RIM BlackBerry Pearl 8100
Slim, sexy yet still a BlackBerry
Review Research in Motion's BlackBerry has, with its seamless email and sturdy workhorse ruggedness, captured the business market. But its bulky designs and lack of extras have put off many a consumer. That's all set to change with the introduction of the Pearl, RIM's first handset aimed slap bang at the consumer market...
First up, you've got the design. If you've passed on previous models because of their utilitarian looks and lacklustre appeal, then be prepared to look again. This model has style through and through, from its slim 1.3cm depth to its chrome-effect finish. It's light too, weighing in at just 88g.
It's not that the previous models were ugly, it's just that this one is the much, much better looking younger sister.
In addition to the frumpiness, RIM has also ditched the side-mounted thumbwheel found on previous models. While it was fine for the majority, it was a bit of a nightmare for the left-handed user.
Ousting the basic up-down action sits a roller ball with a full 360° movement. It even glows white when you use it, resembling the device's cool new moniker, Pearl.
Adding an extra degree of movement means you can now whiz about web pages instead of diligently thumbing your way around. It's a bit like being given a mouse, when before that all you had were cursor keys.
Pearl is also the first BlackBerry to incorporate a camera. Wary of twitchy businesses worried about nefarious employees snapping things they shouldn't, RIM has steered clear of bundling one before. In consumer world, however, it's a must-have.
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COMMENTS
Very Nice little device
I've just been evaluating one of these for work and due to get one soon.
Its a great little device - looks stylish and has a good build quality .. perhaps with the exception of the 'pearl' trackball which feels cheap.
Whilts the keyboard is small and it takes a while to get used to the predictive text, its usable for short emails.
It will be popular for gadget freaks and people who want a stylish phone/email device from which you can send short replies.
However in my opionion this is obvioulsy the big push into the consumer market. Its so obvioulsy designed and marketed as a consumer device which will rival all the main players. Why do i think this ? Its got a camera, can play music & video's and is the first BB device to have a name rather than a number !
No doubt it will be a success though - it looks so good and is definatley usable as long as you dont want to write too long a replies to your emails !
So Close And Yet So Far
I thought this could replace my T39 but the cons killed this phone for me:
- I need reading glasses to read the keyboard (same problem my T39 has developed over time)
- miniSD, I have SD cards from my cameras, I'd love to use them in my phone
- Special software and cable required for Mac sync support -- Bluetooth sync is crippled (for "security" reasons)
- Special headphone jack
Otherwise, nice kit but I'll wait for something w/o a keyboard (stylus-n-screen).
Keyboard is good
For those of you who think the keyboard is a night mare, your wrong, you just haven't given it a chance, it takes getting use to. Its got "sure type" which requires faith to use. Type a word (of course you have to spell it correctly) and if you trust the sure type it will spell it by the end of the last letter imputed, look away if you don't trust it! 1 day owning the pearl and taking it back is not enough time, the keyboard and sure type is great!
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