc

Since getting the pearl, I haven't looked back since. Suretype works well and while I loved the idea of having wifi, 3g - I just didn't use it.

Also, the Nokia interface and lousy performance drove me nuts in the end.

By: Bruce McCarthy

Bruce McCarthy — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 23:55:58 +0000

The Pearl and the other more compact BBs seem to me to be RIMs attempt to move beyond the business user to the consumer market. Yeah, it's sexy (and I did think about getting one), but it's just not usable for any length of time.

A very smart user told me it worked for him for a week or so but then when he stopped looking at the screen all the time to verify that it had guessed the right words, he found he was getting all sorts of errors and ended up going back to the 8700.

Google apps and Gmail work really well on the 8700, btw. It's the keyboard and wide screen that make them work. So I don't see how Google is a threat to RIM here. I use them in concert.

By: soch

soch — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 19:56:09 +0000

Had gone through 4 BB pearls.

A device with very good features but with quite a few problems.

But luckily, TMO has been prompt with replacing.

Search the http://www.blackberryforums.com/general-8100-series-discussion/ for more details.

By: mike

mike — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 11:09:59 +0000

It’s much harder to play Brick Breaker on the Pearl’s track ball than the previous BB’s scroll wheel.

By: AJ

AJ — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 06:51:17 +0000

Any RIM would do but problem is the network. You said… “The voice quality, however is much enhanced despite being on a Cingular network.” Well according to infoworld.com, 8800 has a hard time being up the EDGE network. I have a Pearl unlocked so that I use it with Cingular and it has the same issue.

By: Luis

Luis — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 05:23:15 +0000

I have all 3 Blackberry's + the Nokia E61. Basically all these phones blow! I am going back to the 8700 as the keyboard is so much better and the feel in the hand is better than the Pearl or the 8800.

RIM lost a huge opportunity to move ahead farther in this space. Stupid design flaws on the phone keyboard and GUI.

But RIM is not stupid, they know they have a captive business and goverment group that will continue to buy the hardware because 90% of the GUI or hardware is irrelevant to them.

I you are thinking on the Nokia, wait for Rev2 of the E62 the E62i. Much improved and a real contender.

By: NC

NC — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 05:01:18 +0000

Om,

8800 has a GPS chip built in. Pearl does not... 'nuff said.

By: Andrew Goodman

Andrew Goodman — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 03:19:21 +0000

I tried a Pearl, didn’t like the keyboard; this convinced me to wait for the 8800. Can’t wait to get mine…

By: Om Malik

Om Malik — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 03:01:41 +0000

On E61 - nothing has changed. its my primary device for phones and email and it syncs nicely with the zimbra email server. i like wifi and gizmo/truphone calling via E61 so i am still using it.

Not giving that up E61 anytime soon, though i have to admit, the Pearl makes me want to give up the Nokia UI. 8800, I would still pass on!

By: Slav Pidgorny

Slav Pidgorny — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 00:48:59 +0000

I like Wi-Fi functionality and operator-independence that comes with it. Neither Pearl nor the 8800 offer that.

By: Petabro

Petabro — Mon, 05 Mar 2007 00:08:57 +0000

8800 is better than the Pearl

By: Shripriya

Shripriya — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 23:49:20 +0000

Om, R has had the Pearl for months and he loves it. In fact, he got a second one for his India line. It is so small that it fits in a pocket – something the older blackberries did not do. He’s added on SimulScribe and that’s made him a convert for life!

By: Isabel Wang

Isabel Wang — Sun, 04 Mar 2007 23:04:15 +0000

I'm curious about your Nokia too! An E61 owner told me he does 3+ hours of calls per day, plus constant email. Still, he's only charging it 2-3 times a week. I was very jealous; the Pearl's limited battery capacity is its only weak point compared with my old Blackberry. After using the Pearl for a few months, I'm not sure I'd ever want a bigger phone.

BTW, judging from the Google Apps discussion over at calacanis.com, RIM needs to keep an eye on Gmail. It seems I'm not the only one who's ditched POP + Blackberry's email client for Google Apps + Gmail mobile client. Was thinking the other day that if I no longer depend on Blackberry for email, my next phone could be from any manufacturer.

By: Om Malik Not That Big On The BlackBerry 8800 | RIMarkable | The official, unofficial BlackBerry Weblog

Sun, 04 Mar 2007 22:55:54 +0000

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