Blackberry Pearl 8100
Author
Discussion

t5grf

Original Poster:

2,036 posts

295 months

Thursday 22nd March 2007
quotequote all
I am thinking of upgrading my phone to a Blackberry Pearl 8100, has anyone got any experience of owning and using one on here?

Advice appreciated!

rich1231

17,340 posts

291 months

Thursday 22nd March 2007
quotequote all
great phone etc.. aprt from its fragile.. im on no 6 in 3 months

lifesabeach

185 posts

238 months

Thursday 22nd March 2007
quotequote all
Had mine since they first came out and it has been fine and always gets positive comments on its looks. Camera is not the best, but at least it has one. Best BB I have had to date.

skeggysteve

5,724 posts

248 months

Thursday 22nd March 2007
quotequote all
I've had one for a while now and would recommend it.

Few points: If you have fat fingers the buttons are small - maybe worth having a hold/try one first.

If you are used to texting on a normal phone the qwerty keyboard and Suretype take a bit of getting used to - but it is well worth the time it takes. the Suretype is very good, even for technical terms, it 'learns' very quickly.

Battery life is not brilliant - I charge every night.

Some versions of the software have a glitch that means when you answer a call the caller can't hear you for a couple of seconds - this is supposed to be fixed with next software release.

To make the most of it you will need a data traiff - mine with O2 is about £6 a month for unlimited use.

I have not found mine fragile but I do try not to throw it around

Anymore questions email me.

pincher

10,632 posts

248 months

Thursday 22nd March 2007
quotequote all
Had one for a fortnight - couldn't wait to sell it on and go back to my K800i.

Depends on what you want from it though I guess.

t5grf

Original Poster:

2,036 posts

295 months

Thursday 22nd March 2007
quotequote all
Cheers for the advice, will be opting for unlimited data use plan with O2 if I choose the phone, I really fancied a Nokia N95 but most networks want well over £200 on contract for it so the Pearl looks pretty attractive as it's free.




Edited by t5grf on Thursday 22 March 21:23

catherinej

9,586 posts

274 months

Thursday 22nd March 2007
quotequote all
I have one gathering dust because when on charge you get an electric shock if you touch the 2 brass coloured squares on the back.

benojir

129 posts

301 months

Friday 23rd March 2007
quotequote all
I've had mine for 3 months, and would thoroughly recommend it if you're looking for an all-round device which is capable of sending and receiving emails, phone functions and media functions, looking good (if you are a poseur), and fitting in your pocket. For a full-on email device, look elsewhere to other BB's or Windows mobiles.

I updated to the latest Software when I bought it, so I didn't experience any glitches, apart from the annoying fact that it doesn't ring and vibrate at the same time, resulting in calls always diverting to voicemail before answering, as it vibrates first, *then* rings. I solved this problem by increasing the time it rings until diversion to voicemail.

Blackberry Internet Service works well. My Pearl never crashes, and is very responsive (compared to some smart phones I have used). I also use it as an mp3/video player with a 2Gb microSD card. I can watch films/simpsons/news and also listen to podcasts. I have GoogleMaps installed (no GPS), which comes in handy and have an MSN messenger program. It's definitely made my iPod nano and the fancy Liberty of London planner my gf gave me for Christmas obsolete.

blackberryforums.pinstack.com is a very useful forum if this type of stuff floats your boat, and also to find the latest Software, as UK networks don't normally issue the newest ones.

Hope this helps,

Ben

eyebeebe

3,870 posts

264 months

Friday 23rd March 2007
quotequote all
benojir said:
I have GoogleMaps installed (no GPS), which comes in handy and have an MSN messenger program.


Where did you get a UK copy?
Ignore me I downloaded the American version and it seems to work in the UK too. I was hoping it would have a map of current location function but I can't see one

Edited by eyebeebe on Friday 23 March 13:00

J_S_G

6,177 posts

281 months

Saturday 24th March 2007
quotequote all
skeggysteve said:
To make the most of it you will need a data traiff - mine with O2 is about £6 a month for unlimited use.

I can't find any details on this on their site - only know of TMobile doing cheap all-you-can-eat on data... got any further info?

Cheers.

t5grf

Original Poster:

2,036 posts

295 months

Saturday 24th March 2007
quotequote all
O2 quoted me £8.50ish per month for unlimited (fair use) data on a 12 month contract

J_S_G

6,177 posts

281 months

Sunday 25th March 2007
quotequote all
t5grf said:
O2 quoted me £8.50ish per month for unlimited (fair use) data on a 12 month contract

Cheers for that - do you know if you were discussing personal or business tariffs with them?

t5grf

Original Poster:

2,036 posts

295 months

Sunday 25th March 2007
quotequote all
JSG it was on a business tariff

Saabyfox

2,437 posts

250 months

Sunday 25th March 2007
quotequote all
My company switched over to these phones recently, to almost universal annoyance regarding battery life.
If used as a Blackberry, its fine, perhaps get 2 days on a charge.
If used as a business phone, 5-6 hours at best. Pathetic in other words. I have heard that we are thinking of returning them all until they have sorted the problems out.

Would not recommend.

skeggysteve

5,724 posts

248 months

Monday 26th March 2007
quotequote all
It's on a business tariff. Set up when we signed up in Nov/Dec - we do have 6 numbers with them if that makes a difference.

J_S_G

6,177 posts

281 months

Tuesday 27th March 2007
quotequote all
t5grf said:
JSG it was on a business tariff

Cheers bud - explains why I can't find that on their site, then.