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(More customer reviews)I have used a fair number of cell phones over the years, but very few were worth gushing about. They were simply utilitarian tools.
This diminutive little device is different.
Thinking I wanted to go to a convergent device that integrated PDA functions with phone functions, I bought myself an HTC Mogul PPC-6800 Smartphone (Sprint). In a separate review here on Amazon, I give my impressions of the device as a really neat Windows Mobile PDA, but a really marginal phone. I don't know about you, but I'd rather have an excellent phone that doubles as a PDA than a PDA that tries but mostly fails to be a phone. Bottom line: I sold the HTC mogul after one week on eBay and switched to an 8130 Pearl after doing my homework.
PROS
* Size: This puppy is SMALL. It is hard to appreciate until you actually hold one in your hand or see it at the store. The photos you find on the web are usually those glamour pictures (like the one here on Amazon) that doesn't provide any visual point of reference, such as a pencil or business card, to compare the size against. As a result, it is easy to think of this thing as being about the size of a calculator. Wrong. Go see one to appreciate just how portable it is.
* Build Quality: This thing feels good in your hand. Solid. Well made. Good tactile feedback on all the keys with sufficient weight to feel like you are pressing on something substantial rather than a piece of plastic. Fit and finish are impeccable. My only critique is that the battery cover is slightly loose. There is no danger of it coming off, but it does wiggle more than would be expected. Solution: add some layers of scotch tape to the inside of the battery cover to make a thin shim. It adds just enough tension to stop the wiggling and you have a nice, tight fit. RIM would be wise to include a small piece of foam with adhesive on one side that sticks to the inside of the battery cover. It would turn this common observation about the battery cover into a total non issue and add about a penny to the manufacturing costs.
* Phone: The phone works like a phone should work. Speaking and listening clarity is excellent, and there are PLENTY of shortcut buttons so that all the key functions such as mute, switch to speakerphone, etc. have hard buttons rather than being buried one or two layers deep in a soft menu.
* Bluetooth and Voice Command: This phone works excellent with my Plantronics Voyager 510 handsfree earpiece. The single most important reason that I got rid of the HTC mogul mentioned above was that it had voice tags, but not true voice command. For those that don't know the difference, voice tags require you to record your own voice and assign it to selected phone numbers or commands such as launching an application. Three HUGE problems with that approach: 1) If you have several hundred numbers in your contact list, each with home, office, mobile, and maybe additional numbers, that equates to HUNDREDS of voice tags you must record. Not a pleasant prospect AND it takes up precious memory in the device. 2) It doesn't work very good, particularly with a bluetooth head set. I can't tell you how many times I would say the voice tag over and over, only to have it give me that annoying beep that says "name not recognized" or to connect to the wrong number. You would think that because it is using your own voice, it would be very accurate. But, you'd be wrong. Typically, it works OK when you are using the handset, but not when using the speakerphone or a wired or wireless headset. Gee, isn't that the exact reason why you get this voice recognition capability...so that you can talk in the car without having to use your hands? In contrast, voice command functionality recognizes speech from any user (not just you) and you don't have to record any tags. Simply load your contact list and say things like "Call John Smith...mobile" or "Call John Smith...home" or even better "Call...555-1229" and it will WORK! It is awesome.
* Media Player: The onboard media player really isn't bad and supports album cover art. For $19.95 you can download a 3rd party application called FlipSide that provides iPod-like flow navigation using your album cover art. Also, the phone supports the new high-capacity microSD cards, so you can load 8GB (maybe even more) removable memory into the Pearl and stack up thousands of MP3s as well as unprotected AAC and WMA formats. Frankly, I can leave my iPod at home most of the time now. And the sound quality is very good.
* IT'S A BLACKBERRY! There's a reason people become "crackberry" addicts. These devices are truly astonishing in just how elegantly the user interface works, and how easy it is to do e-mail, web browsing, texting, managing your calendar, tasks, contacts, and keeping everything synchronized. And, there's a reason that the vast majority of corporate environments have standardized on Blackberry as the way they keep their mobile workers synchronized. This is my first blackberry, and I've only owned it for about 2 weeks, but I am a true convert now and wouldn't go back.
* User Interface: There's a lot of buzz about the touchscreen and iPhone versus Blackberry. Yeah, the iPhone looks kool. Yeah, it has a big screen. If your primary goal for owning a device like this is to show it off at cocktail parties, then maybe the iPhone is for you. But if you are like me and actually want to USE your device for productivity tasks rather than as an ornament, Blackberry is the way to go. Having used a touchscreen for about a week with the aforementioned HTC mogul, let me tell you this type of UI is not all it is cracked up to be. For starters, there is no tactile feedback - nothing to let you know you have pressed that key, nothing solid or reassuring. As a result, you'll get REAL familiar with the backspace key, because you'll be using it a lot as you type characters too many times or too few times. And, it won't just be when you are typing. It will be when you are dialing phone numbers. Long before that new car smell wears off from your iPhone you'll be kicking yourself for choosing such a clumsy UI that looks cool but is good for little else.
* Trackball: This little fellow is great. Easy and intuitive to navigate and one click to perform many functions. Similar to a Mac environment where the mouse has only one button. There is even a little $5 add on application from a 3rd party that will make your trackball light up in 6 different configurable colors. Cool, but I don't need a disco ball on my phone.
* HUGE user community: Don't underestimate the importance of this. From crackberry.com to blackberryFAQs.com to pinstack.com to blackberryforums.com to dozens of other sites, there are million of other users out there that can help you with nifty shortcuts, tips, tricks, wallpaper, themes, ringtones, games, applications, and other stuff. It's its own little (or not so little) subculture. If you want to get the most out of your phone, no longer are you limited to the usually very underwhelming technical support and prowess of your service provider. Blackberry geeks abound and can help you...all without the surly attitude that you usually get from the service providers tech support staff.
* Phone holder: Yeah, you heard me right. The holders add some important features that you won't get with any other phone that I'm aware of. If you buy the actual Blackberry brand holsters, pouches, and belt clip/cases they come with two really USEFUL features. First, there is a little "trench" carved into the inside so that it won't press against your trackball when inside the holder and accidentally activate your phone. Second, there is a small magnetic sensor built into the pouch so that that the phone senses when it is in the pouch or out of the pouch. This adds some great features like putting the phone into standby mode when it is in the pouch and turning off the screen and backlights to save battery life. Very clever. Pull your device out of the holder and it instantly springs to life without you having to push any buttons or unlock it. Also, you can configure the phone to answer and incoming call when you pull it out of the pouch if desired. No pushing any buttons. Just slide your phone out and start talking. Uber-clever.
* Sexy: As sexy as an iPhone? No, but that doesn't mean the aesthetics of this device aren't easy on the eyes. It is elegant and it is highly functional...a boast that iPhone owners are hard-pressed to make. Ask them how well they like their device after answering a few dozen e-mails or fumbling over entering phone numbers on that oh-so-big screen. Chances are they'll be a bit less enthusiastic. If it seems like I'm bashing the iPhone here, perhaps that's a fair observation. It's just that I have yet to meet anyone in a business environment that didn't have some regrets after buying an iPhone. It's like a trophy wife. Very, very sexy and good at turning heads, but not so good at really doing much of anything besides looking attractive. If you want your hormones to guide your phone purchase, head for the Apple store. If you want your head to guide you, head for Blackberry.
CONS
* Battery door: As I mentioned, many users have complained that the battery door does not fit as tightly as it should. Above I offered a simple fix: a few layers of scotch tape on the inside of the battery door. Invisible, inexpensive, effective. Problem solved.
* "Day at a Glance" screen configurability: One of the things I really miss is the ability to build a "day at a glance" home screen. It comes close, but only gets about 70% of the way there. By using...Read more›
Click Here to see more reviews about: BlackBerry Pearl 8130 - Smartphone - CDMA2000 1X - bar - BlackBerry OS - amethyst
Bringing the acclaimed style and svelte body of the Blackberry Pearl to Sprint's CDMA network, the Pearl 8130 comes packed with new features including a striking new software interface, rich multimedia capabilities, built-in GPS and support for Sprint's high-speed EV-DO data network--perfect for surfing the Web as well as downloading music and video from Sprint's Music Store and TV service. The Pearl 8130 continues to offer all the communication features that you've come to expect from Blackberry smartphones, including e-mail served up by the BlackBerry Internet Service and a full menu of messaging options (SMS, MMS, and IM). Other features include a 2.0-megapixel camera with video capture, Bluetooth for both communication headsets and stereo music streaming, microSD expansion, digital audio player, speakerphone, and voice-activated commands and dialing.
Sprint Service Options Supporting the EV-DO high-speed data standard, this phone is fully compatible with Sprint's Power Vision service (additional charges applicable). With Power Vision, you can download and stream high-quality video, straight onto your phone. Enjoy full-color video clips or live TV of the latest news, sports, and entertainment from brands you know, like CNN, Fox, The Weather Channel, Sprint Football Live, and more. Power Vision also serves as a portal for enhanced games. Where coverage is available, EV-DO connectivity provides average download speeds ranging from 400 to 700 Kbps, with peak rates up to 2 Mbps.
The Sprint Music Store enables you to buy, download, and then jam out wherever you are with new songs or old favorites. Offering a growing selection of more than 1.6 million songs, the store provides you two copies of each song--one for the phone and another for the PC, as well as the ability to burn songs to a CD using Windows Media Player. Save your songs to a memory card with a capacity that's right for you.
With Sprint TV, you can make your BlackBerry 8130 Pearl 2 your always-on source for news, weather, sports and more. This comprehensive video service combines high-quality streaming audio and video from channels including ABC, The Weather Channel, Fox Sports, E!, CNN, The Discovery Channel, and more.
The Sprint Software Store, powered by Handmark, offers a wide selection of software, games, ringtones, graphics and other Windows Mobile applications to purchase and download right to your phone.
This phone is also GPS enabled, allowing you to receive audible and visual turn-by-turn driving directions, map your location, or conduct local searches direct from your handset. BlackBerry Maps, which can conveniently guide users to their destination, now includes a local search capability that allows users to find local businesses, such as banks, hotels and restaurants, within a short driving distance. Sprint Navigation requires a separate subscription.
Phone Features Weighing just 3.38 ounces and just 0.55 inches thin, the Pearl 8300 manages to fit a QWERTY keyboard onto the handset's slim frame. Each button on the keyboard shares two letters and the unit automatically determines which letter is the intended one based on what it predicts you are trying to spell. This unique predictive text technology, known as SureType, makes the Pearl 8300's diminutive size possible. SureType also learns the words you use most often, further enhancing your typing speed.
It sports a large 240 x 260 screen that supports over 65,000 colors--plenty of real estate to view your e-mails, Web browser content, messaging sessions, and attachments. The venerable BlackBerry trackwheel has been replaced on this model with an innovative four-way trackball placed below the screen. On the rear of the handheld, you'll find a 2.0-megapixel camera and a self portrait mirror. The handheld's microSD memory card slot is located inside the device, behind the battery. There's also a standard 3.5mm headset jack that can be used with the included headset, as well as a mini-USB port for data connectivity.
The Pearl 8130 features an updated visual interface and integrates a new font rendering technology that displays characters with enhanced legibility at even the smallest point sizes. The BlackBerry Browser is further improved with a new "Page View" option that displays a full web page on the screen along with a magnifying glass that allows the user to quickly and accurately point and zoom in on a specific area of the web page. It also provides quicker access to Bookmarks and History, and supports the 3GPP RTSP Streaming protocol via EV-DO, so you can view streaming video from sites like m.youtube.com.
With a BlackBerry data plans from Sprint, you can receive e-mails instantaneously from up to 10 e-mail accounts (personal and enterprise). And with BlackBerry push technology, you don't need to retrieve your e-mail. BlackBerry devices are designed to remain on and continuously connected to the wireless network, allowing you to be discreetly notified as new e-mail arrives. Support is also built-in for viewing e-mail attachments (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, WordPerfect, and PDF formats).
This phone provides Bluetooth version 2.0 wireless connectivity, and includes profiles for communication headset, hands-free car kits, audio/video remote control, and printing. With the A2DP Bluetooth profile, you can stream your music to a pair of compatible Bluetooth stereo headphones. The integrated media player allows you to create and edit playlists right on the handset. The Pearl 8130 also features a 2 megapixel camera with 5x digital zoom and enhanced flash. The new camera also supports video capture in two resolutions: 240x180 or 176x144 for sharing via MMS.
Other features include:
Phone as Modem Capable: Use the included USB cable to connect to laptops for a wireless modem, or choose to run this capability via Bluetooth with no USB cable requirement.
Voice Command and Voice Activated Dialing: Built-in speaker independent voice command allows users to look up contacts, place phone calls and access key information from the device.
Voice Notes: Make a voice note and send as an e-mail .wmv file attachment.
Productivity Tools: View and update your calendar, schedule appointments, checks your task list and more while you're on the go. Also includes a calculator, alarm clock and memo pad.
Notification: Polyphonic, MIDI, MP3 ringtones plus vibrate mode
Rating for hearing aids: M3, T3
Instant Messaging: Connect with your IM contacts using popular applications like Yahoo! Messenger and Google Talk
64 MB internal memory
3.5mm stereo headset capable
Built-in speakerphone
Vital Statistics The Blackberry Pearl 8130 weighs 3.4 ounces and measures 4.2 x 1.9 x 0.55 inches. Its 900 mAh lithium-ion battery is rated at up to 4.6 hours of talk time, and up to 216 hours of digital standby time. It runs on the 850/1900 CDMA frequencies and is compatible with the EV-DO data network.
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